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Pontoon Boat Handling Safety Tips

A Few Extra Precautions Can Prevent Unexpected Vessel Behaviors

© Alan Sorum

Sep 3, 2008
Pontoon Boat Receiving Vessel Safety Check, USCGAUX Photo by Joseph P. Cirone
Pontoon boats are a safe and fun platform for getting out on the water. Taking just a few extra precautions while operating one will make their use a better experience.

Pontoon based boats are popular with many boaters because their spacious platforms offer room to relax and move about on a stable deck. Pontoon boats offer ample room for couches, coolers and lots of recreational equipment. As with any boat, pontoon craft still demand the respect of their operators to ensure a safe trip.

There have been concerns expressed in the online boating community over unexpected handling behaviors experienced with pontoon boats. The most common issue discussed was having the bow plunge down unexpectedly after rapidly decreasing a boat's speed. A 29-foot pontoon recently pitched six people in the water at Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma where wind and wind generated waves turned their craft over. Pontoon boats handle differently than more conventional craft and insurance claim information from BoatU.S. (Boat Owners Association of The United States) offers some insights into incidents involving the craft.

Pontoon Boat Handling Issues

BoatU.S. issued a top ten list of reasons why pontoon boat insurance claims were filed. Three of the reasons highlighted by the organization were related to vessel handling characteristics.

  • As waves build, pontoon boats tend to plow into the wave and this can cause a great deal of water to cross over the deck. Depending on the severity of the event, passengers and unsecured gear can be washed overboard.
  • Pontoon boats are a challenge to operate in following seas.
  • Pontoon boats by their design do not bank into turns. The centrifugal force that holds a passenger into their seat during a turn in a conventional craft is absent and standing passengers can easily fall.
  • Large wakes caused by other boats can practically stop a pontoon boat that approaches them incorrectly.
  • Pontoon boats with their large flat deck, onboard furnishings and bimini tops present a large sail area for the wind to catch. Operators can immediately feel the effects of local wind gusts.

Pontoon Boat Handling Tips

In addition to standard industry safety recommendations that include taking operator safety training, carrying proper emergency equipment, wearing a life jacket and performing adequate vessel maintenance, there are few further things a boater can do to be extra safe with a pontoon boat.

  • If rough weather is unavoidable, trim weight aft on the boat and slow down.
  • Be sure that passengers remain seated while underway to avoid their being thrown overboard during a turn or after encountering an unexpected wave.
  • Use smooth and steady control inputs. Avoid sharply turning the wheel or making rapid changes in power settings. This advice applies to all other powerboats.
  • Maintain a weather eye. Monitor local marine forecasts and take time to learn about unique local wind and wave conditions.

Exercise care while operating a pontoon boat and enjoy the many benefits they can provide for recreational boating.


The copyright of the article Pontoon Boat Handling Safety Tips in Boat Safety & Maintenance is owned by Alan Sorum. Permission to republish Pontoon Boat Handling Safety Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Pontoon Boat Receiving Vessel Safety Check, USCGAUX Photo by Joseph P. Cirone
Pontoon Boat Assists in Rescue of Entangled Birds, NOAA Restoration Center Photo by Louise Kane
     


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Comments
Sep 8, 2008 1:26 PM
Guest :
Near Disaster Averted

I recently had an experience that could have caused damage and or discomfort for the occupents of my pontoon boat out for the afternoon on the Sacramento River. I happen to have an I/O equipped pontoon boat and experienced an unexpected rapid slowdown from a mederate speed of fifteen miles per hour to less then. My first reaction was that I had run into underwater growth or debris. The other thought was the notion of running into a strong underwater current as I have experienced in a monohull on the San Francisco Bay. I checked the bilge area and found it to be flooded above the engine oil pan and the pully and belts were throwing water. I decreased speed turned on the belge pump and look for the cause. After fifteen minuted of slow funning and pumping the bilge I decided to anchor and investigate from the water. when I went under the boat I found one of the underskinning pannels had popped rivets and the pannel had dropped and became bent. I tried to bend the piece back in place but the alluminum sheet was to heavy gauge. The at slow to moderate speed water was being forced into the engine compartment by the dropped pannel. We were temporarly able to move the craft slowly at low speed which averted further flooding.
once back on the trailor the piect was literally beated with a sledge hammer into partially origional position then rewmoved for straightening. All rivets were replaced on the underskinning with stanless steel bolts and aircraft locking nuts to prevent further problem.

Toonin on the California Delta
Bayrunner Steve
1 Comment:
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