Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

[vznevada60]

My husband and I are really sold on Pontoons...mainly because of the price and how good it looks FOR the price

But...we live in Hampton Roads Virginia... and we have bays and rivers...lakes aren't popular here... in fact I can't find one that I would even want to put a boat on.

Would you suggest a Pontoon for River floats? Not a river rapid...LOL! The James River.

We are getting two different opinions here from several people: Some say it's fine, as long as it's not a very windy day and you stay close to shore. Others say NO... it's too rocky and you won't enjoy the ride unless you pass the mouth of the James River and keep it up stream...sigh.

This would be our very first boat...so we are totally novice.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

I don't know that river at all but some pontoon's can take some pretty good waves.

But the best way would be to rent a boat for a day at a local marina and take it out. Preferably on a windy day so you see the pros and cons. Or find someone that already has a pontoon there and ask them.

 

[VaGent]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrID=20291 Here is a link that you might want to check out for a really nice LARGE lake not that far from Hampton Rhodes. I live in Petersburg, VA & am less then 10 miles from the James River. I tend to believe other then the tugs & barges that come upriver to Richmond, you would be fine especially if you drove up to the James Harrison Bridge at RT 5 & put in there. I put in at Dutch Gap in Chester, VA & go all the way down river to the bridge when I am out fishing on my bass boat. Other then the tugs & barges which can generate a pretty large wake you will be fine. They don't come in & out all that much either except during the weekdays.

I am rebuilding my pontoon boat at present & will have no apprehension at all putting it in the James River & I am a NOVICE myself.

Another nice lake not far from you is Lake Gaston in Bracy, VA just off I-95 South. You can take 64 west to 295 south to I-95 south & you will be there in about 2-2 1/2 hrs. If I can help PM me. Hope this helps.

 

[Mako2]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

Another beautiful lake with in a few hours drive is Smith Mountain Lake. Its between Lynchburg and Roanoke. We drive down from Jersey and have always thought it was worth the ride.

Mark

 

[Frankenstien]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

Been a long time since I've been in that area... but the short response to your question is ... Yes...

 

[VaGent]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

Smith Mountain Lake is a very nice lake although somewhat crowded these days at times but Buggs Island Lake (aka John H. Kerr) has 850 miles of shoreline. It's a 2-1/2 hr drive from where I live. Buggs Island would take you around 2-2 1/2 hrs from Hampton Rhodes using the interstate roads. It's very hard to be crowded on that lake anywhere. You could also go up to Lake Anna north of Richmond just off I-95 not far from Kings Dominion. I have not been there myself but am told its a nice lake as well. It's most likely the closet fresh water lake to your area.

 

[Mako2]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

I'll have to check out Buggs Island one of these days. Never seemed to notice the crowd on SML guess I'm just used to the inlets on the Jersey shore. Some weekends there you can walk from shore to shore with out getting your feet wet with all the boats going in and out of the inlet

 

[VaGent]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

I have not been to SML myself in over 25 yrs but I have some friends who own property & spend most of their weekends there. They were telling me last month is was getting very crowded in the past 2 yrs. Since it is a good 2-2 1/2 drive from me I prefer to go to Buggs Island as it is closer by about 40 miles with all interstate highway to get there.

The Corp of Engineers operates it charges a launching fee of $5.00 but all the ramps, camping areas, roads & public facilities are keep up in very good condition. It's always clean & well maintained. Fishing is usually very good year round, the water is clean & the scenery is great to look at. Plenty of marinas & lots of nice people to meet. I think the fee over weekend camping is $7.00 total (Fri, Sat, Sunday) & they have electric & water hookups at some campsites as well as public showers within walking distance of the campsites. I have never seen it crowded I guess due to the large size of the lake.

 

[vznevada60]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

Thanks for the info. Lake Gaston is pretty far from us. We wanted to be close to the grandchildren, so that the ride won't be too long for them to even want to spend the day on the boat. One is six and one just over a year. My daughter and her husband wouldn't want a long ride either, and we'd need them to be with us if the kids come aboard.

Good luck with the Pontoon you're rebuilding. I envy someone who can fix things and make them work

http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrID=20291 Here is a link that you might want to check out for a really nice LARGE lake not that far from Hampton Rhodes. I live in Petersburg, VA & am less then 10 miles from the James River. I tend to believe other then the tugs & barges that come upriver to Richmond, you would be fine especially if you drove up to the James Harrison Bridge at RT 5 & put in there. I put in at Dutch Gap in Chester, VA & go all the way down river to the bridge when I am out fishing on my bass boat. Other then the tugs & barges which can generate a pretty large wake you will be fine. They don't come in & out all that much either except during the weekdays.

I am rebuilding my pontoon boat at present & will have no apprehension at all putting it in the James River & I am a NOVICE myself.

Another nice lake not far from you is Lake Gaston in Bracy, VA just off I-95 South. You can take 64 west to 295 south to I-95 south & you will be there in about 2-2 1/2 hrs. If I can help PM me. Hope this helps.

 

[vznevada60]

Re: Would you take a Pontoon onto the James River in Virginia?

Thanks everyone for your replies. I don't get here often enough to check. It was very helpful. We have been looking at both regular boats and Pontoons. We are leaning towards the Pontoon because of price, size and also because it seems like a great way to spend a day with family.

It's good to know that the James will be okay. When I took the safety test last week, the part about the Low-Face dams floored me. LOL! Now thank goodness I know what to look for and ask about before going out.

I'll be sure to check back and tell you what we decided on