Beaching a Pontoon...

[Mosnowman]

So I just bought my new Harris Pontoon and made the maiden voyage last weekend. I noticed many folks "beach" their toons at the State Park Campground where we stay. Now the beach is not sand...it's rocks. I refused to beach the new toon, but have no idea whether I am just waiting for the new to wear off....or is it hard on the toon? I bought an anchor buddy that I haven't used yet. Can you experts tell me is it a bad practice?

[PlaynDoc]

it seems to me.... rocks + aluminum pontoon = dents (or worse, holes)

[MacToon]

Are we talking about BIG rocks making up the entire beach, or a bunch of little rocks just mixed in with sand on the beach? I'm no expert, but if it's the former, there's no way in hell I'd be running my boat up onto them. If it's the latter, I may consider it (depending on how big and how many of them there are). I don't have a problem with some little rocks that are going to crunch down into the sand, but running the 'toon up onto big, immovable rocks just ain't gonna happen.

[Ron Burgundy]

Lots of people beach, but I prefer to anchor in a couple feet of water.

[GregF]

Beaching can be tough on the bottom paint but if it is mostly sand it really doesn't hurt the toons that much. Just take it easy and don't crash in there in case you are going to hit a bigger rock.

Ron has to save his paint or he has a barnacle farm going in a week or two.

[gramps]

We beach ours all the time, on sand only.

[Mosnowman]

Thanks folks...I know I'm asking a lot of newbie questions and I really appreciate your advice! You guys confirmed what I was thinking....thanks in advance....more questions coming soon....

[badmoonrising]

We had a guy year ago beach his 'toon on a beach that was covered in small rocks and he punctured one of his logs. I wouldn't beach unless it was sand...

[stickman]

I agree, sand for beaching - rocks near the shore mean anchoring.

I have seen some folks who don't like the idea of wading out into the water for a toon anchored a few feet off shore. My POV is that if you are walking in the water, you can easily clean your feet off in the water before getting aboard. When it is beached, some people (guests) seem to think it's OK to just walk through the wet sand and bring half the beach up onto the deck with them.

[MichaelB]

We beach into a muddy bottom a lot. Set a course and drift in. You dont need to power on to the bank like you would on a monohull.

[curtiscapk]

just go in easy!!! tiny pea size gravel on our beach.

[jafo9]

big rocks, no way. we mainly beach on sand. often times with a power load if we are gonna park for a while. there are occationally small stones to deal with but not much. beaching is part of the fun of a pontoon. no way i'd ever try it in my mastercraft.

having a water barrier does have its perks though. having to anchor a few feet off shore helps keep your carpet clean. even when we are beached, i usually ask the under 60 crowd to swim around the the rear ladder to help clean them off.

[OK Toon]

We beach the toon only if its sandy. But we use a little step stool that we set outside the side gate so we can step up to clean our feet before getting onto the toon. The step folds up and gets stored in the back with the noodles.

http://www.harborfreight.com/step-stool ... 66911.html

[Redneck_Randy]

OK Toon,

That's a good idea. Now if I only could get the wife to use it. LOL

[peedee]

also I have to take into account the tides. You could end up waiting for the next high tide to get your toon back in the water.