I currently have a Jon boat that the wife, my 2 & 7 year old kids, & I go out on local freshwater with. The wife & I do some inshore fishing with it when we can but do not feel safe with the kids with all the current. We have been looking for something bigger, more stable, & higher side so it will give the kids room to move around & feel more comfortable they would not fall out. We would fish MI & GT mostly & would like to be able to fish the Jettys, go outside of them, & even maybe some nearshore reefs with good weather. I am considering a Sea Hunt Ultra 21ft, 21-22ft inshore boat, or a 22ft fishing pontoon with a larger motor (115 to 150). Planning on next year buying new or no more than a couple years old. I have been out in a 21ft Sea Hunt with the family & it is perfect but definitely top of my price range.
I was wondering if there are any pontoon owners that go to the coast that can give me any ■■■■■■■■ on if they can handle what I want to do safely. Also how are they anchoring up & handling the chop & wake / chop combo you get anchoring up around the jetties.
Any other info you got would be great, thanks guys.
Buy Sea Hunt dual console a few years old, amazing family-friendly nearshore boat. I had a '06 220DC Escape, loved it, got too busy to use it and sold it. Miss it all of the time.
Other brands make them too, so don’t get hung up on one brand but the DC is a very versatile platform that everyone will love.
BG
I’d stay away from a Pontoon in Salt and current. IMO Pontoons are a Pain in the arse to unload/load in any current. Hitting the landing at slack tide both sides is a little unrealistic. Again IMO pontoons are best for lakes.
You mentioned Jettys, Even in my youth I wouldn’t have had the courage to take a pontoon to them. A rogue wave and a hard dip with kids on board could be a disaster.
I agree with Fred67, pontoon boats are not a good solution to any of your stated needs.
I see them in saltwater but can’t imagine how they ride in a bad chop or having to load one on a trailer in a stiff current. My boat has a flat hull with almost no keel and it can be tricky in a bad current.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I have also seen pontoons out but never really thought about that. Thanks guys for the info.
If I was in the market for a pontoon, it would definitely be an Angler Qwest.
https://www.anglerqwestpontoons.com/
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
I wouldn’t take a pontoon boat beyond the ICW or rivers. Too many horror stories in my line of work involving pontoon boats and nearshore / harbors. Worked this one a few years ago.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/georgia-dnr-husbands-body-found-crews-still-searching-for-wife-and-other-missing-boater/77-235577469
However, I did take multiple reports of a pontoon boat out 40 miles E of Charleston last year. Blew my mind. Not in distress.