Despite good advice to the contrary folks will do incredibly stupid things in
boats. What's most troubling to me is the encouragement they get from this
forum.

The person asking the question is a pilgrim.

Why provide bad advice to him. Can one "get away with" taking a pontoon boat
offshore? Certainly, usually. Should one tempt fate in such a way? IMO,
no.... particularly with others aboard.

Butch

The best reason not to is that it was never made for that
type of water.
"JDavis1277" wrote in message
...
Despite good advice to the contrary folks will do incredibly
stupid things in
boats. What's most troubling to me is the encouragement
they get from this
forum.

The person asking the question is a pilgrim.

Why provide bad advice to him. Can one "get away with"
taking a pontoon boat
offshore? Certainly, usually. Should one tempt fate in
such a way? IMO,
no.... particularly with others aboard.

Butch

I have seen pontoon boats "submarine" , where the wave over the front
pushed the bow down and then the momentum drove them well underwater

Been there, done that. The first day I had my boat I got caught in open water
bringing it home. What happens is it submarines but then the prop comes out of
the water and you pop back out. After a couple of those I figured out
quartering the sea was the trick, just like most boats. I ended up "tacking" my
way home since the course was dead into the sea. That was the nastiest day I
have had on the water in this boat. Seas at about 4-6 and sea fog so bad I
couldn't see land. (with a Wal-Mart compass I wasn't sure about)
I would not have done it if I knew it was that bad. The water where I started
was fairly well protected. The only bad stretch was across the mouth of the
Caloosahatchee near that Sanibel Bridge we are arguing about in the $27,500
speeding ticket thread. It was about 2 miles of hell and I was back "inside"
again.

Greg,
That post gave a chuckle, my brother in law decided to go through a
large yacht's wake head on. Myself and his dad were sitting in the bow
section, each on different couches, his dad on starboard, me on port. He
plowed into that wave and we were drenched in green water. I wasn't a happy
camper but so goes boating. Another time he was out on his wave runner
(trailered it down from Michigan), he made a run for our starboard beam. On
the aft port couch sat our digital camera, I thought he was going to slow
down and come along side. I soon realized that he wasn't slowing down and
was on a collision course, at the last moment he did a 180. Needless to say
he threw up a tidal wave, I had just enough time to leap on the camera to
protect it from the wave. Now that time....if I could have got a hold of
him...well you know.
Paul

"Greg" wrote in message
...
I have seen pontoon boats "submarine" , where the wave over the front
pushed the bow down and then the momentum drove them well underwater

Been there, done that. The first day I had my boat I got caught in open
water
bringing it home. What happens is it submarines but then the prop comes
out of
the water and you pop back out. After a couple of those I figured out
quartering the sea was the trick, just like most boats. I ended up
"tacking" my
way home since the course was dead into the sea. That was the nastiest day
I
have had on the water in this boat. Seas at about 4-6 and sea fog so bad I
couldn't see land. (with a Wal-Mart compass I wasn't sure about)
I would not have done it if I knew it was that bad. The water where I
started
was fairly well protected. The only bad stretch was across the mouth of
the
Caloosahatchee near that Sanibel Bridge we are arguing about in the
$27,500
speeding ticket thread. It was about 2 miles of hell and I was back
"inside"
again.

Tong,
I used to take a 24' Crest pontoon boat out of Ft. Myers Beach. If the
wind is down I didn't hesitate to take it around the island or over to
Sanibel Island. The furthest I took it off shore was probably four miles or
so, there was enough privacy out there. :-) One of the problem with a
pontoon is that if the waves and wind kick up a bit, it can be a wet ride,
much wetter than the 23' Maxxum (mono hull) my father in law now has.
Paul

"TongSlinger" wrote in message
t...

I want to take a pontoon onto the gulf of Mexico. Does anybody have a good
reason I shouldn't take a pontoon on the ocean for a day trip.
This is a 21 foot fisher with a 90 HP Mercury outboard, it is also
equipped
with depth finder and GPS for navigation.
any input would be appreciated
Thanks
Captain Crunch

Thanks Boaters All.

Sorry I posted the large binary, I was wanting everyone to see the boat I
was going to take to the gulf.
Thanks for all the responses that I received to my question. It has made me
aware of some issues that I didn't even consider. Now I will be even more
aware of various situations and the environment in which I'll be boating.
Again Thanks to all that responded to my post
TS

"TongSlinger" wrote in message
t...

I want to take a pontoon onto the gulf of Mexico. Does anybody have a good
reason I shouldn't take a pontoon on the ocean for a day trip.
This is a 21 foot fisher with a 90 HP Mercury outboard, it is also
equipped
with depth finder and GPS for navigation.
any input would be appreciated
Thanks
Captain Crunch

Now I will be even more
aware of various situations and the environment in which I'll be boating.

What area are you in?

Western Oklahoma

"Greg" wrote in message
...
Now I will be even more
aware of various situations and the environment in which I'll be boating.

What area are you in?

"TongSlinger" wrote in message et...
I want to take a pontoon onto the gulf of Mexico. Does anybody have a good
reason I shouldn't take a pontoon on the ocean for a day trip.
This is a 21 foot fisher with a 90 HP Mercury outboard, it is also equipped
with depth finder and GPS for navigation.
any input would be appreciated
Thanks
Captain Crunch

Calm weather, no problem. Watch the forecast carefully. Also, don't
let some of the resident fools here bother you. Some get a big kick
out of being assholes.

I would not take a person in poor health, the elderly or a small child
on such a voyage, but otherwise it's your life.
I know someone who has regularly crossed the Long Island Sound in a 25'
pontoon with a 30 hp Nissan 4 stroke this past summer. I think he's
foolish, but he's still alive.