One forum member recently fished around for advice on how to tackle a long pontoon trip:
stillamarine: We bought a 1999 27-foot Sun Tracker Party Barge from some friends. It has stayed in a wet slip at the marina in northern Alabama. This June we are going to take the Hakuna Matata down the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway into Orange Beach. We are looking to spend a few days, maybe a week, on the river. After talking to my father-in-law who did a similar trip decades ago, we are thinking about maybe starting on the Black Warrior River. We will probably be sleeping on the boat most nights with maybe the exception of Demopolis.
I'd like to use this thread to keep track of our preparations over the next few months. But I'd really like to hear from anyone who has made similar long trips. Any lessons learned? Any tips?
Captain Tony: I'm happy that you are planning such an ambitious trip with the family; it sounds like a great adventure and I envy your plans. I must say at the outset that I have no advice for your trip as to routes, but I do have a strong suggestion and a caution.
If I read your post correctly it sounds like the `toon has been in wet slip storage for some extended time. If that is the case, my strong advice is for a thorough power washing or even a steam cleaning of the pontoon logs and the lower unit.
Why? There must be a lot of algae buildup by now and clean ‘toons and engine will make the boat run better and offer better fuel economy. However, the main very important reason is that going to another body of water will most likely transfer the Zebra Mussels contamination that is hitchhiking on your hulls. In fact there are Conservation Department and Coast Guard regulations in effect concerning the Zebra Mussel issue which has become epidemic over the years.
stillamarine: Thanks for the advice! We actually had pulled her out at the end of the last season and power-washed the bottom. I plan on doing it again. We actually are planning to completely redo the topside as well (new flooring, seats and layout), but have decided to do that after this trip.
Have you braved a long trip like this? What tips would you share? Jump on www.pdbmagazine.com/forum and post away.
