Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I am looking for a faster than average pontoon boat and have my eye on a 2008, 21 foot, factory straked Suntracker PB. Most non straked boats like this can make 20MPH but I want to know the realistic performance of the straked boat.

Anyone have any experience with straked boats ?

My 24 foot 50hp mercury powered pontoon will run 19mph with 4 people on board, full of gas and with a 12 pitch prop at 5100 RPM's no stakes. I would think you should be around 24 to 27 mph

If it has the NV performance logs you can probley expect 34-40!

Remember that straked boats cannot be marginally powered. It takes horsepower to get'em up on plane--preferably the largest motor the specs allow. Then, they'll run pretty fast.

Good luck finding such a boat.

Thanks for the reply. Suntracker showed the max reccomended motor for the straked boat in question was the 90HP Merc which again it already has. I will assume that with that boat, it performs as they intended. But I can see where a bigger motor could do even better things.

From what I have seen on our lake you will run about 25 with strakes lifting bow and rear plowing because yo don't have enough power to get rear up also

Just about what i said, I agree

Lakerunner, I don't know about the boats on your lakes but believe me, if the boat is running the highest hp that the boat is rated for it should do fine with strakes. I have nothing but praise for the SunTrackers and mine runs fine with the 90 that it is rated for. I've outrun many of the three loggers with 150 hp motors. I was outrun by a Extreme Tri Hull with a 420 hp inboard however.

Back to the OP, if your propped right you can expect 35-36 mph with up to 6 people (no heavyweights) onboard. With a SS performance prop I've seen 39.2 mph with 2 in the boat.

brumbyvet.1044 wrote:(no heavyweights) onboard.

I resemble that comment.

brumbyvet.1044 wrote:Lakerunner, I don't know about the boats on your lakes but believe me, if the boat is running the highest hp that the boat is rated for it should do fine with strakes. I have nothing but praise for the SunTrackers and mine runs fine with the 90 that it is rated for. I've outrun many of the three loggers with 150 hp motors. I was outrun by a Extreme Tri Hull with a 420 hp inboard however.

Back to the OP, if your propped right you can expect 35-36 mph with up to 6 people (no heavyweights) onboard. With a SS performance prop I've seen 39.2 mph with 2 in the boat.

It looks like you have the exact same spec'd boat I am looking to buy and I am excited to hear your personal results. My ultimate goal is to have it make 30MPH with about 4 on board. If it takes a different prop to do it, no big deal. I am no expert on these boats but it seems that from what I have found on the net, these straked NV log boats go significantly faster than your conventional boat. Even if it simply went 25 on the GPS, I would not be disappointed considering every 21" 90HP toon I have been on only made 20MPH. Guess I will just have to wait and see.

What spec aftermarket prop would provide optium performance in your opinion.

After you get the boat you want will you please come back to this forum and let us know what it really runs. It takes more to make a pontoon run than most know.

brumbyvet.1044 wrote:Lakerunner, I don't know about the boats on your lakes but believe me, if the boat is running the highest hp that the boat is rated for it should do fine with strakes. I have nothing but praise for the SunTrackers and mine runs fine with the 90 that it is rated for. I've outrun many of the three loggers with 150 hp motors. I was outrun by a Extreme Tri Hull with a 420 hp inboard however.

Back to the OP, if your propped right you can expect 35-36 mph with up to 6 people (no heavyweights) onboard. With a SS performance prop I've seen 39.2 mph with 2 in the boat.

We have 3 or 4 on our lake with the 90 Merc and I have yet to one in full plane at full throttle. I just don't think a 90 is enough for a boat with strakes to get it up all the way.
But they might not have it trimmed or loaded right.

My experience is that a NV (straked logs) equipped Tracker Fishing Barge 21 will run 38 - 39 MPH (GPS) when equipped with a properly setup 90 HP motor. I run a 13.25 X 17 prop @ 5800 RPM to get 38 - 39 MPH. This is with two adults on board, full tank of gas and about 50 pounds of extra weight. With six adults on board it will still run around 33 to 35 MPH. Note that it is very trim sensitive and best speed is trimmed nearly flat. I also have a 13.75 X 15 prop that I use when operating with higher loads. This prop will still move the boat to about 35 MPH and will hit the rev limiter if pushed.

I originally had a 60 HP on it and was not satisfied with the performance. More than two people and it could not utilize the strakes. Top speed was about 30 MPH with two adults on board. Thank goodness the dealer was willing to let me trade in the 60 and difference for a 90.

Tracker got this package right and then stopped making it .... go figure.

Woohoo. Finnaly got the boat and it does 33mph top closed and 31 top open with 2 adults, 2 kids. It feels like any other pontoon up to about 23mph then it starts to plane and accelarates even quicker to top speed. Needless to say I am very pleased.

Nice! Excellant find, hope you enjoy her. I finally got my 2011, 22' non straked up to 26 mph WOT last weekend. Just me on it, bimini down, light chop. Sure wish I could break 30!