Mack C-85
R.I.P.
As the previous owner of a 20' pontoon boat......Ever been to the Ocean City Boat Show and seen the door prize (20' Sweetwater Pontoon W/35hp Merc outboard)? I have, been there, did that, and it cost me almost $2500 to get it in the water, No Trailer, No Safety Package, etc. But, to your original question, towing insurance is a necessary evil.
Now, as to the pontoon boat....
Mine had an oil injector system, tank was mounted on stern platform and was notorious for taking on water (open venting) and injecting it into the fuel stream (did someone mention bad fuel and towing????). Wasn't long before that system got bypassed and I used premixed fuel, no more problems.
Maneuvering is some what like a water borne tank, especially in the wind. Got caught in a blow in the bay behind OC and it was a challenge keeping it upright (wind gets between the pontoons and uses the underside of the deck as a sail) and in a straight line. I was watching the weather and this came out of nowhere, lots of damage in OC. Went from cloudless blue bird day to hurricane force winds in less than ten minutes, and was between me (near RT.90 bridge) and port (Fenwick Island)
Now, it was a great stable, fishing platform for the back bays of OC, and would handle multiple people easily, I loved it, but it did have it's quirks.
Now, as to the pontoon boat....
Mine had an oil injector system, tank was mounted on stern platform and was notorious for taking on water (open venting) and injecting it into the fuel stream (did someone mention bad fuel and towing????). Wasn't long before that system got bypassed and I used premixed fuel, no more problems.
Maneuvering is some what like a water borne tank, especially in the wind. Got caught in a blow in the bay behind OC and it was a challenge keeping it upright (wind gets between the pontoons and uses the underside of the deck as a sail) and in a straight line. I was watching the weather and this came out of nowhere, lots of damage in OC. Went from cloudless blue bird day to hurricane force winds in less than ten minutes, and was between me (near RT.90 bridge) and port (Fenwick Island)
Now, it was a great stable, fishing platform for the back bays of OC, and would handle multiple people easily, I loved it, but it did have it's quirks.
