J.4knee Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Looking at buying a pontoon boat for fishing. Anyone out there have/use one? Recommendations, aftermarket must haves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I find they are much more useful if they float. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstrickland1 Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Main thing is not to fall for the "grossly underpowered trap" They will package these things with 24-25' boats and 40 or 50 hp motors. They will convince you that this is ok, you'll only be tooling around, no need for speed. Don't buy it. I'm not saying you need a rocket, but stay at or at least near the upper limit of the rated horsepower for the boat. I had a 25' Crest that was rated for 140 hp and had a 115 hp Honda on it. With wind and current at my back it would do about 24 mph and easily pull skiers/tubers. Trust me, you don't want a boat that tops out at 13-16 mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 "Pontoon boat? Whaddya going to do with a pontoon boat? Retake Omaha Beach?" ~ Uncle Roman (Dan Aykroyd) from the film The Great Outdoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 They will package these things with 24-25' boats and 40 or 50 hp motors. Excellent point. Most dealers package boats with too small a motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplummer Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 If budget permits, go look at a modified hull Deck Boat. These things will do everything a pontoon will and some even run in the 70mph range. here's an example http://www.howardboats.com/boat_specs/28_sport_deck/28_sport_deck.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.4knee Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 I appreciate all your inputs so far. While I understand the idea of notunder powering the boat, LOL 70 nph is ludicrous! This will be a boatused for fishing on lakes 99% of the time. Speed is not my main concern, like I said the primarypurpose for this boat is fishing and taking the family out on the lake to “tool”around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplummer Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Normal 0 0 1 47 273 2 1 335 11.1287 0 0 0 I appreciate all your inputs so far. While I understand the idea of not under powering the boat, LOL 70 nph is ludicrous! This will be a boat used for fishing on lakes 99% of the time. Speed is not my main concern, like I said the primary purpose for this boat is fishing and taking the family out on the lake to “tool” around. Then I guess you won't accept my offer to ride in my 98mph 20 foot bowrider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merkin Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Make sure it has enough power. You don't need to go 780 mph. I have a 21 foot open bow that will only do mid fortys and I don't fish. My nephew has a pontooon under powered and once you get it loaded and have the coolers, bimini 5 people and some wind it still takes some power to push it. You would like to cruise at least about 12 to 15 even against a good wind. Pontooons set up in the wind and anything on deck works like a big sail that you are pushing against and that takes power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Jim--I volunteer to represent this forum on your first fishing trip. I will even bring my igroove so we can make it an official Klipsch excursion. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted March 10, 2010 Moderators Share Posted March 10, 2010 No I don't have one, but we rent one every summer in Panama City Beach Florida. We rent them from this place and if I remember correctly it's 24' and had a 50 Honda outboard. We had 7 adults and 3 kids, Ice chest, food and snorkeling gear for almost everyone and it would run about 20-25 MPH. http://www.shellislandtours.com/boat.htm We did see Dolphins right on the side of the boat and we parked in about 3.5' of water so even the kids could get off and on the boat easily to snorkel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Most 24' pontoon boats require 90hp to reach 25mph, this according to BoatTest.com I joined for free and found tests on dozens of pontoon boats, complete with video and test results. Definitely join if you're researching a boat purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.4knee Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 thanks for the tip, I was not belittling the need for speed I just could not picture me hitting 70 crossing lake Hodges w/out beaching her LOL. Yeah I am veeeeeerrrry early in this process. One thing I am looking at in the aftermarket realm is the possiblity if an in deck live well. Most of the 24/25 footers (my personal choice for the size) were set up more as party barges which is not what I am looking for. I want more of a focus on fishing and as open a deck plan as I can get that still accommodates people.......along with the obligatory onboard grill, coolers......but still need deck space to bring da boyz onbaord when I choose put her in the bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.4knee Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 interesting I got a doube post but it never cleared the writing/editing screen!?!!!? My browser was totally hung, I had to close it and re-open it.... hmmmmph....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 As was mentioned earlier the biggest mistake that is made over and over again is underpowering ANY boat. After my second boat purchase, and the subsequent motor trade-up, I decided that the best guideline for determining the correct size motor for any boat is to simply look on the required Coast Guard plate attached to the boat for the maximum HP rating. You won't be dissatisfied. If you underpower you'll always be dissatisfied. Its like putting a 25 HP motor in your car. Yeah it might run 30 MPH but you'll always be running at WOT. BTW, I remember a fella that I worked with years ago saying that he was considering buying one of those tampoon boats. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 One thing I am looking at in the aftermarket realm is the possiblity if an in deck live well. Most of the 24/25 footers (my personal choice for the size) were set up more as party barges which is not what I am looking for. I want more of a focus on fishing and as open a deck plan as I can get that still accommodates people.......along with the obligatory onboard grill, coolers......but still need deck space to bring da boyz onbaord when I choose put her in the bay. I did see a Crestliner on that site that was set up for fishing, in addition to the usual pontoon festivities. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 This ought to do it as long as the boat floats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgoreck Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Meh. Get a real boat....head/galley/vberth/dinette. Mines got twin 300hp 454cc Crusaders :-) We only can do 30mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Richard Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 For fishing? Those things are party barges, not fishing boats [<)][D] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ69 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 I have to agree with mdeneen it might be best to just rent one when you want to go out. Unless you live on the water or are just a couple of miles from a ramp it just doesn't make much sense to own a boat. You're in Southern California? Just go to Lake Mead or Powell or Lake Mohave in the off season and rent a party barge. OR if you like the ocean, there are plenty of really nice charters for fishing out at the Islands. The 5 grand you are going to spend every year will buy a lot of days out on the water. My only exception is if you live on the water (no slip fees), then having a small economical runabout (like a Boston Whaler) makes some sense. Thanx, Russ P.S. My brother lives on the water. He's retired and an avid fisherman. He bought a 50,000 buck bass boat. He used it a lot the first two years, now it's for sale for half price. It was costing 600 bucks a month just for gas. A party barge is even less economical than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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