pontoon boats

[Soundguy]

I'm not against boats... just never owned one.. never really wanted one.. I don't mind fishin from shore.

In any case.. the wife brought up the idea of a pontoon boat. something short like a 16'er perhaps with a covered portion in the back. i have seen some with a swept back cover that folds down.. and others with a box frame the length of the baot with a cover you can install or not install.

any people with pontoon boats care to offer advice?

I'm not a boat guy.. what's the average price range of these things?

soundguy

 

[mjarrels]

Boats are a hole in the water to put your money in. Best days of boat ownership are the day your bought it and the day you sold it.

mark

 

[mustangsallysdad]

Take a look at deck boats...offer a little more versatility along with the space of a pontoon. The "logs" on a pontoon can require quite a bit of maintenance if used in a corrosive environment...not just salt or brackish water, but even acidic (read that as southeastern US red clay) freshwater.

 

[jenkinsph]

Soundguy,

If I didn't like boats I could have more tractors and implements.:laughing:


Pontoon boats can be hard to handle especally for a noobie, maybe an 18 foot mono hull might be a better all around choice. Entry level boats start around $20,000 and a nice 23' can be close to $100,000.

Tractors are cheaper and since they are usually close at hand you can play with them more. Last year I considered moving up in boat size and decided I had more time to play with a tractor so that is what I bought.

 

[YanmarFever]

I HAD a pontoon boat, it was a pain in the A... to load on the trailer.
Every time you got up close to the trailer it would shift sideways, I was on the river at the time.
Very difficult to control when going slow, that's for sure.
It has a new owner now, and I have another tractor !

 

[brin]

For years we had a 36 ft. houseboat and for years everytime we went to the lake I took my tool box..it was always something...then we bought a 21 foot sKi boat....I took my tool box and again it was always something....then I had a great day come along..the day I sold both boats....I love my tractors. If you think about it boats spend most of their time sitting ...that 's not good ..so if you lived on the water and were using the boat day in and day out then I'm sure they would be more dependable.

 

[lakngulf]

If you think about it boats spend most of their time sitting ...that 's not good ..so if you lived on the water and were using the boat day in and day out then I'm sure they would be more dependable.

I do live on the lake, and do try to give my boats a run at least every few days. I have never owned a pontoon boat, and never a boat at all until I bought the lake place in 1996, and a used sea doo. In 1999 I bought a 22 ft deck boat, and love it. Does it take care and feeding? Yes. Am I glad there is a good marine shop nearby? Yes. Would I want to do without it? No. If I were to buy a new boat it would probably be a pontoon, but I hope not to be buying a new boat.

You can beach a pontoon boat easier than a deck boat. If you get a four stroke engine you can run the pontoon boat year round without worrying with winterzation. Fishing from either would be about the same, except I have not seen any trolling motors on deck boats. That is my 1cent worth

 

[MossRoad]

I'm not against boats... just never owned one.. never really wanted one.. I don't mind fishin from shore.

In any case.. the wife brought up the idea of a pontoon boat. something short like a 16'er perhaps with a covered portion in the back. i have seen some with a swept back cover that folds down.. and others with a box frame the length of the baot with a cover you can install or not install.

any people with pontoon boats care to offer advice?

I'm not a boat guy.. what's the average price range of these things?

soundguy

BOAT:

Bust
Out
Another
Thousand

(heard that on Pawn Stars a few weeks ago). :laughing:

Unless you live on a body of water or have a pier or slip rented, I would not get a pontoon boat. They are kind of a pain to move around often. They also require a pontoon boat trailer, not a regular boat trailer. I had a friend that was given one, we restored it and spent the summer playing around with it. While it was fun to have a big party deck and a shady place, it was no joy to move around on land.

I have looked at boats several times in my life. If I ever get something bigger than my current 12' semi-V row boat it would probably be a combination fish and ski boat. They are usually big enough to have seating for 6-8 people, a canopy top for the back half and a removable pedestal seat in the front (and back, too) for fishing. Plenty of options for fun in the sun. I would buy used, too.

Another thing to think about is aluminum VS fiberglass. Fiberglass repairs can be costly. Aluminum repairs you can do yourself if you have a capable welder.

 

[jobguy]

Boats and pontoon boats are a blast. With a Pontoon or Deck boat you can take family and enjoy their company too. You will learn how to handle them, all it takes is practice. Pontoon boats may have a shallower draft thus you can get closer to shore for Bass. If you trailer the boat get a trailer that you can put boat guides on so on a windy day you can still load without too much trouble.

 

[brin]

I do live on the lake, and do try to give my boats a run at least every few days. I have never owned a pontoon boat, and never a boat at all until I bought the lake place in 1996, and a used sea doo. In 1999 I bought a 22 ft deck boat, and love it. Does it take care and feeding? Yes. Am I glad there is a good marine shop nearby? Yes. Would I want to do without it? No. If I were to buy a new boat it would probably be a pontoon, but I hope not to be buying a new boat.

You can beach a pontoon boat easier than a deck boat. If you get a four stroke engine you can run the pontoon boat year round without worrying with winterzation. Fishing from either would be about the same, except I have not seen any trolling motors on deck boats. That is my 1cent worth

If I lived on the water, and I wish I did...specifically in Tybee Island, Ga. then I would buy a boat...but having to trailer a boat, especially a pontoon would not be for me. You should have and enjoy a boat...you are in paradise...

