Ideal pontoon size and motor for LP?

Status
Not open for further replies.
cdrew

cdrew

Active Member
Hi there, I am shopping for a runaround Lake Powell pontoon that can get to the middle of the lake from the south end in decent time to fish, camp etc. I've only been around ski boats at the lake and am unfamiliar with what would be recommended. Any thoughts? I see a lot of older boats with 60-100hp motors that seem underpowered but I could be wrong! Looking for a boat in the 22-26ft range if that helps
 
My previous pontoon was an 18 foot with a 60HP motor. 18 maybe 20 MPH with 4 people and dogs, Get a pontoon with at least a 150HP motor if you're looking for more speed. We took ours from Bullfrog to Rainbow Bridge and back. Made for a long day. If you got the money you can go really fast.:)

I loved the pontoon but the lack of speed made me sell it for a aluminum V hull with a 90HP.
 
Last edited:
I have owned day cruisers, bass boats, cabin cruisers. I ordered an Angler Quest tri toon 26 ft. had 2 foot extension put on rear. 150 mercury
possibly underpowered , however can cruise at 18 mph and burn 4.5 gal hourly. you can go faster but gas becomes an issue. we typically go to old D.R. location and camp. we do carry 30 gal .xtra. going to put a 50 gal aux. on rear for summer. was on lake 4-10 thru 4-15 last week. 42 yrs of Powell and never seen a trip like that.no wind, fish were the biggest and healthy I have ever seen.a Goldilocks trip for sure !
oh yeah, tri toons are very sweet ride, no rough water. wine and cheese cruising.
looks like N.P.S. is striping D.R. down. garage sale ?
pick up others trash, be kind. love me some Lake Powell for the future
 
24 ft. tritoon, 135 honda motor, cruise at 18 mph, holds 63 gallons of gas, 10 years on lake , Phantom, Never taken a wave over the front, can cruise to San Juan fish for 3 days and back to Wahweap without fuel stop. A fishing machine.
We also sleep 3 on the boat. Good luck.
 
My inlaws had a little (maybe 16’) pontoon with a 60 HP. At WOT it wouldn’t touch 20 MPH. Probably closer to 15. In my opinion it was WAY under powered.

At the 18 MPH cruise that was mentioned, Rainbow Bridge is over a 3 hour trip one way. I wouldn’t have the patience for that, especially if you’re trying it in day trips.

If I was looking at pontoons, I’d find a tritoon with at least 300 HP. It would have a very nice ride and reasonable speed.
 
So you are asking good questions for-sure. I like this group, WW because you can find serious answers to serious question, not all sites for Powell are like this.

To get a larger engine you'll need a Tritoon to support the weight. Pontoons are only available up to 150 HP commercially and that's a recent development because the logs have gotten larger. Traditionally older pontoons have not been produced much beyond 115 Hp and yes they are dogs in the water. I've got a 25 footer with a 115 and some performance enhancing Hydrofins under it (I'm a hydrofin dealer and certified installer) and solo with a 1/2 tank of gas and on a smooth water day I can go 20/22 mph. Get a little algae on the toons, and the family, some gear and some chop and it's 14 to 16 mph.

If you go with a 22 footer and a 150 and given that you are propped right, have a light load and smooth water you can go 40. But add some algae on the toons, some rough water and a load and you'll loose a lot of speed. My buddy bought a new 22 foot Lowell with a 150 two years ago and really wishes he'd gone with a 200 hp for just those reasons.

Outboard technology and Tritons have really made the aluminum log boat experience a whole new deal. They companies building 8.5 wide boats with larger center logs and higher HP are where it's at. (the can lean into turns) For as choppy as Powell can be I say go 25 feet in length and at least 200 HP if you plan on hauling a family unit and gear. For a 22 footer I still say get a 200 too. Boats prices are down a bit but a new one will still set you back a small fortune. I've got a center log and a 200hp outboard for mine sitting at a boat yard in Page and that upgrade project is in my calendar for my boat.

Hydrofins are still a great solution for older twin pontoon boats with 115's but they never go much faster than 22 mph. The other benefits to Hydrofins are better turning, fuel savings and a smoother quieter ride. They can be a nice easy solution to some of the pontoon boat woes.

I bought my aluminum log boat 6 years ago just to check it out, I didn't now much about them. I love the type for Powell; aluminum, low maintenance, lots of deck space, lots of shade, very beachable and easy to board.

I know a guy who was selling an older JC tritoon (great company) like 8 wide and 30 long with a newer fuel injected 300 on it. I think he was asking under 30k for it. You can IM me and I'll find his info for you if that's more of your price point To me the longer the tritoon and the higher the HP the happier you'll be with it on Powell. 😁
 
Last edited:
I have a 21' Suntracker with a 60 merc on it. Best case scenario I can get 18mph at WOT. It is definitely underpowered but at the same time I can go to Rock and camp. fish, play for 2 days and come back on only about 20 gallons of gas. Every one has their preferences and it seems everyone loves more power but for me I personally love the ability to go up lake and not worry about fuel.
 
