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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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New 3 Pontoon Boat Faster Than Old 2 Pontoon Boat?
Earlier, pontoons were meant to be sailing boats with lower horsepower engines, comfortable seats, and a speed of at most 15 mph. However, many advanced models have been developed in recent times. Today, pontoon boats have fast-sailing decks with modern designs and features for leisure boating.
Key Takeaways
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- Evolution of Pontoon Boats
- Modern Enhancements: Transition from low-speed, comfortable boats to high-speed, advanced models.
- Speed Capability: Some pontoon boats can reach speeds up to 115 mph.
- Factors Affecting Speed
- Engine Size: Larger engines typically mean higher speeds.
- Number of Tubes: Three-tube (tritoon) designs are generally faster than two-tube designs.
- Load: A lighter load increases speed.
- Performance Enhancement Tips
- Engine Trimming: Tilting the engine to a higher angle for better speed.
- Load Management: Keeping the boat light and distributing weight effectively.
- Underskinning: Metal sheets should be added underneath to reduce drag.
- Using Technology: Implementing V-Toon technology and lifting strakes for better acceleration and stability.
- Recommended Modifications
- Boosting Performance: Underskinning, adding lifting strakes, and upgrading the prop.
- Practical Tips: Fill up less fuel, reduce passenger load, and use booster balls for water sports.
- Speed for Water Sports
- Varied Requirements: Different sports have specific speed needs, ranging from 5 to 36 mph.
- Fastest Pontoon Models
- Top Models: South Bay 925CR Tooned In, Harris Crowne SL 250, and others capable of high speeds.
- Evolution of Pontoon Boats
The engineers of the best brands have topped the game. This means you can now get fast-production pontoons that are substitutes for many hull boats. For this reason, pontoon boats are now quite expensive.
So, are pontoon boats fast enough to give you that speed thrill?
Usually, pontoon boats are not known for their speed. But water enthusiasts wish for more speed, and the times demand it. Pontoons are also used for water sports, such as tubing and waterskiing. The fastest pontoon boat can reach up to 115mph, which is fast in anyone’s books.
How Fast Can Pontoon Boats Go?
On average, pontoons can travel at a speed of about 18 to 25 mph when fully loaded. In comparison, some speedier models can even run at over 50 mph.
The speed of pontoon boats depends on multiple things that are as follows:
- Size of the engine
- Number of tubes beneath the deck
- Load of the boat
New 3 Pontoon Boat Faster Than Old 2 Pontoon Boat?
You can always enhance the performance of your pontoon boats. Their performance has become less of a secret, and more of a feature people look forward to. Likewise, leisure enthusiasts won’t compromise on their sailing living room.
The following are some of the ways through which you can elevate the performance of your pontoon boat.
Enhance Performance
Add underskinning to reduce drag from splashing water and lower the bimini cover to reduce wind resistance. When pontoon boats are clean under the waterline, their movement becomes smooth through the water.
Moreover, try to keep up with the daily maintenance of your pontoon boat to its needs. This maximizes the performance of your boat.
Use of V-Toon Technology
The V-Toon technology provides you with faster acceleration. This feature is designed to lift like a fiberglass boat to maintain the stability of your pontoon.
Add More Speed
The speed of a pontoon boat is affected by multiple factors mentioned above in this article. If you want to speed up your pontoon, keep scrolling to read on to speed your boat up.
10 Tips For Making Your Pontoon Boats Go Faster
Here are some tips through which you can maximize your pontoon’s speed and performance:
Trim Up the Engine
Trimming your engine means tilting it to a higher angle with the boat’s hydraulic motor. This raises the front of the pontoon out of the water a bit. Without a doubt, trimming your engine up is the simplest fix to improve speed.
Don’t Fill Up Completely on Fuel
A large gas tank can last for about a couple of days. A single tank can weigh heavily and reduce your boat’s performance. Fill the gas tank half if you’re not planning a long boating trip.
