Rough water took its toll on the Premier

[Bryden24shp]

As always, when I get back from running at the Lake of the Ozarks, I check everything out pretty thoroughly. What did we find? 18 rivets holding the underskinning on were popped. The 2 "Z" brackets used to eliminate spray from the bottom of the seat bolsters were loose, I just removed them completely and will "Bryanize" (as the wife says) with some better design. Almost every bolt holding the pontoons to the framing were loose, re-torqued them all. The side skirting was completely loose. For some dumb reason they only bolted it to every other crossmember and left both sides loose in the back to just flop in the wind. The starboard front moulding, from the nose cone to the skirting was broken. I re-riveted it and re-inforced both sides with some aluminum sheeting. My broken steering wheel, which should be under warranty got superglued together.
Yes, we had it airborne quite a few times at plus 45 mph. Yes, we took some 4 and 5 foot rollers. Yes, we took it to Party cove saw some naked (.)(.)ies.... (whoops)
The old Manitou handled the Lake pounding every time, never a busted rivet or loose bolt. After 4 hours of repairing, its brewski time! (Ok, you got me there, I started when I found the first broken rivet).
I guess what I am saying is for Premier owners to double check everything when taking on rough water!
And for new owners to look over your new boats to see how they are put together, so you can repair them in the future.
I sure miss my Manny!

[Tallykenj]

Yikes, I'll be checking my Avalon.

[rbiederwolf]

Just got back from trip to Keys in ocean up to 4 ft. However I was only going 20mph. Anyway first thing I did was check underneath. So far no issues. However at 45mph, I may not have been so lucky.

This is an interesting issue, as I want to put a 150hp on the back, however I have wondered if the boat could take the pounding in rough seas that I typically encounter. Speed is one thing, but speed and rough waves have me a little worried. Not sure my boat is designed for such a pounding.....?????

[Bryden24shp]

Hitting water at high speeds is like hitting cement, alot of things can happen, I expect that. Especially from my Offshore and Poker Run expiriences. Thats why I look my boats over all the time for what did, or what can, go wrong. But, if a manufacturer says his boat his tough enough to withstand some punishment, I expect it to take some.

[tms0425]

Bryan,

You're definitely helping me strike Premier PTX from my shopping list and keeping the Manitou SHP high on it. That is really scary.

Tom

[ScottE]

Bryan,

You're definitely helping me strike Premier PTX from my shopping list and keeping the Manitou SHP high on it. That is really scary.

Tom

I agree. Manitou is at the top of my list right now.

[Ray Jr.]

If you are jumping it completely out of the water at any speed let alone 45 MPH you are a damn fool, and just begging to destroy stuff. I am very very happy with my Premier PTX, and so are a shit load of others.

[Texoma Toon]

If you are jumping it completely out of the water at any speed let alone 45 MPH you are a damn fool, and just begging to destroy stuff. I am very very happy with my Premier PTX, and so are a shit load of others.

Not sure I would put it In quite those terms but I don't think ANY pontoon is designed for that kind of abuse. Yeah tri-toons can take rough water, but to consistently jump completely out of the water is a bit much to expect with no damage. Breaking your steering wheel should have been a clue. Come down nose first into one of those rollers and someone is gonna get hurt!

[rancherlee]

Pontoons, especially tritoons take moderate waves with such ease that most people don't think about how much stress is put on the boat. I know I take my pontoon faster that I would have taken my 16.5' Lund fishing boat on 2' chop and can hear some "complaining" from the chassis/tubes.

[Bryden24shp]

The steering wheel was broken when I bought the boat. Prior warranty issue. Thanks for calling me a damn fool, Ray. Evidently, you don't take your boating as seriously, as I do. When I test for props, jackplates, accesories for different companies. I need to run them in the harshest conditions. I tested my Premier, just like I tested the Manitou and the Bajas. The Premier was just featured in a magazine article, as was the Manitou and my Poker Run 272, attesting my devotement to safe, hi-performance boating. I take damn good care of my boats, and thats why they are inspected closely, every time I take them out of the water. When I test them, its just me, and a spotter. When the testing is done and my family is aboard, then I can relax and cool the jets and know the boat is safe as can be. The fool is the person, that doesn't inspect his equipment. Goes out repeatedly with no regard, and has a serious malfunction and hurts someone.

All I was saying in the original post, was my old Manitou, handled the Lake of the Ozarks, better than the Premier.
And the point in it was stating that you need to get to know your boats and to check them over, after get into some serious water conditions. And have the ability to fix them. I didn't cry "Warranty my rivets and tighten my bolts" I just took care of them, because I can!

Do you know the limits of your boat? How to drive it, hard...Safely! Do you inspect it, regularly? If not, you are the fool!

Rancherlee, exactly! I don't run the pontoons like I ran the Bajas. I don't expect them to handle anything they did.

[JDB]

Bryan, Thanks for your testing and report!

Someones gotta find the limit

JDB

[Ray Jr.]

Bryden, I check over my boat every time I take it out of the water.
If you are diliberately getting it "airborne" at 45 MPH or any speed whether it is only you on board or otherwise, I stand by my "damn fool" comment

[Bryden24shp]

Bryan, Thanks for your testing and report!

Someones gotta find the limit

JDB

Thats what I do!
Thanks JDB!

Ray, Yep I sure did! Because I can do it safely and professionally. I took a 45 mph Manitou and made it do 62 with testing and help with Manitou, some of the improvements are on todays Manitou's. If I can help Premier make thier boats perform better and be safer... I guess I am a fool, huh!
Ever had your throttle open all the way, motor trimmed up and feel that little adrenaline rush? I thought, not...

[Texoma Toon]

Never been on LOTTO but have heard it is a ruff lake so learning to drive any boat there has got to be an experience.
Moving from a 75 mph bass boat to a 25mph pontoon was interesting as I had to learn how to drive it on a lake that can have 4 ft wakes from 50ft cruisers and all the cig boats. Not so many of those now with price of gas. Knowing yours and your toons limits should be second nature to anyone that owns a boat, but for us average Joes driving it those limits all the time is a recipe for disaster. You obviously have much more experience than most in hi-performance boats.
Inspecting your boat or pontoon before you leave the dock or before you leave home and after you get off the water should be common sense.
Wearing your life jacket and attaching the kill switch was always mandatory when the big motor was running on the bass boat.

[Ray Jr.]

Ya wanna talk adrenaline rush, try strapping into a 550-600 hp Dirt modified, on a 1/4 mile bull ring with 24 other crazies, and run 3 wide into the turns at 90 + mph and toss it sideways, while yanking the left front off the ground by 2 ft.

that aint no "little adrenaline rush"