Runabout vs Pontoon

[pgwill]

I just started boating last year. I bought a 2006 Sea Ray Sundeck 200, We have approx 75 hours on the boat. What I have discovered is,we spend a lot of time in coves at our local lake just anchored, hanging out swimming etc. Not much time pulling people behind the boat. My wife and I have slept on the boat a couple of times and really enjoyed it. (not easy to do with the layout of our boat) OK finally to the question, does anyone have any comments and or suggestions about switching to a good quality 22ft pontoon for our style of boating?

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Myself, I'd say what you've got is more versatile. You'll never go anywhere fast on a pontoon, nor can you pull a tube or skier properly. You can, however, hang out all day in the SeaRay, just as you would a pontoon, possibly have a head and private change area as well. And for those times when you want to haul up the anchor and beat it to the other side of the lake double time you can do that too.

Now, if you regularly want to hang out with ten people with lots of room to move around, then maybe the pontoon would be better. Also, consider that the SeaRay will give you far more boating options in terms of where you can safely take it. Pontoons are strictly inland, calm water craft.

 

[Mano del Sol]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

You say "at our local lake"…do you live on the lake or either have a boat slip or plan on getting one at that lake? A pontoon isn't real convenient to put in and pull out. If you are trailering and launching when you go out then I would say that what you got is a much better choice. (then again I don't really know squat but I have some experience with pontoons.)

Personally, I am not much of a ski/tube guy but I would much rather have what you already got over a pontoon. If you are gonna have only one boat then versatility is key IMHO.

 

[KCook]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

A tri-toon will be about as fast as the deckboat. If speed happens to be important to you. Just rent a 'toon for a day and see how it fits you.

Kelly Cook

 

[pgwill]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

scoutabout, there are times when we have 7 or 8 people on the boat, but 4 or 5 is the norm. I am concernered about the way the pontoon would do in windy lake conditions. The room for streching out or sleeping would be nice. Thanks for the info

 

[pgwill]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Mano Del Sol, I do launch at one lake 80% of the time. I would consider renting a slip for the pontoon. I did not know they are more difficult to launch and load. Thank you for the input.

 

[pgwill]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Kelly, Speed is not a big thing for me, but I would like to cruise at 25 to 30 mph. From what I have found so far, a tri-toon with a good size engine would do. I am more concerned about ride and safety. Do you have any info on a good quality brand of pontoon?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

if the lake generally stays calm, with small waves the toon is fine. other wise you can expect to take water over the bow in rough conditions. and handling is poor.

as mentoned rent a toon before you buy. they are totally different animals.

 

[KCook]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Except (arguably) for Crestliner and SunTracker, most 'toon brands do not enjoy nation wide distribution. So it would help to hear what brands are found in your particular area. That said, there are lots of nice 'toons out there. Aqua Patio, Bennington, JC TriToon, Harris Flotebote, Manitou, and Princecraft would just start the list. And there have been quite a few new brands pop up in the last couple of years. Though almost all of these "new" brands are really offshoots of established brands. A couple of these newbies that look interesting are Sedona and Veranda.

The beauty of 'toons (or any aluminum boat) is that what you see is what you get. They cannot hide quality issues like the fiberglass builders can.

Kelly

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Pontoons are great for family or group outings and provided with enough power you can ski and tow water toys. They are available with changing rooms, porta potties, and about every deck configuration you can imagine. They are very safe boats since the rails are high enough to prevent smaller kids from toppling overboard. But discipline is certainly required just like it is on any other boat. As for launching and retrieval, pontoons are actually as easy if not easier than conventional boats since pontoon trailers self center the rig by means of the space between the toons. A tri-tune might be a little more difficult as they are supported under the outer logs and consequently will sit higher than a twin toon which is generally supported on a sissor type trailer. The only danger with a pontoon is having everyone dash to the front while under way. Take a wave over the bow and the entire deck now becomes a diving plane and the boat will go nose down quickly. Immediately cutting the thottle will pop it back up but you do run the risk of having people overboard.

 

[pgwill]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

My interest in pontoons comes from, the ability to put the front of the boat on shore,additional shade from full bimini,additional space to sleep on the boat if I want and to leave the boat at the lakein the water. But there can be days with small whitecaps from wind and I do not want to feel uneasy on the water. There is a Bennington dealer within a couple of hours from me. I do plan on renting a pontoon before I buy.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

good move. then you will have the necessary info to make a knowledgeable decision.

 

[seadog52]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

I am on my third pontoon and would not go without one. My first one was an 86 Tracker with only 35 hp, but it was fun. I now have a Crestliner with the 4.3 MPI. I can cruise at 20-30 mph all day, with occasional sprints at 37+. I can do well over 40 mph, but only with a prop that has trouble in rough water. A lot of people have the big OBs and 350 mag engines and do 50-60 TE. The idea of not taking big water is fallacy. It is like any other boat, the captain is in charge and does not allow passengers to do stupid things. If anything, a pontoon has an advantage in that if you take on water suddenly, it will drain off quickly, whereas a deck boat will take as long as the pump does.

Pontoons are not perfect for everyone, but lakes like Grand and LOTO are notorious for the chop created by the big boats and both are big pontoon havens. The trick is to find a study built boat. It is like buying a vehicle. Some people buy sports cars. Pontoons are the SUVs.

