My 40mph TriToon build

[JonCBrand]

Rain all week so I decided to drop off the boat to get the 3 tubes pressure tested and fixed if required before the season starts. Im really looking into adding strakes but I think Im done with major modifications for this season. I also want to get the center tube stretched to get the motor farther back.

[GXPWeasel]

From what I have seen with two tube boats, the tubes throw water off to the sides, and would throw water right at the center tube if set back behind the outers.

So how is this any different than those toons that have the engine pod sitting back further than the outer logs?

So what if it throws water into the 3rd log, it's not any different than the front edge of the toon throwing water into the 3rd log....

I still would bet on it that if you moved the center toon back about 2 feet, you would see no loss in speed at all, and a more level riding boat as well. To me, that slight, relatively easy modification would be worth a try before I spend more $$$ on stretching a toon, and it doing basically the same thing as just moving the center one back.

[JonCBrand]

After some heavy thought " " over the weekend. I have decided to shift the tube back 1.5 to 2' to see what happens.
Why not all it will cost is 4 hrs of my time.
Hoping to get it moved this week so I can test again.

[Woody]

After some heavy thought " " over the weekend. I have decided to shift the tube back 1.5 to 2' to see what happens.
Why not all it will cost is 4 hrs of my time.
Hoping to get it moved this week so I can test again.

I believe I would try it too before stretching it.

[JonCBrand]

My only reason for stretching was that, I wanted to have a fuel tank built into the tube so they would have it cut open already, and I like the look of the tubes being even at the front of the boat.

[Woody]

Nothing wrong with that. I like the 55 gallon tank in my center tube. (that is until I have to fill it )

[JonCBrand]

I only have a 24 that I installed last year under my sundeck, It takes up alot of space and I could really use 200+ pounds of fuel in the front of the center tube to keep the front end down.

[GXPWeasel]

After some heavy thought " " over the weekend. I have decided to shift the tube back 1.5 to 2' to see what happens.
Why not all it will cost is 4 hrs of my time.
Hoping to get it moved this week so I can test again.

[georgiatoon]

After some heavy thought " " over the weekend. I have decided to shift the tube back 1.5 to 2' to see what happens.
Why not all it will cost is 4 hrs of my time.
Hoping to get it moved this week so I can test again.

I agree

[JonCBrand]

Finally caught up here at my shop so I pulled the motor off this morning. I will get the boat inside soon and get that tube shifted towards the rear.
Right now the motor end of the jack plate is about 2" behind the outer tubes. How far back should I go? 20"

[GXPWeasel]

I think that between 18" & 24" is probably what is considered to be normal on the newer boats now. I don't see how you could go wrong with anywhere inbetween those numbers. I wouldn't go much further though, as you may run into issues with parking with it on the trailer, and maybe even strength issues of the center tube if set back any further. I think my motor sits back about 12-15 inches from the logs.

[JonCBrand]

In the air tube unbolted only supported by transmission jack.

[Woody]

I'm anxious to see the the results from this.

[JonCBrand]

Finished the boat last night, I headed to the lake this morning. Water was perfect, flat air temp 68F.

I made a few laps around the lake to warm up the motor then made a few WOT runs. I was hitting about 38mph, I noticed
no change in handling. I was having some trouble with the motor, so I think a few mph was lost. Once I get the motor running right again I will re test.

[JonCBrand]

Im back at it. My momentary laps in judgment about getting into a big boat has passed. I bought a new Harley Street Glide instead so the pontoon is staying around. I will be going to my local aluminum supplier next week to pick up 16 bars of 1/8" x 4" 6061 flat bars to start construction of strakes. My plan is to have one on the inner edge of the outer tubes and one on each side of the center tube. they will be about 22' in length. and start just behind the nose cone and run all the way to the end of the tubes.