Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Message
Author
Kalop
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:11 pm
Location: DFW Texas

Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#1 Post by Kalop » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:57 pm

What's the smallest tritoon made?

I ask because I've walked many boats now at variety local dealers. Really for our needs, I think an 18-20 would be sufficient. But I never see these smaller size length in tritoon ? Are they even made?
Looking to buy Pontoon (Tritoon hopefully)
2000 Sea Doo Challenger 1800 Jet Boat (sold July 2012)
1995 Sea Doo XP Jet Ski
2005 Joyner Sand Spider 650cc buggy
DFW Texas area

Bamaman
Posts: 3679
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#2 Post by Bamaman » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:29 pm

Tritoons are very buoyant, and their front ends bounce quite a bit at lower speeds. Longer hulls just make them ride better.

I would suggest 22' or longer hulls for a tritoon and a minimum 115 horsepower.

Lifting strakes and undersheeting add so much speed, efficiency and reduced noise for a relatively small additional cost.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

1roadking
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Loudon nh

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#3 Post by 1roadking » Tue Sep 04, 2012 4:04 am

I have a 20 ft Bennington with ESP tritoon and it rides and handles great.
2010 Bennington 2075 GLi with ESP
150 yamaha 4 stroke
2012 tundra tow rig
2006 golf cart shuttle from camp to boat

Ray Jr.
Posts: 687
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:54 pm
Location: Warren NH

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#4 Post by Ray Jr. » Tue Sep 04, 2012 4:17 am

I know my marina had an 18 foot Premier with the PTX package this spring.
Freedom Lovin' gun crazy Redneck
2010 Premier Sunsation LTD 225 PTX
2010 150 HP Mercury Optimax
got rid of POS 2010 Yacht club dual axle triple log trailer
now have a 2012 Shoreland'r dual axle triple log trailer, MUCH NICER

Kalop
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:11 pm
Location: DFW Texas

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#5 Post by Kalop » Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:58 am

Ok, thanks, seems they're out there... just rare, I haven't seen one yet in person.

Thanks for help/ suggestions. I've learned so much reading here... Really helping me on my future purchase this winter.
Looking to buy Pontoon (Tritoon hopefully)
2000 Sea Doo Challenger 1800 Jet Boat (sold July 2012)
1995 Sea Doo XP Jet Ski
2005 Joyner Sand Spider 650cc buggy
DFW Texas area

User avatar
rancherlee
Posts: 580
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:59 am
Location: Eveleth MN

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#6 Post by rancherlee » Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:10 am

There are Mainly 2 types of people looking for pontoons, Those that want a cheap 18-20' with a 25-40hp outboard on the back to get out and putt around on the lake and those that want a Go fast 22+ foot "replace a mono hull" type pontoon. The few buyers left don't have much to pick through. Yes you can special order a performance "shorty" from a few manufactures but it will probably cost you the same as a 22-24' toon.
1988' Kennedy 20' "Haley's Comet"
Rebuilt 2016 with 25" single strake outer tubes and a 25x23" straked U-tube
2003 Suzuki DF140 - Yamaha 9.9HT kicker - 39.1@6300rpm

Bamaman
Posts: 3679
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#7 Post by Bamaman » Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:26 am

Rancherlee is right. You can get a full size toon for just slightly more than a mini-toon.

Unless you're on a low horsepower lake, most people prefer a boat that's able to take waves better and get home faster in case of storms--more seaworthy.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

smlranger
Posts: 85
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:51 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#8 Post by smlranger » Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:36 am

My 20' Sylvan tri toon handles and rides great and I am on a fairly big lake with a lot of boat traffic. Mine is primarily used for striped bass fishing but we do use it to cruise the lake when the crazies/townies have gone home.
2011 Sylvan Mirage 8520-4PTE tritoon, 25" tubes
2011 Honda BF 115
Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Kalop
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:11 pm
Location: DFW Texas

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#9 Post by Kalop » Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:49 pm

Thanks for all input.

