Pontoon for Catfishing!

[tumblebug1949]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

I will have to get a set of the outside rollers guides. I can see where they would be a big help on a windy day. I do a lot of fishing by my self since my son moved to the east coast so things have to work right or I end up tying up the ramp too much. I have been loading large cruisers for several years and if you plan everything out it can work smoothly.

I got my driftmaster rod holders today. If we get some warm weather, I will be putting those on.

Hey Old Screwball, your situation sounds too confusing for me. I have had a friend that ran into a situation like that before and it got him put in jail. He was a great guy and was out cruising the Tenn. River just west of Huntsville, AL. He had his girlfriend and another couple with him and she needed to take a leak. He nosed the deep V into a sand bar and got off the boat and helped his girl out so she could step into the bushes. A county deputy, came up out of the woods and ask if he had any alcohol on the boat. He said he did but because he did not know if he was in a dry county or not that he left all beverages on the boat. The deputy arrested him and took him to jail because he landed the boat and had beer on it.

I think that was crap. Bob, the arrested operator and I had trained law enforcement for years and a few months later, this deputy got pulled over for driving a PD vehicle after he had been drinking. So what goes around comes around. I agree with following the law but what is fair is fair.

Ok, better get for now

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Tom,

I'd hold off on the outside ones until you try what you have....I've got custom rails on the outside of mine that I built myself and I also put inside ones. I ended up cutting the inside ones out because I was having more problems with getting my pontoon on the trailer with both. That's why I say try what you have first...the problem with having both is you narrow down the foot print of the space you have to guide your pontoon on the trailer, which I didn't realize until after I had welded both inside and outside on my trailer. If your inside ones can be adjusted to be high enough, they will allow you to have a bigger foot print for getting your pontoon on the trailer (if that makes sense). My outside ones don't....they only allow about 2" on either side of my pontoon so I have to hit the opening just right or I could have issues getting it lined up. I also don't put more than 1/2 of my trailer in the water when I'm loading the pontoon but depending on the ramp you're using this might not work for you. The ramp I use has a straight drop off at the end of it into 25 ft. of water so running the engine to drive on the trailer doesn't effect the structure of the boat ramp unlike a ramp at a lake. Some people frown on using engines to drive up on a trailer because it could cause erosion to the ramp structure. Just keep that in mind when the time comes to load your pontoon, if the ramp goes a long ways into the water, you might be alright driving your pontoon on the trailer.
By the way......I started a fishing topic in the Freshwater fishing section....to discuss catfishing.
Here's a photo of the guides I welded on mine and then wrapped them with foam insulation for water pipes.

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

I'm with you on the no furniture setup Jeff.

Verlon, seems I remember you from another site a while back. Topcat or something like that was the handle? I think?

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Howdy Greg,

I suppose you have Wednesday off and will be firing up the pontoon for 70 degree weather??? LOL Last time they said it was going to be 70+ I didn't see over 60 most of the day.

 

[tumblebug1949]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Ok, I will try it with the inside guides before making any changes. The seller told me it loaded easy. Now we are fishing lakes so no current to account for. He said, and it makes sense to me, to back in until the rear guide rollers are about 6 or 7 inches out of the water. Then, when bringing the toon on, be slightly on the up wind side and let the roller come in just inside the tube turn it and it will guide it right on the skids. Many times things are easier said than done but it does make perfect sense. The learning point will be to decide the right amount of upright roller to have sticking above the water.

I am aware of the possible undercutting by power loading so I will watch that. The smallist engine I have ever had before was a 150 hp. This is a 40hp so power loading may not be the right term. More like grunt and slide.

Is it a good idea to add a fuel filter in the fuel line or not?

Thanks for the advice.

Tom

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Tom,

I would recommend adding a filter and also keeping your fuel tank full when parked. Also, I use additives in my fuel to attempt to cut down on water build up in the fuel tank (hence keeping the fuel tank full when parked). If your pontoon is going to sit longer than 2 or 3 weeks without running, pull the fuel plug and run the engine til the carbs are dry. This 10% Ethanol seems to be really hard on the fuel system of outboards. And of course I'd fog the engine when you put it up for the winter months too. First time I had to do mine was this last Fall....it sat for 4 months without me taking it out (I think that's a record for me) since I usually am out fishing at least once or twice a month year-round.
You'll get the hang of it with loading the pontoon and how deep in the water the trailer needs to be. Also, make sure that the first couple of dozen times you go out there that you keep an eye on the wind forecast. When you experience a couple 20-25 mph cross winds you'll see what I'm talking about. At least you won't have current/tides to deal with as I do, add those two together it makes it interesting at the ramp sometimes.
Enjoy you pontoon and I hope you catch some nice fish.....don't forget to post them up in the fishing section so we can see....fishing stories are like boat stories......they're just stories unless there's photos included.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Ok, I will try it with the inside guides before making any changes. The seller told me it loaded easy. Now we are fishing lakes so no current to account for. He said, and it makes sense to me, to back in until the rear guide rollers are about 6 or 7 inches out of the water. Then, when bringing the toon on, be slightly on the up wind side and let the roller come in just inside the tube turn it and it will guide it right on the skids. Many times things are easier said than done but it does make perfect sense. The learning point will be to decide the right amount of upright roller to have sticking above the water.

