On May 8, 9:06*pm, JG2U wrote:
On Thu, 8 May 2008 08:30:39 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
On May 8, 11:11*am, anon wrote:
Rent one for a day. I rented one once and was very disappointed in the
performance but I'm sure there much nicer today.

Performance and pontoon don't go together. *Even today.

But the newer "deck" boats sitting on top of a planing hull can give
you something that is more the best of both worlds.

Bzzzt... wrong.

I have a 2000 Bennington 25' tri-toon with a 150hp Johnson. *It's a
35mph boat that I slalom ski behind. *Newer tri-toons do 50mph or
more, and pontoons have the undisputed best ride on the lake.

Planing hulls can beat you to death. *I've been out in white-cap
conditions that kept everyone else in... I was one of a couple boats
out. *Cant do that in a deck boat. *Or a twin-tube pontoon.

Pontoons are a pain to dock or load on a trailer. *Any cross wind
blows you around. *There's no hull to help hold you still in the
water. *But with some practice, it's OK.

I keep mine in a slip year-around, and only pull it out for cleanup
and maintenance, and for special trips on the trailer. *A 25'
Bennington is one hell of a trailer load.

Oh yeah, my boat will pound you to death for sure. Folks put bigger
engines on them, but the real beauty of them was 50 years ago when
engines were not so powerful and plentiful. That 8 horse will take you
anywhere you need to go at hull speed, all day, no gas... The three
horse kicker will get you home even at about 4-5 knots. It does blow
around though, is kind of wet, etc.. just a big ugly mobile hangin'
around in the sun rig..