Towing a Pontoon

[keninaz]

I am considering buying a 16' or 18' Bass Buggy by Sun Tracker.
I have an 08 Yukon which has the right motor and axle ratio rated for 7500# so I should be just fine.
My concern is wind resistance towing and side wind resistance.
I have to two 80 miles to the closest lake to us it and upwards of 250 to some and I would like to fish them all.
Needles to say these routes all have freeway speeds and I don't mind slowing down.
Just curious as to if winds are a problem.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

I don't think you will have any trouble towing that size boat with your Yukon. your trailer will probably be single axle, so will display some wind action, but should not be a big problem. Don't go down the Yarnell hill unless you have trailer brakes.

Glenn

 

[keninaz]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

TNX, I don't know how often I would find surge brake on a trailer.
I am looking used if I can find one complete and ready to go.
I would not take 89 south as it's actually longer from where I live going to Lake Pleasant for me.
I also want to try Lake Powell as I grew up fishing for stripers in salt water.

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

You'll be fine. On the outside chance it sways the biggest thing is to readjust the load for proper tongue weight. If it still sways sometimes get a sway bar or other sway controlling hitch set up. These work very well.

That boat size is little. Keep in mind most boat covers are not made to be towed. They will shred.

Electrical brakes usually work like crap UNLESS they're been adjusted and periodically readjusted. There's a simple procedure for it that is done at the hubs.

 

[keninaz]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

TNX, I figured that the cover would not hold up to towing.
It just makes sense.
We are torn between a bow rider, a cuddy or a pontoon but for overall use I am thinking that the pontoon would work much better for fishing and staying overnight on it.

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

There's a bay on my lake with many moorings. We moor there often with my 22 ft toon. Looking around at the moored bowriders and cuddys, it's very easy to see they're uncomfortable and crowed. Even with just a few people, everytime you move around you're in somebody's face. That sucks. Basically they're stuck in a seat. It takes a very big bowrider/cuddy to have any room aboard. Even some good size cuddys are cramped unless you go inside. Who wants to be inside when on the water ?

Consider a toon with lifting strakes. They're much faster and get much better gas mileage tho you may have to go to a larger length to find one used. Strakes are where it's at for a toon.

You're retired ? Don't be cheap. hands down get the best boat/trailer you can first time around. It doesn't have to be a Cadillac, just quite capable. Speed is important on large lakes. Hydraulic trailer brakes are the bomb. they work very well.

Myself, I would buy a slightly used good boat long before I would buy a new plain jane.

 

[keninaz]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

I guess it depends on how you use a cuddy.
I have had two of them in the past and just the wife and I use it, nobody else. Overnights were very comfortable and much more private that the open deck of a pontoon boat but less room to move around and that is why I am looking at the pontoons this time.
I have owned many boats in my life from 12' to 26' from aluminum to cuddys and cabin cruisers.

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

I guess it depends on how you use a cuddy.
I have had two of them in the past and just the wife and I use it, nobody else. Overnights were very comfortable and much more private that the open deck of a pontoon boat but less room to move around and that is why I am looking at the pontoons this time.
I have owned many boats in my life from 12' to 26' from aluminum to cuddys and cabin cruisers.

True dat.

sounds like you're good to go. Lake Powell sure would be cool. Lucky you!

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

If I had my choice I'd go for the bow Rider. It's a much better boat all around. My last boat was a 21ft Arriva Bow Rider with a 350 I/O .That baby would fly. The trailer had disc brakes on all four wheel. Way faster then by pokey Pontoon Boat .I bought the pontoon boat because I thought it would easier to get into from the water, not true. easier to dock, not true, easier to tow ,not true. Get the message.

 

[keninaz]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

Yes here in the pines we have some stocked lakes but nothing you can put a powered boat on.
So for us it's 80 miles to Lake Pleasant, 115 to Lake Havasu and 225 to Lake Powell.
If I am going to have to travel that distance we are going to stay overnight for a few nights.
So I am weighing the toon with a cuddy or perhaps a larger bowrider. My wife likes the idea of a cuddy best and the toon is a second choice for her.

I had my back fixed via surgery that had me incapacitated for quite some time and I am ready to get back to fishing!

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

If I had my choice I'd go for the bow Rider. It's a much better boat all around. My last boat was a 21ft Arriva Bow Rider with a 350 I/O .That baby would fly. The trailer had disc brakes on all four wheel. Way faster then by pokey Pontoon Boat .I bought the pontoon boat because I thought it would easier to get into from the water, not true. easier to dock, not true, easier to tow ,not true. Get the message.

Not all toons are pokey. Mine will run 43mph, 22 ft Suntracker Regency, 26inch diameter toons with full lifting strakes 135 Optimax. TONS of wide open room and storage, huge comfy lounges, bathroom plus it gets great gas mileage. Would take a huge bowrider to offer all of this, it would $200,000+, would get horrible gas mileage and need a heavy duty tow vehicle.

 

[keninaz]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

Whoops! This one went too fast!

http://i48.tinypic.com/288wcvo.jpg

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

Nah. They're just utilizing the fish finder option !

 

[keninaz]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

I think I will stick to the electronics method.
I am getting older and can't hold my breath that long any more.
Besides, this method sucks when the water is cold!

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

I towed a 18.5 ft Bennington Pontoon from Kentucky to Florida with a 2003 Ford Ranger (4.0 Towing package) and had no issues at all. Your Yokon is a beast compared to the little Ranger.

 

[BigDfromTN]

Re: Towing a Pontoon

Only handicap I can think of towing a pontoon with the Yukon will be the size of your fuel tank.
The wind drag you mention will certainly tug on the fuel line more than normal.