100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

[haulnazz15]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

I would also be very leary of callapsing a tube, they are hollow after all btu that is well beyond anything they were designed for.

I didn't even think about that. They are chambered, but still not designed for stresses of 100mph. If a wake was hit going that fast, there's a good chance that the sheet metal could buckle under the load. Like I said, power to the guy for doing what he wants with $70K worth of pontoon and engines, but I'll be passing on opportunities to joy ride in one.

 

[emilsr]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

I would also be very leary of callapsing a tube, they are hollow after all btu that is well beyond anything they were designed for.

That may be true with certain 'toons, but there's a lot of "performance 'toons" that are set up for this sort of thing (this one is just one example). Lots of 'em on LOTO....we used to see big block powered 'toons all the time there "crusing" around the lake at 50mph. I'm not a particular fan of pontoon boats, but some of 'em are pretty impressive.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

That may be true with certain 'toons, but there's a lot of "performance 'toons" that are set up for this sort of thing (this one is just one example). Lots of 'em on LOTO....we used to see big block powered 'toons all the time there "crusing" around the lake at 50mph. I'm not a particular fan of pontoon boats, but some of 'em are pretty impressive.

Fastest stock 'toon I've seen advertised was a 65mph which had over 525HP. There's a big difference in 65mph and 112mph in terms of stresses on components. Not saying you can't do it (obviously you can), but what works at 65 may not hold up over 100. Hence the reason they have bravo X outdrives, dry sump 6 drives, etc.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

I wouldn't worry too much about the can collapsing. The force is all on the back 1/4 of the pontoon - if it collapses there then the rear of the deck is in the water and the boat stops - its not like you are going to get the front to collapse and dig in.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

I wouldn't worry too much about the can collapsing. The force is all on the back 1/4 of the pontoon - if it collapses there then the rear of the deck is in the water and the boat stops - its not like you are going to get the front to collapse and dig in.

Assuming you never hit any waves. A cruisers' boat wake could ruin that idea pretty quickly. Not that most people wouldn't slow down for a boat wake, but these guys were running 100+ without life jackets . . .

 

[Tnriverluver]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

At one point in that 112 mph video it looks like he came pretty close to blowing over. I realize this boat was specifically designed for this power but no way am I getting on and going 100 plus in a pontoon boat. 80 MPH is about my limit on water and that was in my 20 ft Stratos bass boat. Until recently I did not know how fast some of the current pontoons are able to run.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

My first impression is it is a blow over hazard........ Like racing a greyhound bus through a F-1 course! Not my cup of coffee (I don't do tea)

 

[CC245]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

At one point in that 112 mph video it looks like he came pretty close to blowing over. I realize this boat was specifically designed for this power but no way am I getting on and going 100 plus in a pontoon boat. 80 MPH is about my limit on water and that was in my 20 ft Stratos bass boat. Until recently I did not know how fast some of the current pontoons are able to run.

Now that is funny!! Going 80mph in a bass boat is ok, but 100mph in a pontoon is crazy?

The important question here is how did they keep the glasses on the Tiki bar from blowing away at 112mph?

 

[Tnriverluver]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

Well in the bass boat I was at the controls LOL

 

[emilsr]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

Fastest stock 'toon I've seen advertised was a 65mph which had over 525HP. There's a big difference in 65mph and 112mph in terms of stresses on components. Not saying you can't do it (obviously you can), but what works at 65 may not hold up over 100. Hence the reason they have bravo X outdrives, dry sump 6 drives, etc.

You can buy 'em off the shelf with twin 600 sci's that'll run 100+. I've never seen them advertised but they're out there and have been passed a time or two by them. Am guessing a $100k+ pontoon boat is a limited market and those buyers will seek them out.

Many of the hot rod 'toons have foam filled logs so that probably helps.

....and, yes, a good PFD and lanyard should be mandatory at that speed, if not a helmet. All are required to run in the shootout.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

Brad Rowland (the owner/pilot) lives about 2 miles from where I launch. I've seen his pontoons on the lake for well over 10 years. While I don't know him personally I can vouch for the fact that he's been piloting grossly overpowered pontoons for at least 10 years...and safely at that. It's amazing to me that someone can run a 1200hp $150K Baja with, more or less, no experience but this guy is instantly condemned as an irresponsible moron. You should see the never ending parade of overtuned, jacked up diesel trucks with paint matching the 40 foot boat, filled front and back seat with rich fools that flood my lake every weekend in the summer. Brad Rowland is downright responsible compared to at least 30% of the guys I encounter in cove 5.


tl;dr: he's not just another case of "more money than brains" which all too common on Lake Shelbyville...

 

[QC]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

You sure that's not Lake Havasu? Sounds pretty flippin' familiar . . .

 

[halfmoa]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

You sure that's not Lake Havasu? Sounds pretty flippin' familiar . . .

Yeah, I was thinking about all the lakes and bays full of big city fools the entire time I was typing and then it dawned on me that I may not have it so bad. At least most of the fools here only stay mid June through mid August. Then again, that's the only time the water is warm too... You can usually go out Tuesday through Thursday on non holiday weekends and be in the clear. Then you have to deal with fishermen in party cove. Most of them leave when the clothing comes off...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

I don't care how long he has been doing it "safely". He just did it with passengers all not wearing safety equipment and with no lanyard attached. That is reckless in my book, regardless of the type of boat.

 

[Mason78]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

This season I noticed a couple pontoon style boats with what appeared to be fiberglass/V style hulls. I saw them running pretty fast.

I was curious what these boats are called or classified as? Anyone have experience with them that can chime in on their performance?

 

[DaveHawkins]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

This season I noticed a couple pontoon style boats with what appeared to be fiberglass/V style hulls. I saw them running pretty fast.

I was curious what these boats are called or classified as? Anyone have experience with them that can chime in on their performance?

They are called deck boats. I have never been on one.

 

[Mason78]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

They are called deck boats. I have never been on one.

I'm familiar with deck boats. I have been shopping for one for the last 6 months. This is what I'm asking about.



not this

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

Not sure what I think bout this whole deal... I agree at least PFD', and safety lanyards connected minimum...

I do know those engines at WOT sounded kinda killer! Before all the wind noise on the audio kicked in.....

Crazy stuff!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

This season I noticed a couple pontoon style boats with what appeared to be fiberglass/V style hulls. I saw them running pretty fast.

I was curious what these boats are called or classified as? Anyone have experience with them that can chime in on their performance?

Called a hybrid
http://southwindboats.com/


Performance is pretty decent, there is on one my parents lake that we call the whale - always tubing and screwing up the water at high speed, but it is fast.

Personally I'd take the deck boat over the hybrid because you are down in a safer high speed seating position.

This is a 55 MPH pic from the glastron catalog a few years back when we were in the right place at the right time.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: 100 MPH pontoon boat! Darwin surely awaits LOL

I call that a dangerous show off. Period.

I like speed to. But I do put on the 100 MPH rated jacket & the Ignition cord. I only do 55 GPS.

At 75 years old. There will not be arms or legs ever working again if I eject on a chop at that speed.