Adding a Center Pontoon - Tritoon Conversion

[@nobleone5602]

Nice Job! Thank you for explaining so thoroughly why the center toon is back from the front and the rear vent plate center toon correlation together to help prevent cavitation. Also to using the carriage bolts in that channel in was brilliant.

[@tomspontoons]

We've been at it long enough to have things dialed in for install and such. Always learning, but since we've figured out some tips and tricks to make the process smoother might as well share them on the channel!

[@J.W.W.]

Thank you for clarifying it’s a ‘sport toon’ 👍 You’re one fantastic instructor

[@tomspontoons]

Gotta help educate the world of tooners out there!!!

[@adamthemustache5975]

I just turned mine into a tri toon this winter, was a much bigger project than I thought. I built a transom on the back of my new tube

[@tomspontoons]

A full transom toon install is a lot more complicated than these sport toons for sure. Well worth it either way.

[@johngutmanis3204]

Any chance of seeing a pic or two of the new transom?

[@tomspontoons]

@@johngutmanis3204 I wish KZbin allowed some photo sharing in the comments, it would help explain a lot very quickly! This is one of my very first videos on the channel and it shows the transom I had fabricated and welded onto the back of a blemished pontoon I found locally. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3vInYWXi9-anbc

[@johngutmanis3204]

Thanks for posting this, very nice work! love your channel!

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks for watching!!

[@Boatfisherz1]

Interesting, I never though grease on a bolt was good, but I've had a terrible time with those nylock nuts. Good info!

[@tomspontoons]

Once the bolt hits the nylon insert in the nut it's not going anywhere. Otherwise you'll seize every other nut/bolt you're tightening!! It can be a total nightmare!

[@MelissaGarland-vh2se]

Came out great!

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks! He gained a few mph too which is a bonus, and still needs to dial in his propeller.

[@derekboehninganderson5209]

Pros and cons for a center toon with motor mount vs the shorter toon in front of existing transom ?

[@tomspontoons]

In a nutshell, full length with motor mount gives more buoyancy and a more consistent planing surface all the way to the propeller. Sport toons (shorter option in front of the transom) give more buoyancy to the bow, but don't offer any improvement to water flow and can cause issues with ventilation if not set up properly. This video breaks it down: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m33HcnRsob6DZ5I

[@skylark4901]

I'm seriously thinking of doing this if I can find a 14 foot log that's not too expensive, everybody always want to sit up at the front of the boat and even my friends with bigger pontoon boats have a tendency to get swamped, especially now because we have more top of the line wake boats on our lake and they send out tidal waves (which is actually becoming a problem), our lake really isn't a huge lake. I think this could be a fun project

[@tomspontoons]

It's a pretty simple installation. If you're looking for a bargain I would shop for a used pontoon, maybe even one with damage to the rear. Take it to a local aluminum welder and have them cut it down and weld the end cap back on. If you're just looking for buoyancy then don't be too concerned about getting the diameter bigger than your outer toons...even if it's a little smaller you'd gain buoyancy!

[@skylark4901]

@@tomspontoons Thanks Tom, the buoyancy issue (up front) is for real, not to mention my own friends but I see it all the time, a boat load full of people going by and everybody is crammed up front and the trim is only a few inches above the water! Yikes!

[@tomspontoons]

@@skylark4901 I don't want to see you on a pontoon fails video submarining!!!

[@skylark4901]

@@tomspontoons Ha! Not going to happen if I can help it!

[@matthewkahrs8164]

Have you done any work with pontoon wholesalers 3rd poly tubes?

[@tomspontoons]

No, I have not. If you plan to keep your boat forever then it’s an option worth looking into if you can’t find an aluminum center toon locally. The resale value of a “tritoon” with a poly center toon is very low and less desirable for most people compared to an aluminum center toon. I strive to keep things clean and factory as much as possible.

[@loganhubbard3177]

Great videos Tom! Question for you, if I put a third toon or a sport toon like you did on this video is it a noticeable increase in speed with a 90 hp Merc?

[@tomspontoons]

It's a really goofy thing with speed and conversion. What size is the boat? Usually the center toon gives better speed when the boat is loaded down with people compared to before adding the center toon...but an empty boat might go the same speed wide open throttle. There's something that happens between the drag and buoyancy that doesn't show improvement with just the driver aboard. If it's a 20' pontoon with a 90 hp then I would hope to see improvement all around for speed because it should be enough motor to really move that hull.

