Pontoon vs traditional vee hull
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Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35783
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2026 at 11:52am
Topic: Pontoon vs traditional vee hull
Posted By: technofreak
Subject: Pontoon vs traditional vee hull
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 10:19am
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What is your pick out of the following list, for typical Auckland sloppy sea conditions. The boat is to be used for general family and fishng activities. It needs to be soft riding, handles all sea conditions well, safe and well built. Kiwikraft 550 Senator 540/560 Surtees 550 Extreme 550/570 Leda craft 550 Osprey 540 Aqualite 570 Tsunami 500/550 Lasercraft 580 Vision 560 Everyman 550 Others. |
Replies:
Posted By: Bushpig
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 10:44am
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Stabi 580HT
------------- I would rather laugh with the Sinners, than cry with the Saints |
Posted By: Spearsniper
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 10:45am
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Soft riding takes out most of the pontoon boats.
I'm thinking that from your list , either the Surtees or the Lasercraft will be the better options.
If you have the $$ available, AMF is definately worth a look
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Posted By: mozz
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 11:14am
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Marco 550 ramco 1750 |
Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 11:19am
| In boats that size range you tend to either get stabilty at rest with the pontoon boats but they ride hard, or a softer ride in a deep V 'non-pontoon' hull but they are less stable at rest. I don't know many of the boats in that size range very well so won't comment on the boats in your list, but I am pretty sure that you will need to decide whether ride or stabilty is the most important to you. For 'normal family' use I would probably tend towards a non-pontoon with a moderate V in that size range. This will give you a compromise bewteen ride and stability. |
Posted By: Boulder
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 12:20pm
My pick would be the aqualite, deep V and pontoons softest riding pontoon on the market except my boat that has a 25deg deep vee with pontoons for stability at rest. ------------- http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz">  http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz">www.boulderguiding.co.nz |
Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 12:46pm
| If you like the Aqualite let me know. I need to check, but I have a feeling that one of my aquaintances might be Mr Aqualite. |
Posted By: Bushpig
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 1:18pm
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I have to disagree with pontoons not been a soft ride. I find the Senator soft. Its all about how the are driven
------------- I would rather laugh with the Sinners, than cry with the Saints |
Posted By: Boulder
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 1:20pm
sure rides well on the trailer on the back lawn piglet
------------- http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz"> http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz">www.boulderguiding.co.nz |
Posted By: of2fsh
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 1:38pm
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Boulder wrote:Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 1:48pm
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Bushie - I was making a generalisation rather then a specific comment on a particular boat. I do believe however that the generalisation is pretty much correct for most of the boats he mentioned. The Senators may be the exception to the rule (I don't know them myself) , so technofreak should read all the comments here (especially the comments of owners of similar boats in that size range) and then will be in a position to work out what he should do. My experience has been that a lot of sub 6.0m tinnies have significant compromises between ride, stability, room, wetness etc that you don't see so badly once you get over 6.0m in size. For intsance I loved the 6.7m Southern we had, where the 570 rode well, but was far too unstable to be considered a 'family boat'. The couple of ~5.5m pontoons I have ridden in rode like bricks, and a quick look at the hull shape makes it obvious why. When I looked at the hull shape of some larger ~7.0m models you could see how they might have quite a decent ride, but if you shrink the same design to ~5.5m you end up with little usable space etc etc. In that size range I believe that it is all about compromises. |
Posted By: Bushpig
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 2:02pm
Its like riding on cotton wool ------------- I would rather laugh with the Sinners, than cry with the Saints |
Posted By: Boulder
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 2:18pm
Take extra care crossing the lawnmower ruts pig that can slam the boat pretty hard------------- http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz"> http://www.boulderguiding.co.nz">www.boulderguiding.co.nz |
Posted By: Mullins
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 2:20pm
How do you drive em 'soft'? |
Posted By: fish food
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 2:36pm
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If its ride thats important go deep vee hull.
If its stability at rest go pontoons. |
Posted By: Bushpig
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 2:42pm
Its all about speed. ------------- I would rather laugh with the Sinners, than cry with the Saints |
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 3:03pm
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I havent been in a kiwicraft but have heard they are mean, very deep v and potoon..a bit ugly but hey itd a fishing boat.
I would go senator 560HT I just love em,and I own another boat on that list. ------------- as dead as dead is |
Posted By: KeenAs
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 3:15pm
and trim.
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Posted By: Mullins
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 3:21pm
| So the pontoon boats are only soft riding if you drive em slow?? I'm sold! |
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 3:36pm
Not at all,I think there is a big difference between a stabi for instance and a senator in different seas.My mates senator only goes one speed in most conditions and it aint slow.
Each (all boats) have there own triats,everything is a compromise.In a 5.5m boat you will have more space without pontoons,but better stability with them.
Extreme and surtees are not too bad at rest with the water ballast,nice v in both,but some would say a potoon has other advatages that would out weigh them.
