Pontoon Length and other ?'s

[shootandfish1]

Hi folks, it has been some time since I've posted. Over a year ago, I found this site and asked some embarassing - showed my ignorance type of questions.

I'm back in market for my first pontoon and need some advice. Last year, I had determined that a 30 feet Party Hut was my first choice, but have set my sights a little lower and maybe a little more realistic this season.

I've rented 18 feet and smaller pontoons before and they are just too small, I'm a bigger guy and can easily submerge a front corner. So, I'm looking at 20 to 24/25 feet pontoons with a minumin of 24 inch diameter logs.

A used Suntracker Regency (22-25) with the standard 26 inch logs is my first pick. I plan on converting it to more of a fishing toon and less of a crusing toon.

First ? Is a 24/25 footer going to a handicap (compared to a 20 footer) in launching, loading, and manuvering (on the water) in tighter places like smaller rivers? Keep in mind that I will be by myself perhaps 50% of the time, but like the longer pontoon so I can handle a crowd. I did buy a 29 feet (bumper to ball) travel trailer last year and have had no problem towing it.

Second ? Most of the newer boats have an extended motor transom. Pros ? Cons? I'm going to on the road more than most (Kentucky to Florida) and am concerned about 400 plus pounds of outboard being suspended in mid-air.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts - Fred.

[Drago]

As for the difference in 20 and 26 feet, I would bet that towing, maneuvering, loading, etc would be vastly different. We have a 25 foot Bennington with the extended transom rated at 300hp. It's got a Yamaha 225 4 stroke hung on the back and I was worried about the stress on the transom since I planned on trailering it a lot. My dealer, Rinker's Boat World - http://www.rinkersboatworld.com/ - said that there would be no problem because of the very strong construction. Jerry Rinker said that if I felt the need, to tilt it up about 45 degrees to balance the load.

It did not take many bumps and bruises to get good at handling the long, wind sail of a boat and the much longer trailer. The hardest part is in a strong but variable cross wind when I'm trying to get it on the trailer after a long day in the sun.

[lakerunner]

I bet the tracker came with a transom saver bar, mine did. Any towing over a mile I use it. I have had 20's a 24 and now a 22. The 22 is a great length. You get more room, a better ride, and easier maneuvering. As far as extended transom all the diff I can see is it isn't as quiet as one tucked under a rear deck

[trott46]

I run on a small river 90% of the time. I can get about anywhere I want with ease. The only time i have any issues is at the ramp. Our ramp is in the current of the river and can be a bit of a chore at time to get on the trailer. The main thing with mine at trailering is I have a third log to set on the bunks and can be tricky. It doesnt normally take that long though 10-15 min. If you are worried about the transom then just get a transom saver if it does not already have one then you should be able to go were ever you want without worry. I hope you get your boat and enjoy it. We lover our suntracker 22 regency tri-toon.

[mike]

If you can find a used triple pontoon in the 20-22 foot range, I think you will be fine. I am about 230lbs and my boat doesn't much care if I move to the corner...

[BassFrequency]

ive never trailered mine so i cant help ya there, but if you know your boat you can almost tun it on a dime. ive turned my 24 footer around in a 40' wide section of the niangua river no prob. wind? same thing, know your boat, and it wont matter much. i just pulled into my 10' wide slip yesturday after an unsuccesful hour of fishing in a 30-35 mph crosswind.

it just takes time and getting used to. most important have fun

[WaltF]

embarassing questions?
Geese, iv never done that before...

Dont sweat the questions.... fire away!

We love our 22 foot suntracker.. it has 26 inch toons.
We usually have 10+ peeps on it and it just chugs away great.
If you are concerned about running around on it, then go to a tri-toon, and you should be just fine.
Remember, bigger engine is better....
Go Big!

[smltooner]

I'll throw in another vote for the Suntracker 22 Regency.
It is a nice, comfortable boat that is hard to beat for the price.
The larger logs really give a smoother ride.
I am a BIG man also, 6'4" and 300lbs, and am very comfortable on our 22' boat.
I get on a front corner to handle the anchor and have no problem with floatation.
Good luck with your selection.

[ROLAND]

We have a 25 foot Bennington with the extended transom rated at 300hp. It's got a Yamaha 225 4 stroke hung on the back and I was worried about the stress on the transom since I planned on trailering it a lot. My dealer, Rinker's Boat World - http://www.rinkersboatworld.com/ - said that there would be no problem because of the very strong construction. Jerry Rinker said that if I felt the need, to tilt it up about 45 degrees to balance the load.

Once again, a different opinion on a subject I think should have a difinitive answer to. Your bennington dealer told you to tilt up about 45 degrees to balance the load on your motor. My bennington dealer told me to trim my motor all the way down to make sure it was snug up against the transom. So why are there such varying opinions on this.. surely the people that design these things should know which is right or wrong. Same thing about transom savers on pontoons. I talked to two dealers ( both bennington dealers, since our's is a benny ), one said no transom saver needed, just trim her down snug, the other said yep, use a transom saver. Surely if the people that handle these boats for a living come up with different answers, how do they expect joe blow new boat buyer to know what the hell to do. There is actually something in the manual for the Yamaha F-75 that says trim down if you have adequate height ( which pontoon boats normally do have when trailered ) but to use a transom saving device if road clearance is an issue.

Roland
2010 Bennington 20 SFi
Yamaha f-75

[margaritaman]

When the motor is trimmed up with no transom saver it bounces and just imagine the position of a crowbar prying an object. It puts a lot of torque stress on that transom trying to torque it. When the motor is trimmed all the way down the force on the transom is downward and there is no twisting torque force.

[mike]

I always leave my motor all the way down but I stick a pvc pipe in between, this is how my dad does it and how I have always done it.. I dont really know if it helps or not but I still do it...

[ROLAND]

When the motor is trimmed all the way down the force on the transom is downward and there is no twisting torque force.

So the answer is: trim all the way down = no need for a transom saver bar, correct?

[wwind3]

I went a different direction--I bought a 20 ft in case I would be handling it alone a lot--easier to do with a shorter one.

I also overkilled on the setup 8.5 ft beam, 25 in logs, 90 hp. underskinning, and a dual axle trailer with brakes. And a transom saver---spend the 50 bucks. I am very happy and ps i weigh 230 also and have had 4 grownups and 4 kids on it with no probs.

Good luck..

[margaritaman]

When the motor is trimmed all the way down the force on the transom is downward and there is no twisting torque force.

So the answer is: trim all the way down = no need for a transom saver bar, correct?

Correct but check your road clearance! My motor skeg sits higher than my axle.