[@terryguthmiller7258]

Hello Tom, Thanks for putting out great videos as always. I have a crest II DL 25 foot inboard motor. I am restoring and thinking I should put a 3rd toon on. Would I be happy with the out put compared to the cost?

[@tomspontoons]

If you're doing a sport toon like this your investment will be relatively low cost if you track one down and put in the time to hang it. Not sure exactly what the performance gain will be as it's so different on every boat. However, your buoyancy will improve greatly for the bow which will usually give better handling and a little better efficiency when you've got the boat loaded up with people and gear.

[@martincoar4468]

Hey, great videos. My question is, what is the beam of a upper deck? I'm going to build an upper deck on mine. Really a hard bikini. My boat is 8' wide. Thanks

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks for watching! Most upper decks are around the same width as the lower deck. Typically taking the same width plywood when replacing the upper deck flooring.

[@RHEC1776]

My wife and I seriously want to do this to our 22 ft. How much do you charge

[@tomspontoons]

A sport toon like this on a 22' boat is usually around $4500 +/- installed

[@johnufkes3974]

I need to pressure test my pontoons. Do they sell an adapter for this?

[@tomspontoons]

I had some fittings and hoses with quick connects and a pressure gauge made by a local shop that does air hoses and all sorts of that stuff. I haven’t seen something for selling directly to the consumer

[@kwhp1507]

What do you think of adding a 3rd tube to a new fishin barge 20’? I’m picking it up tomorrow and already thinking about making it a tritoon

[@tomspontoons]

Absolutely make it a tritoon. Higher and dryer ride, more stability especially when loaded with people and gear. It's a win all around! Just gotta make sure it's on a bunk trailer that can have the center toon. We have other videos that talk about positioning the center toon as well to make sure you have water flowing correctly to the motor.

[@jeboutdoors377]

Hello great videos. New subscriber. Got a question can you make a few live wells out of a center toon and some storage spaces? Im wanting to get a pontoon and add a center toon for live wells and storage spaces. Thanks for your time and help.

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks for watching and for subscribing! A lot of center pontoons come from the factory with a ski locker and fuel tank storage built in. You could definitely cut storage spaces into a center pontoon and even the outer pontoons for storage or livewells. You'd need them fabricated to seal up tight from the underside by building them to tie up to the deck tightly. It's definitely doable!

[@jeboutdoors377]

@@tomspontoons can you do one on your videos

[@tomspontoons]

@@jeboutdoors377if I ever get the chance to I will DEFINITELY make a video showing the process.

[@bigdave5946]

What size motor could they go too now ? I have a 23 ft Bennington I’ve thought about doing this what size could I go too ?

[@tomspontoons]

Because it’s the “sport toon” the motor rating stays the same as the transom and structural components didn’t change. Biggest improvements would show in speed and handling if they maxed the HP rating. This was done mainly for buoyancy and dryer ride as wake surf boats are prevalent on their lake.

[@tritownnow]

Well done Tom. I wonder how much in increased persons/weight capacity this would add, if any? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@tomspontoons]

a 13' toon with 25" diameter has got to add at least 500 lbs of buoyancy on top of the weight if the toon itself. He picked up a few MPH, but is still dialing in the prop.

[@JeffJozwick]

Hey Tom, just FYI, you way want to check the email address you posted for Joey at Tri_Hull. My message was bounced back a couple times. Thanks again for the great videos! I just picked up a 2001 Harris and will be going throught it this winter. Likely reaching out in the spring for some custom seat covers (unless you want to send your seamstress to the Detroit area for the day?) Cheers!

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks for that comment! I fixed it…2 N’s in the last name!! She’d need it here for a week to get the seat covers done. Usually takes 3-4days, but we book them for a full business week to be safe!

[@kenolswfski2511]

You lost my support after the wire harness you sent was wired wrong,then after 5 request I got no response

[@tomspontoons]

I don’t sell wire harnesses, so I hope you still support my channel. I just share videos using various products on n my array of projects. You must have ordered from Pontoon Stuff? I order from their site just like everyone else. I just use their products on my customers’ boats. If you had trouble with their customer service please reach out to me via email and I’ll see what I can do for you. Their customer support is usually top notch!! [e-mail]