Brian Holeman walked the plank of the Coon Raider, a 25-foot pontoon that owner
Robert McCluskey turned into a 55-foot pirate ship, on Coon Lake in East Bethel.
Posted on 08/14/2015 9:29:27 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
Minnesotans are putting a tidal wave of imagination into their pontoons — from luxe water slides to pirate planks.
“Pontoons Gone Wild.” “Pontoon Hunters.” “Pimp My Pontoon.” If a TV producer stumbled on the gems floating on our lakes, there’d be a reality show waiting.
These aren’t the kitschy putt-putters with plastic chairs and artificial turf, either. Pontoons, while still floating platforms, are larger, more powerful, more luxurious and sometimes even outrageous.
“The pontoon used to be grandpa and grandma’s boat,” said Brent Wiczek, manager of Nisswa Marine. “We’re selling pontoons to a much younger generation than we ever have. It’s the fastest growing part of our business.”
Pontoon sales nationally shot up 58 percent from 2010 to 2014, according to industry reports. Pontoon people are treating them like mini-yachts: demanding full bars, luxe furniture and state-of-the-art sound systems. Premier Pontoons, based in Wyoming, Minn., makes a two-story pontoon that comes with a water slide.
Speed is important, too. Some of Nisswa Marine’s high-end pontoons can reach 60 miles per hour.
“That’s as fast as any speedboat on the lake,” Wiczek said. “We’re selling pontoons in excess of $100,000 to $130,000, which is crazy, but it’s happening.”
[More at link, including video]
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So can you ski with one?
Pontoon rafts have been the thing for as long as I can remember. Around here, I think they’re required for lakeshore dwellers.
It took me a minute to get it, but that lady is hiding the pontoons.
While I don’t condone intoxicated helmsmen, I have noted that boats are a refuge for those of us committed to having a good time and avoiding the many annoyances and nanny-staters associated with onshore establishments.
We literally have to leave dry land to get away from the bluenoses.
I have no problems with what people do with their boats, but a nice cammo-covered John boat does me fine.
Brian Holeman walked the plank of the Coon Raider, a 25-foot pontoon that owner
Robert McCluskey turned into a 55-foot pirate ship, on Coon Lake in East Bethel.
“New”? Heck, they’ve been around for decades as party boats.
So can you ski with one?
You betcha! Like a speeding living room on the water ;-)
Lord he may have to change the name of the ship, it’s not PC.
If you’ve got a big enough engine I guess you could haha. Be careful with those wakes though. Someone who doesn’t know how to handle a pontoon can sink one pretty easy going nose first into a 3 foot wake.
Why not?
More and more people have realized that the pontoon boat is actually more useful on the lake/reiver than a regular boat. You can walk around, sit at a bar, jump off for a swim, fish, etc. no more sitting in uncomfortable seats trying to enjoy the day while anchored.
Having lived near some recreational lakes, I always thought that this was a given.
IIRC in my state alcohol is allowed on a pontoon boat only if moored at dockside.
In open water under power it becomes a vehicle subject to DUI & open container enforcement. Don’t know what the law says if it’s anchored.
Yes! I saw some videos this past weekend, on some new twin outboard models. These things were moving like any speedboat or jet ski. I kid you not.
Check out this link. http://youtu.be/-eqVBZbTttg
Also why your there, look for a video for “the worlds fastest pontoon”. Clocked that sucker at 107MPH,
Pics?
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