Test drove a tritoon today....

[mattsmith5]

and boy was I disappointed. It was an 06 Smoker-Craft 8524 4.0 with a 115 Merc Opti. I'm not sure what pitch the prop was, didn't have any way to get a look at it. The most I could get out of at WOT was 5100 RPM's and a whopping 20.6 MPH via the garmin. The guy told me it had strakes but when I showed up they must have grown legs and walked off. I was sure this thing would have done better. I reckon the boat search is still on. Also, the trailer he had for the thing wasn't a tritoon trailer, not sure if this matters though. Rant over.

 

[Engreps]

Re: Test drove a tritoon today....

Check out a JC Tritoon. My 266 runs well and handles rough water extremely well. 175 Merc two stroke. Not sure of exact speed but it moves realy well.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Test drove a tritoon today....

Unless you haul you boat very short distances, a tritoon trailer is a must to support the weight of the center pontoon.

 

[imported_John o]

Re: Test drove a tritoon today....

I love my Manitou. (it's a 24' tritoon with their SHP (sport handling package))

I've been told that lifting strakes won't do a whole lot of good without about 150HP behind them. I know that they work well with my 175.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Test drove a tritoon today....

Unless you haul you boat very short distances, a tritoon trailer is a must to support the weight of the center pontoon.

I wouldn't says its a "Must", do trailers have supports for pontoon pods? No. The extra weight added by the 3rd pontoon is next to nothing, the extra 100#, if that, over just an engine isn't going to to do any damage. Actually its probably better since the pontoon connects to all the cross members instead of just 3 or 4 like a motor pod does.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Test drove a tritoon today....

I wouldn't says its a "Must", do trailers have supports for pontoon pods? No. The extra weight added by the 3rd pontoon is next to nothing, the extra 100#, if that, over just an engine isn't going to to do any damage. Actually its probably better since the pontoon connects to all the cross members instead of just 3 or 4 like a motor pod does.

I understand your reasoning and I assumed that too when I was looking at tritoons two years ago. Every dealer I considered emphasized that I would need a tritoon trailer.

You could very well correct. Maybe others will jump in with opinions.

 

[hodginsmn]

Re: Test drove a tritoon today....

I have a 2004 27? tritoon, the 30 gallon gas tank is inside the middle tube and the 140 hsp motor is hanging off the back of it as well. I trailer it and take it on 300 mile road trips several times a year. It sits on a regular 2 bunk trailer and I have never had any problems.