Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
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Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Can you tell the difference between towing an 18 foot pontoon boat and a 20 foot? My truck is a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel 4X4 with a towing package. Thanks Todd
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Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
I doubt you will know the difference. If your going from single axle to tandam I think you will see a difference in less sway
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
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Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Thanks for the info
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
I agree with Lloyd. I suspect that any perceived difference will be more related to the trailer configuration and balance.
Marc
Marc
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115
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Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Thanks for the info
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
I will add that it will back up a little different since it is longer but you will quickly get used to it.
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Can I talk you out of the 18 foot?
That's what I have and I've found it very hard to find accessories like covers or even trailers that are made to fit 18 foot pontoons. They're just not a common size.
Twenty and 22 foot look to be most common.
I also just don't like the proportions of an 18-footer. All the seats, rails, etc are the same dimensions on all pontoons but when set on the 18 foot deck it ends up looking "chunky". Squat, squarish... Anything but lean & trim.
OTOH "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". YMMV
That's what I have and I've found it very hard to find accessories like covers or even trailers that are made to fit 18 foot pontoons. They're just not a common size.
Twenty and 22 foot look to be most common.
I also just don't like the proportions of an 18-footer. All the seats, rails, etc are the same dimensions on all pontoons but when set on the 18 foot deck it ends up looking "chunky". Squat, squarish... Anything but lean & trim.
OTOH "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". YMMV
Mark
1996 Sweetwater 180EX + Johnson 40
Rush Lake, Atlanta, MI
1996 Sweetwater 180EX + Johnson 40
Rush Lake, Atlanta, MI
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Then there is the Banana Boat look of my 25' or my neighbor's 27'
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
I tow a 24 ft Sweetwater with a 2016 gas powered Colorado 4x4 with no problems. And yes it does take a little time to learn to back a longer boat, but with practice not a problem.
2014 Sweetwater 220 DFS Tritoon
Yamaha 150 4 stroke
GPS 39 mph 4 adults full fuel
2016 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 4X4
Lake Anna, VA
Yamaha 150 4 stroke
GPS 39 mph 4 adults full fuel
2016 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 4X4
Lake Anna, VA
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
I doubt you would notice any significant difference between towing an 18 foot and 20 foot boat. We tow our 20 footer with an older Toyota 4 Runner.. it has a 4.0 six cyl. engine with a towing package max of 5000 lbs - my rig, boat, motor, trailer, fuel etc comes nowhere near 5K lbs.
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana
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Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Thanks for all the replies. My reason for wanting an 18 foot is I'll be using it in HP restricted lakes and the river. I figured 18 foot was the largest size I could buy and still be practical with a 20 HP motor.
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
I use to tow a 20' with a dodge carvan only issues I ever had were on ramps that didn't have much traction.
1994 Godfrey Sweetwater 20' Fishin Cruise.
Deckmate Furniture (Burgandy/Ivory), 20 oz textured carpet, CCA Treated Plywood,
Toon for comfort & relaxing, Jetski's for speed= day of fun on lakes of KY.
Deckmate Furniture (Burgandy/Ivory), 20 oz textured carpet, CCA Treated Plywood,
Toon for comfort & relaxing, Jetski's for speed= day of fun on lakes of KY.
Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat
Buy the 20' with a 115hp and put a 20hp kicker on it.ToddDanger wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 4:56 amThanks for all the replies. My reason for wanting an 18 foot is I'll be using it in HP restricted lakes and the river. I figured 18 foot was the largest size I could buy and still be practical with a 20 HP motor.
Pinawa Bay, Manitoba
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC