@@boatinglessons We just purchased it in September and enjoyed it through the waning days of Fall. That gives some idea on which latitude I live. OK... it's Massachusetts. Lake Quinsigamond. More lakes this coming summer.
Almost 20 years ago when Honda Marine updated their small engine group, I was given the task of generating some publicity for the new BF9.9 high thrust outboard. It was a new model and probably ideal for a small pontoon operating on one of the horsepower limited bodies of water. One of our working relationships was with Premier Pontoons so they provided a 20 foot triple tube weighing about 3,000 lbs. Their recommended minimum power was a 150 HP engine. This was a high performance pontoon with lifting strakes. We chose to put one of the new BF9.9 Hondas on it and prove it's reliability and efficiency under severe loads. I planned a trip with it running from Ft. Myers, FL. to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. across the Caloosahatchee River and around Lake Okeechobee and out the Port Mayaka Canal into the St.Lucie River where we rounded Stuart into the Intercoastal Waterway, then heading south to Ft. Lauerdale. I asked a couple of boating magazine editors if they'd like to come along for the journey and a couple of them agreed. Jim Barron of Trailer Boats Magazine suggested that I think of a unique "hook" to get readers attention should they decide to write about it. The Premier Pontoon had a stock 40 gallon tank so I suggested that we make the entire trip without once stopping for gas. Jim thought that was a great idea and we set off on a very unusual adventure. The little Honda ran at wide open throttle for 8 to 9 hours a day for 4 days pushing the 3000 lb pontoon at a blistering 7 mph. There were 4 people on board the Premier. Several others enjoyed the journey in my Hurricane Deckboat used as a camera/support boat for the Honda documentation. Under full load like that the little Honda burned roughly 1 to 1.1 gph and we pulled into the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show with 2 gallons to spare. Jim Barron wrote an awesome article for Trailer Boats Magazine chronicling the journey called "Long Playing Toon" :-) A trip I will never forget.
Hello Len's Cove Love watching and learning from your video's. We run a 2012 75hp etech on our 20' avalon. We also run a VK-3 VaraFoil kit which includes a VaraPlate. This application took us from 21 mph max WOT ( Wide Open Throttle ). We now do 30 Mph max WOT, fuel burn rate incredibly better and ride now extremely quiet. Keep up your great work.
I have a 1995 Suntracker with a 2017 Yamaha 90 on it. It is a light boat, only 21 foot long and makes quick circles and I can run 3.5k rpm and burn 3 gallons per hour. I drove a friends 26 foot tritoon with a 250 and found it harder to handle and no use for fishing. It just felt like a barge. I am going to get a new boat in a couple years but I think I will stay with a lighter / non tritoon boat with a 115. Just easier to handle, more nimble, better for fishing and easier on my wallet at the gas dock.
I have a 2017 Suntracker 2 pontoon that actually measures 20’. Right now I have the engine it came stock with, a Merc 40 HP. I’m thinking about maxing out the HP. Right now it does 24 MPH with 2 adults so I figure if it will take a 75 or 90, it should be that much better. Your thoughts?
@@Capncomeback2023 If the max is 90 or 115 go with the max. You will never be sorry you did. Having the extra power to pull skiers is a real plus. That boat must be pretty light to get you to 24 mph. Sell your old motor on facebook marketplace, you will get a lot more for it than trading it in.
Interesting video. We lucked into a rare slip rental on a local lake in Michigan earlier this year. However the slip was space constrained because it is narrow (just over 8' wide) and is on the shore side of a double layer of slips with only 20' between the end of our slip and the next layer. With that in mind we got a new 16' 2022 Quest with a 2010 25 hp Mercury 4-stroke. The fastest speed that I have seen on our Garmin is just over 11 mph, but most of the time, even with just two of us, we top out at 9mph. I suspect there are some outboard setup issues that need addressing as my RPM's generally won't go over 4800 and the sweet spot (per the manual) is 5500-5800. I have been looking for a lower prop pitch to get the RPM's up (it is currently a 10 x 8) and I haven't been able to find anything. I will probably get it re-contoured in the off season. This is my first experience with pontoons. Back in the 1980's my family had a series of regular boats with i/o's between 155-175 hp so I and my sister could water ski. My first experience with our pontoon was eye opening in terms of the lack of speed, but I have adjusted. That said, we will probably end up finding a 50hp (max for our toon) to replace the 25. I don't ski anymore and don't need lots of power, but more giddyup would be welcome.
Hi... I own a Sun tracker 32 party cruiser Pantoon boat with 2 floats.. what is the minimum engine size you recommend.. also i own a 50hp Honda 4 stroke engine will that engine be enough to power the pontoon temporarily until I get a bigger engine?
got a 27 foot starcraft trtioon with a 200 evinrude..does 35-38...42 once solo ride...the boat can take a 300hp...what's your thought on how much speed I'd gain?
I was thinking about getting this motor for a 16foot pontoon boat. 1997 Johnson 50 SPL. The boat was previously a 48V e Drive minn kota powered boat. will this 50 work?
Never owned a Pontoon boat. But I do have experience with owning a boat and growing up with a family that had boats. I would imagine that a pontoon boat produces a sizeable amount of drag. I would never use a pontoon boat for tubing or skiing, but that's just my opinion. I do know that when you lean towards the idea that a small engine uses less fuel is a bit of a stretch. One major problem with 'under powering' a water craft is about boat control, especially approaching a dock or shoreline on a windy day. I would choose a size that allows me to 'cruise' within an expectable range of fuel efficiency, but also gives me some reasonable speed, say 25 mph in case in need to get off the water due to bad weather rolling in. I also know that using too small of an engine puts a lot of strain on that engine which can led to short engine life if you constantly run the engine above mid range day after.
