Pros and cons strakers

[Dewack01]

I am looking to purchase a new tritoon and have narrowed it done to Bennington, aquapatio or an excursion. One has strakers on both sides of all toon and the others have them ONLY on the insides of the outer two toons, is it that huge of a difference? All boats have either the 150 honda or Yamaha motor. Excursions xs pkg only has the partial middle toon on this particular model, is it THAT important to have the full length toon with a 150 motor? All these boats are the 23' models as well. I am just looking for some experienced advice on what is a must have and what really doesn't make a difference. All these boats are the fish and cruise type layouts and I will cruise more then I will just go out fishing, but I do plan on using it to spend a day fishing with my dad.

[jafo9]

the theory on not putting the lifting strakes on the outside of the pontoon is so it can lean in a turn like a traditional v-hull. if the strake is on the outside of the outermost pontoon and you turn to that side, the strake will keep the inside from dipping into the waterfor the turn. most "performance" packages will not have the strakes on the outsides of the outer toons. a full length middle toon will give you more flotation and a better ride. the bennington uses an elliptical middle toon that also aids in letting the boat lean in the turn. 3 toons will not necessarily make you faster, however.

[Capt Sully]

Boy did you open up a can of worms Your going to get a lot of opinions. It all depends on what you want to do If it's just fishing and slow cruising you don't need much. Remember the bigger the boat and motor the more money you will spend I have a 23' with a 90hp and it works just fine for me and takes like forever to empty the gas tank, I can make 5,6, or more day trips on one tank of fuel. I mostly just chill and BBQ anchored in a cove. Have fun with whatever you choose.

[BobL]

Dewack....

I see no reason to have the X3 package on the Xcursion with 150hp or less. Once you go over 150hp, you have to get the X3 package due to motor weight and twice the fuel capacity.

I will stay out of the strake and strake position debate. A few weeks ago, the local Manitou dealer was talking about how great it was that their center toon was 4" below the side toons. Of course the other dealers said that was a BS sales gimmick. Unfortunately ever dealer will tell you how their toon design or under-skinning or strake positions or ________ is far superior to the competition.

PS....for what its worth, I just picked up my Xcursion 23RF (XS package) on Friday and I am amazed at the build and performance.

[Bamaman]

I agree about this being a can of worms.

If it has 3 hulls with lifting strakes, 150 hp on a 23' boat will do a fine job for you. I have the Express Tube Bennington, and it runs great @ 40 mph and rides just fine.

[lakerunner]

Tap Fins

[HandymanHerb]

Lake used the T word

[BobG]

Don't you mean Thump Wings?

I can't believe you brought that up...

[JohnO]

A few weeks ago, the local Manitou dealer was talking about how great it was that their center toon was 4" below the side toons. Of course the other dealers said that was a BS sales gimmick. .

The Manitou hull configuration does give better turning capability than any pontoon out there. It costs you just a little in speed though (but rides like a dream). My boat is pushing 7 years old now and is STILL the best handling pontoon on my lake. I'm not fastest anymore as a couple guys have HUGE motors on theirs, but I can out maneuver them any day of the week.

The Manitous have strakes on all sides of all tubes, but they are designed to have strakes there Each strake adds to the virtual v-hull design so they actually aid in turning.

You need to look at the individual hull design on the boat you are looking at AND the strake design used on that boat as all strakes are not the same. On some, the outer strakes are a hindrance on others they are a help.

I'd suggest going with whatever the designers of that particular hull decided on and not worrying about it. They've done the testing to see what works on their boat.

[Liberty MO]

A few weeks ago, the local Manitou dealer was talking about how great it was that their center toon was 4" below the side toons. Of course the other dealers said that was a BS sales gimmick. .

The Manitou hull configuration does give better turning capability than any pontoon out there.

I'm curious as to how you know this?

[rancherlee]

I'd say outside strakes if you are running MARGINAL hp (115-150hp), no outside strakes if you have HP to spare (175hp+). Marginal HP will need the extra lift provided. Power to spare MAY get in trouble if you get sideways and catch a wave wrong and the outside strake grabs hard. I've watched a 25' with a 250hp "playing" on other boats wakes when It got sideways and grabbed hard, everone on that toon got tossed pretty good because it came to a DEAD stop. Very similar to how a Flat bottom John boat handles with the hard squared off chine.

[LongLakeLegacy]

I agree they turn pretty dam good theres quite a few tests been done and manitou out performs all other toons in the turns

A few weeks ago, the local Manitou dealer was talking about how great it was that their center toon was 4" below the side toons. Of course the other dealers said that was a BS sales gimmick. .

The Manitou hull configuration does give better turning capability than any pontoon out there.

I'm curious as to how you know this?

[Soonertoon]

Well here is my 2 cents worth....if its worth that. Its a pontoon boat. Its a leisurely cruiser, not a acrobatic machine. Unless you plan on cutting tight figure 8's and running a cone course, put the strakes on . Way more benefits than negatives.

[rockhound]

i will be picking up my first pontoon this week or so. driving out to hays to trade a guy for my current v hull.

in considering a pontoon i have been doing a lot of research and reading on performance etc. I am a former building and remodeling contractor and am very mechanically inclined. just on the general idea of what a lifting strake is supposed to do, having one on the outside of the boat will do exactly what it is designed to do, lift the boat, it will of course change the way a boat handles when it goes into a turn as it will to some extent based on speed, attempt to lift the boat.

just like stiffening the suspension on a sports car it will reduce body roll, whether you like the way that handles or not will be personal preference depending on the boating you are trying to do on a regular basis.

for my personal craft i will be adding strakes only to the inside i feel the boat needs to lean, but i have never owned a pontoon yet so i may change my mind once i get some time behind the helm.

[wrd1972]

Strakes PROs:
Higher top end speed and acceleration
Better MPGs
Stronger more robust toons overall
Less taxing on the motor IMO
Better resale value

Strakes CONs:
Harder to load on trailer
When overloaded, boat is slower than NON straked boat
Easier to get hung up on stick ups just below the water line
Very sensitive to trimming
Very sensitive to prop size
Boat sensitive to proper load balancing

My ST has full length strakes on the insides and half lengths on the outside. Must have something to do with cornering ability far as I can figure.