Pontoon with inside only strakes.. worth doing?

[ronb]

I've been wondering about this for a while, but today I found online a South Bay 722CR with 115hp Yamaha that is a standard pontoon with lifting strakes only on the inside of the tubes.

722_w_liftingStrakes_115.jpg (47.87 KiB) Viewed 4907 times

This picture was pulled from the following ad (not my pontoon)
South Bay 722 CR - $30999 (Aitkin, MN)
My South Bay is long past worrying about warranty, but would it be worth it to contact them and order up a set of their factory style lifting strakes to be welded on? (I would have to find a competent welder locally, I am not hauling it to their facility). Eventually I'd like to add a third tube in there, but taking baby steps here..

Since there aren't any local South Bay dealers nearby, any suggestions on where I can get pricing?

thanks,
-ron

[gramps]

I've been wondering about this for a while, but today I found online a South Bay 722CR with 115hp Yamaha that is a standard pontoon with lifting strakes only on the inside of the tubes.

722_w_liftingStrakes_115.jpg

This picture was pulled from the following ad (not my pontoon)
South Bay 722 CR - $30999 (Aitkin, MN)
My South Bay is long past worrying about warranty, but would it be worth it to contact them and order up a set of their factory style lifting strakes to be welded on? (I would have to find a competent welder locally, I am not hauling it to their facility). Eventually I'd like to add a third tube in there, but taking baby steps here..

Since there aren't any local South Bay dealers nearby, any suggestions on where I can get pricing?

thanks,
-ron

I think it depends on what your looking for. Speed? handeling? better ride or what. I would think it would give you a little more speed and better handeling as the front of toon will be out of the water.

[ronb]

Probably just a little more speed when heading back to the dock. After driving a regular pontoon with them on the inside and outside, I don't want them on the outside of the main tubes, sure they add more width to the bottom of the tubes, but they also add more height to the side and in my opinion ruined the handling while turning hard, what they did add was the ability to turn hard into a wave and splash the passengers up over the rail..

I don't expect any handling improvement until I get around ($$) to adding the third tube.

Winter is long around here, I will hopefully rewire the audio system (run some plastic conduit with drain holes) and then underskin it, just wondering if I should add strakes to my winter wish list..

-ron

[gramps]

Probably just a little more speed when heading back to the dock. After driving a regular pontoon with them on the inside and outside, I don't want them on the outside of the main tubes, sure they add more width to the bottom of the tubes, but they also add more height to the side and in my opinion ruined the handling while turning hard, what they did add was the ability to turn hard into a wave and splash the passengers up over the rail..

I don't expect any handling improvement until I get around ($$) to adding the third tube.

Winter is long around here, I will hopefully rewire the audio system (run some plastic conduit with drain holes) and then underskin it, just wondering if I should add strakes to my winter wish list..

-ron

Actually, I think it will improve handling as the front of boat will be out of water.

[pelicantooner]

Ron,

J & K Marine in Detroit Lakes is a South Bay dealer. They should be able to help you out.

[ronb]

Good call, I don't get over to DL much.
I gave them a call
http://www.jkmarine.com
218-847-0324
The person I talked to was leery to give me a part number or a price, he threw out.. $2000-2500 for a 'short tube' that will not increase my HP rating, or add $2000 to that for a full tube.

He spent more time trying to tell me that it was a bad idea and too hard to do, he said that he will nto do another one. Said I would probably be better off trading in this one for one that is already a triple.

They do have demo units that they have for sale all the time (I asked), so I always have that option.

-ron

[Bamaman]

Manufacturers have spent a bunch of engineering hours to get the strakes right on their boats. Aftermarket additions are sometimes hit and miss.

I've only seen one person on here really happy with adding a center toon later, and that was on an Avalon.

If your boat doesn't fit your needs, trading hulls now will probably be your best option.

[ronb]

Manufacturers have spent a bunch of engineering hours to get the strakes right on their boats. Aftermarket additions are sometimes hit and miss.

I was only calling South Bay to get parts from them, I thought about re-inventing something that would work and probably be cheaper, but since I do not plan on keeping this pontoon forever, I'd like everything to either be OEM, OEM replacement, or OEM optional components.

I've only seen one person on here really happy with adding a center toon later, and that was on an Avalon.

If your boat doesn't fit your needs, trading hulls now will probably be your best option.

I think rancherlee is pretty pleased with his 'homegrown' triple toon.