The same boat will perform different depening on motor size and 2 vs 4.
You have alot to consider,better narrow it down further in what you actually value,tick off the boxes as you go,and go for a sea run,in the conditions you plan to encounter and see what you like.
You will get more opions on here than youve had hot dinners,rememeber it is what you want.
This is fun part.....looking. ------------- as dead as dead is |
Posted By: blackboat
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 5:02pm
| smaller pontoon boats are hard but very stable ,,when you get to 6m+ they tend to be quite soft i have a new 609 stabi and its a dream to drive and when weather chops up sea its a pleasure to breeze through it wouldnt go back to vee boats |
Posted By: tobez
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 5:02pm
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extreme 570...just better, flooding hull for ballist ------------- Waikato North Harbourmaster...Got a Nav Safety question for the Waikato region?...call me 021705642 or download the app Marine Mate! |
Posted By: NZTurtle
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 6:27pm
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Yep, deep v and flooding ballast in the hull, especially in a smaller boat. I'm not objective but I'd say surtees (not having had a 5.5....).
Agree that once you go bigger the stability versus ride on a pontoon becomes less of a problem. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: paw
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 8:15pm
| Could be worth having a look at the Seaforce 530 Mate-a fibreglass pontoon boat that has good reviews. Should ride softer than an alloy and have the stability at rest with the pontoons. |
Posted By: ski da mofo!!
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2008 at 9:24pm
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senator...allloy and pontoon .can knock em around unlike fibreglass.lighter to tow, more positive bouyancy and stability.possibly not as fast as a moulded glass hull but are you in a race?as for softer ride some glass moulded hulls do absorb some of the impact when its choppy but if its rough its rough your gunna get a hiding no matter what your in if ya put the hammer down..or you could take em all for a ride through the manakau bar and see which one you feel safest in ------------- BIG FISH IS WHERE ITS AT |
Posted By: Force5
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2008 at 10:05pm
| I haven't been in pontoon boats of this size. I would go lazercraft over surtees in this size range everytime from experience in both. |
Posted By: Moki Marko
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 9:39am
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Hey techno , how's the choice going?
look at the specs, go with the deep V, the Aqualite is probably the deepest V on the list and will be the best riding, simple.
The Extreme hasn't got pontoons but has 'turn down chines' and the flooding keel to help stability, both these boats are Scot Robson designs, and both are excellent boats.
The prices vary across the range you listed (good list by the way, I'd be happy to be in any of those boats), you could be in the water in a surtees for around $35k, and a well set up Aqualite could run to $50k plus.
Whatever you choose go for the biggest motor that the boat is rated for, you will never regret that.
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Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 9:48am
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last few times on a senator I put my back out, mind you it was rough and we were almost flat out however when trolling they were great. ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: batfastard
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 10:07am
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those pontoons are only any good when your sinking or not moving.and you have to pay for the extra drag of moving them through the water.imho a flooding balast or wider chines with a deep v are the best comprimise. ------------- As my wife catches bigger fish than me, does that make me a bad fisherman or a great skipper....... |
Posted By: technofreak
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 10:54am
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Thanks for the advise Moki. You are right on the button. I went out a friend's Aqualite 601, we put it through all sorts of sea conditions, she performed really well compared with other boats. I have also been on an Extreme 550 recently, she was quite impressive too. I have also tried out the Kiwikraft 550, she was quite impressive except the pounding of water against the pontoon at the bow section making it a bit noisy and uncomforatable especially in some dirty water across the channels in Auckland harbour. Otherwise she was a very soft riding, dry and safe boat. A trade off with its deep v (20 deg) requires more engine power, hence drinks more fuel. By the way, what is your boat and engine combo? Regards, Technofreak. |
Posted By: _Jimmy_
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 10:54am
you go over the bar in a 5m tinny, your mad. |
Posted By: ski da mofo!!
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 11:21am
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would do it in a 4 m pontoon on the right day but wouldnt even think about it in a 4m without... look at the thundercats or surflifesavers you dont see them runnin around in the surf in boats without positive bouyancy.... ------------- BIG FISH IS WHERE ITS AT |
Posted By: Moki Marko
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 3:59pm
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Hi techno
I got a custom built 7m workboat with a 225honda, so it doesn't really compare to anything else, it does have a 20 degree deadrise and big wide 'pontoon like' chines, so I would agree with Batfastards comments, although that wouldn't put me right off a deep v pontoon like an aqualite or an osprey.
The 'deeper v - more fuel' argument isn't a very strong one, I think a boat that is slicing along nicely would use less fuel than one that is pounding.
Sounds like you're heading in the right direction, let us know what you decide.
