I am about to start working on my pontoon boat. The question I have is wether to build a raised deck on it or not. I plan on fishing it as is for a while but I want to develop a gameplan for the future. Any input is appreciated!
Pontoon build?
BayouBandit
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I am about to start working on my pontoon boat. The question I have is wether to build a raised deck on it or not. I plan on fishing it as is for a while but I want to develop a gameplan for the future. Any input is appreciated!
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I have a 36 inch raised platform and now know thats too high for the way we shoot. Been wanting to lower it to more like 16 to twenty inches (for storage and a place to mount the lights like Mike has). Hope to get to that project soon. I will tell ya you'll see more fish from the higher platform. We shoot most of our fish no more than twenty or twenty five feet from the baot. It does give you more fish to chase once you've seen them though.
Good luck with the build and post some pics along the way.
Good luck with the build and post some pics along the way.
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I'll try to get pics up as I go. Has anyone had problems with floatation in the front? I am concerned once I get the deck built, lights, trolling motor, and two FULL grown men up there that she ride way too low up front. It may not be a problem but three men up front, the front will dip low throttle.
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We shot 3 guys on or 20" raised wooden deck last year. When there was 4 guys the pontoon's would submerge when under power. Our's is 24 ft, I've been looking for an extra pontoon or 2 to add some floatation to mine. hopefully I can find one or make one.
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We have four toons/logs under ours and weight is an issue if we have alot of folks on the rig (six or more at +/- 150 lbs each). We only have a 17 pontoon though. I have two toons at 19'-6" (outter two) and two at around 16' (under the boat). Wish I'd bought a 22 or 24 footer but were working with what we have. I had a 30 hp yamaha on her when we got her. Went to a 88hp johnson after adding the extra toons and gear. Now I think we have a prop issue cause she cavitates past half throatle. Don't know the kinda boat the 88 came off of but I'm fairly certain it wasn't a seven foot wide barge with a ton of gear and folks on it. Gonna try and take some weight off this thing before too long and see if we can get some more speed out of it too..
But once we settle into and area and start to shoot she's like a barge. No tipping and you can bounce around her like wild monkeys and she's steady as a dock. we use a minn kota 101 to chase fish but it's headed to the shop for repairs. When working the 101 does a great job. Gonna go to a kicker when funds allow.
Good luck with the build.
But once we settle into and area and start to shoot she's like a barge. No tipping and you can bounce around her like wild monkeys and she's steady as a dock. we use a minn kota 101 to chase fish but it's headed to the shop for repairs. When working the 101 does a great job. Gonna go to a kicker when funds allow.
Good luck with the build.
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We dont shoot a deck on ours but I wanted to leave it as much like a regular toon as possible this is mamas toon and she wanted it for weekend use as well.
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Thinking it is gonna have to stay without a deck for a while but long term I will build one. Just put on a troller yesterday gonna take it out Wednesday and test it. It's only a 50lb thrust But I should get an idea of how much dip we will get up front. This trolling motor was free so I will use it as long as possible.
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Thinking it is gonna have to stay without a deck for a while but long term I will build one. Just put on a troller yesterday gonna take it out Wednesday and test it. It's only a 50lb thrust But I should get an idea of how much dip we will get up front. This trolling motor was free so I will use it as long as possible.
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here are some pics as it sits
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That's an interesting question. Not sure how much helium is, but I'm sure it would help, jus not sure how much... I have tested my toons for leaks after a weld was made. Only took them to 5 psi though. Not sure if they could hold more and didn't want to risk popping a weld anywhere. Not even sure if helium at a high pressure has more lift than just helium at static pressure. It would be interesting to find out..
As is, our pontoon has four logs/toons under it. Have two toons at 19'-6" and two at roughly 16'. We are able to get into water about 14 inches +/-. Depending on how many folks are on board. That's with the genny five batteries roughly 12 gallons of gas and all the extras like cooler with drinks and ice.
I'm gonna have to check out the helium idea though..
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I am not sure about pressurizing the toons, but i know mine wouldn't work that way, the toons have foam in them and the tops are riveted on.
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You must have the flat top type toons and not the round cylinder type.. I have four, all are round cylinders. Two are hollow and single chambered. Two are broke down into 3 individual chambers, so if one gets punctured you have the others to keep you afloat. So I could use the idea if it's not to expensive and gives the lift intended..
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If your not going to use four, try and get one with a transom on it for the third.. And make sure you get large diameter toons for more displacement.
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Most definetly, we have been looking around and eyeing up a pair of 25" diam. toons and a transom toon that is actually 25" tall but 32" across, kinda of oval shaped.
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