The major concern with adding the third toon from the technician I talked to was that it was tedious, tight quarters, lots of test fitting before holes could be drilled and bolts placed, and he emphasized a few times that I would never get it attached like a factory installed unit. He also said that if I wanted strakes installed they should be done by the manufacturer, again, I am not hauling this toon to Indiana where they are built.

I just tried to call South Bay directly
http://southbaypontoon.com/
Forest River Marine
51773 County Road 39 North
Middlebury, Indiana 46540
574-825-8696

But the Customer Service folk are out of the office (took off early on a Friday, gasp!)
I at least want actual part numbers and prices (shipping too) so I can make up my own mind as to whether I think it is worth it or not.

The really weird thought in my head is that I am wondering if any of the pontoon makers that use the eliptical tubes have any for sale with something like a 27" height that could be used as a center tube. That would make the center tube 2" deeper that my stock 25" tubes, I wouldn't even fuss with strakes on any of the tubes.

FWIW, eventually my wife does want something with an I/O (like I said before, she's a sucker for that v8 sound), which was why I asked them about demo units. Maybe in a few years.

-ron

[rancherlee]

I know great lakes skipper had some elliptical center tubes for sale, but they are in Racine WI which is around a 9-10hour run from Fargo. Had my pontoon came with round tubes I definately would have installed a larger diameter/elliptical center tube but I like visuals so I added an identical octagon tube. For handling you want more lift in the center of the pontoon to get some bank out of it. My octagon tubes already had lift but didn't corner worth a hoot until I added the center tube strakes to add extra lift in the middle. It now banks a little and turns acceptably at speed without blowing the prop out or excessive trimming in. I'm thinking with a bit more HP and speed it will handle better yet. Not as good as my grandparents. Neighbors PTX premier, but alot better than just 3 tubes/no strakes.

[smlranger]

Manufacturers have spent a bunch of engineering hours to get the strakes right on their boats. Aftermarket additions are sometimes hit and miss.

I've only seen one person on here really happy with adding a center toon later, and that was on an Avalon.

If your boat doesn't fit your needs, trading hulls now will probably be your best option.

Add me to the list of satisfied with adding a third log. My Sylvan was only one year old when I realized I made a mistake not geting a tritoon. Since a third log was an option on my boat, my dealer ordered the factory third log from Sylvan and installed it for me. It was the full length tube with integrated transom. It was 12 hrs of labor and involved some drilling and some welding at the rear. The work included full underskin. Total for the tube, skin and labor was right at $3K which was less than what I'd lose if I traded for a tritoon.

The handling and ride difference was pretty amazing. I only gained about 3 mph in speed but the boat is so much more stable in the water and handles rough water much better.

I am very satisfied with the results.

[ronb]

I called Forest River again this morning, left a message for "Vanessa", she hasn't called back yet.. I did get interested in looking at what Great Plains Skipper has, I found 2 elipticals,
Custom 14 Foot x 32 Inch Elliptical Center Pontoon Boat Float Log Tube w/ Livewell - Like New $1695
And a
Custom 27 Foot x 32 Inch Elliptical Transom Center Pontoon Boat Float Log Tube w/ 2 Fins - Like New $2790 (dangit, if only this one were about 3 ft shorter, I could work on convincing he wiferly that it would work with her 'dream' v8 I/O)

Actually the 14footer looks interesting to be used as a 3/4" center tube, then I wouldn't have to worry about all 3 nose cones matching, but I'd have to get creative with some metal fabrication to build/weld/invent a transom or a way to 'modify' my current transom to work. Modifying my current transom would probably be a little bit nicer as I could retain the stock location/cables/wiring/etc.

Or something like this (From GreatLakesSkipper, but not on their website, on ebay instead)
CUSTOM 20 FOOT X 32 INCH ELLIPTICAL CENTER PONTOON BOAT FLOAT LOG TUBE W/ FINS Buy it Now $1,690.00 (egad, I hate ALL CAPS)
Of course it would still need some sort of transom, but would be a full tube (mostly) once installed.

