Pontoon weight distribution

[xjcamaro89]

Hello everyone, newbie here, to the site and boating. Just picked up a 1988 FloteBote 20' pontoon. Havent got it on the water yet, spent the whole weekend cleaning and tuning up. Anyway, there really isnt much furniture on it. Just three seats on posts. I havent been able to find any information on weight limits or any user manuals for this boat, and there are no tags on the boat with that information. We build a bench seat and put it up against the back rail, its made out of treated wood and its not light, but isnt not overly heavy either. So my concern it how much weight can i put toward the back and still be ok. I have a 5-6 gallon gas tank on the back along with my evinrude 40 out back.

Any help or information would be greatly appriciated. Thanks guys!

Jason

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Pontoon weight distribution

I would look at the water stains (assuming you have them) to get an idea of its historical attitude in the water. If you put seating in the back, people will sit there. If you put it across the whole back fence, you could have seating for three to four people. Based on a conservative 150lbs, you are talking an additional 450-600 lbs. Now look at where that line on the toons is at. My guess is that you would only want two adults back there.

Influencing this is the diameter of the toons. Based on the generation they are probably 19", maybe 21. I would guess your load limit would be 5-7 passengers. The only way to be sure is to get it in the water and see how she sits. You don't want the toons underwater and the more exposed the better. The lower in the water the more likely you will get water in the valves on the tops of them and also make you exposed to bow stuffs or large waves.

 

[xjcamaro89]

Re: Pontoon weight distribution

Thats what i was thinking. That not only do you need to think of the weight of the bench but that people will also be sitting there. The water stains on the toons at the back are about half way up and a little less in the front, so the thing already looks like it sits heavy in the back. But i dont know what all the person who had it before put in the back. Like i said its a pretty open floor plan but it does look like the previous owner had some stuff on deck. So you are thinking 5-7 people on the boat?

Thanks again

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Pontoon weight distribution

Just a guess. That is what my 21' toon had with 19" toons. It's all about weight, not people so if you have skinny people you can have more. If you are 350lbs then you can have less.

You just need to see what the level is with different loads. Also weight in the back will lower the motor in the water as well. If you rue sitting still and water covers the whole leg, hen you are probably overloaded or weight not distributed correctly.

The new model Harris makes have 25" toons and can handle 10. If you have 21" or less, 7 would be a good assumption.

 

[xjcamaro89]

Re: Pontoon weight distribution

Got the boat out last night, no problem with weight distribution and the home made bench. This was with 5 adults and 1 child. This was my very first time on a boat where i was driving, launching, and retreiving. Everything went exactly perfect. Except i bumped the fuel line off the motor while trying to lower the motor into the water and didnt realize it. Got about 100 yrds out and the motor quit and couldnt get it started, then saw the fuel line was bumped off. Thanks for the help!