[dave w]

Just wondering if anyone has an insight on this

[Regajohn]

https://goo.gl/images/zhBjjK

Ehhhhhh ... Center consoles, which have a similar apperence are somewhat popular.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by dave w

Just wondering if anyone has an insight on this

ON the Great Lakes or in the Great Lakes area?

All I see are pontoon boats now. I would guess 2/3's of new boats that I see out on the lakes. People just don't waterski as much anymore (probably because we're all overweight ) and pontoons can fit a lot more people comfortably.... also... because we're all overweight. lol.

Conversely we were boating in the St Petersburg area in Florida back in January and most of the boats I saw were center consoles/Boston Whaler style.

[dave w]

Yes, seems this reverse v-hull is popular on the gulf off Florida for smoother ride. I guess they can get rough water in hurry there. The great lakes too.

[Coldjensens]

Boston Whalers are very popular around us. Pontoon boats not so much They are too dangerous and flip over too easily. Even in the river things get rough. I mentioned at a meeting once that I though it would be nice to get a pontoon boat and the coast guard captain later came over to me and begged me not to even think about it. I then looked into a tri-hull because I wanted a party boat, but those are the same. Too unstable for the river and especially for Erie.

The large Boston Whaler boats are nearly indestructible. You may have to tie yourself in, but it is not going to sink and very unlikely to capsize.

I have never hear of a Carolina Flair boat, but the pictures look similar to Boston Whalers.

We have 10,000 people on our island(s) and about 5000 plus have boats. Of the power boats, maybe 7-10 percent of them are Boston whalers. The majority of the other boats are larger cabin cruisers and sailboats. I do not see a lot of ski boats or skiers for that matter. that surprised me. there are some calm days where the water is like glass (that is when the pontoon boats and tri-hulls come out, but they have to be stored completely out of the water to be safe, so there really are not that many of them.

[craig11152]

When I was a snot nosed kid in about 1962 we got a small Boston Whaler, I think it was maybe 13'. My dad, who admittedly was prone to exaggerate a bit, said it was one of the first 2 ever delivered to Michigan. Back then they were made in Massachusetts and pretty much just sold on the east coast.

I think they are some of the best utilitarian boats ever made, at least the early models were. If I had the money for a boat a Boston Whaler would be my pick.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by craig11152

When I was a snot nosed kid in about 1962 we got a small Boston Whaler, I think it was maybe 13'. My dad, who admittedly was prone to exaggerate a bit, said it was one of the first 2 ever delivered to Michigan. Back then they were made in Massachusetts and pretty much just sold on the east coast.

I think they are some of the best utilitarian boats ever made, at least the early models were. If I had the money for a boat a Boston Whaler would be my pick.

When I worked at Kensington Metropark in the 1980s, the rangers used Whalers. Those things were invincible, powerful, practical and fun. They pulled me out of a bad spot multiple times (I drove the Island Queen when it was actually a paddle wheel driven monstrosity). It always amazed me the way the little Whaler could pull around the 13 ton Island Queen when the wind made us unable to control the boat for a landing or on occasion to get back to the dock.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by craig11152

When I was a snot nosed kid in about 1962 we got a small Boston Whaler, I think it was maybe 13'. My dad, who admittedly was prone to exaggerate a bit, said it was one of the first 2 ever delivered to Michigan. Back then they were made in Massachusetts and pretty much just sold on the east coast.

I think they are some of the best utilitarian boats ever made, at least the early models were. If I had the money for a boat a Boston Whaler would be my pick.

About 15 years ago my FIL bought a Boston Whaler for his cottage and took one ride with the grandkids on it (on Torch Lake) and took it right back to the dealer. It was way too rough for passengers, especially little kids.

We've had a 21' Searay ski boat ever since and pretty much no one has skied behind it for 10 years.

Our next boat up there is definitely going to be a pontoon, maybe a tri-toon. They make them pretty sweet and luxurious now. Definitely not the white trash pontoons of yesteryear. I can't for the life of me though figure out how you'd capsize them ColdJensens... Unless you're talking on the BIG lakes.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by magellan

About 15 years ago my FIL bought a Boston Whaler for his cottage and took one ride with the grandkids on it (on Torch Lake) and took it right back to the dealer. It was way too rough for passengers, especially little kids.

We've had a 21' Searay ski boat ever since and pretty much no one has skied behind it for 10 years.

Our next boat up there is definitely going to be a pontoon, maybe a tri-toon. They make them pretty sweet and luxurious now. Definitely not the white trash pontoons of yesteryear. I can't for the life of me though figure out how you'd capsize them ColdJensens... Unless you're talking on the BIG lakes.

Detroit River and Lake Erie. Apparently he capsize frequently when they get caught out in a storm. The coast guard guy later said he thought they should be flat out banned here. I really wanted one of those floating party platforms. I asked him about tri-hulls and he said they are barely any better. He suggested a bow rider as the closest thing that might be safe as long as you ran for the nearest dock at first sign of storm or high winds. We do get some big waves even on the Trenton Channel. We have had them too big for kayaks and kayaks manage waves pretty well. Better than most larger boats it seems. We have been out Kayaking and having fun when most of the bigger boats have run for cover. Of course we stay close to shore if it is rough

[JoePO]

Pontoon boats have poor directional stability without engine power, and high windage. In any significant sea state with winds above 20kts, they will struggle to make headway into the wind/seas and as a result not have very good steerage. Won't be long until they are broadside to waves/wind and then are susceptible to capsize. Especially if the wind "gets under" them as they are heeling over. This is further exacerbated if they are "overloaded", as most of them are when out "party-barging". I would only use one on a small inland lake.

Whalers are very robust and handle adverse conditions well... that's why you see them used often as race committee boats or rescue boats or coach boats for sailing regattas, yacht clubs, etc. Not to mention the workhorse of marinas/yacht yards.