Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi All,

My wife and I go down to Key Largo 1 or 2 times every year, almost always durring the cold winters of Wisconsin. We will be going again around Christmas.

I am thinking about taking our new pontoon this time.

Every trip in the past 6 or 7 years have included a charter fishing trip on an old pontoon boat (some may remember from my first few posts that I'm in a wheelchair). Much of the time we fished Jewfish Creek or, if it is a calm day, the patch reefs off Pennecamp.

There are several condo type places that come with a slip so I think we can launch it when we get there and leave it in for the week. I'm not worried about the salt water. I'll clean it well after it comes out of the water.

I guess I'd like some opinions on doing this. Am I crazy? You don't see a lot of pontoon boats in the Keys.

Any of you guys do this? Tips? Cautions? I remember a poster from Key West. Anyone know his screen name? I'd like to know how far he goes out.

Thanks

Man, that would be a lot of towing, in the winter time. The ice storms, black ice, snow, and just normal unpredictable crappy weather you'll experience coming through the "heartland" in December AND the distance, would make it out of the question for me.

Rent one......

If you can handle the tow I say go for it. Having lived in FLA most of my life, I've Gone to the Keys hundreds of times. My buddy had a flats boat. A pontoon is made for the Keys in that it's mostly flat water down there unless you intend to go way off shore. You need not go past Islamorada for a good time. The sand bar there always has pontoon boats on it and an occasional houseboat. The Tiki bar is equally a good. Numerous restaurants and bars you can go to on the water. Aluminum handles salt water just fine. Just make sure you washer her off like you said. Don't forget to rinse the trailer bunks.