I've had a number of boats and, pontoons through the past 38 years. Always and I repeat always, put the max horse power motor on any boat. Once you get on plane you can throttle back and your engine doesn't work as hard. It's nice to have the extra power when you need it. My last pontoon had lifting strakes and performance sheeting. When on plane and trimmed up the front half of the tubes were out of the water. This pontoon actually carved a turn just like a boat....tri-toons are even better. The more chop there was the more lift I would get from the performance sheeting because there was no drag from the waves hitting the under frame cross members. My boat would cruise at 35 mph with a 90 horse Merc 4 stroke. The same boat in a tri-toon was good for a 120 horse and would cruise at close to 50 mph. I regularly pulled my nieces and nephews on tubes and skis with this 90 horse. You don't save money by putting a smaller motor on a boat but you see it done all the time. I could run all day on less than half a tank of gas.
BIL has a 1987 Sweetwater 20' with a 35 Yamaha and was wondering if it could handle a '95 Force 70hp. I can't find anything about max hp for that model. Any thoughts?
Let's say I want a slow boat .. with a cabin and small front deck. I want to be all solar,so I'm just looking to get a 16ft pontoon boat with a title and no motor, I'm just wanting to diy it,but I'm at a crossroads... do I buy a very expensive torqeedo. Or,a quality high thrust trolling motor? I live along the Ohio river and just want to putz along without gasoline and do some river/tributary camping.
Lake Norman , NC - fresh water lake, enjoying cruising the lake , some water sports, family of 4 ( two adult kids). At times max capacity of 7 people. Look at 16 to 20 ft pontoon boat with 90 to 115 hp motor
Hi. We are looking into purchasing a used 24' Sunchaiser Jamaica pontoon boat with a 70 HP Evinrude motor. Will this motor be adequate or should we look into a larger engine?
I have a 23' (really the boat LOA is 23'10") and a mercury 200HP. Its a great combo. Top speed is 41mph GPS and cruise at 3500 is around 22 mph burning 5.5-6GPH. I opted for the V6 200HP over an inline 4. My motor is very very quiet and has tons of torque. 250HP would be a blast but the cost was not worth it for us. 150 is OKAY. If the cost of the 200 is too much than a 150 is fine. Comes back to the whole thing about V6 VS inline 4.... that 4 cyl screams to do the same work.
So we have a brand new 24ft Berkshire with 3 toons. We currently have a 150 Honda motor. Would it make sense to upgrade to a larger motor? (Would like a 250 hp)
Remember, more horsepower more fuel used at speed. It’s not like a car cruising along 40 mph on a level highway, it’s like 200 hp car fully loaded towing up a hill all the time and 40 is all she’ll do.
I realize this is an old vid, but I disagree. Buy a 24' triton with a 75 and it's pegged all day. Put a 300 on it and it doesn't breathe hard. Depends on what you're doing. I have a 27' with a 350. 10 people, coolers, pets, bimini up....cruise at 30MPH and get 2.5 MPG. Can break 50 whenever I want. I've had Fountains, Bajas, Hustlers...I'll never stand on my head in a bilge working on an I/O again!
342boss Well yea, if you’re boat is under powered and your intent is to operate on plane anytime you’re not in a 5 mph zone. Boats with planing hulls have two efficient speeds and two inefficient speeds. Efficient in displacement mode which is about halfway between zero and transitioning and the other is a well established plane speed. Inefficient is in transition to plane and flat out. On the other hand that 24’ with a good running 75 going only 10mph will get over triple the range of 300 cruising at 35. Like you said Depends on what you’re doing.
@@SkypowerwithKarl I guess we're actually agreeing. I've owned 9 boats. I can't ever remember a time where my boat had too much motor. Boating is my activity, it's not my tool to fish or get somewhere. The goal is to have fun and get away from work!
342boss We’re in agreement again. Look up “Big fast houseboat” and “Roaring houseboat” here on TH-cam. My fatale flaw. I can’t leave anything stock. I sold it a year ago to prepare to leave California. The other reason is the kayak fisherman fad has run amok and they are in every little nook and cranny. It’s a litigious state and my wake will roll one.
Hi Sean. I'm going to get a 20ft Bennington pontoon with a 90HP Yamaha 4 stroke 25 inch pontoons. I'm wondering what speed i can expect out of it. Can it tow tubes?
My friend had a 23 foot pontoon boat what's 105 horsepower Chrysler on it and it would pull a 130-pound person water skiing behind it a lot of people would flip when they saw a pontoon boat pulling somebody water skiing this boat would get up on the back end and really run that was in the early eighties up to 1985
Years ago, when I was like 15 or 16, I got a job working for a guy who owned a development on a lake in NH. He was selling house lots and it was my job to take people around the lake in his pontoon equipped with a 40hp Johnson. We'd typically have 6 to 8 people on board and I grew to genuinely hate that boat. Top speed with that many people was about 10 tops (if we were lucky). Because of this I thought I'd never consider a pontoon for anything, ever. However today they have respectable performance and still have the benefit of deck room.that other boats configurations can't come close to matching. Now that I have my own lake cottage I'm going to dump my bowrider and, hard to believe I'm saying this, get a pontoon.
