Crossing Lake Michigan on a Pontoon: A Tribute to Innovation and Adventure
In a spirited and unconventional journey, writer Charles Plueddeman joins inventor Malcolm “Goofy” Sohm to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sohm’s original Lake Michigan crossing—this time aboard a modern 22-foot Bentley pontoon. The goal? Celebrate the evolution of pontoon boats and the enduring legacy of Sohm’s performance-boosting invention, the T.A.P. Fin System.
The original crossing in 1999 was a publicity stunt to promote Sohm’s patented T.A.P. Fin System, a lifting device that enhances pontoon performance by improving speed, handling, and fuel efficiency. Though the first voyage gained little attention, the invention sparked a quiet revolution in pontoon design. “All this water was just flying up off the tubes and hitting the underside of the deck, and I thought, what a waste of energy. What if I could redirect that force?” Sohm recalls.
Fast-forward to 2024, and thousands of pontoons now run with owner-installed T.A.P. fins. Despite limited commercial licensing, Sohm remains committed to his innovation, still selling kits and advocating for its superior performance. “The engineers at these companies don’t want to admit that a device created by a guy from Oshkosh named Goofy, with no degree, works better than what they’ve got,” he says.
The new crossing from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, to Frankfort, Michigan, spanned 87 miles. Conditions were choppy, but the triple-tube Bentley—equipped with T.A.P. fins and a Mercury FourStroke 250—proved seaworthy.
“For an adventure ride like this one, that third tube is a game-changer,” Plueddeman notes, calling it one of the most significant advancements in pontoon evolution over the past 25 years.
The return journey was smooth, serene, and solitary. “At one point on the return, in the middle of the lake, we stopped and shut off the outboard… there was nothing to see but blue sky and blue water. It was beautiful and also just a little unsettling,” Plueddeman writes.
In the end, what may seem like a “goofy” idea was really about celebrating innovation, passion, and the freedom of the open water. As the author reflects, “Funny that since then, when I tell people that I crossed the lake on a pontoon, the response is universal: What a goofy thing to do! Exactly.”
Read the full article from Boating Magazine: “Heavy-Metal Memories” Crossing Lake Michigan in a Pontoon