Possible new boat choice

[low277]

Does anyone have any experience with a pontoon boat on Lake of The Woods? I have seen a couple out there and am curious. I don't go out in real rough water but I have no experience with them at all.

I usually go out of Warroad, and almost always stay within Muskeg Bay. maybe a couple of trips up to the NW Angle by trailer and fish around the islands.

I have looked at some more fishing style models about 20 feet long with a 50 hp 4 stroke outboard.

Any experience with these in choppy water?

[BoxMN]

Not experience with them on LOTW but plenty with fishing toons on water up to Whitefish sized lakes, and smaller lakes. I bought a South Bay 522F (actual size just a hair under 24'), the fishing version, with 60hp Merc BF, and here are some thoughts as you look.

-Motor, love it. goes about 19-22 MPH GPS depending upon load. Perfect weather and two people and a dog, 20.5. Has lots of power and low end grunt. Brother in law has same sized Premiere with 90 Yammie, and while motor is good there is not enough of a difference between 60 and 90 to make a difference IMO. Go either 60 or jump to a 115 to notice a real difference.

-go with 25" tubes or bigger. Mine has 25" and perfect, 23" would be too small. 25" tube will keep you high and dry, if you have lots of cash look at tritoons for that big water but not needed IMO, unless you put on a 150 or bigger.

-mine has a rear deck outside the rails. I and everybody who uses it loves this. For fishing, tieing off, extra space keep stuff when pleasure boating, etc. I would NOT consider one that did not have this area. My filling cap is also in the middle going into the rear "livewell storage deck" so you can actually walk out onto the rear deck to fill it nice and stable, unlike if you have to hang over the dock, or the rear, or the non-dock side to fill up, this is really handy.

-front deck - - my old pontoon had a bigger front deck outside the rails and I kind of liked that. My new one has only enough to side step and walk on, not enough to fish from. It takes up some space if you have deck, but if you plan to muskie fish more than walleye, then having it and the ability to jerk tip down retrieves would be nice. I can only really do that from the stern of from the side door when it is open, or the front door straight out.

-i opted for a larger L seat and ditched the changing room, but I am on small lake. For your big lake maybe the changing room/potty would come in handy.

-I had them not install the seats/bases as I wanted to place then EXACTLY where I wanted them. It was a bit of work doing it, and pealing away underskinning to do it, but I got the bases I wanted (3/4" pin, not the stoopid TaperLock) and in places I wanted. It is nice to be able to pull the seats and leave at the dock if only a couple folks are going. Don't get capt. chair for the rears, just more stuff to get in the way.

-tackle - - it is nice with all the under seat storage for tackle boxes (plano 3700's) as really don't need a "tackle box/bag" anymore.

-rear livewell area - - some are fiberglass, some carpeted platform, or some variation. I went with the carpeted version as it is not slippery and sturdy enough to stand up on and get great view and cast/fish from. I just need to make a little step to help get up there easier for an old guy like me

-Cabelas brand rod holders work great on my rails, and also have built in tubes in my livewell/storage area deck in rear. I use the rocket launcher tub racks (6 count) for rod storage just behind the bimini top on starboard side, as I tie up on the port side.

-doors - - make sure you know what side you will tie up on, as some toons have doors on both sides, but some only on one side. Mine only has port door but that is where I tie up so perfect.

-if you troll/rig much, look at where the bimini connects to the side rail by the console, and how you will hold the rod while driving. Mine is not perfect, but I was able to mount a rod holder in such a way that it isn't all that bad, but it could be better if bimini support was moved 3" up or back. But that affects the cover, the rear supports, etc. So I am just leaving it.

-I have two livewells, rear one and one just in front of the console. I use front one for dry storage for PFDs, and also to stand on to get higher vantage point in the front I have clear water and you really can see the smallies better from up high! Make sure you can fit a standard minnow bucket into the livewell, as that is really handy to just keep the biat bucket in the livewell, easy to get at, keep fresh water flowing over it, and you never have to bend over to get bait, and can just throw in into lake when you are tied up real easy.

-last, my seat really is great, but not the BEST there is. Doing it again I would have upgraded to the biggest baddest most comfy capt chair there is.

