Pontoon Invasion - Whats up with these Tritoons?

[Table Rockin]

they out sell the traditional bow riders 4 to 1.

[justpushplay]

Since we didn't get our Cobalt on Table Rock lake until late July, this past weekend was our first holiday weekend on the lake in several years. We were taken aback at the number of new tri-toons on the lake. From Cape Fair marina to State Park marina, easily half the boats we saw were pontoons, and the majority of those were new tri-toons, a couple with big twins on the back. After the initial surprise at their sheer number, we started noticing some pretty silly newbie behaviour. The usual stuff, like pulling kids in the very rough and crowded main channel around the Kimberling bridge and the State Park/Indian Point corridor, not yielding to other traffic where appropriate, not staying away from boats with orange flags and swimmers in the water, ignoring no wake buoys, etc. I'm guessing first time boat buyers are flocking to these things. The lack of boating experience combined with the speeds these are capable of, in addition to the number of people these can carry, could become a safety issue as their numbers increase. The sensation of running 40+ mph and looking over and seeing a pontoon pacing you is sort of surreal!

Also, pontoons and mopeds, great fun until your friends see you on one:-)

(Can't help it!)

[tgrace98]

Since we didn't get our Cobalt on Table Rock lake until late July, this past weekend was our first holiday weekend on the lake in several years. We were taken aback at the number of new tri-toons on the lake. From Cape Fair marina to State Park marina, easily half the boats we saw were pontoons, and the majority of those were new tri-toons, a couple with big twins on the back. After the initial surprise at their sheer number, we started noticing some pretty silly newbie behaviour. The usual stuff, like pulling kids in the very rough and crowded main channel around the Kimberling bridge and the State Park/Indian Point corridor, not yielding to other traffic where appropriate, not staying away from boats with orange flags and swimmers in the water, ignoring no wake buoys, etc. I'm guessing first time boat buyers are flocking to these things. The lack of boating experience combined with the speeds these are capable of, in addition to the number of people these can carry, could become a safety issue as their numbers increase. The sensation of running 40+ mph and looking over and seeing a pontoon pacing you is sort of surreal!

Also, pontoons and mopeds, great fun until your friends see you on one:-)

(Can't help it!)

If they were navy blue Harris toons they were State Park Marina Rentals, Red tri's are indian point marina. I have to dodge them all the time especially on the big holiday weekends. And yes they do not understand the rules of the water.

[Krob1114]

First boat we ever rented was a pontoon from State Park Marina on TRL which lead to this:

2006 Caravelle BR187.JPG

Which lead to a complete change in lifestyle which lead to this:

2019 Cobalt R3 Labor Day.JPG

I know that most statistics are made up on the spot, but using the engineering term WAG, "wild ass guess", I'd say close to 70% of the boats at our marina are some kind of Toons.

Maybe someday I'll post the R7 or similar in line, but music is great, engine is big enough, and it still smells new!

[ourlee]

Pontoons make me happy. From ghetto toons with home made huts to$150k vips. Always full on clown shows. We were chilling in our slip end of day Saturday watching captain callers roll by hot. B6 far the most enjoyable fly by was the 300hp toon on full song we just laughed. Obviously he just dropped his fam off after a long day of going 8 mph.

[bruceb58]

I own a 22' pontoon in addition to my Cobalt. Each boat has a different role. My pontoon is on a 7 mile lake so there is no need to go fast with it and it can hold a ton of people and has around 20 drink holders.

Most of the boats on Big bear lake are pontoons. It's just the perfect boat for that lake. Lake Tahoe is the exact opposite percentage since a pontoon doesn't do well when Tahoe gets rough.

And if you want both a pontoon and a Cobalt, buy a used Cobalt Pontoon, My neighbor owns one.

https://www.boatingworld.com/boattests/ ... by-cobalt/

[rabiddawg]

Never owned a toon. Hope I never do.

Took my brother-in-law and sister out on my 262. For a week he hounded me with Cobalts he was interested in. His toon is 2 years old . I think his jets have cooled though. Haven’t heard from him in a few weeks.

[Luv2HuntAR]

Aloha Pontoon boats are made in Arkansas. The owner of the company and his family keep boats at Mountain Harbor on Lake Ouachita. He has a 32’ tri-toon with twin 425s. That thing is crazy fast. He has won the Poker Run there several times using a similar tri-toon because he can run full speed through shallows that others can not. Like many of you, the tri-toon just isn’t my cup of tea (yet). When we became serious about buying a boat, we were pricing both tri-toons and Cobalts. On the way home from shopping boats, I was fretting silently about the possibility of having to buy tri-toon. It wasn’t long into our drive that my wife said, “If we’re going to drop $100k on a boat, there’s no way in hell it’s going to be a party barge. We’re buying a Cobalt!” Happy wife. Happy life.

[AsLan7]

850 horse on a tritoon. ...that would be fun....even for a toon. They have their purposes for sure.

[Krob1114]

Can you say "Grandkids"?

[rabiddawg]

Grandkids better love captains call

[pwrdbycotn]

Thank god I don’t have to act like I don’t want one. A double decker, 700hp (twin Suzuki 350’s) tritoon with enclosed head and slide is awesome and I’d take it over most any Cobalt, except my R6 Surf.

[AsLan7]

Thank god I don’t have to act like I don’t want one. A double decker, 700hp (twin Suzuki 350’s) tritoon with enclosed head and slide is awesome and I’d take it over most any Cobalt, except my R6 Surf.

.
That’s a great set up PBC. Thanks for the pictures.

And welcome aboard mate!

.

[rabiddawg]

Thank god I don’t have to act like I don’t want one. A double decker, 700hp (twin Suzuki 350’s) tritoon with enclosed head and slide is awesome and I’d take it over most any Cobalt, except my R6 Surf.






[/quote

Not an act on my part. Even if I could afford that monstrosity, I would not waste my money on it.

[pwrdbycotn]

Thank god I don’t have to act like I don’t want one. A double decker, 700hp (twin Suzuki 350’s) tritoon with enclosed head and slide is awesome and I’d take it over most any Cobalt, except my R6 Surf.






[/quote

Not an act on my part. Even if I could afford that monstrosity, I would not waste my money on it.

Lol good for you. For us, we hate baking in the sun all day, and with two daughters, 10 and 6, the pontoon is absolutely perfect with the slide and built in head.
So with the Cobalt and the Premier, we can have the best of both worlds and everyone is happy.