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Posted By: Seadoc
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2008 at 6:03pm
Why? |
Posted By: Kaneo
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2008 at 3:42pm
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I had a stabi 609 SC and in all honesty there was nothing nice about the ride, I went for a run in a Senator about a week ago and it had alot nicer ride, think the stabi has put me off pontoons though and just about everyone who went in it. |
Posted By: tugboat
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2008 at 6:48pm
p.s im thinken a barrier trip coming up shortly man!!
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Posted By: Dr. Fish
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2008 at 10:39pm
| Hi, dr.fish here, last month i purchased a senator rc560 with a 115 yami 2 stroke all 2006. sold my stabi 509 that i owned from new for 6 years due to the very hard ride, resulting in severe back pain the next day if the sea had been only remotely rough the day before!! what a difference in ride and handling. only wish i had bought it sooner. went out in a friends rh620 senator and it was absolutely amazing so i decided that i would have to look for a new boat. tried a surtees 5.5 workmate from family boats and a rc 560 from auckland marine. both good boats but the new rc560 was too expensive for my budget and i decided that i would prefer a pontoon syle after enjoying the stability at rest of the stabi. looked into the aqualite range in depth but very hard to find one up here in auck. senator ride is very good in the rough but i agree with other people that any boat under 6 metres will suffer in the auck. washboard , some more than others. the senator is a bit too low on the sides and the floor angles upwards too much for toehold comfort, but, hey, there is that compromise again !!hope this info may help somebody. otherwise very happy so far with the boat except for the fuel consumption, stabi was a 60 hp 4 stroke yami. |
Posted By: _Jimmy_
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2008 at 7:23am
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weather changes your ****ed.
to many kooks crossing the bar in tiny boats these days. had to save a couple of them before and tow their sorry little dingy back. right day, right conditions yea you could do it, why risk it? |
Posted By: technofreak
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2009 at 9:09pm
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I have sold my other boat, so back in the market for another boat. I am keen on the Aqualite 570, can you help? Thanks. |
Posted By: Hurf
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2009 at 7:58am
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With Stabi 5.59 XR its how you load and trim them in the harbour short chop and fuel is ok 115 opti uses 1 litre at 4500rpm for 2 to 2.2 km travelled. Great out in the ocean and at rest . ------------- THE FLOGGINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORAL IMPROVES. |
Posted By: Busted!
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2009 at 6:40pm
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Basically for a boat for the family to be comfortable in go glass, fishing and diving go ali (easy to clean and the gelcoat doesn't fall off ali quite so easily)! Stability at rest go pontoon, if you want more space inside and better support on the gunwales go for the deep-v hull. My feeling is avoid the flooding keel (possible exception is Extreme) as it can take a while to get them on the plane with the flooding keel. Plus, you can flood the centre bin by leaving the bin-bung out without realising. Won't sink the boat but its REALLY hard on gas trying to empty the bin when you take off... Never been impressed with the Surtees, lots of sharp edges to punish ankles, knees and feet but maybe that's a personal thing. Avoid welded king/queens for the same reason, as well as surface mounted deck lugs. If it can't be flush mounted don't install it! A comment on the pontoon design, get one with bungs in ALL the compartments of the pontoons. You need to be able to check to see if any water has been drawn in from the tubes getting hot in the sun and then the air contracting when it hits the water. The contraction sucks in water and can result in large amounts of water in the tubes. If you take off or hit a wave, the water rushes aft in the tube and the effect is 'water hammer' where the stern of the boat stays down and the bow up until the water levels out. No good, but it's not a problem if you can check the tubes are dry. The sun can heat the tubes up an amazing amount, this can stress any weak seams resulting in the cracks that start it off. Second the comment 'get the max HP you can', this will make a huge difference to any boat and you will probably use less fuel with it.
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Posted By: Big -Dave
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2009 at 6:59pm
 My take on this as a pontoon boat owner. I have an ugly old 20 ft pontoon boat made by liteweight caravans, heavily modified Because the pontoons actually protrude much lower than the hull by about 15 mm, and extend out the back of the boat about 1/2 a meter, they really do make it extremely stable, they drag in the water while cruising as well so it sits very flat. The new pontoon boats such as senator, when you look at the hull shape itself, other than a turn down at the edge, the hull shape is not significantly different to a normal monohull. I have found them no more stable at rest. The pontoon is more internal and provides both strength and buoyancy up high, meaning the boat is less likely to capsize if swamped. MY good mate has a Senator RH 680, it gets driven hard at times, but usually cruising. Geat Barrier on a day when most were not venturing out, was a comfortable ride. We often take 7 or more kids out on it. Big heavy boats are more stable and handle seas better. Beamy boats are better at rest, deep vees nice ride. You need to ask yourself what is more important?, being able to go balls out in crappy weather(would you actually take your family out?), or a comfortable stable fishing platform. Coming home slowly if it gets sloppy is not such a big deal, especially with the more efficient motors these days. Trimming the nose up in bad slop might keep you drier, but the boat will pound and bounce, keeping the nose down gives a softer but wetter ride at moderate speeds. |