Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey guys. Just a quick question for those of you that ordered your boats new. How much customization were you allowed to do when ordered?

For instance, I have been looking at various builders and cannot find a layout I like. I wish my toon was better setup for fishing, so that is a big time requirement. I see a lot of toons with two fishing chairs up front with small bow lounges directly behind the fishing chair, and the railing completely encloses the fishing chairs. I would like to have the railing run behind the fishing chairs as opposed to in front. This would give a nice big casting deck up there. Would a manufacturer be willing to make those kinds of changes? Anybody do anything like that?

I think a lot of it has to do with the liability of having a seat outside the "play pen" , especially up front where someone could fall off and get run over. I haven't seen any built in the last 10 years with seats up in front of the rails and it's pretty rare to even find one with a sizable casting deck area. That's one of the reasons I rebuilt my old toon, I have 30" of open deck up front and what space you lose inside the playpen is made up by the fact that I don't need side or a rear gates for access. I also put removeable seat mounts on the casting deck but I have rarely bothered moving the front swivel seats to those spots outside the rail, I'd rather just stand up there.

Check out Apex Qwest Pontoons. We ordered one this spring and they were very flexible. They have some boats with chairs in the back outside the playpen, but I am sure you can move up front. We ordered with the optional two foot extension outside the playpen and you can choose bow or stern. We put in the back to hold tubes, but you could put up front and order some extra seats for fishing.

http://apexmarineinc.com

I agree, I love that set up if your main motivation is fishing. The only reason I didn't buy that is the loss of seating while underway. They are nice boats. I'm not sure if any other manufacturer does it anymore.

Check out Forest river they. Make South Bay and excursion. I have the excursion x23rfc which is a 23 foot toon with a rear fishing center. The fishing center has two fishing chairs a tackle center, live bait tank, rod holders, and plenty of room in the rear for additional items such as your net, extra tackle if needed but I found the tackle center is larger enough to hold all my go to tackle. It also has cup holders for your clod drink. The x23 is a great all around toon. Plenty of room for fishing and plenty of loung seating for those who just want to relax. It also has a changing station where I keep a porta pottie for the wife and grand daughter. Along with a fresh water holding tank.

I don't believe forest river makes a fishing model with the fishing seats OUTSIDE the bow playpen.

Forest River also makes Berkshire...... we special ordered our Berkshire nearly 2 years ago, but were happy with the choice of floor plan from their standard listings. Great boat, very happy with it.

C_M_25 wrote:Hey guys. Just a quick question for those of you that ordered your boats new. How much customization were you allowed to do when ordered?

For instance, I have been looking at various builders and cannot find a layout I like. I wish my toon was better setup for fishing, so that is a big time requirement. I see a lot of toons with two fishing chairs up front with small bow lounges directly behind the fishing chair, and the railing completely encloses the fishing chairs. I would like to have the railing run behind the fishing chairs as opposed to in front. This would give a nice big casting deck up there. Would a manufacturer be willing to make those kinds of changes? Anybody do anything like that?

Is it considered "LEGAL" to have seats outside of the playpen? I know in VA you can get pulled over for having riders sitting outside of the proper seating area...... such as on a swim platform, or such.

You can't sit in them while underway, legally anyway.

Always wondered if I could get a stripped down tritoon. I only use mine for catfhishing with me and the dog. My current setup is the console, one chair, and a large box for my batteries, tackle, and gas tank.

I should clarify. I don't necessarily want the seats outside the railing. I just want a bigger casting deck so I am just wondering if a builder would cut 2-3 ft off of the railing to make a bigger front deck. I like to bass fish, and the extra space would be nice.

I'd hate to think about bass fishing out of a pontoon/tritoon boat. These things are so big and the wind blows them around to easily. And getting them out of weed beds are just so difficult.

Fishing is why they make "bass boats."

I dont think that is true. I've been bass fishing off the small front deck on my toon for 3 years. I could use a little more room up there though.

Bass fishing isn't difficult if you have a deck to cast from. There is a lot more windage which can be difficult to work with. You just have to have a good trolling motor and troll into the wind whenever possible. I don't have weed beds to worry about. Throwing around the bass boat term is a cruel joke as you can't seem to find many around here under $15k that are less than 15 years old.

C_M_25 wrote:I should clarify. I don't necessarily want the seats outside the railing. I just want a bigger casting deck so I am just wondering if a builder would cut 2-3 ft off of the railing to make a bigger front deck. I like to bass fish, and the extra space would be nice.

I got ya, I wanted the same thing, mine has a little over a 1 1/2' outside at the bow, It's perfect for fishing. From what I was told when shopping is they would do changes inside the play pen but wouldn't change the "foot print". Sun chaser makes a model with about 3' out front but it's not a fishing set up inside. I've been looking for a big boat, I eliminate anything without fishing room up front. That's how much I like it for fishing. That takes away many manufacturers right away.

I do alot of bass fishing as well, It sucks with the wind sometimes, but overall I love the platform, and can get it almost anywhere since it's so small. Better than paying for 2 boats.