How fast before Strakes work?

[rrhodes]

I have an '08 25' Triple Tube pontoon. Well new for 2009 (Figures) JC has started offering a sport package that include lifting fins (Strakes) Which means I can more than likely order a set of strakes and have them dealer installed now. My boat has a dry weight of 2150lbs. With a Honda 115hp, 4 people, 30 gallons of fuel I get about 26mph WOT. Is this enough speed to benefit from the lifting strakes or am I just adding more drag because I wouldn't be able to plane?

 

[smclear]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

I also have an '08 JC Triple tube. The Sport toon you refer to was available in 2008. We've owned JC's for the past 25+ years and they're great boats. JC Manufacturing is located in North Webster Indiana which is about 8 miles from our cottage. In 2007 our Tritoon was stolen from our storage facility. I sent an email to JC explaining what happened and requested a brochure. They asked for the HIN from the old pontoon and sent that out to all their dealers in case whoever stole it took it to a dealer to have it serviced. IMO, that was above and beyond. I know they did this because we had several dealers contact us to see if we wanted to check out their new line. As far as the speed required to make the lifting strakes worthwhile, I don't know the answer but I'm not sure the cost would be worth it. Don't know the cost, so maybe it is. I would recommend sending the folks at JC an email with your question. They're good folks who will give you an honest answer.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

The sporttoon was available in 2008 but they just started adding strakes in 2009. I love my JC and to be honest I am just wondering if the strakes would get me from 26-27mph up to the 30mph mark. I will give JC a call today and see what they think.

 

[5150abf]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

JC is a tremendous company, they are about 10 miles from my house, they have been around forever.

I would call them and see if that is even possible, U tubes have to be foam filled as a coast gaurd regulation and I don't know how the foam would take to welding.

Those strakes look very similar to what we use at Bennington and I know on our boats the strakes add 6-8 mph on the top end depending on boat size and engine, gaining speed on the water is difficult so to get that much for so little is pretty huge.

I don't know that there is a magic speed where they start working, it is more a gradual thing and the faster you go the more they work.

They have a very clean install too, I have seen some very hoaky things welded to pontoon tubes.

So, smclear, are you on Wawasee or a different lake?

We keep all our company boats on Wawasee.

 

[smclear]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

Yeah, our cottage is on Wawasee. Been in the family for 4 generations now. We're 8 houses south of Wawasee slip. I live in Indy but am usually at the lake every weekend from mid April to end of October with a whole week or two spread throughout the summer.

The company I work for is doing the engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) for the Lerner Theater renovation and expansion in Elkhart so I hope that adds to the time I get to spend up there this summer. I've already made quite a few trips up over the last fall and winter.

 

[5150abf]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

The only time I get on Wawasee is when I borrow a boat from work, I fish and it is a bit choppy for that, alot of way too big boats and jet fleas too.

I think that is where we keep our boats, the place we use is just down the road from the Frog, know how to get there but can't remember the name.

 

[smclear]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

The Frog is on Harkless Drive and is within walking distance from our cottage. I eat lunch there often but I've pretty much outgrown the Wilder nights there. Louie's (across the street) is pretty good too and a little more my speed.

Belle Marine is the closest Bennington dealer and they're just south of Webster but they did open a satellite location in Syracuse on 13. Very close to the Frog but not on the water.

Main Channel Marina is pretty close to the Frog. They carry Harris, South Bay, and Kayot.

 

[smclear]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

The sporttoon was available in 2008 but they just started adding strakes in 2009. I love my JC and to be honest I am just wondering if the strakes would get me from 26-27mph up to the 30mph mark. I will give JC a call today and see what they think.

We're you able to get in touch with anyone at JC? I'd be interested to know what they said. If 5150abf is correct on the speed gains, and he should probably know since he works on tubes and such, that might be something I would consider down the road. Then again, top speed on the pontoon is not something I'm concerned with so if the cost is too high I probably wouldn't do it.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

They stated that yes they could be added but also said that I would not benefit with my 115hp motor. I have to ask myself though what they consider a benefit. Would 2-4mph be worth it to me vs the 6-8mph if I had a larger motor.

I think at this point I am going to wait and enjoy the season then revisit the strakes when I can pitch a motor upgrade to the wife in the event that the strakes slow me down due to additional drag.

Since I bought this boat new last July the wife would flip if I tried to spend thousands upgrading it right now.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

One of the things I did the first year we owned our 'toon was investigate every possible method of increasing the speed. Coming from a planing hull boat to a pontoon I think it's natural to feel like your moving too slow; but after the second year of cruising about on the pontoon boat I became satisfied with it's speed and cruising characteristics, and in fact, I no longer push it to WOT as I don't care for the way it rides at that speed. Give the boat time to grow on you and you may find that you are happy with it as it is.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

Agreed, I am going to just enjoy the toon and if I decide down the road that I want more speed I will revisit increasing HP and adding strakes in order to get the most out of the added HP.

