Pontoon boats are a great way to get out and enjoy the water with your friends and family.

Pontoon boats are an increasingly pop way to go out and enjoy the water with your friends and family. And, in that location are lots of skilful reasons why.

Unlesss yous've been hiding under a dock, yous probably know that pontoon boats are in the middle of a direct-up, full-blown renaissance. So, what's all the fuss about? Thanks mainly to advances in pontoon tube blueprint, new gunkhole building materials, innovations in outdoor fabrics, and lighter, more efficient outboard engines, pontoon boats are no longer the relatively slow, somewhat cumbersome "political party barges" they've traditionally had a reputation for being.

Loftier-Performance Fast Pontoons Top The Marketplace


Today we see some of the best pontoon boats on the h2o with as much equally 900 horsepower strapped to the stern and elevation speeds in the 60s. Many also accept interiors that await and feel equally nice as the inside of a fine luxury machine. They can carve a turn, also, with performance pontoon "tube" packages that allow them to corner too as many conventional fiberglass-hulled boats.

Merely what if y'all've never considered a pontoon boat? What if pontoon tube design makes as much sense to yous as, say, rocket science? Or what if you're not sure if a pontoon boat is correct for yous? Well, our aim here is to give you enough of a foundation in pontoon boat basics that you tin wisely inquiry, choose, and so detect the right pontoon boat for yous—or perhaps decide if a different blazon of boat is a better bet for your style of boating.

Read on and we'll hash out the ins and outs of this fun, relaxing, withal heady grade of boats.

Think pontoon boats are slow and ungainly? Think again.

Call back pontoon boats are wearisome and ungainly? Think once again.


What Is A Pontoon Boat? Back To Basics


The best place to beginning is with what a pontoon boat actually is. Generally speaking, it's any sort of boat with a big, flat deck that's mounted atop 2 or more metallic tubes called pontoons. Boats with three pontoons are sometimes called "tri-toons." These pontoons—or "tubes" for brusque—comprise a lot of reserve buoyancy and let designers to create massive deck plans fitted with all sorts of accommodations, such as expansive lounge areas, stand-upwardly confined, and lord's day pads. Better tube design has likewise allowed builders to put e'er-increasing amounts of horsepower on the stern.

Pontoon Boat Structure


The nigh basic of pontoon boats start out with two relatively plain, round tubes that taper to a point at the forward end. They're nearly e'er made out of welded sheets of marine-grade aluminum. Inside the tubes is where fuel tanks usually reside, too every bit stowage areas. Atop these tubes is where manufacturers weld deck back up channels and cross beams—the support structures to which the pontoon's deck will be mounted. These support channels are what give a pontoon its rigidity, a primal component in the ride and feel of a pontoon boat.

The devil is in the details, when it comes to pontoon boat construction. Knowing the right questions to ask about a pontoon boat's components can prevent headaches down the road.

The devil is in the details, when information technology comes to pontoon gunkhole construction. Knowing the right questions to ask about a pontoon boat's components tin can prevent headaches down the road. Notation the fuel tank in the eye tube, aft, and the stowage area farther forward.

Next, comes the deck. Most builders employ varying grades and thicknesses of plywood covered with carpet or vinyl flooring materials. Aluminum "fencing" and side panels come in next around the perimeter of the deck before seats, lounges, helm unit, and other interior components and mechanical and electrical systems are added. Engine(southward) are the icing on the block earlier the pontoon rolls off the factory floor.

In add-on to inquiring about warranties that cover tubes, deck, and other components, information technology's definitely worth doing your research and asking plenty of questions about construction methods and materials. Questions such every bit, "How do you waterproof and treat the deck?" or "How are the back up structure and tubes engineered?" are practiced ones to ask or research on your ain. The better the materials, craftsmanship, and engineering are, the ameliorate—and longer lasting—the pontoon boat will be.

Pontoon Gunkhole Options


Something you volition observe when it comes to pontoon boats is that manufacturers will by and large build i for you in any number of configurations and with all sorts of options and add-ons. So much so, in fact, that information technology can become intimidating and/or confusing. Maybe you'd like iv chaise lounges, regal upholstery, and sea grass-wait floors. No trouble. Or maybe yous want a double-decker, twin-engine pontoon with a waterslide and joystick docking. While these options can send a 24-footer with a base of operations toll of $20,000 quickly into the stratosphere, it'south a good idea to know which ones yous'll want and make the nearly use of.

Your imagination is about the only limitation, when it comes to customizing a pontoon boat.