I know that exact experience you are talking about! I drove a taxi on the lake back in the late 80s and it was painfully slow! Great time waster though ;) Now I love our pontoon at the dock - fast and comfortable.
I don’t know what to compare to. I have an old Weers 24 foot with no furniture. Just a wooden helm and railings. The motor is an old Mercury 25XD. It goes between 14 and 15 with two people on it. Is that abnormal?
Is the pontoon already set up for a stern drive? That is a good engine, but not designed to run at high rpm under load for long periods. Do you know anyone who has done it?
@@boatinglessons I don't believe it is set up for an inboard engine, and I don't know of anyone who's done it. My other idea was a Caterpillar turbo diesel. I know a boating company in Utah did it on a pontoon, but it was a jet boat configuration
I have heard, although never experienced it, that Lake Erie can have a very high wave velocity when it gets rough. There is a dealership on the lake clemonsboats.com/. Ask for Jason, tell him Sean sent you from here, and ask him his opinion
I don't want to go too big on a pontoon, an 18 ft would be perfect for my family of three who wants to fish. However, my daughter would also like to try water skiing as well. Is it possible to water ski with an 18 ft pontoon and a 75 hp motor? we might consider a 20 ft pontoon with a 90 hp, but would prefer the 18 ft if its possible to water ski.
I am still looking for any info or comments about this type of boat on the bigger lakes like huron or michigan. Can the tri-toon be set up for safe use on the big lakes or is that to "iffy" ? Not so much for speed but for rougher water. Any comments on that use of a pontoon boat?
Well, pontoon boat engineering and design has certainly come a long way since I was in the business many years ago...Back in my day, these things had a certain hull speed that would not be overcome by more horsepower...Adding more power just strained the engine, caused more ventilation and discomfort. I remember when the "deck boats" first came out, now those were a great combination of room and performance....Wonder if they still make the deck boat design..
What is the size of the boat you are driving in the video and what are the specs as far as speed, pontoon size and how many, and capacity for people? I looking to purchase a pontoon boat and we are a family of 6, my husband loves fishing with the kids and I want to be able to pull them on tubes and skis on the lake. Thanks
The boat I am driving is a 23' Sweetwater Premium with a 200 Mercury on it. When alone, it gets to about 50MPH, and with a fuller load (6-8 people) it is more like 45MPH top end. A great size for skiing/tubing is 21'-22' with a 150hp.
I have a 2020 sun tracker 18 dlx with 75hp Mercury- top speed was 25mph with top down and zero passengers.. mph drastically dropped with passengers and top up.more like 15mph fully loaded up. I want to upgrade to 115hp.
22' Lowes Sunchaser. Just traded 40 hp Merc for 60 hp Merc Big Foot. They thought they were doing me a favor and put a bigger pitch prop on and I think it killed my rpms and speed. What would best prop be to achieve my max 6200 rpm and get best top speed? Want to be able to do 2500 - 3000 rpm and 10-12 mph on my long river trips.
What is the current max RPM with a light load (one person, 1/2 tank of fuel)? In theory you would increase your RPM by 250 -400 RPM for every inch of pitch you change.
Yes, that is correct - sounds like you are over pitched by at least 4". Do you know what is on there now? My guess is that it should be between a 9" and 13"
@boatinglessons 24 foot long with a Yamaha 200 hp outboard and a hummingbird fish finder for a used pontoon boat can you get me a price on if it’s used for me
How much power you need is a function of desired usage. With most manufacturers the 40 and 60 are essentially the same engine (displacement) and would use almost the identical amount of fuel.
How much power you need is a function of desired usage. With most manufacturers the 40 and 60 are essentially the same engine (displacement) and would use almost the identical amount of fuel.
It is a rare combination, yet not “bad”. If the toons are larger diameter and have lifting strakes, it will perform well. It will flex a lot more than a tri-toon though and have much lower load capacity
Looking at the ST 22dlx dual toon, mostly cruising and a some water sports. Im 62 so its not like out jumpin from wake to wake those days are long gone:)
I have a 24 ft monark 1993, i put a carbureted mercury 150 hp on it and i topped out at 32 mph (by myself) with a mirage 15" pitch prop. I can get 27 mph with 4 adults and 2 kids. Can cruise 18'20 mph at 3500 rpm now as well. Transom is rated for a 115 hp which weighs 80 lbs less.
Hi Sean, I really enjoy you videos. They are so real and informative. In this and other videos you point to the upper right where we are to find additional information. Unfortunately i am unable to access it. I would love to get copies of the pdf charts on size, weight, hp and speed for pontoon boats. Where can i find them. Thank you Robert.
I appreciate the feedback Robert. We are working on the data for that now and will release it later this spring. I will put a post in TH-cam when it is ready - my fault:)
Did I miss something? I watched the video until the end for the downloadable fact sheet and also checked the links. I can’t find it! Can you point me to where it is so I can download it?
We are so sorry, it is 100% our fault. Our video production is ahead of our content production. Would you like us to email it to you when complete shortly?
@@boatinglessons I would like to see it. Can you email to liboxerboy@ymail.com thank you! I am enjoying all of your videos and helping me with my 1st time boat purchase.
Overkill for a lot of people. I have 6 or 7 reservoirs to choose from within 2 hours from me, none of them have the size to warrant 3 tubes. no doubt they are nice and the added storage is nice but 99% of the time they aren't needed.
