News — Boating

Should I Take a Pontoon Boat Offshore? Ask Sinclair Marina.

By: BoatTest.com

We have received a number of emails from BoatTEST.com members asking if it is advisable to take pontoon boats offshore or out into the Great Lakes.

Unfortunately, in their exuberance to sell boats, some boat dealers are telling customers that their boats are designed to go offshore, and we have seen one dealer’s videos that even quote a boating magazine to support this kind of usage.

Pontoons boats are designed for use in protected waters, where the sea state is such that the bow with its flat and wide deck forward will not bury itself in a wave. Simply put, pontoon boats were not designed to go offshore. However, this is not to say that there are not some times when they can venture out safely.

Pontoon Boat Caveat

Boat owners should never exceed the conditions for which a specific boat was designed. So, it is not the body of water that is so important, but rather the sea state.

On nice days, when the marine weather forecast calls for light zephyrs, pontoon boats are fine for venturing a few miles offshore on the Great Lakes or other large bodies of water. Keep in mind, conditions can change quickly. And remember, often the most difficult aspect of an offshore passage is running the inlet. Going out at slack tide may provide no difficulty, but coming in with a swift ebb or flow could be problematical and dangerous.

Low Freeboard is a Problem

In a light chop – say 1’ or so – a pontoon boat is more comfortable than any monohull for the simple reason that it has two or three narrow hulls slicing through the waves instead of one big, wide hull. But the pontoon boat’s weakness is its low freeboard and its wide foredeck. Those skinny hulls don’t have much dynamic lift or buoyancy to keep the pontoon foredeck above the waves when the wind starts blowing, in a confused sea state left over from a previous blow, or running an inlet with standing waves.

Pontoon Boats Are Vulnerable

So, if the waves are expected to be above 2’ or so high, stay in protected waters. Pontoon boats are especially vulnerable to stuffing the bow and being difficult to control running down-sea compared to a well-designed monohull with its greater freeboard forward. If a pontoon boat ships green water it can become difficult to handle, is easily susceptible to damage, and is vulnerable to capsizing despite its great initial stability. They are simply not intended for this kind of sea condition and to take one there is irresponsible.

The buoyancy of pontoon boats is limited by the size of their air chambers, which are two or three tube-shaped pontoons, and typically run from 24” to 28” in cross-section diameter. Obviously, the larger-diameter pontoon boats have more buoyancy. Tri-toons, with three longitudinal pontoons, are even more buoyant, which is why they can be used for towing sports at high speeds.

Pontoon boat owners must also realize that twin-toon platforms will rack in any kind of rough water condition. The athwartships structures between the pontoons are essentially designed to support the plywood deck, rather than to keep the pontoons in rigid position.

Captains Have Responsibilities

As with any boat, who you have onboard – and how many people – also determines seaworthiness. Fewer is better than more, physically fit are better than children or elderly. Remember, the reason to go boating is to have fun, and to keep the vessel’s passengers comfortable and safe.

While pontoon boats are very versatile, rougher seas are their biggest weakness and it’s important not to confuse the high form stability and smooth ride with rough-water capability.

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

Crestliner Pontoons: Forged with Strength. Defined by Durability.

By: Crestliner

Crestliner is adding to its popular pontoon line-up with the brand-new Sprint Series, an entry-level pontoon that’s ideal for novice boaters and those looking for on-water versatility at an impressive value. The Sprint comes nearly a year after Crestliner re-entered the pontoon market with the successful Rally Series.

“The Sprint fills a hole in the pontoon market,” said Crestliner President Eric Hendrickson. “There is a large contingent of boaters out there looking for an accessible pontoon they can hop into without hassle and use for a variety of on-water activities—from fishing to cruising and everything in between. Add to that an exceptional value, and the Sprint is exactly what a lot of families are looking for.”

The Sprint Series is available in three sizes—16 feet, 18 feet and 20 feet—and comes in two layouts: Cruise and Fish & Cruise. Every size and layout boasts an open floorplan and smartly configured seating, including a captain’s seat, passenger seat and a stern lounge bench with storage. A nicely featured helm station with removable windscreen, rocker switches, gauges, and room to mount electronics instills confidence in captains of any experience level, while a series of gates and courtesy lighting add security and safety when underway.

The Fish & Cruise layout features Deluxe fishing seats in the bow, bow storage compartments on both the port and starboard, and a 15-gallon aerated livewell in front of the console. The Cruise version includes port and starboard bow lounge seating for stretching out and relaxing in the sun. Seven drink holders, a 4-step boarding ladder and 9-foot bimini top on both versions add convenience to every outing, and standard Mercury Marine FourStroke power delivers excellent performance.