 

[Soundguy]

Yikes.. I think the miss's ain't gonna be gettin a boat!

soundguy

 

[grnspot110]

Mine is for small lakes! 6' wide x 15 long (12" deck), will use up to 25 HP outboard. But since I don't fish anything bigger than 500 acre & mostly under 200, I went to two electrics. 54 lb. 12V, remote on the front & 82lb., 24V, tiller steer on the back. No more trying to keep a small outboard running! Works great for me! ~~ grnspot110

 

[brin]

LOL - Soundguy...Look at grnspot110....3rd photo and picture ..there you are after a day on the lake...see the pontoon boat ? See the runners on the trailer ? Know how tired and worn out you are and now you have to jockey that puppy onto that trailer just so and pull it home....I guess some like it...if it was tied up on the dock behind your home that would be great but the trailering ...loading...unloading...repairing...gets real old real quick...I'm done !

 

[mostly_gas]

I have to smile when reading some of the responses. Loading a boat on a trailer is no harder than loading a tractor on a trailer and less work to chain secure
I would suggest you rent one a few times. If you find you like it it won't be a problem learning the skills you need to boat just like you learned your tractoring skills. Personally I prefer a deck boat as we water ski as well as fish from it.

 

[grnspot110]

LOL - Soundguy...Look at grnspot110....3rd photo and picture ..there you are after a day on the lake...see the pontoon boat ? See the runners on the trailer ? Know how tired and worn out you are and now you have to jockey that puppy onto that trailer just so and pull it home....I guess some like it...if it was tied up on the dock behind your home that would be great but the trailering ...loading...unloading...repairing...gets real old real quick...I'm done !

That's why I posted that pic: easy off - easy on!!! You just need the proper equipment. Only the winch strap on rhe front & two tie straps on the back & you're ready to roll!

Being only 6' wide my pontoon trailers very easy! ~~ grnspot110

 

[Bird]

I have a cousin who has a 28' pontoon boat. When he bought it about 22 years ago, he used it a great deal, and I've fished a number of times on it with him 18 to 21 years ago. He's still got it, but I don't think it's been in the water in at least 10 or 12 years. However, if I could afford it, I'd sure have an 18' to 20' one myself.

 

[weldingisfun]

Boats are a hole in the water to put your money in. Best days of boat ownership are the day your bought it and the day you sold it.

mark

Believe me when I tell you that I enjoy being out on the lake as much as anyone else, but, I have to agree with Mark.
We had an 18' pontoon which cost us at least $250 every time we took it out. This is how I looked the day we sold it.
Talk to your bride and see if she will go along with renting one when y' all want to spend the day on the lake. You will come out $$$ ahead and she will get her time on the lake. That is a win win situation.

 

[OKnewguy]

Hey soundguy you might run over to iboats.com. They have a great forum over there. I can't believe the negative replies about boats. I am 36 and have had a boat since I was 19. The first one I got was a 16' runabout. I did not know anything at all about boats (just been out with buddies a few times) and I ran that boat for 6 years with out any problems at all, I then sold it to little bro and it is still running strong. Our second boat we picked up for 13.5k it was a 19' glastron ski boat, had if for 7 years and sold it for 11.5k. I did not do anything to this boat except add trailer brakes. Our current boat is a 23' deck boat, this one has taken some tlc, but I knew that going in. I think I could actually make money on it right now (had if for 2 years)

I do not think you would have any problems with buying a good used boat. The most common thing you have to do with them is change your impellers (it is recommended once a year, pretty easy), if you use it in salt water you will need to flush it out after every use, but a lot of the salt guys drop in a river and go to the salt, this helps get the salt out of the motor and is easier on the trailer. I know you can handle a wrench, so do not let things scare you off.
The best advice I have read so far, is to rent one and see if it is to your liking. I agree completely.
Good luck, Dave

 

[2manyrocks]

I think I'd go to where you think you would use it and ask the boat owners there for opinions. There's a lake near me where it might be difficult to launch a pontoon because of the steep ramp access--I know it's a pain for a regular boat. Might not be a problem for you, but probably none of us really know what your local water access is like.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I agree with Oknewguy. (Dave) I have had boats on and off all my life. I have NEVER been stranded out on the water. I have never had a bad day in a boat. I have never received a phone call on a boat, I have never had a neighbor ask to borrow a tool while on a boat. I have never caught a fish when I wasn't on the water. I am a mechanic, however, I let the marina do all the work on my motors. I am not a marine mechanic, therefore, I let the professionals handle it. Probably a big reason I have never been stranded on the water. I know a lot of people that have/had boats that were/are cheapskates. They are the people that have problems. My boats have never cost me a lot of money. I don't spend $250 a year on my current Mercury 35hp outboard.
Loading and unloading is all practice and common sense. I have seen guys at the ramp take 10 tries or more to load their boat. A good trailer set up right, (yes, you do have to set up a trailer properly) and probably most importantly, sunk in the water at the proper depth, should be a one shot, two shots maximum load. A pontoon is even easier because you have 2 bunks for the pontoons to ride on. I have buddies with the roller guides for their pontoons and they load them faster than most load a 16' V-bottom on a roller trailer.