What to do if pontoon breaks down?

[scun10]

Please excuse me if this is a naive question, but I am wondering what to do if we were to break down on a small inland lake?

We have a used 22' pontoon. It works well and we only drive it around a small chain of 3 lakes in Michigan, where we just moved. But of course we realize something could go wrong and want to figure out the best plan of action.

It has been suggested to me that paddles would not be of much assistance if the boat were to break down because of it's size. I'm wondering, too, whether a marine radio would help much on such small community lakes, but perhaps it would.

We often have our cell phones and usually can get some sort of signal, but we don't even know who we would call in this instance. I have checked into a couple of the nationwide towing services and they don't seem to have any branches in our area (Lenawee County).

Do local marinas offer emergency service? Or is there some other obvious person to call or service to get? Thanks.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

We have a place on a good sized lake and river system that we boat on during weekends. The best thing you can do for a multitude of reasons is to get to know your neighbors. I had a waterpump go out of the lake a few years ago and I just called my friend from a couple doors down and he came out to tow us in.

If I could not have done that, I would have waved somebody down. Most people are happy to help.

If there is nobody around, I would have the Sheriffs number handy. That would be a distant 3rd place in my view. Where we are at the VHF is not applicable and there are no tow companies.

Now if you are paranoid, you could install a trolling motor that could act as a secondary means of propulsion.

It is also wise to know your rig very well to see if the problem can be solved without a tow, even if you need to limp to shore.

 

[a1nowell]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

scun10,
Everything rogerwa suggested. I also suggest a good anchor and anchor rope that could be used as a tow rope. If you call for help you do not want to be drifting around and unable to be located. Also a GPS so you could be very specific about your location, but your phone has that just figure out how to use it.

Put the phone numbers of the nearest marina, a neighbor and the sheriff into your cell phone and put them on a card and laminate and put it with your boats onboard papers.

If you want to cover all bases you might consider this:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50469&subdeptNum=50494&classNum=50500

Be safe & have fun,

Larry

 

[WaterDR]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

All great advice!!!

I would add that you should have some hand tools around and a spare battery. Use the right fuel too. Mny problems that happen could have been avoided in the first place.

I have been towed in before and have done towing of others.

I once broke down in a VERY awkward situation where I was separated form my kids.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

I installed a kicker motor on the back of our pontoon......I never really worry about a breakdown now....peace of mind!

These are older photos. The kicker sits higher now and does not extend down past the floor.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

depends on how busy the lakes are, if there is always other boats, just carry a 50' rope and flag someone down. If they are not so busy then a 50# thrust trolling motor on a fully charged battery should be enough to move you 2-3 miles which should be plenty to get you to shore, somewhere. I've towed a few boats in my my 15 years of boating, but in the last 5 years with all the 4 strokes/DFI 2 strokes now running around I really haven't had to help anyone out. MOST people I've needed to help simply ran out of gas because "the gauge shows 1/4 tank!"

 

[tommytoon]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

i have found that most other boaters will help tow you in simply because they may be in the same situation and would need the help too if they broke down. god bless america help each other out is my motto!!!

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

Years ago we used to go ocean boating. I joined BoatUS, it is the AAA of boating. Costs 50 bucks a year, but if you break down in the Catalina Channel it can cost you a couple of grand to get towed back to the Marina. We now have a place on the Colorado River in Arizona. There are 2 BoatUS 'tow boats' running between the dams, so we can get towed if we need to. Also, we have several neighbors telephone numbers, and pretty near everyone in our community will come help you if you call, I just prefer the BoatUS. Used it once when our Jet 'ate' a rock and we couldn't dislodge it. Tow was free, cost a grand to get the rock out, replace the impeller and wear ring.

Good Luck

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

Keep all your safety gear up to date, have a secondary battery to run all your lights and toys as not to drain your starting battery. I have never tried it, but I wouldn't think a paddle would do much. Trolling motor might be of some help though as long as your battery is up to it. I keep an 8ft push pole bungeed across my stern just in case I get stuck on a flat or sandbar and am alone and unable to risk jumping in to push it off lest it drift away on me. It doubles as a shallow water anchor for the stern. If you get stranded try and flag someone down for assistance. Here in VA it is illegal to not stop and at least check on a boat that is signalling distress in some fashion. You are not obligated to tow anyone, but you must at least respond and check that everyone is ok, and that the situation is not life threatening. I am amazed at how many boaters do not know, or choose to ignore this law. I have towed in 4 or 5 boats in my time and in nearly every instance saw, or was told by the boaters that several boats passed close, saw them, and kept going.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: What to do if pontoon breaks down?

Paranoid is apparently the category I fall into, so I installed a 80lb trolling motor. I installed one on our pontoon, and like it so much, we use the gas in case we run out of battery. It's quiet. But will easily pull us around for 3 miles, before we have to switch batteries.