More hp or add 3rd log

[moparts]

Hi Not new to the forum but its been a long time. Have a 20 ft Aveon pontoon with a 75 hp etec. Boat is heavy and hard to get planed out. Was wondering if I would be better off going to a 115 hp or adding a 3rd log. Top speed is aroung 20mph now running a 13 7/8 x 13 prop. Tried a 14 x 11 didn't make any noticable differance.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

This is a great question! Curious as to what other folks think on this one.

Here is my take....

HP makes you go faster. A third log makes you go faster with more people. I can't say for sure, but I think you will pick up some speed with the log, but where they really shine is handling the waves and allowing more more load on the boat.

How old is the boat? Engine upgrades are really expensive. I looked into doinge the same, and just ended up getting a new boat. I wish sometimes that I had a third toon.

BTW, the third toon is heavy too.

 

[5150abf]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Generally you want to do both, I don't think 75 is enough power to see a real gain adding a 3rd tube, you will have more bouyancy but with the extra drag probably less speed so if your end game is more top speed go with the engine upgrade for now and then maybe later add a center tube.

Sorry, pet peeve of mine, LOGS grow in the forrest, TUBES are crafted from aluminum, I have byuilt about 200,000 of them so I know what it takes to make on.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Hi Not new to the forum but its been a long time. Have a 20 ft Aveon pontoon with a 75 hp etec. Boat is heavy and hard to get planed out. Was wondering if I would be better off going to a 115 hp or adding a 3rd log. Top speed is aroung 20mph now running a 13 7/8 x 13 prop. Tried a 14 x 11 didn't make any noticable differance.

Both, but I know thats expensive. You could also consider the Pontoon Water Glide. About $2000.00 and 5+ mph gain in speed. Good luck !!!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Can't say about the 3rd log but i put a 110 Johnson on my 20' Suntracker & get 30mph out of it -

 

[BonairII]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

How about going to a 4 blade prop?

 

[moparts]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

This is a great question! Curious as to what other folks think on this one.

Here is my take....

HP makes you go faster. A third log makes you go faster with more people. I can't say for sure, but I think you will pick up some speed with the log, but where they really shine is handling the waves and allowing more more load on the boat.

How old is the boat? Engine upgrades are really expensive. I looked into doinge the same, and just ended up getting a new boat. I wish sometimes that I had a third toon.

BTW, the third toon is heavy too.

2007 pontoon

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

A four blade prop is a waste of money.I had one on a 21 ft bow rider with a 230 hp IO. All I got was more vibration and less speed. And harder to make turns with.

 

[Water logged]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

What's the max HP rating on that 20 footer? You may need to add the 3rd tub to handle 115 HP

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

I'm willing to bet at 3rd pontoon with a BUILT IN TRANSOM would give you as much speed if not more than the upgrade from a 75hp to a 115hp engine. By "almost on plain" I think you are actually feeling the transom plowing into the wake created between the tubes and lifting the back up and pushing the bow down past 15mph or so. The faster you go the worse the issue and HP isn't going to help much as more than 1/2 your extra 40 horse power just amplifies the plowing effect and you will only gain 4-5mph more speed. Personally I gained 7mph with a 3rd tube added as my pontoon is an older model with only 20" equivalent octagon shaped tubes. With a light load I went from 22mph plowing water to 29mph with the front 1/3 of the tubes completely out of the water at speed! With a HEAVY near capacity load I went from 17mph to 21mph for a 4mph gain with a full load, that's right I'm only 1mph SLOWER with 6 people, big Cooler, BBQ, and a live well full of water on the pontoon than I use to be with just ME. That's with the SAME 70hp 4 stroke engine, same 14x13 aluminum prop, and about 150# extra weight from the 3rd pontoon. Built in Transom seems to be key, most people have have bolt in a shorter 3rd pontoon in front of the existing transom seem to gain very little if any speed. Most people don't see the speed gains I have but mine had squarish looking FLAT BOTTOM transom that trapped a lot of water compared to V shaped transoms on newer pontoons. 3-4 mph seems to be a pretty common speed gain on a 20' with a 60-75hp engine.

 

[figgyb]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Where did you get the 3rd toon? How much did it cost? I'm considering something similar for mine...

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Well, if that boat is actually an AVALON, you can pick up the third toon.

I have the 3rd toon AND the 115, but no lifting strakes, so my 24' (which weighs 2100 pounds empty) only gets up to 24 MPH - at 5500 feet elevation.

If you get the third toon be SURE to get one with lifting strakes. You won't regret it!

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Where did you get the 3rd toon? How much did it cost? I'm considering something similar for mine...

Found another pontoon like mine in disrepair with no engine or trailer for 500$ on craigslist. I now have a spare tube behind the garage if I have a big oops moment! Add in the cost of a 850$ Hobart Handler 190 with aluminum spool gun and 100$ worth of Aluminum and it now has a transom on the back of the tube, extra supports, and I got to purchase a new welder!

 

[wedge542]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Found another pontoon like mine in disrepair with no engine or trailer for 500$ on craigslist. I now have a spare tube behind the garage if I have a big oops moment! Add in the cost of a 850$ Hobart Handler 190 with aluminum spool gun and 100$ worth of Aluminum and it now has a transom on the back of the tube, extra supports, and I got to purchase a new welder!

Thats how i found mine, craigslist, no motor or trailer cheap, sold the extra log and all the alum, paid for entire job, got everything needed,welded the transom on center and a homemade tritoon was born. If you get real lucky youll find a plastic bag with cash in it hide like i did, prob been there for yrs, that helped too.

 

[moparts]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Found a 22 foot tri toon with lifting strakes and a two axle trailer for under 5k that was storm damaged. Thinking about getting it and putting tubes under my boat.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

How about adding helium to the pontoons and calling it a day

Just kidding.....

 

[figgyb]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Well, if we are going that direction I recommend Hydrogen, takes half as much and has great visual effects when mishandled!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Well, if we are going that direction I recommend Hydrogen, takes half as much and has great visual effects when mishandled!

At least you'd have enuff power to pull a dingy behind you to get back to shore

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

At least you'd have enuff power to pull a dingy behind you to get back to shore

The main problem, would be LANDING the dinghy, at 327.993 Meters per second and an elevation of 27.63 Meters!
There are those that would argue, that as long as your angle of incidence with the water was nose-high, you'd be good to go, but you have to take into account the pitch rotation caused by the friction of the water on the skin of the dinghy.

Oh, the physics of this is just SICK!

 

[moparts]

Re: More hp or add 3rd log

Ok...bought a 22 foot pontoon that is just the deck and tubes. They are 25 in dia. with lifting strakes my old was 20ft with 23 in dia. tubes with no strakes. I am going to put all the uptop off my 20 footer and stay with my 75 hp etec. Now the question is......Do I set all my top to the rear of the longer deck or to the front? It will actually give me 18 or 19 inches of deck to the front or rear. If I go to the rear all of my engine cabels will fit for sure.