Then proceed with caution. This 600 HP pontoon boat from our line of luxury pontoons was tested last fall in medium-chop water conditions and a wind speed of 10 MPH, registering a top speed of 65 MPH, accelerating at 3.5 seconds to plane. If you notice your boat sitting lower in the water, or one pontoon sitting significantly lower than the other, there is a good chance that there is water in one or more pontoon. There are many types and qualities of anti-fouling bottom paint. There are vast amounts of pontoon boats for sale in Alberta to right across Canada & the USA at the boat shows. You can now buy a pontoon boat in confidence, knowing that you are not ordering one blindly. If your running in really shallow..6 or less, probably forget about much wakeboard wake either. Pontoon boats are a popular choice with people who are looking for a flexible leisure craft. However, this particular boat has been beached, so much so that I cannot push it back in to the water which I need to do before I can store it.. If your running in less than 10 feet forget a surf wave. It determines the minimum depth of water a boat can safely navigate without running ashore (which, by the way, is very bad). We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. If you are unfamiliar with the waters, discuss potential hazards with other boaters who are accustomed to the area. The manufacturers specifically design their boats for your pleasure, and they want you to enjoy them as much as possible. Wait until the decking has lost the original greenish tone and looks a little faded. Because of the way light refracts at the surface of the water, you can’t judge real depth simply by looking down (the perceived depth is called “apparent depth,”), so you must ensure a true measurement of real depth. Displacement: The weight of water displaced by a boat’s hull. Consequently, we recommend that you let the pontoon sit in the sun for awhile before oiling for the first time. Pumping The Water Out of A Pontoon Boat. Multiply the volume of your boat, 54 cubic feet, by 62.4. Still, there are reasons you might want to get into shallow water, so it’s best to do so safely. It helps you to be aware of how much water is needed to accommodate your boat. Most pontoon boats have a low draft which means they can be used in shallow waters more easily than other boats. Buy pontoon boat now – life is too short to live it slow. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you are ever in a situation … It acts a little bit like a jet-drive as it throws the sand kicked up and away from my water intake. What to Look for When Buying a Used Pontoon Boat: How to Buy & Questions, Pontoon Boat Basics 101: Your Guide to What You Need to Know & Own, Make sure that you are fully aware of your surroundings as you leave the dock, Apply power in short bursts, re-directing the drive in-between, Once the craft is in open water, trim the engine, Do not be hasty when applying power; smooth and slow is the best option, Always check your surroundings before you change direction. Tritoon vs. Pontoon – What’s the Difference? How to Winterize a Pontoon Boat + De-Winterize it Afterwards! If two people had an easy time gliding through two feet of water, that doesn’t mean a full boat of 10 or 11 people will have the same carefree ride. Check that the outboard is still spitting water out of the valve to ensure the engine does not overheat. Rivers and lakes change with the seasons; so where there may have been no hazards on one trip, there could be some next time. As I mentioned, pontoon boats are better suited to shallow waters than some other craft. Trimming the motor of pontoon boat is a good idea if you are navigating shallow water. Depending on what type of boating you are doing and how/where you are putting your boat in the water, the best solution to bottom paint might change. It’s a good idea to give yourself some leeway and stick to water that is at least three feet deep. Heed their recommendations, and if you have any questions at all about the capabilities of your pontoon boat or your future boat, feel free to contact your. A pontoon boat should be lighter at the front than the back so that the bow can lift out of the water slightly during acceleration. In most cases, this shallow-draft design and aluminium construction lets you run your pontoon boat ashore for a quick beach picnic very easily. Shallow water … This is a big help if you encounter any underwater hazards. Let’s start by looking at some general tips for making sure you handle your boat safely. Finally, make sure your path doesn’t have any obstructions. It’s worth investing in a depth finder, so that you can tell how deep it is. level 2. I used a copper tube attached to a short piece of garden hose onto a small 12v pump I picked up at a local hardware