FWIW, between the mounting brackets on my current pontoon tubes it is 58" (mounting brackets, not tube to tube), another 32" wide tube would occupy a lot of real-estate under there...

hopefully Forest River/South Bay will get back to me soon, so I can start saving my pennies... Still wasting time on the internets, I was looking up the tube length specs, because I haven't measured mine yet, and I found this 'stock' photo of a guy having fun on what could be my triple toon.. same year, same color, same model, I would guess different motor... I find it interesting that there are no fins on the center tube.
Not mine

2007_922CR_TT.jpg (127.32 KiB) Viewed 4449 times

Mine

IMG-20120729-01968.jpg (56.04 KiB) Viewed 4445 times

-ron

[rbiederwolf]

Save the money on stakes and add a center tube with strakes from the manf.

It is fairly easy for the dealer to do, in spite of what they say. My dealer did not want to at first until he realized I was not going to buy another boat. All of a sudden it turned into not such a big deal for them. They had it completely installed in three days and the best part was the manufacturer rerated the boat for a larger engine.

I did weld factory strakes on the outer pontoons, however 95% of the gains I saw where from the center tube not the outside lifting strakes

[ronb]

I finally got a call back from 'Nathaniel' at Forest River this morning. He had much better descriptions of what is available for my pontoon from the manufacturer

I asked for part numbers and he told me that they don't specifically keep part numbers for external use as they like to rebadge them for each year, but that my local dealership would be able to get the current name and estimate shipping for the following items.
$190 Strakes (inside of outer tubes only)
$500 Performance Underskinning
$1200-1500 3/4 length Sport Tube (ends in front of the original transom)
$1000 to ship (crated/shipped wire fee, estimated)
$1800-2200 Full length triple tube (22ft)
$90/each plywood (4x8.5) for new decking (6-7 required)
$7-8/ft side deck rail

$1200/per tube replacement of the original pontoon tubes. ($2400)

So here is what he told me,
The Sport Tube will not replace my current transom, it will not increase the hull rating for HP, if the proper paperwork was done it could potentially increase my weight/person capacity, it is a bolt on affair. The Sport tube does not have lifting strakes, nor do they make a kit for adding them, nor does it move the gas tank to the center tube, nor does it have any 'in-tube storage' for skis/etc. I would do the lifting strakes on the outers, the underskinning, and the sport tube if I went this route. Roughly $2200 (plus shipping)

The full tube is like the one toonguy posted on another thread, where the cross braces for the front and rear are pre-welded at the factory and would require me to redo the decking.
Picture of ToonGuy's project tube

tritoon_tube.jpg (71.86 KiB) Viewed 4332 times

Which is why I also included the pricing for plywood and side molding. I also got prices for new replacements of the outer tubes because if I went this way, I might want to 'upgrade' to a 25ft deck to get more front porch area or a rear swim deck area, which would also require some rewiring and most likely new control and steering cables.

plus
decking (7 * $90 = $630)
and
side moulding ($8/ft * 67ft = $536) plus materials (screws, glues, flooring -- $unknown)

New center tube ($2200), new outer tubes ($2400), underskin ($500), lifting strakes ($190) = $5100 + $630 + $536 = $5730
(minus $2400 if I reuse my current tubes = $3330)

I was hoping the new center tube would be a bolt in affair with a few bolts that were just a pain to install, but being that it is a full tube with cross braces built in that would require a new deck to be constructed on top of that, a factory full tube just doesn't seem like it would be feasible or justifyable. At this point if I want factory only equipment, it looks like the sport tube is my only option. What I don't like about it, is that I was really hoping to add more floatation to the REAR 1/3rd of the boat, not the front 3/4s of it.

I think it is time to 'sit on this one' for a while, save some pennies and keep an eye open for a bolt in aftermarket third toon or suck it up and buy the Sport Tube.

I also in quired about a I/O tube, he recommended against it (hard to work on and about $1500-2000 additional over the outboard full tube) and let me know that Forest River no longer sells any boats with 'Through Hull' exhaust, if I want that I will have to buy a boat that is about 2 years old.

-ron

[ToonGuy]

The "sport tube" option you mentioned is sold as a BP1 Performance Package on the Berkshire toons. There are a few members here that have them, and I have one right now too if you want to see any detail pics. FYI the factory was closed last Friday because one of the employees was killed in a motercycle accident. I think it's great that they shut down early to let people off of work to go to the viewing. Not many companies like that any more.

[ronb]

Pics would be nice, but how about an opinion, do you think it would be of any great benefit being that it does not provide any additional flotation at the stern of the craft? FWIW, your triple toon package that you sold to tuned is starting to look more and more like a hell of a deal...
-ron