I'm looking into upgrading from my 14' kingfisher boat I got from my uncle about 4 or 5 years ago. It's a good boat, but too small for more than 2 people. At first, I was certain that I wanted a center console. I'm still sure I WANT one, but don't know if NEED one or NEED to AFFORD one. I would want at least a 21 foot boat. I can't find any that are in good shape and have a strong enough engine for under $5000. So after seeing a post on here a few weeks ago, I have been looking into pontoons. I can get more square footage and a weaker motor for a much better price. I also have a 3 year old daughter and she would have a lot more room on a pontoon. She currently wont go on my current boat with me because the motor is too loud. It's a 1967 Evinrude that still runs like a champ, but it is louder than newer motors.

So here are my questions.

I have heard that pontoons don't need as much motor as the center console of the same length. Is this an accurate statement? For example, I am looking at one that is about 21' long but only has a 60 HP motor. I'm a little worried that is too weak though. I'm not ever looking to pull a skier, but I also don't want it to take forever to get around the lake...not that west Texas lakes are very big.

How do pontoons handle the wind? Which would handle a 20mp wind better, a 21' pontoon or a 21' V or shallow V center console? I think I saw in a video or maybe a post on here one time that pontoons don't sway as much in the wind when anchored from the bow. Is that correct? I currently can't fish in my 14' boat when the wind gets over 15 mph b/c the sides are low to the water and it just gets too wet...and rough. I have to stay home at least 50% of the time in the spring and well this year, summer and fall too, b/c the wind is blowing 20-25. I want to be able to still fish those conditions. Keep in mind that the lakes I fish are all under 5000 acres so a 25 mph wind here would hopefully not be as oceanic as a 25 mph wind at Texoma or Twok.

Oh yeah, the motor is an '86 Johnson, 60hp. Does anyone have an opinion one way or the other about that motor?

One more thing for Tom if he's reading this. Do you still have the cat yacht? Haven't heard it mentioned lately. I might have just missed it though. I've never even been on a pontoon so I'm curious if you still have it or if you gave it up for a center console. Now that I think about it, I think I did see it in one of those videos that Salsa made...the one where he didn't have his Humminbird (I think that;s the one) so he was following you around. Could have been the one where he was floating chicken bones though. All of them are classics. I'm gonna need the box set on Blu-ray soon.

Any other input anyone wants to give is more than welcome too. Feel free to tell me I am crazy for considering a pontoon or tell me they are great fishing vessels. Not gonna hurt my feelings.

Thanks guys!

i still have the cat yacht. Fear wont let me get rid of it and thats the boat i will use alot on twok this winter in the wind. you cant beat the toon when you have kids on the boat. take the one you are looking at out to the lake and check out if the motor is enough for it.also have a mechanic look it over and check the compression on all cylinders.
the 24 ft yacht had a 97 force 75 hp on it and it wasnt quite enough engine. it works well with a 115 though.

that comment right there would be enough to warrant getting a pontoon.

Keep in mind that it may be a problem launching a pontoon boat when the lakes are low. As far as the kids and family go, they are great. I would not count out pulling a tube or a skier, you never know. I have a 22 foot center console that I just recently bought and I am really enjoying it as compared to the 17 foot bass tracker I was fishing out of. As far as the wind the pontoons blow around pretty good for they don't sit very deep in the water and they are like a sail. I have a 200 Johnson on my boat and it runs pretty decent. I don't think you are going to find a boat that will suit all your needs, I would just weigh out the pros and cons of each and what your budget will allow for. Hope this helps.

Thanks Tom for the advice. It's comforting to know you use it in windier conditions. What is your other boat?

You're probably right LakeLass. I gotta figure a way to get her to want to go with me more. She'll go catch bait with me when it's warm as long as we do it from the bank. But we have to drive by a dang playground to get to the lake so she usually chooses the playground over bait catching! HA!

Dave (DDR) has an 18 foot toon with a 60hp outboard on it. I think with with 3 of us on there it was going about 15-17 mph wide open. Good luck in your search.

Thanks Jwheeler. Fluctuating lake levels seems to be more common out here than in East Texas. Most loakes have at least one long ramp for low water conditions so hopefully launching won't be a problem unless we have another summer like we just had. The part that worries me is loading it in a crosswind. That looks like it could be difficult.

So do you need more anchor with a pontoon? I am having a buddy build me some box anchors, but I don't know how heavy they will be. I know the design is more important that weight, but weight helps.

