emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

[rentprop1]

since we sold our little boat the storage under the seating area on the pontoon has become the dumping ground for every little nick-nack and left over items.

my son put 2- 4 foot paddles in there taking up a lot of room, I told him at 22 foot your not paddling this thing anywhere, I already have a telescoping boat hook thing for the dock, but should I really keep the paddles on there, is it really going to move it anywhere ???

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

On a calm day with 4 people paddling you will see a little movement.

I'd mount a Minn Kota on there and keep a deep cycle on hand as a backup.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

In these parts, you HAVE to have a paddle on board, as well as a bailing bucket. Yes, it is the stupidest thing they can think of, but rules are rules. I have a 3 piece paddle that snaps together like a tent pole. Takes up very little room, and your right, your not going to paddle a pontoon boat with much success.

 

[jabroni1m]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

I'm not sure of the name of the paddle or holder but my pontoon came with a paddle/oar that has a holder which mounts to the rear of the boat to hold it. I will have to get the name of it and get back with you though.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

Check out Sevylor model SE-44B, and iboats have a few models of telescopic and break-down paddles.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

There are no federal requirements for a paddle nor bucket on a boat greater than 16ft. And you are right, a paddle is useless on a pontoon. The best bet for a disabled pontoon is a trolling motor, cell phone, and/or marine radio. You may also use your anchor. Throw the anchor as far as you can, retrieve, and repeat process.

 

[timdan94]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

There are no federal requirements for a paddle nor bucket on a boat greater than 16ft. And you are right, a paddle is useless on a pontoon. The best bet for a disabled pontoon is a trolling motor, cell phone, and/or marine radio. You may also use your anchor. Throw the anchor as far as you can, retrieve, and repeat process.

If you do this method make sure you tie the end of the anchor rope to the boat...

 

[rentprop1]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

Check out Sevylor model SE-44B, and iboats have a few models of telescopic and break-down paddles.

um, ok , thanks for telling me where to buy paddles, when I have 2 extra on a boat you can't really paddle, you missed the point guy

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

um, ok , thanks for telling me where to buy paddles, when I have 2 extra on a boat you can't really paddle, you missed the point guy

I think Jeep Man was just pointing out an option to reduce space on your toon since you're required to have them on board. Get rid of the extras and buy a collapsible one for compliance.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

I think Jeep Man was just pointing out an option to reduce space on your toon since you're required to have them on board. Get rid of the extras and buy a collapsible one for compliance.

But he is not required to have them on board. And they are useless.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

But he is not required to have them on board. And they are useless.

I agree in his case they are useless. But even useless, where I'm located, there has to be at least one on board by law....

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

Throw the anchor as far as you can, retrieve, and repeat process.

Did that once on my old pontoon. Was fishing a shallow flat on outgoing tide and after a couple of hours I realized we were sitting on the mud. Oops. lol. Works OK for short distances in shallow water, but i wouldn't want to try it with a little river anchor or bell type. Not enough dig. Mine was a 7 lb fluke with 3 ft of light chain. Backup anchor actually. My main one was a 13 lb Fluke with 3 ft of 5/16 chain. Aint throwing that one far. Only had to go about 50 ft to get back into water deep enough to let the motor down and fire it up.

 

[takirb]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

i've got a 22 ft crest sport pontoon and i've had to paddle it twice. Not fun, but with the lack of a trolling motor, it's better than nothing. First time, i had launched from the ramp, batteries were dead, and my friend had already pushed me off and let go of the rope! Current pulled me about 100 yards out before i tossed anchor and started paddling. Anchor was to stop me from going out further, using the length of slack in the rope to get moving forward before jerking the anchor back up and paddling harder. Took me about 45 min to paddle back in.

2nd time i was slap in the middle of a lake and the starter fried. i paddled a bit with no success, got towed in by a jon boat with a 20hp johnson :redface:

 

[samo_ott]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

I carry 2 old oars on my 16'er as we're required to here. I've had to paddle before and I sat at the bow in the middle and paddled between my legs and I could move it ok.

 

[kenzum]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

We found out the hard way today that you DO need them. I used them to help keep us from crash into the shore when our motor would not start! I see people using them to get their boats on the trailer without the boat motor ever being on also!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

wireless remote trolling motor the only way to go.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

There's one oar on my pontoon boat (used to be two till I used one on the Jon-boat). Always thought it was pretty silly but did not have a good place to keep it, so it stayed. I did have a trolling motor, but since I don't fish and did not like the way took up deck space, I removed it. Now I' thinking maybe I should not have. Oh well. But that was interesting about some places requiring a paddle (and a bucket).

 

[cnydreamr]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

Last season I had to paddle a 20' toon up a canal, not quite a 1/4mi, with our fish net, until it broke, then swam pulling the boat, so paddles would have been better than nothing

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

Was that uphill in the snow?

I just checked Ohio's requirements for paddles. In the Ohio Required Safety Equipment section they arn't mentioned, at all! I bought one in June because two friends who have owned boats for over 25 years told me I needed one.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: emergency paddles on a pontoon ??

My real emergency "paddle" is secured to the back of my pontoon
I really do have one them plastic telescoping paddles onboard (might want to wack a snake or sumthing)