Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi folks, I am new here and really looking at some pontoon boats but am also going to ask what might be my first dumb question.

Does anyone have experience taking a pontoon boat through some of the less challenging Florida atlantic inlets and fishing out in the Atlantic..
I am curious if there is a brand that rides higher and would be able to navigate through smaller waves.
Getting older, looking for comfort and room for the family and would also like to go out and grab some salt water stuff once in a while...... if possible.

I realize stuffing the bow would not be a good thing at all.

BTW, have owned both large cats and monos, and been to the Bahamas multiple times. Not expert but not novice either. I just know nothing about pontoons, but have been looking at a few and functionally they check a bunch of boxes. Looking at tri toons with larger motor.

thanks for any helpful input.

You can take a toon to the bahamas!

https://www.tahoepontoons.com/about/adventure/

Took my Berkshire tritoon out the Ft. Pierce Inlet 2 years ago visiting for thanksgiving it was more than average, big 6 ft swells rolling in the inlet, never an issue, the Tritoons ride high and stay bow up, never stuffed the bow in the 3 years I’ve owned it. Here in the gulf, an average day is 2-3 with very short intervals unlike the Atlantic which usually sports large ground swells at a longer period. I regularly pass monohulls coming back in on a snotty day in the gulf, their getting pounded and have to back down. I’ve owned boats since I was 10, last boat here in pensacola was a 26 ft. Aquasport CC. in average conditions our tritoon is dryer and MUCH smoother riding. You will be as amazed as I was with how these boats perform. This day, running from a storm after the blue angels beach air show, the bay was easy 2 ft. We were leaving comparable length CCs in our wake.

That’s been my experience as well.

As a boater with over 50 years experience, I’ve found that pontoon boats ride much better in a chop, as well as in more “nautical“ conditions, than any monohull that I’ve ever owned (as long as the toon length is at least 22’, and more is better.)

Wow, thanks for the input guys. I will be using mine in salt water 80% of the time. Is there a brand that is functionally better for this type of use?

I know I want a tri toon. at least I think I do?
My understanding, from doing limited research is that I want larger diameter toons and rakes for lift? Is that thinking correct?

And I guess I have to ask, what about durability in choppy twisting water. Do welds break or crack. Not a structural engineer but just seems that they would????

Thanks again for your input. Very helpful.

You're on the right track, you'll want a 24' tri-toon, not all brands offer 27" toons but that would be best, Also you'll want "heavy hat" rather than "C channels" underneath. Some brands do a tougher construction with there salt water package.

definitely as stated above, get a brand/model that offers the saltwater package, I am 100% salt water ops. beyond that do the due diligence in research, in your area for the different dealers and brands. I think their all fairly comparable, look at construction, warranty and dealer reputation, just like any other boat you would buy.

ron nh wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:01 am

You're on the right track, you'll want a 24' tri-toon, not all brands offer 27" toons but that would be best, Also you'll want "heavy hat" rather than "C channels" underneath. Some brands do a tougher construction with there salt water package.

OK, thank you. Not sure what "heavy hat means"?
Not that I am in to bashing any products but are there some specific brands that I should be looking at and are there any to avoid.
Also, since I am new to this, and just beginning to research are their some deck materials that are better than others? Just curious if there are other materials under the carpet that are better than others.
Thanks again for all the help.

NO CARPET... Lots of discussion on this topic, especially since you are going in the saltwater fishing, beaches etc.. a lot of the major OEMs don't even offer carpet any longer, vinyl and sea grass are pretty much the standard today, this make cleanup a breeze, fish guts, blood just wash away, and you can use just about any cleaning material you want. deck material, some are starting to use composite material, Forest River brands (Berkshire, Southbay, Xcursion) are now using composite. 3/4 marine Grade plywood is still in use across a lot of brands, and is still a very strong deck material, mine for instance has a lifetime warranty from the deck down.

Thanks Founder. Just curious what brand is yours? I have also been reading about the underside of the boats. Some are covered and some are not? I would think that would be very beneficial??.

I'm pretty sure almost all Tritoons have under-skinning which is what you are referring to, it would be defeating the purpose of a tritoon which is to gain to performance to leave the underside open for waves and turbulence to catch the stringers. Mine is a Berkshire 231 RFC 24 Ft. Stands for "Rear Fish Front Cruise" Southbay and Xcursion make a similar design, they are all made by Forest River, has a huge rear deck area and built in live well for fishing, then step FWD and you have a really nice seating area for lounging and cruising. Pics of my rear deck area and the floor plan

Thanks, trying to figure out what all the letters mean on the description is not easy. But starting to figure it out.

For what it's worth, my Harris (Solstice 220 w/150) runs the passes of Destin and Panama City Beach just fine. Salt package, reinforced bow fence and nose cones, extra zinc. If you're looking to buy, seriously consider a double bimini for Florida!

Just pulled the trigger on a Harris 22 Sunliner with a 200 pro Verado. Very stoked. We may get the extra bimini, we will wait and see.

NICE!! Have you taken a sea trial run on one yet? If not, your going to be amazed, I'll leave it at that.