Appears to be targeted for the craft size, make(s) this Canadian dealer is aligned with. The Sun Tracker Boats [ White River Group / Cabela's ] are 16, 18, 20 ,22, 24 in length (FEET) and are vastly more popular for the value - dollar for dollar & options for the craft appropriate for many boating needs. Interesting that all dealers for upscale Boats = Bennington, South Bay, Veranda, Sylan, etc are geared for those less concerned with price point. Also THE WORD Pontoon is a amalgamation of an Pacific Islander language and "Toon" does not refer to The Tubes as flotation devices .... seems every perspective has it's commercial value - not educational integrity. Thanks, jj
Pontoon; The word stems from the Latin pontonem, "flat-bottomed boat," and its root pons, or "bridge." ie. A deck with a bridge between toon ergo pontoon.
Save money, don't purchase new unless you have a lot of money. A Lot of nice used pontoon boats out there and you are not making unneeded payments during when the boat is sitting in the back yard.
Jay A, that is an interesting opinion. Because ALL pontoons hold value so well, it really doesn't seem to make a difference (new vs. used) from a cost of ownership perspective. Other than the higher interest costs on the larger loan, or opportunity costs of less money in your account/investments - there really is very little difference. Thanks for having your say!
@@boatinglessons I yeah love it.. Decided to keep electric Motor for now. Want to see slow feels.. Thinking that 12ft pontoons have 24 ft Of water line..
We like "Best of all times" better ;-). When you factor the cost of owning a boat from the day you buy it, to the day you sell it, it really is one of the most affordable recreational vehicles with the possibility of including the most friends or family.
hey...it was just the best boat joke haha...ive never had 1 boat bite me yet....i service them, look after them, and care for them, and never had the problems others do right beside me with their..."titanic"
What size and hp do you run on your pontoon? What performance do you get?
19ft Bennington 20sli, 60hp Yamaha, 18mph top speed.
Using gps for speed. 3 adults, 1 teen.
@@chief253hq sounds about right. Thanks for chiming in! Where do you boat?
@@boatinglessons We just purchased it in September and enjoyed it through the waning days of Fall. That gives some idea on which latitude I live. OK... it's Massachusetts. Lake Quinsigamond. More lakes this coming summer.
@@chief253hq so glad you got out on the water. Your falls are likely much like ours....gorgeous!
Almost 20 years ago when Honda Marine updated their small engine group, I was given the task of generating some publicity for the new BF9.9 high thrust outboard. It was a new model and probably ideal for a small pontoon operating on one of the horsepower limited bodies of water. One of our working relationships was with Premier Pontoons so they provided a 20 foot triple tube weighing about 3,000 lbs. Their recommended minimum power was a 150 HP engine. This was a high performance pontoon with lifting strakes. We chose to put one of the new BF9.9 Hondas on it and prove it's reliability and efficiency under severe loads. I planned a trip with it running from Ft. Myers, FL. to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. across the Caloosahatchee River and around Lake Okeechobee and out the Port Mayaka Canal into the St.Lucie River where we rounded Stuart into the Intercoastal Waterway, then heading south to Ft. Lauerdale. I asked a couple of boating magazine editors if they'd like to come along for the journey and a couple of them agreed. Jim Barron of Trailer Boats Magazine suggested that I think of a unique "hook" to get readers attention should they decide to write about it. The Premier Pontoon had a stock 40 gallon tank so I suggested that we make the entire trip without once stopping for gas. Jim thought that was a great idea and we set off on a very unusual adventure. The little Honda ran at wide open throttle for 8 to 9 hours a day for 4 days pushing the 3000 lb pontoon at a blistering 7 mph. There were 4 people on board the Premier. Several others enjoyed the journey in my Hurricane Deckboat used as a camera/support boat for the Honda documentation. Under full load like that the little Honda burned roughly 1 to 1.1 gph and we pulled into the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show with 2 gallons to spare. Jim Barron wrote an awesome article for Trailer Boats Magazine chronicling the journey called "Long Playing Toon" :-) A trip I will never forget.
I was thinking about a 9.9 for my 17 v for basic river fishing but was afraid it might only go one or two miles per hour
Hello Len's Cove Love watching and learning from your video's. We run a 2012 75hp etech on our 20' avalon. We also run a VK-3 VaraFoil kit which includes a VaraPlate. This application took us from 21 mph max WOT ( Wide Open Throttle ). We now do 30 Mph max WOT, fuel burn rate incredibly better and ride now extremely quiet. Keep up your great work.
I have a 1995 Suntracker with a 2017 Yamaha 90 on it. It is a light boat, only 21 foot long and makes quick circles and I can run 3.5k rpm and burn 3 gallons per hour. I drove a friends 26 foot tritoon with a 250 and found it harder to handle and no use for fishing. It just felt like a barge. I am going to get a new boat in a couple years but I think I will stay with a lighter / non tritoon boat with a 115. Just easier to handle, more nimble, better for fishing and easier on my wallet at the gas dock.
I have a 2017 Suntracker 2 pontoon that actually measures 20’. Right now I have the engine it came stock with, a Merc 40 HP. I’m thinking about maxing out the HP. Right now it does 24 MPH with 2 adults so I figure if it will take a 75 or 90, it should be that much better. Your thoughts?
@@Capncomeback2023 If the max is 90 or 115 go with the max. You will never be sorry you did. Having the extra power to pull skiers is a real plus. That boat must be pretty light to get you to 24 mph. Sell your old motor on facebook marketplace, you will get a lot more for it than trading it in.
Mine's a 2017 Tracker Fishin Barge. The 24 mph is what was read on the speedo. It could be wrong, I guess. I also have a front mounted electric motor.
