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Pontoon boats
Pontoon boats, also sometimes called "party barges," are designed with two metal pontoons (also called tubes or even “logs”). Unlike earlier versions that were basically just platforms fixed on top of two floating pontoons, the new designs often feature three pontoons known as "tri-toons" that are hydrodynamically shaped and efficient in the water, with the middle pontoon lower than the two outboard ones to promote banking and steering that can often rival that of monohulls. Combined with high-powered modern outboards, some of the new breed of pontoons can skim over the water at top speeds over 40 mph, making fast passages between home and fun zone. They're still relatively uncommon in areas where the water can get downright rough, but they’re certainly gaining momentum on the coasts. Meanwhile, inland boaters are experiencing increasingly refined fun aboard their pontoon boats, not only with higher speed and maneuverability, but with pop-up changing tents, enclosed heads, built-in coolers, outdoor cooking and refrigeration, and ever-better ergonomics in seating and swimming areas.
A great boat for entertaining, some models can be adapted for freshwater fishing or for sport-like performance. You can find a pontoon that will fit every need: performance pontoons, watersports pontoons, luxury pontoons, fishing pontoons, family-friendly pontoons, mini pontoon boats, and value pontoons.
For sheer comfort afloat, combining an ideal platform for swimming, lounging, and partying with enough speed and maneuverability to tow skiers, tubers, and wakeboarders, it’s hard to beat a modern pontoon boat.
Expert Pontoon boats Reviews
What are pontoon boats?
Medium-sized, trailerable vessels called pontoon boats are commonly utilized for boating pursuits like day cruising, freshwater fishing and watersports. These types of vessels can span in size, with the smallest current boat listed at 16 feet in length, to the longest vessel measuring 240 feet, and an average length of 23 feet. They are built by a wide variety of boat manufacturers with hull types including pontoon, modified vee, trimaran, planing and other designs. Boat Trader currently has 25,460 pontoon boats for sale, including 21,671 new vessels and 3,789 used boats, listed by both individual owners and professional dealerships across the country.
What are the best pontoon boats?
Currently, some of the most widely-known designers of pontoon boats include Sun Tracker, Bennington, Barletta, Sylvan and Godfrey. Pontoon boats models are manufactured with outboard, outboard-4S, inboard, inboard/outboard and other propulsion systems, available in gas, electric, diesel, LPG and other fuel systems. The top two pontoon boats brands on Boat Trader over the previous 30 days were Avalon, Bennington, Harris, Sun Tracker and Sylvan.
How much do pontoon boats cost?
Prices for pontoon boats on Boat Trader range from a reasonable $12,996 at the more accessible end to $216,510 for the higher end variety. While more economic utility models may have engines with as modest as 40 horsepower on them, models with the greatest power can have motors up to 500 horsepower (although the average motor size is 150HP).
Why are pontoon boats popular?
Pontoon boats are popular for their shallow draft and average beam, characteristics that make these boats a favorite for day cruising, freshwater fishing and watersports. Pontoon boats are also popular boats for rivers and lakes and other shallow fresh bodies of water. Within our current availability, these pontoon boats can hold up to 18 people, but usually averages 12. Boat Trader is positive you'll find the boat you're searching for with 25,460 pontoon boats now posted for sale and 3,344 boats uploaded in the last 30 days.