Your imagination is about the only limitation, when it comes to customizing a pontoon boat.


Interior/Outside Packages


Pontoon boats are highly modular, pregnant each model can have as many as a 20-plus different outside and interior layouts and schemes. And if that wasn't confusing enough, there's generally dozens of different fabric, upholstery, floor covering, and graphics packages to consider. Phew. The good thing is that well-nigh manufacturers have websites where you tin can build and toll your pontoon merely the way you lot desire it, from the Bimini height downwards to the accent graphics, in virtual reality.

Engines And Power Options


Near every pontoon model bachelor, from fourteen to 30 anxiety, comes with a standard engine that almost anyone would discover underwhelming. This ways about folks terminate up opting for a larger, more powerful power constitute or ability plants. Consider how fast you really want to go, how much fuel you can beget to burn down, and what y'all'll be using the pontoon boat for. Most outboard manufacturers have performance and fuel consumption bulletins available for many of the new boats that use their engines, then information technology's worth doing some research on their websites, as well. Analyzing this data will requite you a general idea of the size engine you'll desire on your pontoon.

Also, remember that choosing an outboard for a pontoon is somewhat unlike than it is with other boats. Some engines are specifically designed for pontoons, and in other cases, special propellers or gear ratios are in lodge. Read Outboards for Pontoon Boats, to learn more well-nigh the specifics.

Pontoon boat builder use all sorts of tube engineering to get better performance out of their pontoon boats.

Pontoon boat builders utilise all sorts of tube technology to go amend performance out of their pontoon boats, such as keels, under-deck skins, elliptical-shaped tubes, and lifting strakes.


Top Performance Pontoon Boat Packages


These performance-oriented packages often add an additional tube or larger tubes, tubes with lifting strakes and/or keels, under-deck skins, or tubes that are specially shaped—and more. These special tube "add-ons" not merely improve operation—peculiarly in turns—merely also provide additional buoyancy, which means larger engines can be fitted, upping your speed game.

This Premier pontoon boat has all of its systems integrated into an ind=dash touchscreen unit, one of many electronics options available on pontoon boats.

This Premier pontoon boat has all of its systems integrated into an in-dash touchscreen unit of measurement, one of many electronics options available on pontoon boats.


Electronics/Audio Systems For Pontoon Boats


Pontoon boat helms don't by and large have extensive marine electronics aboard. But, if you're a tech nerd, there are enough of builders who take options such as integrated touch panel command systems, chartplotters, and other electronic gizmos to go along you happy.

Stereos are also a big deal on pontoon boats, in example yous didn't know. One builder, nosotros looked at offers 18 different stereo and speaker combinations on each of its pontoons. Oh, and then there are the LED lighting packages. While some of these packages might seem tacky, many actually increment the usability of the boat during depression light periods, lighting up cup holders and strategic deck areas.

Types of Pontoon Boats


Though y'all will find a scattering of pontoon boats in coastal areas, they're most usually found on inland lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and the like. And their owners utilize them for all sorts of different activities, from watersports to fishing and everything in betwixt. Let's take a expect at some of the various types of pontoons you'll encounter and what they're designed to do.

Yes, that's 900 horsepower you see on the back of this Premier Dodici 310.

Yes, do the math and that's 900 horsepower y'all encounter on the back of this Premier Dodici 310.


Performance Pontoon Boats


If you've got a demand for speed, a pontoon with lots of horsepower on the stern might only be your ticket. These "rocketoons," every bit nosotros've heard them called, can have as much as 900 ponies. And, with the right functioning pontoon bundle as discussed above, yous'll be carving turns at thrilling speeds.

Consider the Premier Dodici 310 or the Bennington 30 Club Twin for starters. The Dodici has iii—yes three—300-horsepower Evinrude Due east-TEC 2-stroke outboards and a elevation cease of threescore MPH. There'due south even a pub layout with a full stand-upwards bar and lounge seating. The Bennington Club twin has twin 300-horsepower Yamaha F300s, 300 square feet of deck space, and a fifty MPH pinnacle end. You lot'll find no shortage of excuses to go fast in this category.

Sentinel our Performance Pontoon Boats: The Need for Speed video, to learn more than. And if finding the fastest of the fast is in your nature, read nearly five Rocket-Fast Pontoon Boats.

The Manitou Xplode 23 SRS SHP is built for watersports such as skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding.

The Manitou Xplode 23 SRS SHP is built for watersports such as skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding.


