Well, it was way too far away (about 400 mi) for me to get, but I
almost pulled the trigger on a 30 ft. pontoon boat. Looked pretty
good. (deffinately not new) but had lots of potential. It had a junk
50 hp Chrysler on it, but the transom was thick and wll braced,a nd I
thought I've got the engine for it with the 115 V-4 Evinrude I now
have. so I was really getting itchy. then I though, now that thing
will steer like a log wagon because of its length. no tight
manuverability. For running the Ohio or Illinois river[s], and even
the Wabash in Indiana, and Carlyle lake it would be ok, too, and those
places are where I'd take it. But for getting in tighter turns would a
front rudder help steer it?
I know that cars and some pickups trucks have had 4 wheel steering for
years. And I didn't know if a small rudder mounted between the front
of the pontoons would be worthy on this size of a craft, or not.

I know I'm probably answering my own question, but it probably
wouldn't be that practical, otherwise they'd all be coming out with
them.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!

On Apr 14, 3:09�pm, "Tim" wrote:
Well, it was way too far away (about 400 mi) for me to get, but I
almost pulled the trigger on a 30 ft. pontoon boat. Looked pretty
good. (deffinately not new) but had lots of potential. It had a junk
50 hp Chrysler on it, but the transom was thick and wll braced,a nd I
thought I've got the engine for it with the 115 V-4 Evinrude I now
have. so I was really getting itchy. then I though, now that thing
will steer like a log wagon because of its length. no tight
manuverability. *For running the Ohio or Illinois river[s], and even
the Wabash in Indiana, and Carlyle lake it would be ok, too, and those
places are where I'd take it. But for getting in tighter turns would a
front rudder help steer it?
I know that cars and some pickups trucks have had 4 wheel steering for
years. And I didn't know if a small rudder mounted between the front
of the pontoons would be worthy on this size of a craft, or not.

I know I'm probably answering my own question, but it probably
wouldn't be that practical, otherwise they'd all be coming out with
them.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!

Putting a second rudder on the front would likely result in capsizing
at any serious turn of speed.

"Chuck Gould" wrote
Putting a second rudder on the front would likely
result in capsizing at any serious turn of speed.

How you gonna get a serious turn of speed in a 30' pontoon boat?

"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in message
...
"Chuck Gould" wrote
Putting a second rudder on the front would likely
result in capsizing at any serious turn of speed.

How you gonna get a serious turn of speed in a 30' pontoon boat?


Wonder if a robust Minn Kota electric motor at the bow would assist
steering...... acting like a poor man's bow thruster.

On Apr 15, 8:12 am, "Don White" wrote:
"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in message

...

"Chuck Gould" wrote
Putting a second rudder on the front would likely
result in capsizing at any serious turn of speed.

How you gonna get a serious turn of speed in a 30' pontoon boat?

Wonder if a robust Minn Kota electric motor at the bow would assist
steering...... acting like a poor man's bow thruster.

Don, after the fact, i thougth of that myself. and with it cabled up
to the steering, it could also act as a rudder I suppose, or jsut
throw it in and use it to aid docking ect.

that's also and idea.

On Apr 15, 5:44?am, "Ernest Scribbler"
wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote

Putting a second rudder on the front would likely
result in capsizing at any serious turn of speed.

How you gonna get a serious turn of speed in a 30' pontoon boat?

With far too much horsepower. :-)

On Apr 15, 6:21�am, "Tim" wrote:
On Apr 15, 8:12 am, "Don White" wrote:

"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in message

m...

"Chuck Gould" wrote
Putting a second rudder on the front would likely
result in capsizing at any serious turn of speed.

How you gonna get a serious turn of speed in a 30' pontoon boat?

Wonder if a robust Minn Kota electric motor at the bow would assist
steering...... acting like a poor man's bow thruster.

Don, after the fact, i thougth of that myself. and with it cabled up
to the steering, it could also act as a rudder I suppose, or jsut
throw it in and use it to aid *docking ect.

that's also and idea.

The normal method of moving the bow somewhat independently of the
stern is to use a thruster, not a second rudder.

On 15 Apr 2007 07:25:08 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

The normal method of moving the bow somewhat independently of the
stern is to use a thruster, not a second rudder.

Actually not.

I've never seen thrusters on a pontoon boat but I do see quite a few
with widely spaced twin outboards, and that seems to work just fine.

If you've got a lot of side to side swing most of these turn pretty well at
slow speeds. If you're looking at pontoon boats manuverability is not one
of your primary requirements.

"Tim" wrote in message
ups.com...
Well, it was way too far away (about 400 mi) for me to get, but I
almost pulled the trigger on a 30 ft. pontoon boat. Looked pretty
good. (deffinately not new) but had lots of potential. It had a junk
50 hp Chrysler on it, but the transom was thick and wll braced,a nd I
thought I've got the engine for it with the 115 V-4 Evinrude I now
have. so I was really getting itchy. then I though, now that thing
will steer like a log wagon because of its length. no tight
manuverability. For running the Ohio or Illinois river[s], and even
the Wabash in Indiana, and Carlyle lake it would be ok, too, and those
places are where I'd take it. But for getting in tighter turns would a
front rudder help steer it?
I know that cars and some pickups trucks have had 4 wheel steering for
years. And I didn't know if a small rudder mounted between the front
of the pontoons would be worthy on this size of a craft, or not.

I know I'm probably answering my own question, but it probably
wouldn't be that practical, otherwise they'd all be coming out with
them.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On 15 Apr 2007 07:25:08 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

The normal method of moving the bow somewhat independently of the
stern is to use a thruster, not a second rudder.

Actually not.

I've never seen thrusters on a pontoon boat but I do see quite a few
with widely spaced twin outboards, and that seems to work just fine.


I use a Minn Kota 65 AP on my boat while trolling lakes. Lock the kicker
straight ahead, and use the trolling motor to steer the front of the boat.
Works very well.