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Pontoon boat vs. Center Console


TheGreatBuzz

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So I need some advice and what better place to turn than ES. My wife and I are boat shopping and I have been dead set on a center console around 20'. I was surprised how much the market had gone up since last time I was boat shopping about 8 years ago. My wife had been suggesting a pontoon boat for a while but I kept saying "No I want a fishing boat". Today at Bass Pro I looked at pontoons and was actually impressed. And the price of pontoons seems a lot lower than a fiberglass boat. Now we are living in Pensacola, FL. I imagine we will mostly fish the bay/sound just due to the cost of fuel but want to be able to venture out into the Gulf some also. Growing up I was always taught real fisherman don't own pontoons. Have any of you done both? What are your thought? Any experience on a boat in water similar to the conditions in the Gulf of Mexico? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I don't want to drop $20k into a mistake.

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I've been fishing on a pontoon a few times before and it wasn't bad. It's good for if you have a family and want to take everyone out on a trip because of the space you have. The downside is that it's going to be a lot harder to get big fish into the boat because the drop from the deck of a pontoon to the water is larger than that of a bass boat. If you go the route of the pontoon I definitely suggest equipping that thing with a good sized net to pull the fish in once you get it near the boat. If your pontoon has a shade cover on it that can also get it in the way of overhead casting unless you have one that folds all the way back. So a bass boat is definitely better for fishing but you can do it in a pontoon.

Should add this was lake fishing. Not gulf.

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Also does anyone know if there is extra maintenance for a pontoon? I imagine the metal vs fiberglass would require more maintenance.

You have to pay attention more to the products you use, like bottom paints. You can't use a paint with copper unless you barrier coat the bottom with something like interprotect or Pettit protect.

Aluminum boats are not bad to maintain and fiberglass boats aren't necessarily easier, they both need different types of maintenance. If you want to get a good deal on a boat never buy it new and alway way lowball a broker and be prepared to wait them out.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, I've been in the marine industry my entire life.

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You have to pay attention more to the products you use, like bottom paints. You can't use a paint with copper unless you barrier coat the bottom with something like interprotect or Pettit protect.

Aluminum boats are not bad to maintain and fiberglass boats aren't necessarily easier, they both need different types of maintenance. If you want to get a good deal on a boat never buy it new and alway way lowball a broker and be prepared to wait them out.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, I've been in the marine industry my entire life.

Any thoughts on Nautic Star boats? Also what should my offer be in comparison to what NADA says? What kind of price difference should time of year make in Florida in regards to price? Thanks.
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I have probably 200-300 hours lifetime on pontoon boats and 100-150 hours on 14-20' center consoles.  That surely puts me on the low end vs. most gentleman boaters, but here are my thoughts anyway.

 

I can't imagine taking an aluminum pontoon boat out in substantial chop, particularly in the Gulf.  Unless someone has found a way to install a gigantic high-inertia gyroscope in each pontoon, I have to imagine that the things still rock more than fishing boats -- annoyingly so -- when hit abeam by any noteworthy wave action.  Also, salt chop breaking over the flat surface of your pontoon bow is deeply unsettling, as is the degree to which wind gusts invariably blow your pontoon around at exactly the moment you're trying to dock in a tight space.

 

But for still water there is no more versatile boat, especially for families or groups.  You can drop the canopy or hang out on the bow and have plenty of room for casting, and there is more than ample seating for the lesser fishing enthusiasts who eventually want to put down the rod, chill with a nice drink and take in the scenery.

 

So yeah, maybe not for "real" fishermen, and you'll pay more if you want to get any real speed out of the thing.  But my grandfather was unquestionably a real fisherman and he adored his pontoon boat.  There were some shady moments on that thing when storms blew in suddenly.  Ideal fair-weather chilling boat, horrible boat for mediocre to poor conditions.

 

I admit to being a bit biased toward my old center console due to its speed and just plain old "boatiness."  But the pontoon's versatility provided more lifelong memories per trip, no question: I spent probably twice as much time at the helm of my grandfather's pontoon than whipping MY OWN center console around the Chesapeake before selling it.

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When I think of a pontoon boat, I think of my relatives pontoon hoopties on Douglas Lake in Tennessee.  A poor mans yacht.  It's great for a family gathering on a smooth lake, but I wouldn't want to use it for much else.

 

While I say that, I was SHOCKED after going on a friends boat in Rehoboth that they can get upwards of over 100K.  The boat I went on was in the 100k price range.  I thought they were all Tenn rust buckets.

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Center Console is only way to go IMO.  I have a 19' Center Console I built a few years ago.  I had it out in Port Aransas, TX fishing the inlet in 5-6' waves.  Never in a Pontoon boat.   I knew the conditions when I went out but you don't always know what you will run into, especially in Bays and the Gulf.    CC's are extremely flexible.  You can fish, play with the family and what ever else you like.  Just get one big enough for every one.  Plust a T-Top is heaven on a hot summer day.  :)

 

My baby:

 

 

http://gallery.bateau2.com/albums/userpics/10050/normal_WP_20140530_19_52_11_Pro.jpg

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  • 9 months later...

Looking at pontoon boats.

 

Anyone have advice on three hulls vs. two?

 

Primary use would be Pamlico river and the open creek areas around it (super flat water)

Wow, nice bump. 

 

I ended up going with a center console but did lots of research on pontoons also.  My understanding is the tri hull is a lot better for rougher water but also a lot more expensive.  If you are staying on super flat waters (or even slight chop) no need  to spend the money on a tri hull.

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We get some roughness out there but nothing crazy. Under a foot I'd say. Think 2 would be ok?

Yea under 1' seas you'd be fine in my opinion.

 

EDIT:  something else to keep in mind is would you even want to go out in the weather that will cause 1' seas there?  I know my boat is more than capable of handling 4' seas.  But I still won't go out in them.  Not because I can't but because it just sucks.

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My dad lives near Kent narrows. He bought a 23 foot Bennington pontoon boat about 3 years ago specifically for fishing. Just went fishing on it last weekend.

As for being careful about the waves he's taken it out once or twice in rough waters and had to go slow, but other than that it's been great.

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Can I ask why your boat choices are only center console vs pontoon?

 

There are more options out there, for cheaper, that will satisfy the fisherman and water enthusiast.

 

Just curious.

 

The boat I would buy, right now, if I had the funds:

 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/5141871257.html

 

More to your question:

 

Pontoon has no business on the open water.  By design it is not stable in anything remotely resembling rough seas.  Expensive loss because of a rogue 6' wave.

 

Center consoles are just plain awesome.  So are their pricetag depending on what powers it.

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For me it's the kid factor. Ours are 7,5,3,1 so a pontoon gives us the most deck space that's easy to access.

 

There were 10 of us on a pontoon boat recently, and it was amazing.  We are large men, cough cough, and that boat was at it's limit, still performed beautifully.

 

I'd say go for it, but watch the weather.

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