Splash/Water over front

[phipps]

I have a 24ft pontoon with a 28hp Johnson on it. We had it out last week and with 7 or 8 adults on it I had a lot of splash/water coming over the front. We tried moving around but it didnt help much. Some of it was a choppy lake.

Im thinking a larger engine would help by getting the front up out of the water. Am I thinking correctly? I have a 60hp Im working on getting running.

My son wants to add a third toon. Would that help? If I were to look into this option, should I go with a full size with a transom or would a smaller one work?

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Splash/Water over front

If moving your passengers aft had little effect, then a heavier motor will not help and I doubt if a third toon will help much either.

I suggest that in choppy waters, reduce speed, keep most passengers toward the stern, and trim your motor up as much as possible without ventilating.

 

[phipps]

Re: Splash/Water over front

I wasn't thinking so much the weight of a larger engine but rather the incresed power. I thought it might bring the front up higher on "plane".

 

[hvachillbilly]

Re: Splash/Water over front

i have a 21 ft suntracker if with a 60 hp on lake mead if the lake gets choppy i either slow down or enjoy getting wet at 110+ degrees not much a bigger engine will do

 

[phipps]

Re: Splash/Water over front

Thanks for the replies.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Splash/Water over front

The extra hp will not likely get the bow higher and in fact may get it lower due to the limited planeing of the pontoon.

 

[chrisg]

Re: Splash/Water over front

Heck, thats half the fun, seeing how wet you can get your guests.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Splash/Water over front

If your getting splash over the bow with a load you may want to watch out for submarining;when the front deck dives into a wave and keeps going
down.You need to cut the throttle or disaster could happen.
I would think a 24' could handle 8 but you should check the caacity.
A third toon should be effective I've heard good reports.I would ask the dealer about what type.

 

[phipps]

Re: Splash/Water over front

All our seating is to the front so I dont think I tried moving people back towards the stern. I have problems with cavitation/ventilation when the weight is too far back so we always keep people forward.

Our toon is a 77 so it only has 19in pontoons. The capacity plate is gone, but a Sylvan dealer told me he thought it should hold 10. Problem is what weight do they consider a person? My family is on the larger side so each of us is probably more than 1 person for capacity purposes.

 

[south texas]

Re: Splash/Water over front

I have a 24' with a 50HP on it. We sometimes get blasted depending on wind, chop, etc. Moving around the passengers didn't make any difference for me, but my issue is related to water conditions.

 

[phipps]

Re: Splash/Water over front

It might just be the nature of pontoons and I'm expecting too much. Thanks for all the opinions and replies.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Splash/Water over front

Typical weight per person historically has been 145lbs Obviously pie in the sky figiures. 16" pontoons aren't going to carry much.
With 8 or 10 you need to be careful how they move around.
A sudden weight shift to one side could be trouble.Not like a boat where flotation increases as the boat settles in the water.As a toon advances beyond 1/2 way flotation increases at a decreasing rate.once submerged there is no additional flotation.

 

[phipps]

Re: Splash/Water over front

Typical weight per person historically has been 145lbs Obviously pie in the sky figiures. 16" pontoons aren't going to carry much.

Guess I wasn't too far off. I was guessing it was about 150/person. My toons are actually 19", but doubt that makes much difference.