My ideal fishing rig is a 20-24' center console pontoon boat... Why do I rarely see these in the bay or gulf? Are they just too slow to get out to deeper water? Or what?

I'll go out on a limb here and say that you are better off with something with a deep v hull. I woud think that a pontoon boat would be prone to taking waves over the bow pretty regularly too. Granted, the water could just roll off anyway but anything on deck will get wet or washed away too. I have seen a couple being used for fishing between the jetties, but not going to the end. You just can't get the bow up on pontoons to ride over waves very well. And yes, I believe the slower speeds would/could create some safety issues too. Don't think I would want to be out very far and need to get back quickly (weather/wind changes) and have to rely on the slow speed of a pontoon boat that also isn't going to handle bigger waves very well. Now, if you want to keep it in the intercoastal waterway or even the flats, I could see it as a good choice since you will have lots of room to fish. I just wouldn't venture out past the jetties in one.

Thanks for the reply scott.... My first thought was water going over the bow is no big deal since it'll just roll off.... But now that you mention it, EVERYTHING would get wet... Might as well be in a kayak haha...

That makes sense... Guess I'll get back to dreaming about a center console...

Hello,
Taking a pontoon out in the Gulf requires almost no wave action. Yes, you would be hard pressed to outrun a storm with a pontoon boat. Pontoons are great in the rivers and Intercoastal canal. Load up the family and the dogs and head down the San Benard river to the Gulf. Young kids and dogs like the open deck of a pontoon and they are great to camp on.

Unpainted alumnium and saltwater are a bad mix.Lots of clean-up after a trip to saltwater.

Pontoons all over Panama City Beach, FL.

I had a buddy to meet me in Port A years ago and he wanted to bring his pontoon (That bass tracker thing) due to 2 other guys he brought down. We stayed in the channel near the old Brown and Root and honestly had an easy time of it. As for as waves went I did not notice any issues. Now that boat NEVER looked the same afterwards, the alumnium oxidized to a grungy dark mottled color.

It's a testrone thing. They do great in Christmas bay and SLP.

The use em as fishing and diving platforms down in Marathon, Fl.

They make Tritoon for saltwater, it has a large cent pontoon and smaller ones on the sides. These are make specificly to handle rougher situations. They are also a lot more expensive, but you can put a much bigger motor on them. With a regular pontoon a big montor only shoves the front end into the water. There are companies in Florida that make them specificly for salt water.

Ok for bay , not so good for ocean .

I'll stick with a traditional boat.

http://www.portasouthjetty.com/news/2008-10-16/Front_Page/Sightseeing_boat_sinks.html

They are floating sacks of potato chips...the wind plays havoc with them..

In addition they really aren't sea worthy crafts, carpet, unprotected wiring, even cheezy galvanized fasteners all add up to a short but painful life in the brine.

I agree. Taking water over the bow can do more then get everything wet. You take on enough water, fast enough and your in a swamping condition. Of course it won't sink but it won't do you any good upside down either.

There were actually two at our condo complex last week...just as many as center consoles in number....surprised me.

I have always wondered this as well thanks for the post.