lake level

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

leaning in that direction buy certain members of the fam think they're the "minivans of the lake"!

The pontoon/tritoon is absolutely the minivan of the lake: spacious, comfortable, flexible, etc. We LOVE ours and use it for everything.

The only issue is power and speed. If getting places matters to you, get the biggest possible engine. The absolute biggest. Without question.

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[rsmlp]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

The pontoon/tritoon is absolutely the minivan of the lake: spacious, comfortable, flexible, etc. We LOVE ours and use it for everything.

The only issue is power and speed. If getting places matters to you, get the biggest possible engine. The absolute biggest. Without question.

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100% agreement.

[ishoot308]

Love my “mini van”! She gets up and goes better than most non “mini vans” with 600 horses!! They aren’t your grandpa’s floating barn doors anymore! Need very little water at my dock to tie up also!

Dan

[TiltonBB]

As with any boat, what you buy depends upon how you plan to use it. I have had several pontoon boats and what was most important to me was seating and room. 26 Feet and 300 HP is fine, even when loaded up. I wanted room for family and friends.

The flip back and forth seat backs didn't seem too useful and sinks and bar stools weren't too appealing either. The two Captain's chairs were something that was important. I have never wanted any boat where the left front seat is a bench that faces backwards.

We take them to Florida in the winter and often take 3 other couples out with us. The boats never seem crowded. Even going out on the Gulf from Marco Island to Sanibel has never been and issue and I am surprised at how good the ride is. They are very stable. In my experience they use a lot less fuel than an I/O too.

Other than the ride the biggest difference with a V hull boat is the lack of a full windshield and no real ability to close the front wind off while underway. So, early or late in the NH summer season you have to dress a little warmer some days.

(Last winter I towed to Miami, spent a couple of days, and went in and out of the Haulover Inlet. If you know, you know! )

[BillTex]

I run an off shore sport fishing boat in RI and chuckled when the Admiral said she wanted a toon for the lake house.
Know what? I love it! It’s like driving your living room down the lake! They are a ball.

Question: is Winni dam controlled?
We are on Ossipee, which is dam controlled, and never worry about water level.

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by BillTex

...
Question: is Winni dam controlled?
We are on Ossipee, which is dam controlled, and never worry about water level.

Yes, there is a dam in Lakeport/Laconia. It is running at its minimum. There is a power plant just past the dam so they cannot close the dam completely. At 250 cfs, compared to the max of about 2000 cfs that lowers the lake about an inch per day, it probably spills about 3" a month. If the dam was completely closed, the lake level would probably be much better.

As others have said, no rain and hot weather evaporation is the issue. As best I can tell we are about 6" below normal for this time of year.

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

and went in and out of the Haulover Inlet. If you know, you know! )

Did you wave to the camera?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

The pontoon/tritoon is absolutely the minivan of the lake: spacious, comfortable, flexible, etc. We LOVE ours and use it for everything.

The only issue is power and speed. If getting places matters to you, get the biggest possible engine. The absolute biggest. Without question.

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I'm a bow rider convert, love my pontoon. As I get older, I find it so much easier to get in and out of, maintain, and keep clean.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Biggd

...so much easier to maintain, and keep clean.

THIS. Every single time I think about moving to something different than my tritoon, I remember that the only maintenance I do is a wipe down of the seats and application of 303 twice a summer, some petroleum jelly on the cover snaps, and a power wash once a season (done by MVM). That's all for the last ten years, and the boat looks new.

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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

THIS. Every single time I think about moving to something different than my tritoon, I remember that the only maintenance I do is a wipe down of the seats and application of 303 twice a summer, some petroleum jelly on the cover snaps, and a power wash once a season (done by MVM). That's all for the last ten years, and the boat looks new.

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Halfway through the season I grab my scrub brush, anchor in a calm location and float around in my life jacket scrubbing the toons while everyone is swimming.

[rsmlp]

Super helpful, people! Anyone have anything negative to say? I figured they could be a chilly ride occasionally. Bring army blankets! Yes, we have mooring whips and yes, I'll get the biggest damn engine it will carry!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

Super helpful, people! Anyone have anything negative to say? I figured they could be a chilly ride occasionally. Bring army blankets! Yes, we have mooring whips and yes, I'll get the biggest damn engine it will carry!

Any boat without a full cuddy cabin or enclosure will be a chilly ride when its cold out. My pontoon has a full windshield and is about as useful as other boats with full windshields but the front area between the two helms also has a snap in windscreen (it can be seen in pic above) which actually works quite well at keeping the wind off you. I'm sure you could have a custom enclosure made just not sure its worth it and depends on how much time you are using your boat during those cold spring and fall days...

For those cold and rainy / bad weather days, we rely on our Eastern 22 to get us to and from our island home...

Good luck with your decision!

Dan

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

The pontoon/tritoon is absolutely the minivan of the lake: spacious, comfortable, flexible, etc. We LOVE ours and use it for everything.

The only issue is power and speed. If getting places matters to you, get the biggest possible engine. The absolute biggest. Without question.

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Absolutely….at least a 300hp. Our Bennington Tritons drives like a sport boat