Strakes vs Non Strakes

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Grodyman
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 9:30 pm

Strakes vs Non Strakes

#1 Post by Grodyman » Sun Aug 30, 2020 9:19 am

Hi all,

I am considering a 20' pontoon (2 log) with lifting strakes and a 115hp Merc. Lowe/Crestliner with 25" logs. I am hoping that on smooth water the boat will plane at over 30mph, I will use the boat for watersports.

I would also like to cruise around 20 mph and do not want a rough ride, will the strakes make the boat always want to plane? Does a boat like this cruise pretty smoothly as a pontoon without strakes?

Gman

Flanker
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:11 am
Location: Prospect KY

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#2 Post by Flanker » Sun Aug 30, 2020 4:47 pm

I've got a 2009 23Ft Crestliner with a 150 Merc Optimax, Tritoon with lifting strakes, 23" tubes. It will run 42-45 WOT 2 people on board.
I have been very happy with the boat, my model Bataba Bay came with painted tubes that have held up very well. I have always kept it in a fully enclosed boat barn.
It gets on plain very easy and trims out nice.
Westport KY
Ohio River/McAlpine Pool
2009 Crestliner Bataba Bay
150 Merc

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Liquid Asset
Posts: 486
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:21 pm
Location: ortonville,mi

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#3 Post by Liquid Asset » Mon Aug 31, 2020 5:32 pm

If you are going to achieve the speed mentioned you are going to need the lifting strakes. I'm not sure you will hit 30 even with those and a 115. I can tell you that once you start to load up the boat with fuel, gear and coolers the speed really drops off. Have you looked into a tritoon ? With the watersports you mentioned it will really help. I would recommend some test drives if possible. It's the best way to figure out what you need to achieve the performance you are looking for.
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

Bamaman
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Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#4 Post by Bamaman » Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:00 pm

The trick to getting speed is getting the nosecones out of the water. That's what strakes do. And 115 hp on a 20' boat should be plenty of power.

The downturn to not having a 3rd toon is that the outside toon in a deep turn will dig in deep and slow you way down. Your motor should have adequate power to quickly get you back up to speed, however.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

willy13
Posts: 248
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:23 am
Location: Canandaigua Lake in NY

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#5 Post by willy13 » Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:55 am

Yes, get the lifting strakes. You should get the performance your looking for with a 115HP on a 20ft pontoon. By the way, imo, a pontoon with a 115HP should be faster than a tritoon with a 115HP. Less weight and less wet running surface.

Horsepen
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:39 am

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#6 Post by Horsepen » Thu Sep 10, 2020 4:26 pm

Don’t forget under skinning. It will help you pick up a bit of speed.

FogHorn
Posts: 56
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 5:57 am

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#7 Post by FogHorn » Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:27 pm

willy13 wrote:
Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:55 am
Yes, get the lifting strakes. You should get the performance your looking for with a 115HP on a 20ft pontoon. By the way, imo, a pontoon with a 115HP should be faster than a tritoon with a 115HP. Less weight and less wet running surface.
I hold the opposite opinion on that. The third ‘toon weight is not the issue... because it has more buoyancy than penalty due to weight. The third ‘toon will LIFT the bow and assist getting on plane. It’s dry-weight and wetted-surface is far-overcome by it’s buoyancy.
2015 SouthBay 522FRC w/ F150 Yamaha
1983 Conroy X18 w/ Volvo 125 I/O

Steiner
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:51 am
Location: Lyman, SC

Re: Strakes vs Non Strakes

#8 Post by Steiner » Tue Oct 27, 2020 2:51 pm

FogHorn wrote:
Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:27 pm
willy13 wrote:
Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:55 am
Yes, get the lifting strakes. You should get the performance your looking for with a 115HP on a 20ft pontoon. By the way, imo, a pontoon with a 115HP should be faster than a tritoon with a 115HP. Less weight and less wet running surface.
I hold the opposite opinion on that. The third ‘toon weight is not the issue... because it has more buoyancy than penalty due to weight. The third ‘toon will LIFT the bow and assist getting on plane. It’s dry-weight and wetted-surface is far-overcome by it’s buoyancy.
I think it can go either way depending. With the right straked setup if you're talking same motor, I might be inclined to say the pontoon could have better top end especially with a 115. When I was shopping my motor, I made spreadsheets from performance bulletins and in a couple instances with nearly the same boat the 115 in a pontoon actually top ended the same as a 150 on the tritoon. And the speed king for the motor I chose was when mounted on that Bennington elliptical two tube setup. The third tube gives you the ability to run more motor for sure but like I said if you're going identical motor it can get tricky calling it.
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

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