@@csinalabama Yeah, that's what I think I'm gonna do. I think it's a 115.
I own a 20 foot with 75hp. It cruises at 23 mph at 5 gallons per hour with 4 adults. It’s kinda old and ugly (like me) but everyone likes it.
There is no PDF as promised in your video at the end, please direct me to the PDF that shows what we can expect from different boat sizes and engines.
I just find the video and was also looking for the pdf , I guess they never provided it? To bad!!!!
I just find the video and was also looking for the pdf , I guess they never provided it? To bad!!!!
This could be a new favorite video for us.... Way to go, old "slow & steady" man!
Thank you! My corny humour has fans and critics. My daughter says I am the king of "dad jokes" ;-)
Interesting video. We lucked into a rare slip rental on a local lake in Michigan earlier this year. However the slip was space constrained because it is narrow (just over 8' wide) and is on the shore side of a double layer of slips with only 20' between the end of our slip and the next layer. With that in mind we got a new 16' 2022 Quest with a 2010 25 hp Mercury 4-stroke. The fastest speed that I have seen on our Garmin is just over 11 mph, but most of the time, even with just two of us, we top out at 9mph. I suspect there are some outboard setup issues that need addressing as my RPM's generally won't go over 4800 and the sweet spot (per the manual) is 5500-5800. I have been looking for a lower prop pitch to get the RPM's up (it is currently a 10 x 8) and I haven't been able to find anything. I will probably get it re-contoured in the off season. This is my first experience with pontoons. Back in the 1980's my family had a series of regular boats with i/o's between 155-175 hp so I and my sister could water ski. My first experience with our pontoon was eye opening in terms of the lack of speed, but I have adjusted. That said, we will probably end up finding a 50hp (max for our toon) to replace the 25. I don't ski anymore and don't need lots of power, but more giddyup would be welcome.
Hi... I own a Sun tracker 32 party cruiser Pantoon boat with 2 floats.. what is the minimum engine size you recommend.. also i own a 50hp Honda 4 stroke engine will that engine be enough to power the pontoon temporarily until I get a bigger engine?
Do you know what the max horsepower it is rated for?
Basic information and very informative. The old KISS formula, keep it short & simple. Thumbs Up
Thank you Todd!
I thought KISS was
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid
got a 27 foot starcraft trtioon with a 200 evinrude..does 35-38...42 once solo ride...the boat can take a 300hp...what's your thought on how much speed I'd gain?
I was thinking about getting this motor for a 16foot pontoon boat. 1997 Johnson 50 SPL. The boat was previously a 48V e Drive minn kota powered boat. will this 50 work?
Bennington 25 foot tritoon with lifting strakes and a Volvo Penta 5.7L (350 Chevy) engine, 280HP. Will do 40mph but wish it was faster.
Where is the PDF with the list of pontoons lengths and engine h.p.'s?
I dont see the PDF?
How good are they in rough water, like a 10' sea?
I think 25 mph on a standard 20 ft boat seems fast enough for most general getting around
my plan is a 20' toon with a 90 hp 4 cycle new.
Never owned a Pontoon boat. But I do have experience with owning a boat and growing up with a family that had boats. I would imagine that a pontoon boat produces a sizeable amount of drag. I would never use a pontoon boat for tubing or skiing, but that's just my opinion. I do know that when you lean towards the idea that a small engine uses less fuel is a bit of a stretch. One major problem with 'under powering' a water craft is about boat control, especially approaching a dock or shoreline on a windy day. I would choose a size that allows me to 'cruise' within an expectable range of fuel efficiency, but also gives me some reasonable speed, say 25 mph in case in need to get off the water due to bad weather rolling in. I also know that using too small of an engine puts a lot of strain on that engine which can led to short engine life if you constantly run the engine above mid range day after.
I've had a number of boats and, pontoons through the past 38 years. Always and I repeat always, put the max horse power motor on any boat. Once you get on plane you can throttle back and your engine doesn't work as hard. It's nice to have the extra power when you need it. My last pontoon had lifting strakes and performance sheeting. When on plane and trimmed up the front half of the tubes were out of the water. This pontoon actually carved a turn just like a boat....tri-toons are even better. The more chop there was the more lift I would get from the performance sheeting because there was no drag from the waves hitting the under frame cross members. My boat would cruise at 35 mph with a 90 horse Merc 4 stroke. The same boat in a tri-toon was good for a 120 horse and would cruise at close to 50 mph. I regularly pulled my nieces and nephews on tubes and skis with this 90 horse. You don't save money by putting a smaller motor on a boat but you see it done all the time. I could run all day on less than half a tank of gas.
BIL has a 1987 Sweetwater 20' with a 35 Yamaha and was wondering if it could handle a '95 Force 70hp. I can't find anything about max hp for that model. Any thoughts?
Still waiting on the pdf. Hope its soon
Still waiting. .... lol
Let's say I want a slow boat .. with a cabin and small front deck. I want to be all solar,so I'm just looking to get a 16ft pontoon boat with a title and no motor, I'm just wanting to diy it,but I'm at a crossroads... do I buy a very expensive torqeedo. Or,a quality high thrust trolling motor? I live along the Ohio river and just want to putz along without gasoline and do some river/tributary camping.
Novice boater, and first time boat purchaser, what size pontoon and engine setup recommend ?
That depends on what you want to do with it. Not knowing about your water, family size, and intentions makes it tough.