I am an upgradeaholic.

 

[mikegj]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

this question was posted on one of the pontoon forums and all the manufactures said you must have a 150 hp or better then came a reply from tracker showing a 21' er with a 60 hp and lifting strakes. It's not a lot faster than without but the fuel economy was much better than with out. I'm sure comtemplating it

 

[lmuss53]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

I'm going to reopen this because it's a project I'm ready to do now, and I could really use some help figuring out what these strakes should look like and be made of, and where to place them.

I have added a 3rd log to my 2006 20 foot Forester and moved up to a 90HP OMC. The center log stops just short of the transom pan and did not iterfere with the water flowing to the 50HP OMC I just took off. I am going to underskin the boat and add lifting strakes to the 3rd toon and possibly to the inside of the factory logs.

I have a good fabricator who can build anything I present to him and a good welder to put them on. I am a machinist/toolmaker and I am familiar with fabrication and welding although not with aluminum welding which is why I rely on an expert to do that for me. My fabricator makes a living as a truck body builder and works almost exclusively with aluminum in his business. The welder is a former tank builder and repairman in the petroleum industry.

Between us we have the ability to draw these up and get them made and welded on. What I would ask for help on is the type and thickness of material used on these. I have a design in my head which is basically a 45 degree, six inch wide strake attached at the 135 degree mark (4:30, on a clock) on the port log and in a corresponding position on the other log. I would start with 12 inch wide stock and bend a 1/2 inch wide welding tab on each end then bend it in the middle to 45 degrees with some unknown (3/8 to 1/2?) radius at the bend. I would fill the ends in with the same material and possibly cut them at a 45* bias first to pretty them up.

I'm basing that on photos I've been able to find on the net. I haven't been able to find a 3rd log or strake boat parked around here yet to get a real good look at, or I'd know more than I do.

5150abf, or anyone else with some experience, can you tell me what you make the add on strakes out of and does my design idea sound right or wrong to you?

Any pictures of strake logs would be appreciated.

 

[brumbyvet]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

I have an '08 25' Triple Tube pontoon. Well new for 2009 (Figures) JC has started offering a sport package that include lifting fins (Strakes) Which means I can more than likely order a set of strakes and have them dealer installed now. My boat has a dry weight of 2150lbs. With a Honda 115hp, 4 people, 30 gallons of fuel I get about 26mph WOT. Is this enough speed to benefit from the lifting strakes or am I just adding more drag because I wouldn't be able to plane?

I know on my boat I can really start feeling the lift at about 18 or 19 mph. From that point on the more rpm the more lift. My boat is only a two logger so I don't know if it would be the same for you or not.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

brumbyvet, The NV logs are the ones I would really like to see. I sent my nephew to BPS in Harrisburg to take some pics and they said the NV is no more and they don't have one for him to look at. Could you tell me where your lifting strakes start and stop on the log and if at all possible take a couple of pictures of the log and strake?

The pic in rrhodes post is about what I have in mind for mine, but I have heard nothing but good things abouth the NV from BPS and I'd sure like to see what they look like.

 

[brumbyvet]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

Imuss, I really don't have any good pics showing what you want. The inside strakes are the full length of the toons and the outside strakes run about two thirds the length of the toon.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

OK and thanks for the reply. I've looked high and low and I can't find a picture of one of those NV logs. I can't find one for sale anywhere to look at, nuthin'. I'll keep looking and one will pop up. I've got the 90 on the boat and will try to underskin this week and do the first test next weekend. I'm going to see what it does that way before I start on strakes.

 

[shaeleblanc]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

hum i wonder if these would work well on my tritoon. i am pushing with a 175 horse and a different brand but it should do the same thing to mine also.

 

[mikegj]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

Next Question or Problem the transom; there are 2 different kinds that I know of , first one I call straight transom, motor sits about even with the top of the tubes. second one I call drop transom motor sits about 4" lower than the top of the tubes and often is set back behind the tubes. I have a straight transom and will be adding strakes to my tubes that are going to make them ride higher in the water. Wont this make my motor come out of the water when running? If so how much will motor have to be lowered?

 

[lmuss53]

Re: How fast before Strakes work?

I'm hoping to avoid it, but I'm making a plan to drop the motor 5 inches if I have to.

Shaeleblac, look at the Tracker 25 foot XPE triple toon package to see what strakes do for a longer boat with lot of HP.

http://www.suntrackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3238