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TiltonBB · 01-08-2022, 12:58 PM

I had a 16 foot SeaRayder with a 165 HP and a 20 foot Yamaha LS 2000 with twin 135 HP motors.

The SeaRayder rode extremely hard, to the point that my niece seated in the bow, broke her arm when we went over a boat wake.

The Yamaha was much better but still had a harder ride than a pontoon boat would. The handling in close quarters took some getting used to but I didn't find it terrible. It also used a lot more gas than a similar sized I/O or outboard boat would.

The pontoon boats still seem to be the best for ride, room and utility for what most families use them for. If you are limited to a 20 foot boat the ride will be much better in a pontoon boat than a 20 foot conventional V hull.

I just bought a 25 foot pontoon boat with a Yamaha 250 for Florida. It is the second time I have had a Yamaha outboard and I am still surprised how little gas they use when you spend a full day on the water.

01-08-2022, 12:58 PM	#12
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 2,897 Thanks: 644 Thanked 2,153 Times in 900 Posts	I had a 16 foot SeaRayder with a 165 HP and a 20 foot Yamaha LS 2000 with twin 135 HP motors. The SeaRayder rode extremely hard, to the point that my niece seated in the bow, broke her arm when we went over a boat wake. The Yamaha was much better but still had a harder ride than a pontoon boat would. The handling in close quarters took some getting used to but I didn't find it terrible. It also used a lot more gas than a similar sized I/O or outboard boat would. The pontoon boats still seem to be the best for ride, room and utility for what most families use them for. If you are limited to a 20 foot boat the ride will be much better in a pontoon boat than a 20 foot conventional V hull. I just bought a 25 foot pontoon boat with a Yamaha 250 for Florida. It is the second time I have had a Yamaha outboard and I am still surprised how little gas they use when you spend a full day on the water.