Lake Norman , NC - fresh water lake, enjoying cruising the lake , some water sports, family of 4 ( two adult kids). At times max capacity of 7 people. Look at 16 to 20 ft pontoon boat with 90 to 115 hp motor
Hi. We are looking into purchasing a used 24' Sunchaiser Jamaica pontoon boat with a 70 HP Evinrude motor. Will this motor be adequate or should we look into a larger engine?
Need more power
That depends on what you want to do with it and your expectations for performance. Feel free to book a time to chat with me and I can help you decide
Would a 22’ to 23’ with 150 to 200hp be good?
I have a 23' (really the boat LOA is 23'10") and a mercury 200HP. Its a great combo. Top speed is 41mph GPS and cruise at 3500 is around 22 mph burning 5.5-6GPH. I opted for the V6 200HP over an inline 4. My motor is very very quiet and has tons of torque. 250HP would be a blast but the cost was not worth it for us. 150 is OKAY. If the cost of the 200 is too much than a 150 is fine. Comes back to the whole thing about V6 VS inline 4.... that 4 cyl screams to do the same work.
So we have a brand new 24ft Berkshire with 3 toons. We currently have a 150 Honda motor. Would it make sense to upgrade to a larger motor? (Would like a 250 hp)
Remember, more horsepower more fuel used at speed. It’s not like a car cruising along 40 mph on a level highway, it’s like 200 hp car fully loaded towing up a hill all the time and 40 is all she’ll do.
I realize this is an old vid, but I disagree. Buy a 24' triton with a 75 and it's pegged all day. Put a 300 on it and it doesn't breathe hard. Depends on what you're doing. I have a 27' with a 350. 10 people, coolers, pets, bimini up....cruise at 30MPH and get 2.5 MPG. Can break 50 whenever I want. I've had Fountains, Bajas, Hustlers...I'll never stand on my head in a bilge working on an I/O again!
342boss
Well yea, if you’re boat is under powered and your intent is to operate on plane anytime you’re not in a 5 mph zone. Boats with planing hulls have two efficient speeds and two inefficient speeds. Efficient in displacement mode which is about halfway between zero and transitioning and the other is a well established plane speed. Inefficient is in transition to plane and flat out. On the other hand that 24’ with a good running 75 going only 10mph will get over triple the range of 300 cruising at 35. Like you said Depends on what you’re doing.
@@SkypowerwithKarl I guess we're actually agreeing. I've owned 9 boats. I can't ever remember a time where my boat had too much motor. Boating is my activity, it's not my tool to fish or get somewhere. The goal is to have fun and get away from work!
342boss
We’re in agreement again. Look up “Big fast houseboat” and “Roaring houseboat” here on TH-cam. My fatale flaw. I can’t leave anything stock. I sold it a year ago to prepare to leave California. The other reason is the kayak fisherman fad has run amok and they are in every little nook and cranny. It’s a litigious state and my wake will roll one.
Hi Sean.
I'm going to get a 20ft Bennington pontoon with a 90HP Yamaha 4 stroke 25 inch pontoons. I'm wondering what speed i can expect out of it. Can it tow tubes?
Expect 27-30mph. You’ll be able to pull a tube just fine.
My friend had a 23 foot pontoon boat what's 105 horsepower Chrysler on it and it would pull a 130-pound person water skiing behind it a lot of people would flip when they saw a pontoon boat pulling somebody water skiing this boat would get up on the back end and really run that was in the early eighties up to 1985
As a kid my buddy’s dad would overpower everything. Gotta be able to tandem waterski behind his pontoon👍🏻
Rarely a complaint I hear 🤣
I have a 24-foot Neptune dolphin pontoon boat has a 40 horse 4 cylinder Mercury on runs roughly 19 miles an hour not bad for a little 40
By yourself or how much weight?
Years ago, when I was like 15 or 16, I got a job working for a guy who owned a development on a lake in NH. He was selling house lots and it was my job to take people around the lake in his pontoon equipped with a 40hp Johnson. We'd typically have 6 to 8 people on board and I grew to genuinely hate that boat. Top speed with that many people was about 10 tops (if we were lucky). Because of this I thought I'd never consider a pontoon for anything, ever. However today they have respectable performance and still have the benefit of deck room.that other boats configurations can't come close to matching. Now that I have my own lake cottage I'm going to dump my bowrider and, hard to believe I'm saying this, get a pontoon.
I know that exact experience you are talking about! I drove a taxi on the lake back in the late 80s and it was painfully slow! Great time waster though ;)
Now I love our pontoon at the dock - fast and comfortable.
I don’t know what to compare to. I have an old Weers 24 foot with no furniture. Just a wooden helm and railings. The motor is an old Mercury 25XD. It goes between 14 and 15 with two people on it. Is that abnormal?
22' Princecraft Vantage with a Merc 90hp and a 4 blade 13.875" x 13" pitch prop... Approx. 40KMS with 2 people and dogs at 5500RPM
What would happen if you welded a flat sheet of aluminum to the bottom of the pontoons?
Putting this out there: I'm thinking about getting a 20 ft pontoon and putting a Toyota 22RE onboard (about 116 hp) on it. Any thoughts?
Is the pontoon already set up for a stern drive? That is a good engine, but not designed to run at high rpm under load for long periods. Do you know anyone who has done it?
@@boatinglessons I don't believe it is set up for an inboard engine, and I don't know of anyone who's done it. My other idea was a Caterpillar turbo diesel. I know a boating company in Utah did it on a pontoon, but it was a jet boat configuration
@@zenjon7892 sounds like a big project :-)
Nice video. However, unable to find the PDF you mention at the end 😞
Are the safe on Lake Erie for fishing and parties? I don't see them on Lake Erie.
