pontoon boats

[Soundguy]

I'm not against boats... just never owned one.. never really wanted one.. I don't mind fishin from shore.

In any case.. the wife brought up the idea of a pontoon boat. something short like a 16'er perhaps with a covered portion in the back. i have seen some with a swept back cover that folds down.. and others with a box frame the length of the baot with a cover you can install or not install.

any people with pontoon boats care to offer advice?

I'm not a boat guy.. what's the average price range of these things?

soundguy

 

[mjarrels]

Boats are a hole in the water to put your money in. Best days of boat ownership are the day your bought it and the day you sold it.

mark

 

[mustangsallysdad]

Take a look at deck boats...offer a little more versatility along with the space of a pontoon. The "logs" on a pontoon can require quite a bit of maintenance if used in a corrosive environment...not just salt or brackish water, but even acidic (read that as southeastern US red clay) freshwater.

 

[jenkinsph]

Soundguy,

If I didn't like boats I could have more tractors and implements.:laughing:


Pontoon boats can be hard to handle especally for a noobie, maybe an 18 foot mono hull might be a better all around choice. Entry level boats start around $20,000 and a nice 23' can be close to $100,000.

Tractors are cheaper and since they are usually close at hand you can play with them more. Last year I considered moving up in boat size and decided I had more time to play with a tractor so that is what I bought.

 

[YanmarFever]

I HAD a pontoon boat, it was a pain in the A... to load on the trailer.
Every time you got up close to the trailer it would shift sideways, I was on the river at the time.
Very difficult to control when going slow, that's for sure.
It has a new owner now, and I have another tractor !

 

[brin]

For years we had a 36 ft. houseboat and for years everytime we went to the lake I took my tool box..it was always something...then we bought a 21 foot sKi boat....I took my tool box and again it was always something....then I had a great day come along..the day I sold both boats....I love my tractors. If you think about it boats spend most of their time sitting ...that 's not good ..so if you lived on the water and were using the boat day in and day out then I'm sure they would be more dependable.

 

[lakngulf]

If you think about it boats spend most of their time sitting ...that 's not good ..so if you lived on the water and were using the boat day in and day out then I'm sure they would be more dependable.

I do live on the lake, and do try to give my boats a run at least every few days. I have never owned a pontoon boat, and never a boat at all until I bought the lake place in 1996, and a used sea doo. In 1999 I bought a 22 ft deck boat, and love it. Does it take care and feeding? Yes. Am I glad there is a good marine shop nearby? Yes. Would I want to do without it? No. If I were to buy a new boat it would probably be a pontoon, but I hope not to be buying a new boat.

You can beach a pontoon boat easier than a deck boat. If you get a four stroke engine you can run the pontoon boat year round without worrying with winterzation. Fishing from either would be about the same, except I have not seen any trolling motors on deck boats. That is my 1cent worth

 

[MossRoad]

I'm not against boats... just never owned one.. never really wanted one.. I don't mind fishin from shore.

In any case.. the wife brought up the idea of a pontoon boat. something short like a 16'er perhaps with a covered portion in the back. i have seen some with a swept back cover that folds down.. and others with a box frame the length of the baot with a cover you can install or not install.

any people with pontoon boats care to offer advice?

I'm not a boat guy.. what's the average price range of these things?

soundguy

BOAT:

Bust
Out
Another
Thousand

(heard that on Pawn Stars a few weeks ago). :laughing:

Unless you live on a body of water or have a pier or slip rented, I would not get a pontoon boat. They are kind of a pain to move around often. They also require a pontoon boat trailer, not a regular boat trailer. I had a friend that was given one, we restored it and spent the summer playing around with it. While it was fun to have a big party deck and a shady place, it was no joy to move around on land.

I have looked at boats several times in my life. If I ever get something bigger than my current 12' semi-V row boat it would probably be a combination fish and ski boat. They are usually big enough to have seating for 6-8 people, a canopy top for the back half and a removable pedestal seat in the front (and back, too) for fishing. Plenty of options for fun in the sun. I would buy used, too.

Another thing to think about is aluminum VS fiberglass. Fiberglass repairs can be costly. Aluminum repairs you can do yourself if you have a capable welder.

 

[jobguy]

Boats and pontoon boats are a blast. With a Pontoon or Deck boat you can take family and enjoy their company too. You will learn how to handle them, all it takes is practice. Pontoon boats may have a shallower draft thus you can get closer to shore for Bass. If you trailer the boat get a trailer that you can put boat guides on so on a windy day you can still load without too much trouble.

 

[brin]

I do live on the lake, and do try to give my boats a run at least every few days. I have never owned a pontoon boat, and never a boat at all until I bought the lake place in 1996, and a used sea doo. In 1999 I bought a 22 ft deck boat, and love it. Does it take care and feeding? Yes. Am I glad there is a good marine shop nearby? Yes. Would I want to do without it? No. If I were to buy a new boat it would probably be a pontoon, but I hope not to be buying a new boat.

You can beach a pontoon boat easier than a deck boat. If you get a four stroke engine you can run the pontoon boat year round without worrying with winterzation. Fishing from either would be about the same, except I have not seen any trolling motors on deck boats. That is my 1cent worth

If I lived on the water, and I wish I did...specifically in Tybee Island, Ga. then I would buy a boat...but having to trailer a boat, especially a pontoon would not be for me. You should have and enjoy a boat...you are in paradise...