Advice needed from experienced toon owners

[zackrowe]

Hey everybody,
Im on a fact finding mission here. I just picked up a 1992 SunToon 20 with a 75 Suzuki. I am trying to plan a trip down the Arkansas river and then down the Mississippi for a ways. Can anybody tell me what sort of fuel economy I could expect, resources for route finding, tips, advice on what to add to the boat. Anything. Thanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice needed from experienced toon owners

fuel consumption 7.5 gallons per hour, you need to set the motor up properly, so that it turns the recommended rpms, at wide open throttle, which may mean a prop change. routing, river charts.
VHF radio, Gps, extra fuel just in case.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Advice needed from experienced toon owners

7.5 per hour is at wot(wide open throttle.) you could make decent speed
at a throttle setting that gets 4 to 5 gph.I would suggest a couple of shorter trips to see how things go.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Advice needed from experienced toon owners

By all means, if you have not already done so, take a boating course through the coast guard or other boating organization. You need to understand how to read the channel markers on the Mississippi. Getting on the wrong side of a bouy can put you in shallow water in a heartbeat and you risk damaging a lower unit. Also be aware of barge tows and the dangers regarding them. These things are huge and meeting one on a relatively blind curve can have catastrophic results unless you know how to navigate around them. A cell phone and VHF marine radio are also helpful on navigable water like the Mississippi. As for fuel consumption, 5 gallons/hour at moderate throttle setting will be fairly close. Take extra fuel along if you are unsure about frequency of fuel locations. A spare prop is also suggested.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice needed from experienced toon owners

might be a good idea to have some of this, http://www.allfixepoxy.com/servlet/the-All-Fix-Epoxy-Putty-cln-Underwater-&-Marine/Categories just in case you bump something.

 

[flounderman]

Re: Advice needed from experienced toon owners

Many years ago I was planning the same trip. I contacted the Tulsa branch of the COE. For a fee they sent me a chart book of the Arkansas River I also got the lower 1/2 of the Mississippi from them or the office in Vicksberg Miss. I don't remember. There are other map producers that shoud have info. My pontoon was a 24' with a 90hp, gas useage went from a few gallons/hr. to 10 gallons/hr. I never did do the trip. I moved to Northwest Washington instead. Good luck Jerry