I have heard, although never experienced it, that Lake Erie can have a very high wave velocity when it gets rough. There is a dealership on the lake clemonsboats.com/. Ask for Jason, tell him Sean sent you from here, and ask him his opinion
Does proper weight distribution help speed?
I don't want to go too big on a pontoon, an 18 ft would be perfect for my family of three who wants to fish. However, my daughter would also like to try water skiing as well. Is it possible to water ski with an 18 ft pontoon and a 75 hp motor? we might consider a 20 ft pontoon with a 90 hp, but would prefer the 18 ft if its possible to water ski.
I have the same question
@@MRios1128yes true
I am still looking for any info or comments about this type of boat on the bigger lakes like huron or michigan. Can the tri-toon be set up for safe use on the big lakes or is that to "iffy" ? Not so much for speed but for rougher water. Any comments on that use of a pontoon boat?
yes the properly set up tri-toon boat would be suitable for big lakes.
In lieu of the pdf, Sweetwater has a bunch of test reports for different size toons with different engines.
Well, pontoon boat engineering and design has certainly come a long way since I was in the business many years ago...Back in my day, these things had a certain hull speed that would not be overcome by more horsepower...Adding more power just strained the engine, caused more ventilation and discomfort. I remember when the "deck boats" first came out, now those were a great combination of room and performance....Wonder if they still make the deck boat design..
Please email pdf to dlfinucane@gmail.com
I didnt see a pdf regarding size and speed?
What is the size of the boat you are driving in the video and what are the specs as far as speed, pontoon size and how many, and capacity for people? I looking to purchase a pontoon boat and we are a family of 6, my husband loves fishing with the kids and I want to be able to pull them on tubes and skis on the lake. Thanks
The boat I am driving is a 23' Sweetwater Premium with a 200 Mercury on it. When alone, it gets to about 50MPH, and with a fuller load (6-8 people) it is more like 45MPH top end. A great size for skiing/tubing is 21'-22' with a 150hp.
@@boatinglessons You need deep pockets for that....
@boatinglessons I am looking for a used pontoon boat with a 200 horsepower Yamaha outboard with a hummingbird on it please
18' x7' with 60 etec does 21 cruise at 16 at 2.5 gph
I have a 2020 sun tracker 18 dlx with 75hp Mercury- top speed was 25mph with top down and zero passengers.. mph drastically dropped with passengers and top up.more like 15mph fully loaded up. I want to upgrade to 115hp.
Yes, as soon as the weight and drag increases, the pontoons sink lower in the water and can have that effect
I don't think you're allowed to put a motor that big on a boat that small. I would do it though.
Excellent information - much thanks!
Great video. Thanks for posting
22' Lowes Sunchaser. Just traded 40 hp Merc for 60 hp Merc Big Foot. They thought they were doing me a favor and put a bigger pitch prop on and I think it killed my rpms and speed. What would best prop be to achieve my max 6200 rpm and get best top speed? Want to be able to do 2500 - 3000 rpm and 10-12 mph on my long river trips.
What is the current max RPM with a light load (one person, 1/2 tank of fuel)? In theory you would increase your RPM by 250 -400 RPM for every inch of pitch you change.
After checking that I was getting full mechanical throttle the rpm was at 4400 max and 16 mph. Prop company says I need to decrease pitch.
Yes, that is correct - sounds like you are over pitched by at least 4". Do you know what is on there now? My guess is that it should be between a 9" and 13"
I think it is a 14 pitch and prop shop said he had an 11 on his similar pontoon and his ran fine. Thanks for the info.
everchevy sounds about right!
@boatinglessons 24 foot long with a Yamaha 200 hp outboard and a hummingbird fish finder for a used pontoon boat can you get me a price on if it’s used for me
would a 40 horse on an 18 be to little and how much more gas would i use with the 60 over the 40
How much power you need is a function of desired usage. With most manufacturers the 40 and 60 are essentially the same engine (displacement) and would use almost the identical amount of fuel.
How much power you need is a function of desired usage. With most manufacturers the 40 and 60 are essentially the same engine (displacement) and would use almost the identical amount of fuel.
So a 150hp is a bad combo for 24ft dual toon?
It is a rare combination, yet not “bad”. If the toons are larger diameter and have lifting strakes, it will perform well. It will flex a lot more than a tri-toon though and have much lower load capacity
@@boatinglessons thanks, getting close to pulling the trigger and I would like to get this right.
Looking at the ST 22dlx dual toon, mostly cruising and a some water sports. Im 62 so its not like out jumpin from wake to wake those days are long gone:)
@@timshull59 Happy to help. Want more, no strings call available here: app.hubspot.com/meetings/sean715
I have a 24 ft monark 1993, i put a carbureted mercury 150 hp on it and i topped out at 32 mph (by myself) with a mirage 15" pitch prop. I can get 27 mph with 4 adults and 2 kids.
Can cruise 18'20 mph at 3500 rpm now as well. Transom is rated for a 115 hp which weighs 80 lbs less.
Algae or any build up on the pontoons will increase drag and decrease speed.
Hi Sean, I really enjoy you videos. They are so real and informative. In this and other videos you point to the upper right where we are to find additional information. Unfortunately i am unable to access it. I would love to get copies of the pdf charts on size, weight, hp and speed for pontoon boats. Where can i find them. Thank you Robert.
