5 Reasons to Make a Pontoon Your Next Boat (and 2 Reasons Not To)
Pontoons are among the most popular boat types. According to industry market research, the pontoon market in 2024 reached a whopping $8.5 billion. Apart from the fact that recreational boating in general is increasing in popularity, what makes pontoons, in particular, so beloved in the boating community? What are the best reasons to buy a pontoon?
Let’s look at five of those reasons and a couple of reasons a pontoon might not be the right fit for some boaters.
What Is a Pontoon?
Pontoons were designed by a commercial trader in Minnesota in the middle of the 20th century as an economical alternative for transporting goods across the state’s countless lakes. Unlike traditional V-hull boats, pontoons incorporate a pair of hollow tubes—some have three—beneath the deck to provide buoyancy.
Reasons to Buy a Pontoon
No boat type is perfect for every boat buyer. That’s why so many boat types exist. Someone who’s going to fish every time isn’t going to buy a boat built for wakeboarding. And vice versa. Pontoons can check a lot of boxes when it comes to utility on the water. Find out a few reasons to buy a pontoon—why the pontoon is such an attractive option for boat buyers.
Stability
One of the greatest advantages for pontoon owners is the boat type’s stability. The tubes upon which pontoons float are, of necessity, spaced widely apart, creating a stable footprint. V-hulled boats are somewhat more subject to the actions of the waves. With a pontoon, having two “feet” spread widely apart on the water means your base holds steady.
Broad Deck
There’s a reason pontoons are called the ultimate party boat. The design comes with a spacious, open deck that you can fill with people, chairs, tables, coolers, grills, and more. It’s a build that lends itself to socializing. Pontoons frequently come with standard wraparound lounges, a swim platform, Bimini tops for sun protection, and more. They give you the most open deck space possible. Plus, their stability means your guests can relax with minimal rolling.
Versatility
Another advantage of the pontoon build is that the design allows you to configure your boat just the way you like it. Anglers can outfit a fishing pontoon with a swiveling chair at each corner, underseat storage for equipment, livewells, and specialty fishfinding equipment. Other buyers can devote space to a dedicated sundeck and get a bigger swim platform and maybe a slide.
Alternatively, you might seek out a watersports pontoon with more horsepower, a tow pylon, and other accoutrement suited to tubing or waterskiing. Or you might go for a straightforward socializing setup. You will find so many options in terms of setting up your seating, starting with the standard wraparound lounge seating, or an L-shaped couch arrangement, or a first mate chair, and many more.
Easy to Operate
Pontoons are among the easiest types of boats to operate, a fact that both beginners and boating lifers appreciate. The positioning of the motor and the way the boat sits atop the water make pontoon operation very straightforward and instinctive. V-hull boats present a bit more of a learning curve. Also, since the pontoon sits high up in the water, less water is bound to come over the bow. Can you stuff the bow on a pontoon? Yes, but you have to be trying pretty hard to do so.
Cost
Pontoons are among the most cost-efficient boat builds in terms of what you get for your money. And they come in a range of sizes that allow buyers to start small if they want to. Not only do they frequently have lower upfront costs, but maintenance is cheaper, they last longer than other types of boats, and the insurance can be lower.
Reasons to Avoid Pontoons
Of course, even as great as pontoons are, there are always reasons a different choice may suit certain people.
Lower Speeds/Smaller Wakes
While it is possible to wakeboard behind some pontoons, that doesn’t mean they are ideal for the task. Because pontoons sit so high up on the water, they don’t have the weight aft to really push down and create a deep wake. Wakesuring is off the table, but tubing and waterskiing can be easily accommodated. Wakeboarders who prefer a buoyant board and don’t mind skimming along in the flats rather than doing deep carves can get a lot out of a pontoon, too.
Subject to Weather
The famous stability of the pontoon is usually reliant on plying calm waters. Larger waves can wreak havoc on pontoons, causing them to dive down into the wave rather than cutting through and over it. Most pontoons are strictly built for pleasure on protected waters for use on relatively calm, pleasant days. Anything outside of that framework may be trouble.
Pontoons are fine boats for beginners. Even more seasoned owners can get behind the design if they live on a lake or do a lot of harbor cruising. Reasons to buy a pontoon include room to play, a versatile design, and ease of use. What more could you ask of a sunny day on the water?
Kurt Brighton
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