Ladd said:
I have a 21' Suntracker with a 60 merc on it. Best case scenario I can get 18mph at WOT. It is definitely underpowered but at the same time I can go to Rock and camp. fish, play for 2 days and come back on only about 20 gallons of gas. Every one has their preferences and it seems everyone loves more power but for me I personally love the ability to go up lake and not worry about fuel.
Click to expand...
Me too.
 
Maverick5207 said:
Me too.
Click to expand...
no offense Mav but I know you are retired. Those of us still in the uphill working side of life envy you guys but sometimes we gotta get somewhere fast.

"The Woods (Canyons) are lovely, dark and deep but I have promises to keep and miles to go before so sleep, and miles to go before I sleep" Robert Frost, Something like that anyway
 
Last edited:
Marina Bum said:
So you are asking good questions fore sure. I like this group, WW because you can find serious answers to serious question, not all sites for Powell are like this.

To get a larger engine you'll need a Tritoon to support the weight. Pontoons are only available up to 150 HP commercially and that's a recent development because the logs have gotten larger. Traditionally older pontoons have not been produced much beyond 115 Hp and yes they are dogs in the water. I've got a 25 footer with a 115 and some performance enhancing Hydrofins under it (I'm a hydrofin dealer and certified installer) and solo with a 1/2 tank of gas and on a smooth water day I can go 20/22 mph. Get a little algae on the toons, and the family, some gear and some chop and it's 14 to 16 mph.

If you go with a 22 footer and a 150 and given that you are propped right, have a light load and smooth water you can go 40. But add some alge on the toons. some rough water and a load a you'll loose a lot of speed. My buddy bought a new 22 foot Lowell with a 150 two years ago and really wishes he'd gone with a 200 hp for just those reasons.

Outboard technology and Tritons have really made the aluminum log boat experience a whole new deal. The companies building 8.5 wide boats with larger center logs and higher HP are where it's at. (the can lean into turns) For as choppy as Powell can be I say go 25 feet in length and at least 200 HP if you plan on hauling a family unit and gear. For a 22 footer I still say get a 200 too. Boats prices are down a bit but a new one will still set you back a small fortune. I've got a center log and a 200hp outboard for mine sitting at a boat yard in Page and that upgrade project is in my calendar for my boat.

Hydrofins are still a great solution for older twin pontoon boats with 115's but they never go much faster than 22 mph. The other benefits to Hydrofins are better turning, fuel savings and a smoother quieter ride. They can be a nice easy solution to some of the pontoon boat woes.

I bought my aluminum log boat 6 years ago just to check it out, I didn't now much about them. I love the type for Powell; aluminum, low maintenance, lots of deck space, lots of shade, very beachable and easy to board.

I know a guy who was selling an older JC tritoon (great company) like 8 wide and 30 long with a newer fuel injected 300 on it. I think he was asking under 30k for it. You can IM me and I'll find his info for you if that's more of your price point To me the longer the tritoon and the higher the HP the happier you'll be with it on Powell. 😁
Click to expand...
I'll reach out to you, this is great info thank you!
 
Ladd said:
Every one has their preferences and it seems everyone loves more power but for me I personally love the ability to go up lake and not worry about fuel.
Click to expand...
Agreed that there are times when low fuel fuel usage trumps other desires.

But that doesn't necessarily mean mean you can't have a higher HP engine. I can run from Bullfrog all the way up to 2 mile, fish all day, and run back and use 25 gallons. Or from Bullfrog down to Iceberg, fish all day, and use 20 gallons. Or go slower and use less.

The bigger difference is if you have a boat that is low horsepower you can't have the speed. The difference between running 18 MPH vs 36 at Lake Powell can easily be two plus hours round trip. The flexibility of having two hours more fishing time in a short (day) trip is worth the trade off for more fuel consumption to me, but if I need more fuel range a bigger engine/faster boat gives the flexibility of that too.

I've traded up/out of two boats that I thought were under powered. Since I purchased used, and found fair deals, I didn't take a financial hit. If one buys new or the market changes, you can take a HUGE hit by needing to trade out of the wrong boat. Or you're stuck with a boat you don't like.
 
Ryan said:
Agreed that there are times when low fuel fuel usage trumps other desires.

But that doesn't necessarily mean mean you can't have a higher HP engine. I can run from Bullfrog all the way up to 2 mile, fish all day, and run back and use 25 gallons. Or from Bullfrog down to Iceberg, fish all day, and use 20 gallons. Or go slower and use less.

The bigger difference is if you have a boat that is low horsepower you can't have the speed. The difference between running 18 MPH vs 36 at Lake Powell can easily be two plus hours round trip. The flexibility of having two hours more fishing time in a short (day) trip is worth the trade off for more fuel consumption to me, but if I need more fuel range a bigger engine/faster boat gives the flexibility of that too.

I've traded up/out of two boats that I thought were under powered. Since I purchased used, and found fair deals, I didn't take a financial hit. If one buys new or the market changes, you can take a HUGE hit by needing to trade out of the wrong boat. Or you're stuck with a boat you don't like.
Click to expand...
Well said
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top