I appreciate the feedback Robert. We are working on the data for that now and will release it later this spring. I will put a post in TH-cam when it is ready - my fault:)
This is why I bought the new Sea-Doo triton boat cause it’ll do 45!
Did I miss something? I watched the video until the end for the downloadable fact sheet and also checked the links. I can’t find it! Can you point me to where it is so I can download it?
We are so sorry, it is 100% our fault. Our video production is ahead of our content production. Would you like us to email it to you when complete shortly?
@@boatinglessons I would like to see it. Can you email to liboxerboy@ymail.com thank you! I am enjoying all of your videos and helping me with my 1st time boat purchase.
Is the PDF public now? I would like a copy. Please. Jandjrolison@yahoo.com
@@boatinglessons Yes email me the PDF file too please dwhornick@gmail.com
Please email me the pdf of engine size and avg speed. Kincaidttu@gmail.com
Where is the downloadable PDF??
I just want to have an option to tube what size motor do I need for a 18ft pontoon 🤦🏼♂️
Depending on how many people - would suggest 60-70hp would get you the speed you want for tubing
My Harris 22 foot dual log pontoon with a 115 HP Mercury goes 25 mph.
i dont see the pdf file
Rented a pontoon on lake Hamilton Arkansas. Most boats on lake Hamilton are pontoons. Wonderful lake but I'll stick to my deck boat.
Nice Video
4 years and no PDF
How fast is a 16ft xl with a Mercury 50 hp?
pcjc21: My 16 footer is limited to 40hp. 50 for a 16, too much IMO.
@@tboman4128 So...how fast is the 40?
27' Manitou, 250HP Suzuki on lake of the Ozarks
Didn’t know they still made pontoon boats. Tri toons are the way to go
Randy Stunkel: Not for every application.
Overkill for a lot of people. I have 6 or 7 reservoirs to choose from within 2 hours from me, none of them have the size to warrant 3 tubes. no doubt they are nice and the added storage is nice but 99% of the time they aren't needed.
Not able to find,buy a 4point fishing pontoon 23foot 150 hp . At bass pro theses days.
Lack of inventory/supply?
No PDF
PDF?
Appears to be targeted for the craft size, make(s) this Canadian dealer is aligned with. The Sun Tracker Boats [ White River Group / Cabela's ] are 16, 18, 20 ,22, 24 in length (FEET) and are vastly more popular for the value - dollar for dollar & options for the craft appropriate for many boating needs. Interesting that all dealers for upscale Boats = Bennington, South Bay, Veranda, Sylan, etc are geared for those less concerned with price point. Also THE WORD Pontoon is a amalgamation of an Pacific Islander language and "Toon" does not refer to The Tubes as flotation devices .... seems every perspective has it's commercial value - not educational integrity. Thanks, jj
Pontoon; The word stems from the Latin pontonem, "flat-bottomed boat," and its root pons, or "bridge." ie. A deck with a bridge between toon ergo pontoon.
Size matters on a pontoon IF you want to slalom ski.
PDFs?
Save money, don't purchase new unless you have a lot of money. A Lot of nice used pontoon boats out there and you are not making unneeded payments during when the boat is sitting in the back yard.
Jay A, that is an interesting opinion. Because ALL pontoons hold value so well, it really doesn't seem to make a difference (new vs. used) from a cost of ownership perspective. Other than the higher interest costs on the larger loan, or opportunity costs of less money in your account/investments - there really is very little difference. Thanks for having your say!
Or just buy a new one cash, can’t pass up some killer rebates on the new ones. & skip getting someone else’s headache.
so let me get this straight......the big pontoon needs a larger engine. LOL
Where's the PDF??
My fault Terrell - I will get it down in the new year. Best intentions without the follow through:(
I have 12 ft Electacraft
Pontoons 30" wide
Have 40 mercury long
And eight wide
its a elec start . 2 stoke
And do you love it Edward?
@@boatinglessons
I yeah love it..
Decided to keep electric
Motor for now.
Want to see slow feels..
Thinking that 12ft pontoons have 24 ft
Of water line..
Most harbors have speed limits..
How about an 18 foot, 2 tubes with lifting strakes and a 200 HP engine?
That sounds like suicide! LOL
Seems like a good time to me. 😁
can't be done it's illegal.
I am about range, slow and go .
A consideration for sure!
My lake is 20HP max. No decision here
No ,it’s the length of the ride😅
No PDF went from a thumbs up to a 👎🏼
I have I 28 ft 350 hp pontoon
Larger boat equal more HP. Brainiac we have here
We are a simple folk 🤣
25ft Avalon Catalina with 300 Mercury will do 50 mph
Sweet! Where do you use it? Sounds fun :)
Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu
Never mind I found one
Great! Where do you boat?
he forgot BOAT stands for "bust out another thousand".....
We like "Best of all times" better ;-). When you factor the cost of owning a boat from the day you buy it, to the day you sell it, it really is one of the most affordable recreational vehicles with the possibility of including the most friends or family.
hey...it was just the best boat joke haha...ive never had 1 boat bite me yet....i service them, look after them, and care for them, and never had the problems others do right beside me with their..."titanic"
@@Imnotyourdoormat All good! It's amazing how taking care of them really makes a huge difference :-)
yepper...........
I always herd that the best 2 days of owning a boat is the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
Size matters! Except er, sometimes.
This is pretty much a 'no shit Sherlock' video.
Common sense
Four strokes no power e-tec way better
Max HP or go home. Lol
)
PDF???
Where's the PDF ?