I can't order new. So its basically going to come down to what I can find on used market.... and tritoon's are hard enough to find w/out limiting myself to smaller size tritoon. So practically speaking, I'm going to be lucky to find a tritoon in my budget... so I can't afford (literally) to get too picky.
Looking to buy Pontoon (Tritoon hopefully)
2000 Sea Doo Challenger 1800 Jet Boat (sold July 2012)
1995 Sea Doo XP Jet Ski
2005 Joyner Sand Spider 650cc buggy
DFW Texas area

User avatar
rancherlee
Posts: 580
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:59 am
Location: Eveleth MN

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#10 Post by rancherlee » Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:52 am

Kalop wrote:Thanks for all input.

I can't order new. So its basically going to come down to what I can find on used market.... and tritoon's are hard enough to find w/out limiting myself to smaller size tritoon. So practically speaking, I'm going to be lucky to find a tritoon in my budget... so I can't afford (literally) to get too picky.
which is why I built mine, but I have 4-5 months of frozen water season to tinker. 2 old 20' pontoons, ALOT of time, and 5000$ later I've got a unique tritoon that is like new with all new everything. I like the 20x8 for trailering ease. A new 20' with a 150hp motor on the back would be a nice little package!
1988' Kennedy 20' "Haley's Comet"
Rebuilt 2016 with 25" single strake outer tubes and a 25x23" straked U-tube
2003 Suzuki DF140 - Yamaha 9.9HT kicker - 39.1@6300rpm

Kalop
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:11 pm
Location: DFW Texas

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#11 Post by Kalop » Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:05 am

rancherlee wrote: which is why I built mine, but I have 4-5 months of frozen water season to tinker. 2 old 20' pontoons, ALOT of time, and 5000$ later I've got a unique tritoon that is like new with all new everything. I like the 20x8 for trailering ease. A new 20' with a 150hp motor on the back would be a nice little package!
Yea, you are right. 20' with 150hp would be perfect for my needs... and being that I trailer alot, the smaller size would be perfect. I just don't have the time really to do the work, with FT job, PT weekend dad of 8 yr old, plus all my other hobbies... and the learning curve would be pretty steep for me.
Looking to buy Pontoon (Tritoon hopefully)
2000 Sea Doo Challenger 1800 Jet Boat (sold July 2012)
1995 Sea Doo XP Jet Ski
2005 Joyner Sand Spider 650cc buggy
DFW Texas area

User avatar
woolznaz
Posts: 752
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:42 am
Location: Carefree, Arizona

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#12 Post by woolznaz » Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:55 pm

1roadking, do you have any pictures on here of your Bennington? I love their ESP package and have often wondered about a smaller pontoon with that package. Your 20 footer is interesting to me.
2007 South Bay 925 Tri-toon
5.7 Volvo I/O
Tow Vehicle: Toyota Tundra, 1794 Edition

User avatar
STEVEBRENDA
Posts: 906
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:08 am
Location: Boat on Table Rock Lake, MO

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#13 Post by STEVEBRENDA » Fri Sep 07, 2012 5:36 am

If money is an issue, there is nothing wrong with a 2 log pontoon. The third log is just icing on ther cake. Buy a 2 log until you have the money to buy the tri log that you want.
2014 Regency 254
Mercury 250L Verado

I'm not saying let's go kill all the stupid people.. I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out.

User avatar
serpa4
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:53 pm
Location: Columbia, SC

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#14 Post by serpa4 » Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:34 pm

Got my 21' JC with three logs and a 150hp on the back. Good for 37GPS so far.
I also wanted the smallest, tri-toon with a 150 minimum engine.
Handles great! Needs power steering though.

1roadking
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Loudon nh

Re: Smallest Tritoon (length) ?

#15 Post by 1roadking » Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:01 pm

There is a picture of my boat in the photograph section. I can't figure out how to add it here! Not good with tech stuff! Lol
2010 Bennington 2075 GLi with ESP
150 yamaha 4 stroke
2012 tundra tow rig
2006 golf cart shuttle from camp to boat

Post Reply