Renting A Pontoon Boat? Make Sure To Follow These Tips For Operating The Boat
Have you decided to rent a pontoon boat for some fun on the water with friends and family? Even if you have experience with driving a boat in the past, a pontoon boat can be a bit different than what you are used to. Here are some tips that will help your pontoon boat rental go smoothly.
Know How The Pontoon Boat Turns
A pontoon boat is going to turn differently than what you are used to with a normal boat. The rear of the boat is not going to bank in the water. Instead, a two-tube pontoon boat is going to tilt to the side more, which can catch passengers off guard if you are making a sharp turn. Make sure that you practice making some turns when you first drive the boat so that you understand how it handles. It will also help to warn your passengers about sharp turns so that they can hold onto something, since turning the boat can create a lot of outward force.
Know That The Deck Can Become Flooded
You need to take into consideration how weight distribution is going to impact how the boat handles in the water. A common problem in a pontoon boat is that the deck can become flooded accidentally. For example, if you have people that are sitting near the bow of the boat, it can cause the bow to dig in and get water on the boat's deck. This usually happens if the engine is trimmed inward to push the stern upward and the bow downward. If there is too much weight on the front, everyone could end up with wet feet. You do need to put some consideration into how people are sitting on the boat so that the weight is evenly distributed.
Know How To Deal With Wind
Wind has a big factor when operating a pontoon boat. This is due to the tall fences that are typically found on a pontoon boat, which affects how the boat handles at slower speeds. That's because the fences will act like a sail in some ways, and can push the boat around in unintended directions. Be prepared for some difficulty turning if you are going into the direction of the wind, since as you turn, the wind is going to catch the fences and cause unexpected movement. It may be easier to make maneuvers downwind at first to have better control over the boat.
For more information on new pontoon boat rentals, contact a rental company.