Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pontoon Boats: More Than Just For Fun!

By Chinook Boats

Anywhere you go where there is water you can see people using pontoon boats for recreational activities. But some are using this floating castle for more than fun, they are using the pontoon for hauling and pulling things. Oceanographers can use a pontoon instead of a larger watercraft making is easier to get father out into the coral reefs of the ocean. This allows them to take photographs they once only dreamed about. Scientists needing to collect data and study animals for research have used the smaller pontoon boats with great success. Smaller fishing companies have used pontoon boats for their fishing crews saving them time and money by using the pontoon instead of a larger boat. With the pontoon they can take several members out at the same time.

Scientists have tried to get close to whale pods to study their daily ocean habits, but with large vessels it is almost impossible. By using the inflated pontoons they can get very close to the pods by anchoring the pontoon and quietly studying them. Using the inflatable pontoon allows the scientist to draw closer to a colony of seals or sea lions where a larger boat would be viewed as a threat to these animals. By gently trolling a smaller pontoon boat the sea lions and seals are not as stressed out or feel threatened with the noise and commotion. As an invaluable tool, the inflatable pontoon can be used to meet the researchers needs.

Many times scientists will dart dolphins with a tag while they are studying them. The tag allows the dolphin to be monitored and is also used for a tracking system. Using the smaller craft such as an pontoon boats to tag the animals is a great example of why scientist prefer the pontoon. Dolphins have actually come up to the pontoon boat to check it out, making the darting and tagging opportunity very easy. The dolphins coming up to the smaller pontoon and not feeling threatened is just another reason to use pontoons.

When a scientist goes to study marine life on a secluded island, a larger sea vessel isn't going to be able to dock safely. The rudders and motor would be torn apart by the rocky underwater terrain, so to solve this problem they will carry inflatable pontoon boats onboard. When a smaller pontoon is needed, they take about ten minutes to inflate and assemble; you can't get much more convenient than that. Once the smaller pontoon is assembled the scientist can then proceed to the island, gather the needed information and troll back to the larger vessel when they are done. This is another perfect example of when a smaller pontoon is needed, and without them some scientists hands would be tied and they couldn't do their job.

Ocean photographers the world over often use the pontoon boats to go into rough waters, because they are lighter and easier to manage. In addition to ocean photography, a pontoon can also be used in the rain forest to troll through the dense forest to travel from point to point. It is because of the extreme versatility, rugged design and durability, that pontoons are now utilized for many reasons other than pleasure.

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