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Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:57 pm
by Kalop
What's the smallest tritoon made?

I ask because I've walked many boats now at variety local dealers. Really for our needs, I think an 18-20 would be sufficient. But I never see these smaller size length in tritoon ? Are they even made?

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:29 pm
by Bamaman
Tritoons are very buoyant, and their front ends bounce quite a bit at lower speeds. Longer hulls just make them ride better.

I would suggest 22' or longer hulls for a tritoon and a minimum 115 horsepower.

Lifting strakes and undersheeting add so much speed, efficiency and reduced noise for a relatively small additional cost.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 4:04 am
by 1roadking
I have a 20 ft Bennington with ESP tritoon and it rides and handles great.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 4:17 am
by Ray Jr.
I know my marina had an 18 foot Premier with the PTX package this spring.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:58 am
by Kalop
Ok, thanks, seems they're out there... just rare, I haven't seen one yet in person.

Thanks for help/ suggestions. I've learned so much reading here... Really helping me on my future purchase this winter.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:10 am
by rancherlee
There are Mainly 2 types of people looking for pontoons, Those that want a cheap 18-20' with a 25-40hp outboard on the back to get out and putt around on the lake and those that want a Go fast 22+ foot "replace a mono hull" type pontoon. The few buyers left don't have much to pick through. Yes you can special order a performance "shorty" from a few manufactures but it will probably cost you the same as a 22-24' toon.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:26 am
by Bamaman
Rancherlee is right. You can get a full size toon for just slightly more than a mini-toon.

Unless you're on a low horsepower lake, most people prefer a boat that's able to take waves better and get home faster in case of storms--more seaworthy.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:36 am
by smlranger
My 20' Sylvan tri toon handles and rides great and I am on a fairly big lake with a lot of boat traffic. Mine is primarily used for striped bass fishing but we do use it to cruise the lake when the crazies/townies have gone home.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:49 pm
by Kalop
Thanks for all input.

I can't order new. So its basically going to come down to what I can find on used market.... and tritoon's are hard enough to find w/out limiting myself to smaller size tritoon. So practically speaking, I'm going to be lucky to find a tritoon in my budget... so I can't afford (literally) to get too picky.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:52 am
by rancherlee
Kalop wrote:Thanks for all input.

I can't order new. So its basically going to come down to what I can find on used market.... and tritoon's are hard enough to find w/out limiting myself to smaller size tritoon. So practically speaking, I'm going to be lucky to find a tritoon in my budget... so I can't afford (literally) to get too picky.
which is why I built mine, but I have 4-5 months of frozen water season to tinker. 2 old 20' pontoons, ALOT of time, and 5000$ later I've got a unique tritoon that is like new with all new everything. I like the 20x8 for trailering ease. A new 20' with a 150hp motor on the back would be a nice little package!

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:05 am
by Kalop
rancherlee wrote: which is why I built mine, but I have 4-5 months of frozen water season to tinker. 2 old 20' pontoons, ALOT of time, and 5000$ later I've got a unique tritoon that is like new with all new everything. I like the 20x8 for trailering ease. A new 20' with a 150hp motor on the back would be a nice little package!
Yea, you are right. 20' with 150hp would be perfect for my needs... and being that I trailer alot, the smaller size would be perfect. I just don't have the time really to do the work, with FT job, PT weekend dad of 8 yr old, plus all my other hobbies... and the learning curve would be pretty steep for me.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:55 pm
by woolznaz
1roadking, do you have any pictures on here of your Bennington? I love their ESP package and have often wondered about a smaller pontoon with that package. Your 20 footer is interesting to me.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 5:36 am
by STEVEBRENDA
If money is an issue, there is nothing wrong with a 2 log pontoon. The third log is just icing on ther cake. Buy a 2 log until you have the money to buy the tri log that you want.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:34 pm
by serpa4
Got my 21' JC with three logs and a 150hp on the back. Good for 37GPS so far.
I also wanted the smallest, tri-toon with a 150 minimum engine.
Handles great! Needs power steering though.

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:01 pm
by 1roadking
There is a picture of my boat in the photograph section. I can't figure out how to add it here! Not good with tech stuff! Lol