How to Determine the Speed of a Pontoon Boat

Its flotation comes from two or more pontoons; it may be a flat deck stretched over the pontoons like a barge, or it may have a modified hull shape, like a large catamaran. Whatever its design, it's affected by wind more than the water because only a small portion of the boat is in the water. This hull design means that it will move through the water faster than a similarly sized boat, but it also means wind can keep it from moving quickly between two points. An average speed is useful.

Instructions

    • 1

      Watch the boat's speedometer. It will give an approximate speed through the water.

    • 2

      Note the speed indicated on the Global Positioning System receiver -- the boat's GPS. The GPS will provide speed over the ground, called the speed of advance, that indicates how quickly the boat is moving between any two points.

    • 3

      Add the speed of advance, taken from the GPS, to the speed through the water -- indicated on the speedometer. Divide the result by two. The answer is the boat's average speed.