I owned a CC for years and just recently bought a toon. Don't know why I waited so long. Toon's are great when you have kids on the boat, more room,saftey factor, easy ride in somewhat rough water.
About the motor, I have a 130 hp on a 22', more motor than I need but nice to have extra power at times. Have ridden on many with smaller motors, just a little slower trip time. That's a real plus at times as you really get to enjoy the trips to your fishing spots.
My vote is make the swap, if for no other reason than the little one will go with you. They grow up fast, buy it for her. Very good excuse.
Jim

This is the perfect quote to show my wife!

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/2727969217.html

This may interest you.

Yes that does interest me. Dangit, I had just about made up my mind on the pontoon... Still leaning towards the pontoon since it's $1000 cheaper and more family friendly and has a bimini top. If it had a 90 hp motor instead of 60, I would have for sure made up my mind.

Another thing...how many of you pontoon owners/users have trolling motors? And how often do you use them?

If your fishing from the pontoon, you will definately want/need the TM. It's the next purchase I intend to make for mine.

You mentioned loading in cross winds earlier, it can be interesting at times. If you get a toon, get trailer guides, they will assist in the cross wind loading situations.

I agree, if nothing more than for the kiddo to have more fun fishiing, it's worth getting one.

I haved owned (2),the one i have now is the fishing model with a trolling motor.They are great for night fishing with lights.I have had some anchoring problems,so i am going to get a box anchor to fix that.The first one had a 60 hp and the one i currently has a 90 hp . Both were good at getting around the lake.As for as loading it takes some practice.

They arent fast but sure are nice when fishing and even with extremely rough water with waves crashing over the front deck while under way you still have a little comfort. Ive had my toon in some stuff that would sink a boat that wasnt self bailing. I dont mind the rough water sometimes, it cleans all that slime off my deck!

my 24' toon will run an even 20mph gps with 2 on board, neighbors have a 22' with a60hp rude, it runs an even 17mph, not bad. Mine is V4 the 60 is 2 cyl. I Like the 2 cyls the 3 cyls are prone to heating on top cylinder from what I have seen. JUst thought I would give you some figures to compare by. Wind the toons can handle. Sometimes a mite rough to load in a stiff crosswind.

Here's my take, went from a 1977 Newman tri-hull, 85 Johnson.
Dad sold it, bought a 1999 17' Ranger with 125 Evinrude. BIG UPGRADE.
I bought a 97 Lowe, 22 ft. pontoon with a 90 Evinrude, F/S combo.
Granted, I'm with you with kiddos and family so that was a large deciding factor.
The room is unbelievable, tag says room for 9.
Bikini shade covers 1/2, for kids and grandma.
Runs 29 mph, gear and family loaded, including 2 loaded coolers.
Will pull a tube, and my 16 yr. old novice on her wake board.
Got a 100 lb. thrust, long shaft I need to get mounted.
CD stereo with good speakers make it nice in the summer heat.
Sure, I get passed by others, but i wouldn't trade it for the world.
Dad uses the Ranger when he's alone, all other times, bass/crappie/cat fishing it's the pontoon and it's awesome for running jugs.

It's at Alan Henry, and the wind has never been an issue, as that ramp is protected when loading most of the time. I have noticed it does drift fast in a good breeze, hence the new 100 lb. thrust trolling motor. Even running across rough water it's like grandpa's rocking chair.

Thanks for all the input! Sounds like there is no wrong answer when choosing between a toon and a center console. But since the toon is cheaper and I want to accommodate my 3 year old and more than a couple of friends from time to time, I think I am going to see if I can't get my hands on the toon. Smoky is gonna do circles around me in his 24 foot Sea Fox with 225 Mercury Optimax but we all gotta stop to fish sometime. HA!

Maybe if you get a nice boat you will go to a real lake? LOL

Gonna take more than a nice boat for me to have the guts to head to Twok. I'd make sure I went with somebody that had a clue what they were doing before I spent that much for gas! But hey, next time you head to Ivie, let me know.

this is what we are saving up for

LakeLass, you just need a 1000 lb thrust trolling motor for that thing and you'll be set! Let me know how pulling a tube works with that thing.

I have tossed this around in my brain for a month or so. I'll be using my boat/pontoon for white/hybrid/striper(60%), cat and panfish the rest of the time. I've been considering either a 17'-20' center console or a Pontoon rigged for fishing. As I see it:

CC Pros: much easier to trailer longer distances, somewhat easier to load, faster and better in rough water or near off-shore. Cons: less room, needs a larger motor/more gas.

pontoon: pros: more room for people and stuff, stable in relatively rough water, smaller motor better gas millage Cons: Harder to trailer distances and to load, Not as good in rough water or near offshore, wind can affect drifting and slow to very slow.

capt david

I have read over the past year several people say they are more trouble to pull long distances. Why is that exactly? It can't be the weight because aren't they much lighter than other types of boats?

So is it the shape causing much more wind resistance? If not that, I don't really know.