supply. It won’t be the same for everyone, but I wanted to give you a real-world example of how people might handle a pontoon in shallower waters without getting anything damaged. While pontoon boats are better ‘skinny water’ craft than traditional deeper-draft, vee-hulled boats, you still need to take extra precautions while boating when water … That is going to be the prop tips or rudder. Your pontoon boat rides lower and lower in the water. Check out our 2021 model lineup in the all new interactive digital Manitou catalog. I moved from a glass bass boat into a Lund Deep-V. Its a 1675 Explorer SS with a 60hp 4-Stroke Mercury. These actions are very important if you want to be safe while handling a pontoon boat. Not doing so could mean that you hit a hazard, causing extensive (and expensive) damage to your boat. It's fine when running however. Trimming a motor usually means that the trim locks are released. These boats have a wide, flat bottom, giving you more room on the boat to lounge, walk, and sit. Real depth is exactly as it sounds: The actual depth from the surface of the water to the floor of the lake or pond. It’s often possible for an average pontoon to be safely navigated through water that is two feet in depth. Also, you should take special care to make sure the depth is consistent throughout the path you want to travel. It seems to me like they would not sit as deep in the water as most other boats their same size but I know I could be completely wrong. For those who enjoy fishing, you may find it advantageous to get into shallow water for your catch of the day. It’s not a good idea to take your boat into an area of water which suddenly becomes shallow. in particular often sit lower; for example, the center tube on our V-Toon models is 5.25” lower than the outer tubes. You can also check for changes to the color of the water; especially those that happen suddenly. Seeing underwater is difficult even when crystal clear, so be especially careful in darker waters. Open and Honest Pontoon Boat Discussion. Reasons to Take Your Pontoon Boat into Shallow Water, With a hull that sits deeper in the water, you will need more leeway with the real depth of the water. With a hull that sits deeper in the water, you will need more leeway with the real depth of the water. Getting stuck can not only be harmful to your boat, but depending on the circumstances, can be extremely dangerous as well. Instead, they can be used to have a quiet day relaxing on the lake, followed by a day fishing and a day water skiing. Most of the pics I see on here are all on lakes. Draft: The total distance a boat penetrates the water, from waterline to keel or appendage bottom. If you need to give another boat a wide berth, be careful to avoid the very shallow water near the bank which might be at a tight incline. You can easily fish off the side or dock of a pontoon and they can easily tow water-tubers, kneeboarders or skiers behind. That’s where my prop guard shines in low water, I can tilt the engine up, so I still have water going through the engine and it will act like a jet drive and will throw the sand kicked up away from the water intake. If the boat runs okay now it is fine where it is, every boat si a bit different and there si no one place for a motor, on pontoon they generally sit lower than on a mono hull boat to help get the prop in clean water so I would say you are high but if it run without cavitating you are good. Especially prone are the man-made flood control and water supply reservoirs so popular with pontoon boaters – like me. If debris, seaweed, sandbars, or anything else get in the way, you lose your depth and risk getting stuck. Note that the hulls of triple hull pontoons in particular often sit lower; for example, the center tube on our V-Toon models is 5.25” lower than the outer tubes. But this based on my usual areas where itâs sandy, and there are no obstructions or man-made hazards. The bottom line is that as far as navigational depth goes, it will be different from boat to boat, and could even depend on how determined you are to access a shallow area in your pontoon. Original ... in the water. As a general rule of thumb, I wonât go anywhere near shallow water where the depth is less than three feet, and always ensure I have some room for error. Because pontoons can create a frothy stream of aerated water at the transom, the prop really needs to be set down in the water. These are actions you should take, no matter how deep the water is. When we mentioned two feet of real depth earlier, we were speaking in generalities, as we noted. Taking Your Pontoon Boat into Shallow Water. Our pontoon decking is made of treated pine wood and the finished product contains quite a bit of moisture. For some, maybe shallow water will never be a concern, as most of the