Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

First, I'll say that I hope this did not involve anybody on this site, and my thoughts are with the victims families.

Second, I'll say (especially this time of year) to please be cognizant of the weather if you get out on the water, and understand the limitations of your craft. Pontoons caught in a storm on big water do not stand a chance, so please keep that in mind when getting on the water.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/2-dead-5-in ... 51328.html

Ok I need to know more of the story, how do you flip a pontoon ? and how come two died

Big wind and large waves would be more than enough to flip a toon. They are lite and if wind can get up underneath the front, it could take off like a kite if he hit a wave just right. Also, if you are running without life jackets and go in the drink with sub 40 degree temperatures, it isn't unreasonable to think hypothermia could set in fairly quickly.

I'm with herb! Other than offering condolences to the families of the dead I need more information.

Sad to hear this, my condolences to the families of all involved. But I agree, how big of lake? How much wind?

HandymanHerb wrote:Ok I need to know more of the story, how do you flip a pontoon ? and how come two died

http://www.app.com/story/news/crime/jer ... /76457596/

I forgot to send out prayers for the family's of the dead, just blew my mind that two died on it, so two big waves took the boat out, he had to get side wards to the waves

I'd love to know the make and model of that toon. Such a tragedy when boaters are not aware of or unprepared for such conditions.

They noticed the tide was racing out the inlet. The waves were high, five to seven-foot rolls. They were about to turn back toward home when they saw the pontoon boat. It was coming around the end of the northern jetty, headed in from the ocean. It got caught by a wave.

Sadly the two older gents( my age) were probably done when they hit the water. They probably didn't realize what they were getting into with the surf like that. Life jackets would have made the difference.
An out going tide and surf building on it is a tough one to navigate. Might not be a good spot for any small craft much less a pontoon.

been thru this inlet with my pontoon but the weather was great and no swells, conditions were bad the day this pontoon flipped,i went thru Barnegat inlet south of here once in huge swells and got back into the bay asap,the bay was calm and so was the inlet but as soon as hitting the ocean 4/6 foot swells met me.very scary

That's some cold friggen water, I used to go down that way some summers, the under current was pretty tough down there as well.