I was looking at my 2005 boat test issue of Pontoon and Deckboat Magazine. Pontooning is the fastest growing boating segment and some of the features show it.

At least four of the brands tested, had 12V refrigerators offered, including a slideout 50 qt model. One model had retractable dock lines, refrigerator, pumpout potti, boarding ladder washdown station, and retractable sun shades over the high end bow fishing chairs.

Other features include factory blenders, outside stereo system controls, built in ladders under the side gates, and numerous standard and innovative sinks and prep areas. One had a built in wine cellar, complete with wine glass rack and ice bucket. In fact, most of them had food bars ranging from large areas with sinks, storage bins and grills, to just simple hidden sinks.

Pricing ranged from low $10,000+ for the smaller low end models to $70,000 for a Playcraft with the 8.1 engine. Most of them fell in the $30-40,000 range. Most of them could top out over 30 mph and the Playcraft was rated at over 50 mph.

A wine cellar on a 'toon? Somehow that doesn't fit the usual stereotype!

Kelly

I'm wondering why more manufacturers don't make a storage space in the center log accessible from above? The log could have sealed areas fore and aft of the space for flotation. Even a fuel tank there would allow more storage topside. Where I cruise (Lake Powell) the addition of another large fuel tank would be a great help. ARE YOU LISTENING, PLAYCRAFT???

Bennington, JC, and Premier all offer over 50 gal of fuel.

A new wrinkle on 'toon construction. No truss work under the floor. Instead the metal floor is built strong enough to keep the 'toon together on its own -

http://www.verandamarine.com/view/7

In theory at least I think this could work.
Kelly

Thanks for the update KCook!

Interesting idea...gets rid of the need for an underskin. There is an a lot of wiring under the deck of my old pontoon and most new ones as well. I suppose they have got a way to run that through the furiture. This is a neat time to be into boats...lots of new engineering.
I don't know though...looks pretty high tech for us old duffers that just put a new motor on their 1986 'wood decker' every 5-10 years and call it good. No rot in mine either...I don't know what Sanpan did wrong. Does need new carpet though...used to be "maroon" now is 'black' except where the moss shows through as green.


Scot

I follow the musings/ramblings of "FusionKing" on PDB. One tidbit that comes thru is that much of the fatigue and failures on 'toon structures comes from the twist type flex action of the deck, even with the underlying truss work. In thoery at least this metal box section floor could be stiffer than conventional construction. Even though it looks weeny without the truss stuff under there. Cool concept, I think.

Kelly

Flex is both a bad thing and a good thing. If a pontoon can flex, it is less likely to break. If they can make it rigid, without damage in rough water, it may signify a change in construction technique. My thought is that we are due for a major change in log construction. If some manufacturer comes up with a stamped log system, they could probably be able to sell it to several manufacturers for less than the current types.

In the long run I would say that flex is always bad. True, you can design a structure to withstand occasional flexing. But there will be limits to the number of cycles before fatigue cracks something.

As a PRACTICAL matter I would say the current construction practices, even with flexing, are Ok for modest power 'toons. But if a big motor is hanging off the back I would want my 'toon as stiff as possible. Even though it might mean less business for FusionKing

Kelly

I also started a thread on PDB. Turns out that Veranda is really an offshoot of Xpress -

http://www.xpressboats.com/series/pontoon/index.html

Xpress is owned by Yamaha, so I think we can safely assume the same is true for Veranda.

Kelly

Builders have been playing with the shape of the center tube on tripletoons for a while. Now Bennington is putting an elliptical profile on the main tubes for a 2-tube design.

photo link:
http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16124&d=1217873569

iboats thread link:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=268623

Kelly

Well--- I have a 13 year old, 32' pontoon boat that has most of the above that was mentioned: Pump out potti, shower, 2 fresh water tanks (70 gallons total), 2 gray water holding tanks (50 gallons total), roof AC w/heat, 4kw Onan generator, 1500w inverter, shore power, dual-bank 15 amp battery charger, separate engine, house and genset batteries, 2 fuel tanks (45 gallon for the engine, 20 gallon for the genset), full galley with sink, alky/electric stove, microwave and fridge, sleeping room for 9-10 and just plain room for 15, 6 of which can go up on the roof--

--and people look at me dumbfounded when I tell them we lived on it! Oh, and also when I tell them what it's worth...


Tracker and a few others have been at this game for quite awhile...