Pontoon took a Dive - under water

[teecro]

I like the renovation, it looks great. You have done a fantastic job. But, I think I see what happened... As a rule of thumb, your bow railing and furniture should not extend over the front weld line where the pontoons meet the nosecones. It looks like your center of gravity is pushed way too far forward.

I'll have to argue against that rule of thumb... I see many factory boat mine included that the railing and furniture alike go past the nosecone weld line. Two toons that tie up next to mine are more fish buggy style and have railing even more forward than mine. Blow the pic of the tow bar up and you can see the boats I'm talking about. But as the OP has already commented his design contributes to nose diving if not properly ballasted; and some weight in the stern by way of a bigger motor will go a long way to righting the wrong...

[teecro]

... When loaded with 8 adults the back water line is about 2" below center line and the front is around 4" below center line.

So I think the level height is ok. For the most part.

From what you say the front is way overloaded. The front of the toons should never be more under water then the rear of the toons. In most cases very little of the front of the toons are under water at all.

I had to read this a couple times over but I think he is saying that she does sit a couple inches deeper by the stern... I've included a pic of my own for comparison.

[willyg1997]

Yes, mine sits just like this^^

Maybe I should rephrase this, doesn't make much sense. The back sits lower in the water than the front. pics below shows loaded (top line), and unloaded (bottom line).

12 gal gas tank located in the back. One battery located in the back, and one located in the captains council.

Yes the front extends past the nose cone weldment. We do not use the front two seats when the motor is on. and only sit in the front bench when idling around.

[ron nh]

I didn't think I've seen the cross beams out past the nose cones, but it looks like they are on those sun trackers as well.

[teecro]

Move the battery somewhere else and double up on the amount of fuel you carry at all times...

I'd be looking for upwards of 24 gallons or more!

[willyg1997]

Move the battery somewhere else and double up on the amount of fuel you carry at all times...

I'd be looking for upwards of 24 gallons or more!

Ya, I could move both batteries under the center rear bench seat and add another 12 gal tank. I would like to keep the center of the rear deck open to store my two seats. During my rebuilt I flipped the railings from front to back and added a 4' extension. The one side has a 4' door along with the 20" entry door that opens up providing a 68" opening, so my pooch can hang out the side and watch the fish when we are moving, and not be in the front hanging over the edge. So I move the two seats to the back deck under the sun deck. This gives us a nice big swim play area.

[teecro]

As long as you don't let nobody in these most forward jump seats while your underway I think your on the right tract...

[willyg1997]

That's what the rule is, no one in the front. Plus a nice new 4-stroke......

[teecro]

That's what the rule is, no one in the front. Plus a nice new 4-stroke......

Was riding with a friend in his toon which is one of the fishing buggy types that has a pair of fishing seats up front "behind the gate" mind you when he managed to run us hard aground on a sandbar. If it had not been for the wife seeing the sandbar before any of us and calling out I would have likely been rolled right out the front of the boat and into the water as I was turned halfway back talking and never saw it coming... We all ended up in the water pushing and pulling to get the boat turned and back into deeper water....