Tritoon vs Large Bowrider

[Danny C]

My folks just bought a place on the Lake of the Ozarks known for its large chop on crowded days. There are plenty of large cruisers and go fast boats down there. Know they need to buy a boat that will work. Mostly for cruising on less crowded days but can still handle it if they want to get out with the grandkids on a weekend.

I have been on a 29' openbow Searay that seamed to handle the waves fine. A friends 24' pontoon could only go out in the morning or during the week but a relative that has a triton says it takes to waves great. From what I hear, the tritoons are basically designed for that lake.

I have been searching for advice on tritoons vs Bowriders and am mostly finding comparisons of tritoons to deckboats or smaller openbows. My main question is how is the handling of rough waters between a large openbow vs a tritoon?

The current "new to them" boat criteria so far is either a triton 25' or better with at least 150hp on the back or a 28' or better openbow. All 2000 year or lnewer. Trying to narrow it down...

Thanks,
Dan

 

[jkust]

I am in a sort of similarish spot. We have been considering getting rid of our bowrider and buying a Tritoon as well. They take waves and take wakes just fine but you need a good 250HP to get up and moving to what I would call an acceptable pace. We've got a some 600hp tritoons and some twin 150's as well on the lake. On our lake then, it has become 10 to 1 pontoons to bowriders at this point. Sometimes I'll pull into one of the bays and there will be all pontoons. Pontoons are taking over. Then this past week we were at one of the resorts having dinner and a large, new Cobalt bowrider pulled in next to us and my wife though that she would be ok with one of those in lieu of a triton. I don't like that you can't get out of the wind on any pontoon which is a selling point for a large bowrider for her. Of course I want a bowrider but like the practicality of the tritoon..

 

[southkogs]

Y'know - two slightly more practical considerations:

A 28' bow rider is gonna' be loaded for bear in the power department. It'll be a big, heavy boat with at least one (more likely two) V8s that want a place at the feeding trough. You can get a decent size 'toon that'll carry a similar load of people and gear with a lighter power load and be a little cheaper to operate. Not as fast, but less expensive I would think.

The other consideration is the one I've been dealing with for my folks ... it's getting harder for them to climb down into the bow rider from the dock. As opposed to the pontoon ... they have a much easier time stepping off the dock onto the 'toon.

That said - I boat on a couple of pretty big impounds with pretty big boats on 'em. Not as big as LOTO, but similar none the less. The pontoons do just fine.

 

[jkust]

So far the only acceptable tritoon we've seen was $78k new which was actually mid level or so. That only had 250hp. There doesn't seem to be a lot of higher end/larger engine tritoons used quite yet around but there are nice, used, large bowrider options abound.

 

[Texasmark]

For smooth riding on large lakes with lots of wind and traffic, a deep V hull is tops, hands down, period. It will cost you in operating expense over a hull that will be more economical to buy and operate, but it'll have you puking from a belly ache to go with your back ache and harsh comments from "The Admiral" in no time flat. Comfort is not cheap. But after a day of smooth sailing you won't be thinking about what it cost you. After all.....................why are you spending your money?

 

[Grandad]

Hi Danny. If heavy chop is your main concern, why are you considering a bowrider or a pontoon? An open foredeck design is inviting a wave onboard unless you go big. A closed foredeck boat could be smaller, dryer, easier to handle, need less power and would be more fuel efficient. If I had a young family, I'd consider a bowrider or a pontoon with the kids up front where I could watch them and I'd take them only out on calm water. From what you've described, I think you should consider a closed bow style that can punch through a wave and still keep the cockpit dry. - Grandad

 

[cptrick3]

While on my last vacation to Florida we rented a 24' Hurricane sundeck boat with a 200hp Yamaha and I was really impressed. Although there were only 4 of us onboard there was room for a lot more. Also has a head that the women liked. We took it out in the Gulf with plenty of chop and I still felt safe. They make this boat up to 26'

 

[Danny C]

Jkust - I agree with the price shock. I knew they were getting pretty expensive from the last few boat shows I have been to but never really let it settle into my mind until I went to a dealership to check a few out. We were looking at a new 26' triton that was average at best as far as features and it had a $75k price tag on it. That was the end of the shopping for me. The tritoons are nice but It is hard for me to spend that much on a toon. And that isn't even the highest end models...

My pops is leaning towards a tritoon after talking with a few marinas at the lake. I have to say I think it is the best option for them at this point. I think I was being selfish pushing on the side of the bowrider so I can cruise it around

Texas- If they go bowrider, I will definitely go deep hull.

Grandad - I appreciate the advice. Cruisers and closed bows seem to be the way to go on that lake, but my folks are not looking for a large cruiser and anything less than 30 foot that is closed bow does not offer enough passenger space for them.

cptrick3 - I think the deckboats are a little too shallow hulled for the wakes at the lake although I may keep that in mind for my next upgrade. I currently keep to the smaller lakes and Mississippi around here with my small ski boat. Outgrowing it quickly.

 

[cjjjdeck]

Just a note on the Hurricanes: While they do have flatter hulls, some models are flatter than others. As a general rule, the 3-digit models have a 12.5 degree deadrise and the 4-digit models have a 16 degree deadrise, so the 4-digit models will ride the chop better. Length and weight will also have an effect on the ride as well.

 

[H20Rat]

While on my last vacation to Florida we rented a 24' Hurricane sundeck boat with a 200hp Yamaha and I was really impressed. Although there were only 4 of us onboard there was room for a lot more. Also has a head that the women liked. We took it out in the Gulf with plenty of chop and I still felt safe. They make this boat up to 26'

The last time I rented in florida, the owner of the rental (perfect impression of 'Captain Ron') used a 24' Hurricane as his personal boat to check/recover/herd his rental fleet. He essentially put 6-8 hours a day, every day, on the deckboat, so it apparently worked well for him.