Owners can choose from three exterior colors for their Sprint pontoon: Black Metallic, Maroon Red or Slate Blue. Optional seating and flooring upgrades, audio package and ski tow further personalize the pontoon. Add a skin kit with lifting strakes to up the performance ante.

“The Sprint Series delivers comfort and a simple, yet functional design at an exceptional value,” Hendrickson said. “Plus, it’s filled with Crestliner’s quality and attention to detail.  Hop onboard, and start enjoying your time on the water.”

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

Get Your Pontoon Boat Ready for the Season: Springtime is Upon Us!

By: Pontoon-Depot, Amy Cabanas

Pic By: PontoonPedia

Spring is 10 days away!

What could be better than starting off the FIRST DAY OF SPRING with Pontoon-Depots’ favorite season …. Fishing! 

Pontoon boats are great for fishing, family get togethers and of course having a party with friends. Though, bear in mind, you’ll need to make sure you have everything you need before the season starts or the party begins. First, you want to ask yourself a few questions before getting out on the water. What do we need to have fun, yet be safe. Additionally, you want to be ready for the season in general with any new items to make your life easier on the water or more fun. Either way make sure you check everything off your list so that you can have as much fun as possible.

Considering making a new pontoon boat purchase, be sure you understand that the size does matter. Sixteen to nineteen-foot boats are best for small bodies of water. Twenty to twenty-two-foot boats are best for lakes & rivers, and twenty-three to twenty-seven-foot pontoons are the best for rough water and they can accommodate up to fifteen people. This is great news if you are close to the ocean and you have a big family or a large circle of friends.

Whether you enjoy fishing, sunbathing, or water sports, all of these are awesome options when you own a pontoon boat. But it’s also key to make sure everyone is safe and having fun. For lounging & sunbathing you may want to consider a larger deck and a super cool sound system, these are all accessories Pontoon-Depot can help you with. For those of you with big families and large parties, don’t forget that storage should be top on your list for food and drinks. Also, make sure your pontoon is equipped with lots of seating. And lastly, for those of you who enjoy water sports, make sure you have easy access for your pontoon boat into & out of the water.

With all this being said, durability of your accessories, seating and flooring will be important. If you have a pontoon boat already but it’s in need of some upgrading, consider the newest woven vinyl flooring over the old school traditional boat carpeting. I promise you that you will be much happier with it, when it comes to mold, general cleaning, and mildew, oh, and it’s also slip resistant!!

Above all things, make sure to look for a warranty that covers most parts and labor for everything on your boat, including the electronic components, that are most prone to weather-related failures. 

If you check all these boxes, you’re sure to have a great boating experience with your pontoon! 

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

Full Duplex Wireless Headsets, Truly Marriage Savers!

By: Panbo

I’ve often heard wireless headsets referred to as marriage savers but before cruising full time I didn’t realize the accuracy of the nickname.  Now after several years of regular use, I wouldn’t want to cruise without them.  But there are multiple brands and types of headsets, and two we’ve used extensively each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Before getting into the details, I’ll explain when the headsets became important to us. Early on, it was fairly easy to tie up at our home slip in Chicago with dock lines preset and a well-understood plan, and unfamiliar docks were definitely the exception. But when we began cruising, nearly every docking was at a new slip and frequently prone to last minute changes. Chaos sometimes ensued.

Have Another Day has a stern docking camera with a good view of the swim platform and a microphone in the camera.  That microphone allows me to hear my wife, Laura, when she’s standing in our cockpit and frequently a dockhand standing near the stern.  This could lead to dialogs that went something like this:

• Dockhand to Laura:  Do you want this line cleated off?
• Laura (looking at the camera): Do you want the line cleated?
• Me (in a fairly normal voice):  Yes
• Laura: Ben, do you want this line cleated off?
• Me (in a louder but still not shouting voice):  Yes
• Laura (in a more insistent tone): BEN, do you want this line cleated off?
• Me (in a full shout):  YES
• Laura (in an annoyed tone):  Okay, but you don’t have to yell…

After a few of those exchanges, the need for better communications was clear.  With a little research, I determined that there are two companies with strong products to suit our needs.

Eartec UltraLITE

The Eartec UltraLITE headsets use DECT 6.0 — the standard developed for cordless phones that finally made them work reliably, if you remember those — in the 1900mhz frequency range.  The UltraLITE headset is available in single and dual earcup designs depending on the user’s preference and up to five headsets can be connected to each other for full-duplex communications between all headsets. Full-duplex is the ability to both talk and hear the other person at the same time, unlike some alternatives like VHF handhelds.

