general discussion

[quad cities]

Dumb question but why does a majority of boaters think they need a 1000hp engine to cruze shorelines at maybe 15-20mph on mississippi river? am i missing something sorry dont want to piss anyone off, please be patient with me to new to pontooning to upset anyone.

[ronb]

Small Penis Syndrome?
Seriously though, the one thing that you are going to hear a lot on this forum
"Buy the biggest motor that you can fit/afford when you buy your pontoon, nobody has ever regretted having too large of a motor"

My wife wants our next pontoon to have an I/O with through hull exhaust, just because she loves the sound of old hot rods... sometimes its all about personal preference.

-ron

[bassn386]

Quad, you didn't mention your gender, but for most guys, speed is a real turn-on. Speed comes with high horsepower, most times. Having the biggest, baddest vehicle on the block or neighborhood was kind of a rite of passage for many of the male gender.
Didn't you lust after a high horsepower car when you were younger? Something that would do 0-60 in under 6 seconds with a top end of 100 mph +.
To me it's just a natural transition from cars to boats: guy with the fastest, baddest boat wins!!
If you were to attend the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout (or any of the other Shootouts around the country) you would see thousands of people (women included) who crowd the race course to get a view of very fast boats zooming by them at speeds approaching and exceeding 200 mph.
Why? It just seems like a blast to be able to go that fast, or at least to watch someone else do it.

[pond tuuunes]

I wanted to make sure I could take kids tubing and skiing behind my pontoon. Plus I like fast boats, problem is a 42' fountain only seats 5 people, whats the point of a 42' boat that seats 5 people! JT

[badmoonrising]

I could care less about top speed. My only concern was the ability to take out as many people (half naked and naked women) as possible, as comfortable as possible. I never got the whole warp speed thing, but if that's what you like, that's your right to do so.

Then there's that fuel bill. I spend as much an entire season then go fasters do in a weekend.

[quad cities]

One of the reasons for asking I just want to take the little ones out for a cruze and without the wife screaming slow down. My speed fixation if the harley and drag car. On water hell head for beach let kids play and watch bikini ladies.

[steveiam]

No one will accuse me of being young anymore, and I actually like my merc 50 for the low gas consumpsion-just like a pretty woman I will look and admire the big/ fast engines as they blow by me, but I'll just wave and smile.
I pretty much just use mine to fish and cruise around so it's enough for me.
I got over the small penis syndrome years ago-

[badmoonrising]

Yep. I motor out, anchor and party. Repeat if necessary And do it in a no wake zone since the go fasters for the most part avoid those areas

[GregF]

I agree it is a rite of passage. I had my turn with fast cars and fast motorcycles but I outgrew it.
Now I enjoy the slow cruise knowing it costs me less than $4 an hour in gas.

[dockholiday]

Actually the guys that have the 40 plus mph boats don't always run wot. I went from a bowrider with a 150 to a 2 log with a 90 that would probably run 20mph an kept it for about 10 years. The go fast toons have not been available all that long but do offer similar performance of a v hull if a person want to transition to a pontoon with out loosing the ability to ski, wake board or just go fast when they want. Wind also is a factor around 40 and will blow most of the stuff that isn't secured not to mention messing up your wifes hair. Still fun to do it for a short time, every now an then. Sold on a tritoon with 150 or better. Other folks can buy what they want or think they need.

doc

[GregF]

Strakes are what pushed toons up into the performance category.
I remember 25 years ago when I was starting in tooning we were talking about some kind of lifting strakes then. I guess I should have done it and went for the patent. At that time, the typical toon was 25-40 HP and I was a wild man putting a 75 on mine.

[Texoma Toon]

I had my fill of go fast cars and Harley's in my late teens and twenties. There seems to be a lot fewer go fast boats on the water last few years.
At the gas station by the lake the other day I saw four guys whining cause the boat owner made them split a $400 fuel bill. mine was $50

[lakerunner]

The only time I want to go fast on water is when lightening is tickling my ass

[mgarvie]

Who needs speed. A dog or two, a couple fishing ploes, a cooler of beer, and a warm fire is all I need. Only problem is I can only get here by boat.

[GregF]

The only time I want to go fast on water is when lightening is tickling my ass

Yup we all want one of these when the weather kicks up.

http://www.seven-marine.com/motors/