Question:
We will be taking our pontoon boat out in to Tampa Bay and have
narrowed it down to a 22 Foot Crest III HPT - High Performance with a
150 HPDI Yamaha which we are told will do about 50 MPH vs. a 27 Foot
Party Barge by Sun Tracker with a 135 Optimax or Honda Out Board which
supposedly will go 28 - 30 MPH.
Is anyone running a Crest HPT pontoon in Tampa waters? How do these
different pontoon boats react in the water we will be in.
The Crest has 25 inch diameter pontoons but have a custom lift pad and
v bottom. The Sun Tracker has 26 inch pontoons.
Anyone out their running a high performance pontoon boat of any kind
in the Tampa Bay waters and if so what kind?
The 27 foot party barge is much roomier and nicer but would like to
have the speed of the Crest III HPT if its reliable in our waters.
We will be leaving the boat sit in the salt water.
Answer:
I think "high performance" and "pontoon boat" don't really go together but with
no other information I would go for the one with the bigger pontoons for
stability.
In choppy water plan to get WET if you want to go fast. I used to think Crest
was good but 2 of them have sunk in my neighborhood this year from
electrolysis. Be sure to keep your "zincs" up and paint the bottom. I keep mine
(20' Harris)on a lift.
