pontoon boat / motor setup

M

marunr

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 11, 2004
Messages
225
Hi,<br />I've been looking at a Suntracker 24' pontoon boat that's stored next to my boat. It isn't currently for sale but the landlord says it may soon be. I would guess it's a early to mid '90's model...anyway my question is: it has an oil injected 70 hp mercury outboard on it. I only have experience with I/O's and I'm wondering if this would be powerful enough to pull a skier?<br /><br />Thanks.
 
Dunaruna

Dunaruna

Admiral
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
6,027
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

If it is capable of sustaining plane, it might pull an experienced double up and away, but not slalom - not enough ponies.
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Messages
51,019
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

no, those toons are heavier than they look, and are not hydrodynamic. it would probably need a 150hp. if you are looking for a combination boat, look at the DeckBoats, they perform like a bow rider, but have much more usable space. of good to a tritoon.
 
M

marunr

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 11, 2004
Messages
225
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

thanks for the quick replies.
 
rickdb1boat

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

Yeah, mines got a 70 rude on it and no way am I gonna get a skier up even on "10" skies.... :D Pulls a tube real nice, though...
 
waterinthefuel

waterinthefuel

Commander
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Nov 15, 2003
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Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

Considering a pontoon boat isn't a planable hull, a 150 wouldn't do anything but ensure we remain reliant on foreign sources of energy! :D
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

I have a 22' toon with a 75 Merc. with an 11" pitch prop. At 5600 RPM, it will net about 20 MPH. 5600 RPM uses ALLOT of fuel.<br /><br />It will pull a skier, but pulls a tube better.<br /><br />If you really want to ski, look for another type boat.
 
C

CFronzek

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 11, 2002
Messages
118
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

Pontoon boats don't have enough surface area on the water to plane. They are displacement hulls. Like all dispacement hulls they have a characteristic hull speed which is usually below 10 mph. They can be made to go beyond hull speed if enough horspower is available but, unlike a planing hull which is easier to push once it's on plane, a displacement hull gets harder and harder to push with each increase in speed. By trying to make them do what they were not designed to do you are working the hell out of the motor and guzzling gas.<br />Displacement hulls do have an upside. If driven at hull speed or less they require very little horsepower. That 24 footer will probably get to hull speed with 20 hp motor and you wouldn't even have to run it very hard.
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

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51,019
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

yes, but if you put 6 people on it, i doubt it.
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

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51,019
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

spent Sat & Sun on a 23' Chris Craft deckboat, 5.7L Volvo i/o. extremely impressed one of the best handling boats i've ever seen. 11 people on board and the 12 on a tube. and not afraid of rough water. 12 on board crusing @ 40 kts. 4300 rpm.
 
OBJ

OBJ

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 27, 2002
Messages
10,161
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

WOW! That toon could make ya' pucker..... :D :D
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: pontoon boat / motor setup

that's a tritoon a totally different animal. you could plan a cast iron bathtub with 500 horses. it's a very nice boat. what $50,000 rigged out.
 
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