Each UltraLITE system consists of one master headset and up to four remote headsets, and the master must be powered up for any headsets to be able to converse.   Eartec offers their headsets in bundles with varrying configurations of single and dual ear-cup ranging from $385 for a two person, single ear-cup system to $1,020 for a five person, dual ear-cup system.  All configurations include batteries, charger and a carrying bag.  If more than five headsets are needed an Eartec Hub can be used which allows up to 9 headsets to converse.

Ultralite self-contained headsets can also be paired with the ULP1000 beltpack which supports a number of corded headsets.  UltraLITE and beltpack headsets have an advertised range of 400 meters in open areas.

The headsets and beltpacks all use a common lithium-ion rechargeable battery back.  Eartec includes either a 2 or 8 battery charger based on the number of headsets in the bundle ordered.  Additional chargers are available to charge either two ($50) or eight ($80) batteries at a time.  Eartec says each battery lasts 6 hours on a charge.

Sena Headsets

Sena’s line of headsets use Bluetooth to connect to each other and also to mobile devices.  So, in addition to being used as an intercom, the Sena headsets can be used as a Bluetooth headset for phone conversations and as stereo wireless headphones to listen to music.  Sena’s headsets can support up to four parties in an intercom session.  

Sena has four different models two lightweight models and two more rugged and water resistant models.  The $150 Expand with a short fixed microphone is the lowest priced model, the $180 SPH10-10  adds a flexible boom microphone, a jog wheel to control it and a wired auxiliary input.  The more rugged Tufftalk series has sound deadening capabilities for high noise environments and also have FM radios built in.  The $250 Tufftalk Lite is the entry model, while the $400 Tufftalk is the most rugged and heavily built of the lineup.

Sena says their headsets have a range of up to 800 meters in open areas.

How do they compare?

Whichever headset brand you choose you won’t go wrong, but the two companies’  products have quite a few differences and you may find one brand fits your needs better than the other.   Overall, I’ve found the audio quality to be higher on Eartec’s headsets.  The Sena’s audio quality is perfectly acceptable (I would equate it as similar to telephone call quality), but the Eartec’s quality is really good.   But then again, Sena’s ability to make or take phone calls –like maybe with the marina office– or listen to some soothing music in the background may be more valuable to you.

All of Eartec’s self-contained units (those without a separate belt pack and headset) are over the head style and come in a single headband size.  I have an abnormally large head and hence have had no troubles with UltraLITE staying on my head, but my more normal wife has found that if she leans forward too far the headset slips off.  The Sena’s Expand and SPH10-10 are both behind the neck style which seems to better fit smaller heads.

The Eartec units are a little simpler to get connected for conversations between more than two headsets.  UltraLITE headsets ship be paired to a master unit and can all be used together as soon as they’re powered up.  The Sena headsets will automatically establish a two-party conference On power up, but each additional headset has to call one of the active pair to join the conversation.  This isn’t hard to do — it’s initiated with a simple button press — but it’s another step that must be completed before everyone is talking together.

The Sena units are only available in dual-ear designs with both ears covered.  In docking situations, I would prefer to have one ear uncovered to be able to hear what’s happening around the boat as well as what my crew is saying.  Eartec has models with both single and dual ear cups.

Although the Sena headsets have a longer stated range, in my testing I found the Eartecs to work over greater distances.  The Eartecs both went further before audio began to break up and worked a greater distance before the audio became so garbled it couldn’t be understood.  Both headsets provide real-world range of several hundred feet with good quality and working through multiple decks into the engine room has never been a problem, so I don’t think range will be a major factor for either company’s headsets.

This summer while navigating a challenging area Laura used our dinghy to lead Have Another Day through the shallows.  We’ve done this before with two-way radios but with headsets we were able to comfortably converse without breaking concentration or taking hands off the vessel controls for the radio.  We also frequently use the headsets in a lock and while performing maintenance tasks in the engine room that requires someone at the helm.

We have been thrilled with the difference full-duplex headsets make while docking.  Instead of minimal communication at a yell, we are able to carry on conversations in a normal speaking voice and calm tone.  Docking can be stressful and nothing gets my stress up faster than having someone who can see part of the boat I can’t yelling something I can’t make out.  I’m left to wonder: Should I stop?  Should I throw the boat in reverse?  Should I keep going?   With headsets, I know the difference between “someone fell in so stop everything“ and “oh look, a dolphin.”

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.