This way, the pontoon’s weight is reduced and performs better in speed.
Lighten Your Load
Never load your pontoon boat heavier if you want it to go faster. This is a no-brainer: Reduce the weight and go faster.
Distribute Weight Better
Always keep the weight load on the back of a pontoon boat. The boat speeds up this way, keeping the pontoon’s front from plowing.
Use of Booster Ball for Pulling Tubes and Skiers
A booster ball is a big, ball-shaped inflatable that floats the tow rope out of the water. It works through the rope in the water, an anchor for a ski or tube. It pulls the skier towards the middle of the wake.
You get much-enhanced results if you float the line above the water. This way, riders can roam like they can on a fast pontoon. Overall, this is the simplest yet cheapest fix if you are a skier.
Easy on the Groups
Don’t take a ride with a lot of passengers. There must not be more than five people at a time if you want to get the ultimate ride.
Underskin Your Pontoon
Underskin refers to adding metal sheets underneath the boat so the water that splashes up hits the metal instead of metal studs. This brings you a smoother and faster ride.
Add a Third Pontoon (Tritoon)
Adding a tritoon makes the boat more quick-moving, and it handles more passengers.
Fit Lifting Stakes
If your pontoon boat doesn’t have lifting strakes installed, I recommend you get them installed. But what are those?
Briefly, lifting strakes are little metal strips that help create lift in the water. Above all, they help the pontoon get up on the plane rather than just plowing. They provide you with a smooth ride and speed up the boat.
Upgrade Your Prop
Upgrading your prop is yet another fix you can try to speed up your pontoon boat. Not every prop produces the same results. However, choosing a prop with the right pitch may help you get on the plane faster.
How Fast Do You Need to Go?
Honestly, you don’t need to travel as fast on pontoons as you think you need. Many people want pontoons to be much faster due to their taste. However, pulling a skier requires a speed of about 20 mph, and Slalom water skiing requires at least 28 to 36 mph.
Speed also varies according to pontoon riders’ abilities and tastes. The following table shows the right range of average speed required for some water sports.
Kneeboarding | around 13 to 20 mph |
Tubing with very young kids | 5 to 10 mph |
Tubing with kids 8 –10 years old | 15 to 20 mph |
Tubing with adults & teenagers | 18 to 22 mph |
Water skiing with two skis | 15 to 26 mph |
Slalom skiing | 16 to 32 mph |
Wakeboarding | 13 to 20 mph |
The speed for most water sports activities is about 22 mph. Besides, any model with a 90 hp motor can travel at this speed. Therefore, you don’t need much speed, just a good pontoon boat.
What are the Fastest Pontoon Boats?
Pontoons differ in speed. Many are not as fast as people think, but some very fast models are meant for leisure boating.
If you have a question, are pontoon boats fast? Here is the list of some of the fastest pontoon boats in the world:
- South Bay 925CR Tooned In
- Harris Crowne SL 250
- PlayCraft PowerToon Xtreme 3100
- Coach Model RFC
- Premier 290
- Manitou X-Plode
- PlayCraft PowerToon Xtreme 2700
- Bennington QR27 10 Wide
To date, South Bay 925CR Tooned In tops the list of fastest pontoon boats in the world. It has three engines and can sail at up to 114 mph.
Are Pontoon Boats Fast? The Bottom Line
When you boil this all down, here’s the takeaway: Pontoon boats are fast enough for your needs. However, you don’t need to be too fast. Therefore, you must buy a bigger engine to shorten your pontoon’s speed range.
Multiple factors affect the performance of pontoons. However, the usage of maximum horsepower is highly recommended to enhance performance.
The speed of your pontoon boat operates in both fluids: water and air. Thus, if you maximize the elements that interact with the fluids, you will improve the speed. This may include minimizing drag in the water, addressing the boat’s weight issues, upgrading your prop, etc.
As a consequence, the above tips elevate your pontoon’s performance. This way, you can eliminate all your pontoon issues and cruise with friends anytime.
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