Question for 5150abf

[smclear]

I have a couple of questions for you that I believe may interest others as well.

As someone who works for a pontoon mfg., your thoughts/advice are highly regarded in this forum. So, from all of us, thanks.

As I am sure you are aware, JC Mfg. has patented the planing hull as well as the term "Tritoon". Therefore the use of the term "Tritoon" for anything other than a JC is incorrect. For those who are not aware, the center tube of a JC Tritoon is designed as a planing hull. It is not your typical tube. The first Tritoon my family ever owned was purchased new in ~1982 give or take a couple of years. We bought another in 1996 which was stolen in 2007. We replaced it with a regular triple toon (not the Tritoon model) due to a fantastic deal our local dealer made for us. While I am quite happy with the new pontoon, it has really made me appreciate just exactly what the "planing" tube adds to the performance. The difference is very noticeable. My first question is, do you know when JC's patent expires? Secondly, in your opinion, do you foresee other manufacturers developing their own planing hull when the patent does expire. From personal experience, they really do make a huge difference in performance.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Question for 5150abf

JC is about 10 miles from my house and I have seen there center tube, there are several others that make a "tube" like that, I beleive Smoker Craft came out within the last 2 years.

All you need to get around a patent is to change 3 things I believe and the patent holder has to be willing to defend the patent in court which is not easy and can be very expensive also someone could make a planing center tube that was a completely different design and be okay as Smoker did.

As far as the name tri toon any boat with 3 tubes is a tri, it is just what you call them, although I looked in our brochure and we use "triple tube" so someone must be aware of the copyright on the name, I honestly didn't know until I read this post.

JC, by choice is a very small company, I would be suprised if they have ever done more than 500 boats in a year if that, and they are a fabulous boat, on the other end we made I believe 6700 year before last.

Alot of makers have tried alot of diffent things to get toons to "plane", I have seen some truly goofy things welded to tubes, we use 2 different types of chines welded to the tubes as well as our elliptical tube to achieve additional lift.

The elliptical tube is also our answer to the banking toon, we tried alot of diffent design and wanted to stay away from the "center tube is lower" approach as it makes the boat unstable and settled on the elliptical, which is pattened.

inventing a new type of tube is REALLY expensive so Idon't see many companies wanting to takle that in the near future.

I ahve no idea when the patent runs out but JC has been in buisness for ALONG time and most or all of there boats are tri's so I woould say it has expired or will soon.

 

[smclear]

Re: Question for 5150abf

Thanks for the reply. My lake house is in Syracuse so I'm right down the street from JC as well.

As I said, the family has owned JC's for the last 20 +/- years. Prior to that we had Harris Flote Boats.

I really wish we could swing a Bennington but they are pricey and with all the other toys it would just stretch the budget too much.

 

[imported_John o]

Re: Question for 5150abf

we tried alot of diffent design and wanted to stay away from the "center tube is lower" approach as it makes the boat unstable .

I've got one of those "center tube is lower" pontoons and it is not unstable. Admittedly I've not been on hundreds of boats but it is more stable than any other pontoon I've been on.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Question for 5150abf

My point is on a normal tri all the tubes are level giving you the most stable platform, when you move the center tube down 6''-8'' more than the out board tubes the boat is more easily upset by waves and wakes as the center tube is holding up more weight.

And again the guy having the boat jump from one bank to the other while turning, I imagine he needed fresh shorts after that.

 

[imported_John o]

Re: Question for 5150abf

My point is on a normal tri all the tubes are level giving you the most stable platform, when you move the center tube down 6''-8'' more than the out board tubes the boat is more easily upset by waves and wakes as the center tube is holding up more weight.

I've not been any more upset by waves or wakes than any other pontoon I've ever been on. And I am much much more stable at speed.

And again the guy having the boat jump from one bank to the other while turning, I imagine he needed fresh shorts after that.

One outlying anecdote does not a proof make. I've heard stories of three tube boats turned over. That doesn't mean they are unstable either.