Watersports Pontoon Boats


You can tow tubers, skiers, and wake boarders with just about any pontoon that has enough horsepower and some sort of towing pole or mountain, but there'due south a class of pontoons that are designed specifically for the tasks. They often accept metal sports arches with towline mounts, brackets for boards and skis, and splashy graphics and interior schemes.

The Aqua Patio AP 250 XP is i such watersports speed demon, equipped with a 350-horsepower Yamaha F350 iv-stroke outboard. It's as well got a watersports tower, nether-deck board stowage, and an overall sporty appearance that looks great going 60 MPH beyond the water.

A photo of a Bennington 2575 QCW pontoon boat.

The Bennington 2575 QCW is equipped to the nines, including a custom mahogany fencing scheme.


Luxury Pontoons


Luxury pontoons are all about comfort. Recollect sumptuous, buttery upholstery and seating arrangements and so comfy it feels as if y'all're lying on a cloud. Top-end models have joystick steering, twin engines, huge chaise lounges, full stand-up bars, and absurd-looking LED lighting and fencing schemes.

A few examples of these cushy vessels include the Harris FloteBote Crowne 250, Premier Sunsation 270 Walk-On, and the Premier 290 Yard Entertainer.

Watch our Luxury Pontoon Boats: Maximum Relaxation video, to learn more about this class of pontoon boats.

A photo of the Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 20 DLX.

This Sun Tracker Fishin' Clomp 20 DLX has rod holder, livewells, fishing chairs, and more than. But add fish.


Fishing Pontoons


If your boating adventures have a bend toward the piscatorial, don't for a second think that yous'll accept any problem finding a pontoon boat that suits your needs. In fact, these boats are smashing for fishing, with lots of deck infinite for livewells, line-fishing rods, and other tackle. Pontoon boats also mostly accept low draft, making them smashing for getting up into skinny water.

Before you wet a line, whet your appetite by having a wait at the Angler Qwest, Lord's day Tracker Bass Buggy 16, or Lord's day Tracker Fishin' Clomp 22 XP3. If you can't catch fish from any of these fishy pontoons, you're doing something incorrect. And make sure to read Can a Pontoon Boat Be a Serious Angling Boat? This article volition betoken out the ups and downs of line-fishing-defended pontoons, and how well they serve their purpose.

A photo of a Bennington pontoon boat.

This Bennington, an excellent family pontoon, keeps it uncomplicated with a clean, easy layout.


Family Fun Pontoon Boats - aka "Party Barges"


It'd exist wrong to compare this class of pontoon boats to station wagons, so maybe it'south better to think of them every bit the SUVs of the sea: they exercise a number of things well. Whether sheer relaxation, exploring, or towing tubes is your game, a solid family pontoon has lots of lounge infinite, an ergonomic layout, and enough options to keep the comfort factor loftier.

Some fantabulous boats in this category include the Aqua Patio WB, Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3, and Harris FloteBote Solstice 240, among others.

A photo of the Princecraft VECTRA 23 underway.

The Princecraft Vectra 23 offers a lot of value for the money.


Value Pontoons


Like the Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas of the automotive world, some folks are looking for a solid, enjoyable pontoon that won't bleed their kids' higher funds. The good news is there are plenty of models to choose from when it comes to buying a pontoon on a upkeep. And cheap isn't necessarily a bad thing. Lots of manufacturers put together perfectly capable and comfy pontoons that will provide endless hours of entertainment, relaxation, and fun on the water—all at a reasonable cost.

Consider pontoons like the Princecraft Vectra 23, Paddle Qwest 614, or Sun Tracker Bass Buggy xvi, amongst the many others available on the market.

Be sure to sentry Value Pontoon Boats: Get the Near Bang for your Buck, to larn more about this genre.

Time To Buy


All that's left to exercise is get out and start looking. If a used gunkhole is in your future, consider perusing the many pontoon boats on Gunkhole Trader or the pontoon boats for sale right hither on boats.com, where you'll also find many new pontoon boats. Armed with the nuts yous should have no problem narrowing the field and finding the perfect pontoon boat for you.

Editor'southward Note: New boaters should read Handling a Pontoon Boat, earlier hitting the water. This article was originally published in March 2020 and was last updated in March 2021.

Written by: Gary Reich

Gary Reich is a Chesapeake Bay-based freelance author and photojournalist with over 25 years of experience in the marine industry. He is the former editor of PropTalk Magazine and was the managing editor of the Waterway Guide. His writing and photography take been published in PassageMaker Mag, Soundings, Fly Line-fishing in Common salt Waters, Yachting Magazine, and Lakeland Boating, amidst others.