pontoons better floating????*******

[charlie128]

hey guys im new to the fourm. i got a question might be a stupid question but im gonna aske anyway. i got a 24ft party barge and i got 3 4ft seats and the console with 14-20 life jackets, 3 marine batteries, and a 90 johnson pushin. and when i get 4-5 friends (average 165per person) on it the toons are around 3/4 ways in the water and there is no water in them i was wondering if there is any secret to makeing them float "Better" hope i made this understandable.

Thanks for the input

 

[smoedog]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

what is the diameter of the toons?

My toon is the same way, its pretty butt heavy. But I need to move the batteries up front and see what else I can do to get more weight forward

 

[The Rooster]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

Welcome to the forum, Charlie. If its an older barge w/ 21 - 23" diameter tubes, thats going to be normal w/ that load. Not much you can do about it but shift some weight around to find out what works best. Good luck !!!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

I think the old term, not usually applied to boating though, still applies. There is no replacement for displacement. All weights being equal, a boat with the smaller toons displaces just as much water as the larger toons (the amount of the toon that is in the water). The larger toons just have more to displace if the weight grows.

With those toons the only option is to lose weight.

 

[5150abf]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

Welcome to iboats.

Concur, the only way to make it more bouyant is to get rid of weight or make the hull bigger, there is nothing you can add to the tubes that will make them float better.

There is a wives tale out there that if you put air or helium in the tubes they will have more bouyance but it simply isn't true, air would actually make them have slighly less bouyancy since it has weight.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

Same problem -- except I have 4 marine batteries, and a starting one. I moved the marine batteries to the front, and it didn't help much. I think, as many have said, it's the nature of the beast... unless you add a center tube, or lose some weight... not much will help.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

As said- normal-----Relax & enjoy

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

This may help you. and thier is one other option add another toon and make it into a tri toon

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

Maybe fill the toons with helium?

 

[charlie128]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

Thanks guys for the input and help im lookin at adding a 3rd toon now

 

[bav/270w]

Re: pontoons better floating????*******

I agree with some of the others. A center log with a transom is the way to go. I added one to my 89 20' Lowe and it improve the performance immensely especially in rough water. If money permits get one with lifting straits.