What kind of lift do you need for Tritoon?
If you've recently gotten a tritoon or are looking into them, you might be looking for a new lift for your craft as well. Modern pontoon lifts are built stronger and larger to accommodate the extra size that pontoon boats have compared to other boats or PWC lifts.
Pontoon boat lifts need a different design, structure, weight capacity, and distribution from lifts for V-hull boats. Their design needs to be stronger and more stable to support the pontoons—this will usually involve a wider and longer frame to distribute the weight and specialized cradles and bunks.
| Lift Type | Dimensions | Price / Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Vertical Lifts | 114 inches wide x 23 foot feet long | $2,280 |
| 114 inches wide x 26 foot feet long | $3,197 | |
| 120 inches wide x 23 foot feet long | $3,290 | |
| 120 inches wide x 26 foot feet long | $3,940 |
By adding a third tube, a tritoon pontoon boat allows for higher horsepower and dual engines, faster speeds, improved stability, and overall more exciting options for activity on the water.
While a pontoon boat has two tubes beneath the deck, a tritoon boat has three. This third hull helps keep the boat stable, allows for quicker speeds, and makes the boat better equipped for choppy water.
Often, these lifts are used for bass boats, deck boats, skiffs, and ski boats. The 4,500 lb. hydraulic lifts are built from aluminum, and are perfect for lakes that need seasonal installation and removal. They lift boats that are up to 22 feet long.
Instead of a single set, a pontoon boat lift will have at least two bunk boards to support each pontoon. It will also have a larger footprint than many other boat lifts—a pontoon is typically around three and a half feet longer than a standard boat lift, which accommodates the size of the pontoon.
Cable boat lifts that are hung overhead or situated dockside do not need to be removed during the winter months. Leaving them in place will not void their warranties or subject them to potential damage from the elements.
How much does a boat lift cost? Depending on your boat and particular situation, a boat lift can cost anywhere from around $1,500 to $15,000 or more. This is because there are many aspects that play a part in the final price tag.
Tritoons handle big waves much better than bitoons both at rest and underway. Not only will you have a smoother ride, but the third toon will also give you greater engine capacity. The sky's the limit when shopping for a high horsepower engine. Both great attributes for big water.
Is 150 hp enough on a Tritoon?
150hp-175hp engines, 200hp+
If you are shopping in the 21-24 foot pontoon range and plan on carrying 8-10 passengers, a 150-175hp engine with a triple pontoon is a great all-around pontoon boat choice.
26' — JC Manufacturing Sporttoon
With a 300 HP outboard motor, it weighs 3,742 pounds dry. The fuel weight is 294 pounds, with an additional 500 pounds of cargo capacity. Even fully loaded, it can carry sixteen people, but that is not a factor in trailer weight.
The average speed of a tritoon boat is usually much higher than, and seems to be in and around 45 miles per hour.
21-foot pontoon boat with a 90 HP engine could hit 25 miles per hour.
A tritoon boat will probably cost about half again as much as a similarly sized and equipped pontoon boat. A tritoon boat will probably cost anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 on average, with some notable exceptions both above and below that price range.
Tritoons feature three large buoyant pontoons instead of the traditional two, making them more stable and capable of taking on more challenging waters. Thanks to their extra stability, tritoons can navigate through waves and chop with ease, providing a smoother and safer ride than traditional pontoons.
Tritoons require larger outboard motors. The smallest outboard motor we recommend for a tritoon is 150 HP. That extra tube adds more weight and more boat to push. Hydraulic steering should come standard on a tritoon.
How Fast Can A 150 HP Pontoon Boat Go? A 150 HP motor on a pontoon boat has an average top speed of 38.2 MPH, but speeds range from 35 MPH to 43.7 MPH.
Assuming you have a high-quality boat lift made of great materials and take great care of it, it could last for 25 years or more. However, we cannot stress enough the importance of proper care and maintenance to preserve the longevity of your boat lift.
1 HP Boat Lift Motor ONLY. 10,000 lb.
What is the max weight for a boat lift?
