Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I saw this last year, and it would make life so much easier. I just don't know how safe it is for the toons. I saw a guy back his boat (aluminum fishing boat, xpress maybe?) down the ramp. He had a bow rope tied to the front cleat, his boat floated off, and he pulled his truck forward and "beached the front of the boat on the ramp. He untied the rope, parked the truck, and then he was off. Seems like a good idea, but do you think beaching on a concrete ramp would damage the toons? Obviously it seems like it would, but I just wanted to see what you all thought. Thanks

Ya, I'd pass on that. Concrete doesn't give but your pontoons will.

I used to do that with my little fishing boat, but always pulled it up onto the dirt/grass next to the ramp.

Used it a few times evacuating people during floods.

Running it against concrete sidewalks, porch steps, etc, always wound up scrubbing holes in the boat.

Fortunately, I have a buddy who knows how to weld aluminum.

With my toon? I don't think I'd beach it on a concrete ramp.

Pulling it up next to the ramp like I used to do my fishing boat?

If I were alone to launch it, probably would.

I did it once in awhile, if the ramps not busy, with my Premier. Don't power onto it, just float it on. I never did with the old Manny and won't do it with the new one, because of the V toon design. But the Premiers 3 pontoons are the same depth. Do it slow and easy. You shouldn't hurt anything. My main concern was having enough water to keep the L/U in the water without scraping the skeg. But the motor was 25 feet behind, no sweat.

At the Lake I normally fish at, that's how I launch when I'm by myself. I can't launch at the boat ramp because the water is to high and we have a railroad going over the area that leads to open water.


So I launch from a clearing in the trees on the other side of the RR tracks. Once the boat comes off the trailer, I pull forward (slowly) and tow the boat up on the gravel, unhook the rope and park the truck. Don't think I would try this technique on a concrete ramp.

Wow, so you're supposed to be able to drive your boats UNDER that bridge? That's some serious high water!

I do that but don't pull it on the ramp, then I beach it on the side or tie it to the dock and park the truck

I do it too, I just pull it up, have not driven up.

solidhadriel wrote:Wow, so you're supposed to be able to drive your boats UNDER that bridge? That's some serious high water!

Yep, been like that since last years flooding. There is another dock and paved ramp North east of this one but its a pain in @$$ to get to, so I just launch off a dirt road.

I was able to get under it with my bass boat, but I haven't attempted it with the toon.

Send some of that water over here...

One of the ramps that I use is at Voyageurs National Park. It is CORRUGATED concrete (of course Uncle Sammy gets the best stuff).

I had to pull the toon onto it once to pick up passengers when all docks were busy. They probably thought I was crazy the way that I fretted about not dancing around and shifting the load. Plus, I was watching for big wakes coming in from lake side as well. After seeing a guy drop a boat off a roller trailer onto that same ramp, I wasn't taking any chances

We have corrugated concrete as well. When you pulled up on it, did it cause any damage to the toons?

I went fishing yesterday and shot this picture of where I launch.

I wouldn't as it would be my luck something would go wrong...better safe than sorry unless it's a have to scenario.

Going back at least one wife or so, .. her folks lived on Lake Lanier and had an old, old (I hate to call it a rag of a pontoon) but that's what it was.

We had all gone out on a July 4th to watch fireworks and on the way home, after dark, wifey's brother and I noticed the boat sitting lower and lower in the water. We passed a few looks back and forth, but he kept driving, trying to make home port. Well, that didn't happen.

Finally the exhaust ports of the engine began to sputter water, we were riding that deep. Looking around we saw one of the many parks with a boat ramp not too far off and headed for it. We did beach the boat on the boat ramp that evening. More accurately, the boat sank on the ramp.

Conveniently, John knew who to call and some pontoon repair guy came out that night. Aired up the toons to float high enough and load on his trailer. Hauled it off for a proper repair.

And no, I wouldn't care to beach on a boat ramp again.