Question:
I am on a lake which can get 2-3 foot waves in a short period of time. It
gets too scarry out there in my 14 foot aluminum fishing boat. I see a lot
of pontoon boats on the lake - and figured they must be a lot more stable
than regular boats.
I understand that pontoon boats are sluggish - but I would gladly trade that
for increased people carrying capacity and stability as we have no need for
speed.
There was a post in the group a while ago that talked of a pontoon being
scarry in one foot waves. Is this the general experience out there - or is
it perhaps applicable to one brand of pontoon boat?
The one I am looking at is a 1984 Kayot 20 foot model with a 30 HP motor
(from what I see - this motor will be underpowered for this size of boat) -
but the price is $3,000 - which seems very reasonable to me.
Answer:
Pontoon boats are just WET in waves taller than the deck. A lot depends on
quartering the sea. It is concievable that you can stick the deck "in" and
pitchpole with a big following sea but I doubt you will see this in most lakes.
They are stable up to a point though. You will just cruise through a lot of
chop that would knock the snot out of someone in a 16' bowrider. Just be
careful if you find yourself burying the deck.
