Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

[FreddyQueb]

Hi, I'm newbie and figuring to buy a pontoon to use on Champlain lake. Some in navigation (sailers) told me that it's not a place for pontoon... Dealers told me that I can use it but not less than a 23-24 foot...

Champlain lake is very large lake, imprevisible and has waves (3-5 foot) sometimes, so is it safe with a pontoon? Which do you recommand me?

We just want to navigate, my wife and our two dogs, enjoying to be on water and relaxing, so we are looking for something cheapest at the good size for us. Thanks from Quebec. We just bought our second home in USA, near the Champlain lake.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

IMHO, 3 ft waves are too much for a pontoon. You'll be safe with those waves, but you'll have to go slow and the ride will be very uncomfortable.

I would go with a V-hull.

 

[mooregm5]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

Hello,

It depends on where you are looking to boat on Lake Champlain. Its a large lake and the southern and northern ends are pretty well protected and large waves can come up during strong winds/storms, but they are not the norm.

The center section of the lake (Plattsburgh, NY; Burlington, VT; and the general wide area down to the Narrows), it not a place to be on a small boat. You could find days to go out and be okay, but even on those days there are large boats putting out large wakes that you may find unpleasant. Also the risk of changing winds and storms is too much.

I would say if you are on the north or south in the relatively protected waters go for a ~22' pontoon, and just be careful on the worst of days. If you are on the center section, and want to go out often (and not worry too much about waves/storms), go for a deep V boat.

It's a beautiful lake, and you'll want to go to Valcore, Burlington, etc., so unless your willing to wait for the perfect days, get a boat that can handle it without concern.

 

[FreddyQueb]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

Thank you very much for your answers. We are planning to use the Port Kent Marina where is the ferry. We don't know if it's possible; we didn't ask. Our second home is in Peru city, about ten minutes from Port Kent.

Of course it would be glad to go nearest our second home but if the pontoon is unsafe on Champlain lake, maybe there is another lake or a river to use a pontoon, not far of our home? Considering a boat instead of pontoon, doesn't make us happy, we like the space on a pontoon...

Which size of boat if it's not a pontoon?

 

[mooregm5]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

Port Kent is right in the widest part of the lake. I'd steer clear of the pontoon, unless your willing to only be on the lake on the nicest of days. The wakes from other large boats in the area would be concern too.

There are other smaller lakes in the ADKs, but these would be a good drive from you. If you trailered the boat, you could travel to the protected ends of the lake, and the ADKs.

For that part of the lake, I would look for a 23-25 foot boat. Deep V hull. Big enough for comfort and seaworthiness, but small enough to fit on a trailer. Anything less than 20 feet is in a similar situation as the pontoon. Even with a 25' foot boat, there would be days you would not go out because of the waves. Its a big lake, with big waves.

 

[mt_bulldawg]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

Both Flathead Lake in western MT and Fort Peck in eastern MT can get some violent, abrupt storms - I've been on both in the short time I've had the 'toon, and for years in a v-hull. 3'-6' swells are common when it gets ugly, and I've not felt threatened in the 'toon on those bodies of water under those conditions. It's all about having patience and taking your time.

 

[Chris's CVX16]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

Well I can't say anything about boating on Lake Champlain I can say something about taking a Pontoon out on Big water. Being a Mighigan resident I've been on a Pontoon on some decent sized lakes, 9,900 acre, 17,400 acre and 20,000 acre Lakes. Plus other boats on Lake St. Claire, Lake Erie and the Detroit River.

My family owns a 28' Sylvan with a 48HP Johnson on the back. It makes about 14kt at wide open and will burn thru 6 gallons of fuel every 15 miles or so. It does not handle very well out in the wind especially and big waves make for a very uncomfortable and wet ride.

I have a friend who's family was out in some nasty water after a sudden storm on a Pontoon and ended up stuffing it into some waves and wound up with a boat that was no longer sea worthy.

They are great for smaller Lakes and Rivers but I wouldn't take one out to experiance big water.

I would try and find a 24 foot deep-V with a cuddie cabin if I were you. It is about the biggest (widest) boat you would want to trailer but should still be safe out in the big stuff.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Just locking along]

Re: Pontoon on Champlain lake (large lake), safe?

I have a 22? Premier with 115 E-Tec ? put in at Lock C-1on the Champlain Canal and made the trip to Lake Champlain ? a good day trip ? the day we arrived on Champlain it was calm ? went to spend the night on the water at Fort Henry ? moored on the south side of the city pier ? bad mistake. There are pilings just under the surface which makes it hard to protect the toon with the bumpers we had on board ? moved the toon back into the lake and moored to the end of the pier. This was OK till 3am when a cold front came through and the 2 foot waves arrived. Next morning calm as can be. Little sightseeing around and then headed back down the canal.

We saw a couple other toons on the lake ? 18 to 22 footers. The lake was calm then.

The Champlain and Erie Canals are a great weekend away trip ? this summer we will be doing the Finger Lakes.