 

[BoatAddiction]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

A pontoon boat with the right trailer and a bit of practice is not hard to launch or load. In many cases, they are easier to load than a hulled boat. They are more susceptable to wind than they are current and will go exactly where you don't want them to go if a decent breeze is blowing. They handle like beasts at idle speed but can be mastered once one gets used to what the boat will do. They don't back very well into tight slips.

They are absolute great for larger groups of passengers and for bow-on beaching...especially if they have aluminum pontoons. Though there are pontoons with inboards, remember that an inboard reduces deck space somewhat. Personally, I would stick with a outboard on a pontoon. With enough HP, a pontoon can pull skiers and tubers. Aluminum pontoons can be victims of corrosion, even in fresh water. Certain chemicals used to control weed growth in some lakes have been accused of pitting the aluminum pontoons.

It all depends on what you will be doing with a boat. In my smaller boat days, I would have probably opted for a decent size deck boat over a pontoon except for the expense. You normally can get a rather nice pontoon much cheaper than you can a comparable deck boat.

As someone mentioned earlier, they are what you see. There is no hiding of problems since they are simply two long cylinders topped by a plywood platform with stuff mounted to it and a power system on the back.

 

[pgwill]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Seadog52, Did you switch from a runabout or other style boat? I would imagine just like my Sea Ray, with some practice and common sense you learn what to do and not to do.

 

[pgwill]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Boataddiction, I am planning to upgrade to a 28 or 29 foot Sea ray, but I need 5 or 6 years before that can happen.The pontoon gives me the capacity for now to have the entire family or to sleep on the water. Do you have any comments about storing a fiberglass boat in the water at the marina? The marina is uncovered, but I do have a trailer able cover on my boat.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Well, let me stand corrected on the power issue. There are quite a few toons on our lake but max engine size I've seen I think is a 50 hp outboard. I had no idea you could get an I/O configuration. That's why I love this site --- always an education.

As for trailering I'd agree it's probably not a big deal. My neighbour hauls his pontoon rig out on a marine railway at the end of every weekend and regular practice means he can make very short work of it. He's also got those guide poles installed on the cradle which helps line it up. Not that I'd want to do it in a strong cross-wind, but he manages just fine.

pgwill, I also keep the boat moored at a marina during the week and I'd say the biggest issue for me is dealing with the huge areas of pooling water I find sagging the cover in when I come back to the boat after a week or so. The problem is my cover is one of those generic types with the pull straps that go under the boat. Really it's only suitable for dry land storage in a carport or something. I'm getting a custom tonneau cover made that snaps tight all the way around and has a couple of support poles to keep water flowing off it.

 

[seadog52]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

I went directly from a canoe to my first 24' pontoon. I have learned a lot since then. Never skimp on the motor, and never get a single axle trailer for any boat over 20'.

That is not to say I was not familar with boating basics, but I had never owned one or spent a lot of time on motor boats before buying my first one used. I find that towing one is not a big deal. Like all trailers, you have to know where it is as you travel. At 8'6" wide, 30' long, and 10' high, it is not something you go to the drive thru with, but it is not that difficult. I tow mine all the time and with a Dodge Dakota with the small V8.

Manuevering is a bit different than a fiberglass boat. You have two hulls, so it will corner flatter than a V-boat. It will ride more comfortably than a single hull in mild to medium chop. It tends to knife through a lot of waters that most boats junp through. I know a lot of people that avoid most boats, but enjoy going out on mine. Often, we will go out as a group with 2-4 boats and use my boat as base camp, chase boat, or whatever. People often get tired of the smaller boats and trade off to relax on mine. In most boats, you are confined to the seat while moving, but on a pontoon boat, it is easy to move around. Several times, we will grill on my boat while the kids and adults go running around on PWCs, with my boat being a portable dock with shade and seats.

Wind is a factor with pontoons, especially when docking or loading. You have a light load with a lot of area. Practice and a decent trailer will keep you in good shape.

Motors can be tricky decisions to make. You cannot go wrong with a quality brand 4-stroke. OB vs I/O is a personal choice. I have owned both and each have their virtues and foibles. Decide how much maintenace you are willing to do, and find a setup that will make it easy for you to do that. Mercruiser is coming out with the new Vazer engine and drive combo. The drive is a compact, reworked Alpha that is paired to a 100 hp engine. It is designed specifically for pontoons and small boats, to allow it to fit under the deck. How it is received by the public will be seen, but I have seen the test mule and it looks sharp. The only problem might be the lack of more HP options, but the future will tell on that potential.

 

[seadog52]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

I should also mention that pontoons have changed a lot in a short time. The addition of triple logs and strakes have them doing some strong performance attributes. Factory engine options include 8.1 I/Os and twin 300 hp OBs. Right now, the record for a pontoon is over 80 mph. Gone are the plywood furniture frames, replaced by molded plastic to save weight and last forever. There are three types of deck materials commonly used. Plywood, aluminum panels, and starboard (composite plastic). If you want, you can get vinyl flooring instead of carpet. Common options are wakeboard towers, swim decks, grills, changing rooms with toilets, sinks/entertainment centers, etc.

 

[KCook]

Re: Runabout vs Pontoon

Welcome to iboats seadog52.

You aren't kidding about all the new options for 'toons. Really puts a silly grin on my face to see a wakeboard tower on a 'toon!

http://www.jcpontoon.com/img_c/tritoon_38.jpg

Kelly