Pontoon for Fire Dept.

[BlueLightSpecial]

The fire dept. I belong to is looking to upgrade from the 2 18' jon boats we currently own, to a pontoon boat, with hopes of using this boat for rescue/retrieval, and fire suppression in our pool of the Allegheny river, north of Pittsburgh, Pa. There are 2 that we are interested in, both of which are on craigslist. One of which is local, is a 28' with a full canvas camper top, and a 90hp merc, the other is a 26' tri-toon with bimini, and a 150hp merc. My question is, will the 90hp with the camper top, have enough grunt to tow a broken down pleasure boat, away from say, a dam? obviously, if it is too close to the dam, we are not going to risk it, probably grab the passengers, and go, forget about the other boat. And will the 90 hp be enough to respond fairly quickly? The fire chief like the camper top, I like the 150hp tri-toon. To me, its cut and dry, but i need to convince the chief. Thanks in advance!

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

no brainer, tritoon.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Tritoon. Stability and HP, both of which it sounds like you need to get the job done when it's needed most.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

In order to tow a boat away from a dam in swift current the number one priority will be hole shot. The tri-toon with a 150 will give you that in spades, and at 26 feet it's long enough for a camping enclosure should the chief choose to add one. The 28 footer with a 90 would probably be okay, but I wouldn't want "ok" in a situation like that. I'd want to get after it. Plus, you guys can barefoot behind it. After all, you gotta make sure the equipment stays in tip top shape, right?

 

[L.A.Wise]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

I can see where you'd like a pontoon, question is will it be a stand-alone or will it supplement the two boats you currently have. Seems as in an emergency, speed would be the essence and I'm not sure you'd get that with a pontoon. The jon boats could POSSIBLY tow the boat near a dam, and might get to the boat before it goes over. Be more hazzardous to transfer the passengers, but how hazzardous is it for them go to over the dam. Then, a little red pontoon would look sort of cute. LOL

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

I can see where you'd like a pontoon, question is will it be a stand-alone or will it supplement the two boats you currently have. Seems as in an emergency, speed would be the essence and I'm not sure you'd get that with a pontoon. The jon boats could POSSIBLY tow the boat near a dam, and might get to the boat before it goes over. Be more hazzardous to transfer the passengers, but how hazzardous is it for them go to over the dam. Then, a little red pontoon would look sort of cute. LOL

Actually, a tri-toon with a 150 would give them all the speed and power they'd need, most likely with some to spare. Barges have come a long way since Grandpa's 24 footer with a fifty horse Johnnyrude (not that there's anything wrong with that).

 

[5150abf]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Also I am sure you are going to have a good amount of gear on this boat and the tri is perfect for the extra weight and you have a much larger engine, the 28 with a 90 just isn't going to move very well.

I assume you are going to be trying to stick it in places pretty precisely and an under powered 28 isn't going to be very manuverable, I have run a 28 with a 300OB and even then it just an aircraft carrier trying to manuver it.

The tri with the 150 gets my boat, no brainer.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Coming into work this morning I was thinking about this topic and one thing that popped into my mind was the water conditions below a dam and being in a pontoon. Not sure if pontoons these days behave completely different than say a 89 Harris does, but I know when I hit current swirls, my pontoon can and does slide sideways quite a bit. Control on putting a pontoon into a precise spot below a dam might be very tricky. Without any warning the pontoon could shift 10, 15 ft sideways just by the current pushing on the logs. Pontoons don't act the same as a regular boat in current. They're like an empty beer can sitting on the top of the water and anything can push it sideways or turn it without too much effort. IMO.
A pontoon isn't going to rock as much as a V bottom or flat bottom boat and it's going to have plenty of room for rescued boaters on it. If I was in that situation, I'd have some type of device I can launch to the boat in trouble from a distance, that would have a rope attached to it that they can tie off to their boat and yet your rescue boat stays clear of getting too close to the bottom of the dam. If they can't tie the boat off, they could at least tie themselves off and you could pull 1 by 1 the boaters to safety and still be clear of the dangerous flows over the dam.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

What's the cost and age of each pontoon boat and What is the max Hp for each one?

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

What's the cost and age of each pontoon boat and What is the max Hp for each one?

The one with the camper top/90hp which has been restored supposedly, is a 1986 Suntracker Partybarge, asking $9999 Which Is too much, imo.
The tritoon, not sure of the year, havent had time to call yet, they are asking $6500. I imagine it is approximately the same vintage.

