Chesapeake Bay Use of Pontoon

[rednek]

First off new member here, new to pontoon boats. Have allot of boating background but have only been on a pontoon once. We will be inheriting my father in-laws pontoon. The boat is a 25 footer. Have boated the Chesapeake Bay from the South River to Baltimore Harbor mostly and add in Eastern Bay but don't recall seeing many pontoons out there. Will be returning from overseas in 18 months and want to use the pontoon until I replace my other boat. So if you use your pontoon in the bay let's hear how it does.
I will also be using it down at Ocean City in the back bay area and they seem to do really well there but if you use one there lets hear how they do there also.

Thanks,
Rednek

[badmoonrising]

I'm in the Upper Bay (Chesapeake City). Lots of pontoons up this way due to the many dealers up here that sell them. As long as you watch the weather and plan your trips, check wave heights expected you'll do fine. We got caught in a squall once and survived 6 ft, waves, lol.

My rule is: Under 10 knot winds (perfect conditions)

12-15 knots: Stay out of the bay's mainstem.

15-20: Head into a protected cove.

Above 20, stay at the marina

[badmoonrising]

Here ya go, pics of the day we got caught in that squall
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2214&p=13401&hilit= ... ugh#p13401

[jafo9]

i had forgotten about those pics. wow.

[dockholiday]

Welcome
A lot has to do with the size (diameter) of your toons. Most of the newer boats have larger diameter than older ones. Being 25 ft should help.
Personally, I don't have much experience with big water, the lakes here in Ga. are just large enough to float your boat.
doc

[mikeherb]

Tri-toon helps a lot as well. Does the boat have 2 or 3 logs on it?

[rednek]

The boat has 2 toons, it is about 5 years old. Have only been on it once so I don't remember the brand. It has a 130 or 150 Hp Johnson on it if I remember correctly. The toons seemed to be larger than what I remember on older models. I would think that the waves on the Bay are 2 to 3 foot or less and there shouldn't be too much issue out there with a pontoon. I have been out there when it was like glass and have also been in storms where the waves were larger than I cared for. I would assume with a pontoon boat that head or following seas would be best, not sure how they handle beam to seas.

Rednek

[badmoonrising]

'toons don't like getting hit from the sides at all.... I try to approach large waves at an angle.