activities you enjoy take place in deep water. This number is the measurement of how much of the craft is under the water. Choose any model in our lineup and build it to your style and specifications with your desired accessories. Some More Considerations for Pontoon Boat Docks Height: The decking should be 13 to 18 inches above the water surface to make getting on and off the boat comfortable and safe. Deep draft boats that are used in the ocean sit low in the water with their lowest part deep below the waterline. Now to clarify, my prop only sits at around 4 inches underneath my pontoons, so I feel comfortable as long as I have at least a foot of water under them. Manitou Featured in Made for the Outdoors, Manitou Receives 18th Consecutive NMMA CSI Award for Customer Satisfaction, Pontoon Boat Safety Tips | Lakeside Motor Sports Blog, Preparing A Checklist Of All Pontoon Boat Safety Measures | Adventures Age, The Ultimate Pontoon Boat Safety Checklist, Enjoying An Idyllic And Safe Summer On Your Pontoon | Know the Best Way to See The World, How to Turn Your Pontoon Boat into the Ultimate Summer Retreat, How To Have A Safe And Risk Free Trip On Your Pontoon - WEB Tarad. Still, it’s likely you’ll be docking your boat in shallow water, or using a boat launch to get in and out. Handy Hint: To check the depth of the water you are in, you can use a fish finder or depth finder. Pontoonopedia is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. If your boat is equipped with a depth gauge, the water depth is likely read from the rear of the boat, so take that into account as you start approaching shallower depths. Depending on how you are using your boat for different activities, you will probably encounter different depths of water along the way. Three feet is better, and four is better still, but as you get to know your boat and your habits, you’ll be able to find your confidence level. Draft is the boat sitting in the water flat to the lowest point projecting from the hull. No one operating a watercraft of any size wants to get stuck, whether the vessel is as small as a personal watercraft or as massive as a cruise ship. Pontoons are evenly low, and apparently no water is in the - Answered by a verified Marine Mechanic. There are sevral nice rivers where I live that I would love to take the pontoon boat down when I eventually get one. Try trimming up far enough that the propeller gulps for air, and then lower it a minimum of two inches. The most common reason for a nose diving pontoon boat is too much weight at the front of the boat. Securing: For stationary docks on sandy lake bottoms, pound pipes into the bottom to hold the dock in place. Report Save. I run mine as deep as I possibly can in water deeper than like 4 foot . As a shallow-draft boat, you can get into those coves where the big fish tend to lurk. 9. Where you might find problems is in skinny water as there can be some hazards that you donât get to see which could damage the prop and motorâs lower unit. Allot of people think Deep V's sit deeper in the water but in most cases a V hull sits shallower than most bass boats. Note that the hulls of. A telescopic boat hook is an excellent tool to have. This water drains through a scupper as the boat gets underway. The draft of a pontoon boat refers to how deep the boat sits in the water. A keel may extend much deeper into the water to offer a seaworthy vessel more stability in very turbulent water thus creating an even deeper draft. When a bass boat is at rest or going by the TM it sits low in the water, at plane it lifts itself out of the water. What I do it tilt the engine up so that there is still water coming through the engine. Many pontoon boat owners stick to using their craft on lakes, where they know the water is a reasonable depth. As you have seen here, it is about 35 mph maximum. Different types of pontoon boat are best suited to particular activities, so it’s always worth reading online reviews before you buy. But you could be missing out on some fantastic river experiences if you do this. , but this, of course, depends on several factors. I don't like being in less then 5ft of water when towing or cruising. If you haven’t noticed the pontoon boat renaissance that is sweeping across boat shows around the nation, you must have been hiding under a dock.. The closer to the surface and its gone ( like when you get bogged down in weeds and whatnot and have to pull it to the surface). So, it’s important to know your depths wherever you go. Contact your local dealer and begin making that dream a reality. Itâs not just young families who use pontoon boats these days, even old timer skippers are starting to choose them now due to the steady casting platform for fishing they offer â plus the ability that they have to easily slip into shallow waters.