I am aware of the possible undercutting by power loading so I will watch that. The smallist engine I have ever had before was a 150 hp. This is a 40hp so power loading may not be the right term. More like grunt and slide.

Is it a good idea to add a fuel filter in the fuel line or not?

Thanks for the advice.

Tom

The inside guides should be sufficient if they're in the right place. One suggestion I will make is back the trailer all the way in to dunk the bunks then pull back up to the desired depth for loading. That really helps the toons slide on the carpet. Since you have plenty of experience loading other boats I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the ease of loading your toon.

 

[cat toon]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Thanks River Lizard and MH for all the advice. My trailer has inside the tube rollers, two on each side, but they are not quite as tall. Are these equivalent or should I still add the taller outside guides.

I am new to this forum and did not notice the Freshwater fishing Group. I will check it out and open a thread there if needed. This is Cat toon's thread that I just joined in on. I did not intend to take it over but it seems I may have. Or, Cat toon may just be out fishing, being from the south.

Thanks again everyone for the help.

Tom

Yep buddy,It is 66 here right now but I have my dash out on my toon,still trying to get all the gauges working with the motor change from Merc to johson,I hooked the water pressure gauge up but need to see if I did it right,I have not started the motor yet sence hookin up the gauge. I gonna buy a water/head temp gauge on friday and try to get it mounted,that is why the dash is still out.

Guys, I thank you all very much for all the info you have add to this thread,good job!

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Howdy Greg,

I suppose you have Wednesday off and will be firing up the pontoon for 70 degree weather??? LOL Last time they said it was going to be 70+ I didn't see over 60 most of the day.

I wish Jeff. Not this time, but I will be making a trip to the liquor store tomorrow. lol. Started my 8 days off work cycle as of 7:00 tonight! I'm awaiting the repair manual for my motor, then I'm going in to finally fix the water pump leak and replace the impeller before I start fishing again. Also hoping the tax return will allow for a Lowrance Elite7 Downscan/color sonar/gps combo.

 

[tumblebug1949]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Thanks for the comment about getting the runners wet and then pulling up until at the right depth. I am sure the wet carpet will let it slide easier. It has been a while since I owned a boat so I may not have remembered that. I added some "seafoam" to the gas today and started the motor while it was in a tub of water. Let it run for about 10 minutes so the mix would get into the cylinders.

My last outboard was a 150 hp Johnson. When it squirted water it had a strong solid stream. This 40hp Merc is more of a spit & spatter which is passing water but there is certainly not a good stream. I held my hand in the spitting several times and there was no heat to the water. Instead of the single round hole to allow water to exit, the Merc has three pea sized square holes so I guess it is not supposed to squirt like my old Johnson. I don't want to damage anything but am not sure if this amount of water is right or if an impeller replacement is called for. Any comments on this would be appreciated.

Other than the questions in my head, it was 60+degrees and a great day after a long cold period. Good day to get stuff done.

Tom

 

[ArkieBoater]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Hey Cat Toon,
I grew up in Russellville, I can remember when they closed the gates on the Dardenelle dam for the first time and watching the lake very slowly fill up. I live in Fort Smith now, but used to get to Russellville area a lot when I was still working. Always happy to see a fellow
Arkansan on the board.
Charlie

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Tom,
You might want to post this question in the Merc outboard section. My 40 hp Merc had a exit hose just like Johnsons/evinrudes and after 10 minutes I would think it would be at least warm water coming out at 60 degrees.

When it squirted water it had a strong solid stream. This 40hp Merc is more of a spit & spatter which is passing water but there is certainly not a good stream. I held my hand in the spitting several times and there was no heat to the water. Instead of the single round hole to allow water to exit, the Merc has three pea sized square holes so I guess it is not supposed to squirt like my old Johnson. I don't want to damage anything but am not sure if this amount of water is right or if an impeller replacement is called for. Any comments on this would be appreciated.

Other than the questions in my head, it was 60+degrees and a great day after a long cold period. Good day to get stuff done.

Tom

 

[tumblebug1949]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Thanks River lizard, I will post it in the Merc area. It is in the low 60's but the water in the tub was really cold.

Thanks again
Tom

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Catfishing!

Tom,

One other thing, see if someone on the Merc section mentions maybe thermostats being either gone or stuck open....sometimes that will make it come out of the holes you're talking about more than a pee tube (which I think it should have).