While you may have a preconceived notion that pontoon boats are a slow, lumbering watercraft that your grandparents drive, we're here to tell you that certainly isn't the case, and the perception of pontoon boats has changed significantly in the last 10 years.
Spacious
We'll state the obvious, and mention that pontoons are highly desirable because they are extremely roomy water faring vessels. If you plan on taking a large number of people out on the water to have a good time, no boat is better at doing that than a spacious pontoon. While this is an obvious advantage for families with kids that need their kids or pets to have a big enough space to play around on, or anyone that has a lot of friends, pontoons are often designed for other boating needs than that of families.
Anglers
While there are plenty of great fiberglass boats on the market that are designed for the needs of anglers, many find that those boats are not large enough to store all their fishing gear plus all the additional boating equipment they need like life jackets, electronic equipment, anchors, etc. without feeling cramped on board. There are many great pontoon manufacturers that manufacturer pontoons with water wells, angler seats, and other features that are designed specifically for anglers. Best of all, there's enough room for anyone else on board who isn't particularly interested in fishing.
Water Sports
While the majority of pontoon boats in today's market have the ability to tow tubers and get up to decent speeds, the ability to make sharp turns was always a drawback. Several technology improvements in the design of pontoons have changed that, and now wake boarders and water skiers find pontoons perfectly suitable watercraft for water sports. While most pontoons won't meet the needs of many advanced water sports athletes, many pontoon boat models are perfectly suitable for the inexperienced or kids just starting off.
Technology Improvements
As mentioned earlier, there have been several breakthroughs in the design of pontoons that make them a much sleeker and more powerful boat than anyone could have imagined. The biggest advancement would have to be the introduction of a third center pontoon on many pontoon models. None do it better than Manitou Pontoon Boats, which uses patented technologies to make their pontoons drive more like a V hull fiberglass boat. That means the pontoons bank into turns, allowing faster and cleaner maneuverability on the water.
Ability to Handle Rough Water
If you're looking to take a boat out on rougher water, it's hard to find a boat that will have a less bumpy ride than a pontoon boat. With less surface space on the hull, pontoons are able to break through waves quite easily while traveling at higher speeds. So instead of thinking about buying a bigger boat because of rough waters, consider looking into a smaller and less expensive pontoon boat.
Less Costly Maintenance
The biggest danger of fiberglass boats is repairing a cracked or blistered hull. That repair typically has to be done by a professional, and it can occur from very light nicks and scratches on the hull. The majority of pontoon boats are made with an aluminum hull, which can be easily repaired if damaged at a much cheaper price tag.
Spacious
We'll state the obvious, and mention that pontoons are highly desirable because they are extremely roomy water faring vessels. If you plan on taking a large number of people out on the water to have a good time, no boat is better at doing that than a spacious pontoon. While this is an obvious advantage for families with kids that need their kids or pets to have a big enough space to play around on, or anyone that has a lot of friends, pontoons are often designed for other boating needs than that of families.
Anglers
While there are plenty of great fiberglass boats on the market that are designed for the needs of anglers, many find that those boats are not large enough to store all their fishing gear plus all the additional boating equipment they need like life jackets, electronic equipment, anchors, etc. without feeling cramped on board. There are many great pontoon manufacturers that manufacturer pontoons with water wells, angler seats, and other features that are designed specifically for anglers. Best of all, there's enough room for anyone else on board who isn't particularly interested in fishing.
Water Sports
While the majority of pontoon boats in today's market have the ability to tow tubers and get up to decent speeds, the ability to make sharp turns was always a drawback. Several technology improvements in the design of pontoons have changed that, and now wake boarders and water skiers find pontoons perfectly suitable watercraft for water sports. While most pontoons won't meet the needs of many advanced water sports athletes, many pontoon boat models are perfectly suitable for the inexperienced or kids just starting off.
Technology Improvements
As mentioned earlier, there have been several breakthroughs in the design of pontoons that make them a much sleeker and more powerful boat than anyone could have imagined. The biggest advancement would have to be the introduction of a third center pontoon on many pontoon models. None do it better than Manitou Pontoon Boats, which uses patented technologies to make their pontoons drive more like a V hull fiberglass boat. That means the pontoons bank into turns, allowing faster and cleaner maneuverability on the water.
Ability to Handle Rough Water
If you're looking to take a boat out on rougher water, it's hard to find a boat that will have a less bumpy ride than a pontoon boat. With less surface space on the hull, pontoons are able to break through waves quite easily while traveling at higher speeds. So instead of thinking about buying a bigger boat because of rough waters, consider looking into a smaller and less expensive pontoon boat.
Less Costly Maintenance
The biggest danger of fiberglass boats is repairing a cracked or blistered hull. That repair typically has to be done by a professional, and it can occur from very light nicks and scratches on the hull. The majority of pontoon boats are made with an aluminum hull, which can be easily repaired if damaged at a much cheaper price tag.