Wind can blow you around a good amount in a toon, but the fishing versions usually have lower sides than non fishing, and leaving the doors open all the time helps as well. Get one that is 8.5' wide and not 8' and definitely go with the vinyl flooring, I love mine and everybody who sees it wishes they had it in their toons or boats. I would never go back to carpet

Good luck, there are lots of nice ones out there. Compare construction, and for such a big body of water get under them and look at how they are constructed. My favorite two brands for solidness were South Bay (at the time 2012 they had the best underskinning and great construction, right down to using Deutcsh electrical connectors) and Premiere.

-PS sorry for the book. I love talking cabins and pontoons and duck hunting

[low277]

Thanks BoxMN, very useful information. I have never been on Mille Lacs lake but I think the wave conditions may be similar. I am not retired yet so I have to go out when I can which usually ends up being in choppy water, I would guess that 18 - 30 inch chop is common, usually with whitecaps.

[BoxMN]

If you are going out in 30" chop a lot, then look at a tritoon, IMHO, but they get spendy for sure, especially with the bigger motor. Or stick to a boat I'd also be looking at at least a 22' toon, unless you really would only go out only on nicer days (18" or under), which it seems you don't have luxury of. Nice thing is the longer span can smooth them out pretty good.

Whitefish is pretty big body of water and waves and wakes from big boats can get huge, but not really ML or LOW huge. Bro in laws 22' does MUCH better than his 20' did. Key is also keeping the bow up, cause if you take one over the front deck everything gets wet, haha!

Good luck!

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Family has a 24' FNF (Fish-n-Fun) Tri-toon. Have had it out in 6 footers on LOW with no problems handleing the water. Only issues that come up are when you happen to spear one slowing down. Get's a little rough on the aluminum panels. Cousin has a 28' "Fun House" with the upper deck slide etc on it with a 225 Optimax tri-toon as well. That thing has the lifting sponsons on the toons and runs along at a measly 46 mph on GPS. (I didn't believe it either till he blew the doors off my 21-21 Warrior with a 200 at WOT)! It also handles big water on LOW like a champ. We ran it up to the Angle a few years ago on one of the rougher days I can remember in 6-8 footers. Was it smooth and perfect..No did it handle it and get us there safely..YES. Biggest thing to look for IMO is triple toons and get the lifting sponsons on them. Short story long...yes pontoons are a viable ride for LOW starting to see lots of them!

[deerminator]

South Bays are nice. We rented one on Whitefish last year with a 115 and it moved. Rode very smoothly on some rough waters early in the day. Was great for tubing too and nice for a slow cruise on calmer waters on Big Trout later in the evening. Good luck on whatever you choose. We are looking for a "new to us" boat or toon. Was at one of the local dealers and all they have is toons. The sales guy told me, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a bowrider or "speed" boat anymore. lol

[low277]

Thanks for the replies, BoxMN lots of useful information, NAMA specific info on the Lake of The Woods. I have seen a few on Lake of The Woods but only occasionally and when the waves have not been real bad, say less than 3 feet.

I currently have a 1650 Tyee which is OK for 2 people, it rolls pretty good when drifting in 2 - 3 foot chop. The wave size and occasional water splashing in does not bother me, but my stomach can get upset if I bend over for something in the boat.

Are the lifting sponsons just the horizontal fin on the sides of the pontoon log near the front?

[BoxMN]

Are the lifting sponsons just the horizontal fin on the sides of the pontoon log near the front?

Nope, they are under the waterline, except maybe when flying and near the rear or the whole side. They help get the toons "on plane" when at speed. You really need a pretty big motor to make then make much difference I think. 60 no way it will help much. 115 maybe... 150+ for sure

Go to South Bay site and read the Sports Package info. Good info. Good luck!

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Yes, what Box said! And if possible dont short yourself on motor. At a certain point the pontoon will only go as fast as it will go no matter what motor you have on the back like anything else. But in my experience MAX out the horsepower right from the start. It's frustrating to have to sit and wish for more later. Like I said my cousin is running an 06' 225 Opti on his FunHouse and it runs 43+ like nothing. Do you need to run that fast, probably not but it's nice to have the extra power there when you need it!

[Raider4ever]

Do you need to run a pontoon at 43mph? Not usually but I'm thinking it's good to be able to when there is a storm coming in on your backside at 35MPH.