Boat lifts can range between 1,500lbs to 25,000lbs in capacity. Determine your boats wet weight which includes fuel, water, engines, batteries, and anything else that you have added to the boat.
| Model | Weight Capacity | Actual Weight of Lift |
|---|---|---|
| 30114 Pontoon Lift | 3000 lbs. | 365 lbs. |
| 30114 Vertical Boat or Pontoon Lift | 3000 lbs. | 490 lbs. |
| 40120 Vertical Boat or Pontoon Lift | 4000 lbs. | 525 lbs. |
| 50120 Vertical Boat or Pontoon Lift | 5000 lbs. | 545 lbs. |
Consider the cradle beam length: Another way to ensure you're getting the right size boat lift is to measure the widest portion of your boat and add four inches to both sides. Use this length to find the correct size lift cradle beam. The cradle should be a few extra inches bigger than the boat for a safety cushion.
A boat lift is a more secure way to store your craft on the water than tying it up on your dock. A boat lift will keep your boat from sinking into the slip or banging against your dock or debris during storms. It's also good protection for areas with fluctuating water levels.
Lifting your boat lift out of the water is the best way to keep it from getting damaged by the elements over the winter. Just one step means that your boat lift avoids freezing conditions, ice movement, and related damage.
If the two add up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below, you absolutely should wear a lifejacket when sailing or going out on any boat. For example, if the air temperature is 60 degrees in November, yet the water is 57 degrees, you're in the danger zone. Wear a lifejacket. Wear a wetsuit for paddling.
Always be sure that your boat is sitting straight on the lift, not too far forward, and not too far backward. This could put a strain on your lift and possibly lead to damage. Recently, I've noticed people putting markers on their lift that line up with markers on their boat.
Two feet of depth is considered safe for an experienced boater to handle a pontoon boat, though three feet is advisable.
As a general rule, you can pull a tube behind a pontoon as long as it has enough horsepower relative to the weight it is hauling. Using a tube created for pontoon tubing, such as the RAVE Sports Escape™ or Getaway™, will also help because they feature a Skim-Fast™ slick bottom to help create speed and glide.
No, you cannot surf behind pontoons or tritoons (with one exception we will mention later). First and foremost, surfing behind boats with outboard motors is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted.
How much does a Tritoon weigh with trailer?
If you're trying to figure out how much a pontoon boat weighs for your pontoon boat lift or to make sure you can pull one in a trailer, then know that an average empty boat with motor and gear on a trailer will weigh somewhere around 3,600 pounds (1,634kg).
And yes, you can waterski behind a pontoon boat. Well, not every pontoon boat. Obviously, you need enough speed to be able to ski behind a boat, and to get speed, you need enough horsepower in the engine. Many people don't associate horsepower with pontoon boats, but it's time we change that belief.
It isn't easy but, as I said, I saw it happen once. Basically, if you try to cram as many people onto a pontoon boat as will fit on the deck, the overall weight is more than the pontoons can handle. This could probably happen to even a tritoon if someone pushed its limits.
Keep Your Dock Lift Out of the Water
Winterizing your boat lift is as easy as taking it out of the water. Leaving your boat lift in the water could result in damage from freezing conditions, especially if you live in an area where ice movement is common.
Why can't I install it myself? The answer is simple: installing your boat lift incorrectly can lead to serious boat damage and is definitely best left to the pros.
The featured model is a 5000lb hydraulic lift, which starts at $12,965. * Does not include installation or shipping.
While floating boat lifts are good for some three- to nine-foot water depth situations, they're essential for water that's nine feet or deeper.
While pontoons can safely handle moderate chop, most seasoned pontoon captains would suggest limiting wave height to 3' - 4' to keep your ride safe and comfortable.
Horsepower and Speed
A pontoon boat with a 70 horsepower engine is plenty for tubing. At that level, you might be able to get up on skis too, but 90 HP will serve you much better. After that, the more HP in your engine, the more adventurous you can get with your water sports.