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Coming into work this morning I was thinking about this topic and one thing that popped into my mind was the water conditions below a dam and being in a pontoon. Not sure if pontoons these days behave completely different than say a 89 Harris does, but I know when I hit current swirls, my pontoon can and does slide sideways quite a bit. Control on putting a pontoon into a precise spot below a dam might be very tricky. Without any warning the pontoon could shift 10, 15 ft sideways just by the current pushing on the logs. Pontoons don't act the same as a regular boat in current. They're like an empty beer can sitting on the top of the water and anything can push it sideways or turn it without too much effort. IMO.
A pontoon isn't going to rock as much as a V bottom or flat bottom boat and it's going to have plenty of room for rescued boaters on it. If I was in that situation, I'd have some type of device I can launch to the boat in trouble from a distance, that would have a rope attached to it that they can tie off to their boat and yet your rescue boat stays clear of getting too close to the bottom of the dam. If they can't tie the boat off, they could at least tie themselves off and you could pull 1 by 1 the boaters to safety and still be clear of the dangerous flows over the dam.

We do have a line shooting gun, which will be utilized in swift water conditions.

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Thanks for the replies! It is a no brainer to me also. My chief likes the idea of the camper top, so divers can change in privacy, however I think he understands now, that he needs stability, and horsepower first, the camper top can be added, alot cheaper and easier than a new outboard. Not sure about the max hp for these boats, but I am sure the 150 should fit the bill.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Go for the tritoon.
Think of all the equipment they will want to haul.
Camper top for diver privacy while changing?
They go commado ?
If I am in a rush to rescue someones life, so what if anyone gets a view of my wingwang.
That camper top will also be a big billboard sail and a PITA to put up and take down every run.

Maybe complement the tritoon with a PWC for fast attack launching, speed and manuverability to get to where you have to the fastest.
With a radio, the PWC can call back to abort the tritoon deployment when it is discovered to be a false or minor alarm.
Lots of those in Craigslist too.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

I would think the tritoon with 150 hp is the only option. In an emergency you could easily overload both the toon weight and the 90 horse motor. Just imagine some yahoo with 9 people in his 5 or 6 passenger boat blowing his engine on a windy day. That Tracker with 90 hp ain't gonna make it.

Glenn

 

[lncoop]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Sumpin' doesn't add up. Ten grand for a 1987 Suntracker but $6500 for a tritoon with a 150? If anything I'd expect the inverse to be the case, but ten grand still sounds too cheap for a tritoon with a 150. Didn't think they even made those in 87, at least not in any appreciable quantity. I'm confuzzified, but what's new I guess.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

You're right on Incoop, I didn't pick up on the years and prices, I was just looking at there configurations. $9999.00 is way out of line for an 86 Tracker, no matter how it is equipt it does not compute. No comment on the tritoon, not knowing the year.

Glenn

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Sumpin' doesn't add up. Ten grand for a 1987 Suntracker but $6500 for a tritoon with a 150? If anything I'd expect the inverse to be the case, but ten grand still sounds too cheap for a tritoon with a 150. Didn't think they even made those in 87, at least not in any appreciable quantity. I'm confuzzified, but what's new I guess.

I wish I was computer savvy enough to post the links to each of these posts, Still getting used to our new Macbook, totally different than a windows machine. Anyways, I double checked both cl listings, and the tritoon price is in fact, $6500. The 86 Tracker, $9999. This one supposedly has been re decked, carpet, new furniture, all kinds of led lighting, even between the toons, under the deck. etc. I guess they figure all of that constitutes a premium price! Lol!

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Docked in Freeport

Come Test Drive

New:
Flooring including waterproof plywood with undercoating
Texture High Grade Carpet
Seats new within a couple years
1997 90HP Mecury - Just inspected and tuned up by mechanic (1,300) have receipt
New side panels and decals
Polished Railing
Stereo Mp3/cd/ipod with four marine speakers
understead red LED lighting for night travel
docking lights
dome light
2 new marine battery with perko 1-2-all-off switch so your never stranded on river

included
trailer
anchors
ropes


title for both trailer and boat - Titled as 1986 suntracker partybarge but all new and remodeled in 2011

Greg

Have more pictures
Best offer


•Location: Freeport
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Tri Hull Pontoon - $6500 (Bellaire oh)

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Date: 2012-01-22, 2:34PM EST
Reply to: sale- [Errors when replying to ads?]
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We have a 26 ft tri-toon pontoon boat for sale. Has 150 hp Mercury motor with a complete motor for parts. Has factory trailer, deck is solid a couple of rips in seats, has a bar with ice box and will hold 20 people. call won't answer e-mails

 

[BlueLightSpecial]

Re: Pontoon for Fire Dept.

Well, We have looked at both of these boats, Brought our findings to the company for a vote. We voted for the tri-toon. We will be picking it up this saturday. Thanks for all your help. I printed off this thread for the chief, and dept. members to see, so I am sure this helped sway the decision towards the tri-toon. Thanks again, I will post some pics, once we get her set up to our liking.