Pontoon boat vs. Open Deck for Lake - Total newbie

[sharmal]

I'd say 60%-70% of people around my lake (12 km sq) have Pontoon boats, and the rest have an Open Deck boat. The lake is quite shallow in some parts. I was considering the open deck boat, just so that water-skiing / tubing would be an option, though I believe some pontoon boats have a powerful enough engine to do the same.​

Any advice on one over the other, and things to watch out for when buying a used boat? Thanks!

 

[Jimwhall]

Depending on your budget you could get a tri toon and hang a 150 or more off of it; many of the ones I've seen on my lake are newer tri toons. Some have a larger center toon that helps cornering. I've been on a couple and they really are the best of both worlds for what I would do. I have a bow rider and love it but the tri toons check off alot of boxes.

These aren't bad videos. If you only have money for one boat, then it might work out for you. They might be less fuel efficient. I don't know.

If not, then I'd look at what you do most. Cruising or watersports?

 

[roffey]

I've never owned a pontoon boat but have been on them numerus times. I found them to be great shallow water boats and very comfortable... but slow and seem to plow through the waves. My current boat is a sport deck boat and will run into trouble in anything under 1 and a half feet. It is fast but not good in chop but that is the make (Stingray) and not the type.

 

[Scott Danforth]

pontoon boats require lots more power than their mono-hull / v-hull counterparts to get up on plane and for water sports

I would suggest a nice pontoon for the leisure side of things and a jet ski for watersports. you can tow the jetski behind the pontoon

 

[Jimwhall]

pontoon boats require lots more power than their mono-hull / v-hull counterparts to get up on plane and for water sports

I would suggest a nice pontoon for the leisure side of things and a jet ski for watersports. you can tow the jetski behind the pontoon

It's been awhile since I did anything jet-ski ish, but I'm surprised at the power in some of them nowadays. I've seen more than one with a driver, back facing spotter, and a skier behind them.

The only thing I'd add to the 'cruiser toon' is don't skimp on the power. I've seen several people on our lake, which can get very windy, struggle to get across because they are running a 24 foot toon with a full metal cover off of a 40hp or under outboard. Admittedly these are older boats.

 

[roffey]

I've been caught 20 miles from my dock and the extra speed was very welcome... I am a fair weather boater for sure. I think go for the max power you can afford and your boat will take. Even if you think you'll never use or need it... at least one time you will...

 

[sharmal]

Depending on your budget you could get a tri toon and hang a 150 or more off of it; many of the ones I've seen on my lake are newer tri toons. Some have a larger center toon that helps cornering. I've been on a couple and they really are the best of both worlds for what I would do. I have a bow rider and love it but the tri toons check off alot of boxes.

These aren't bad videos. If you only have money for one boat, then it might work out for you. They might be less fuel efficient. I don't know.

If not, then I'd look at what you do most. Cruising or watersports?

I can't seem to find any used tritoons in Quebec, Canada

 

[gr8knurlin]

To each their own but I fail to understand the "evolution" of the pontoon boat. I get the theory behind them - large open deck great for entertaining, durable, stable etc.... but they used to be a budget alternative to a fixed hull boat made mainstream popular by Craig Morgan and his Redneck Yacht Club.
Now they are new & shiny with all the bells & whistles but holly crap the $$$$. I remember looking at a Bennington a few years back at the boat show... $237K - I can get a 2014 36' Sundancer for that.
I could never justify that or even $100K for a floating dock with 300hp - Comparatively speaking I surprised more folks don't own pocket or express cruisers. My Regal 2650 LSC had as much cockpit/deck space as a 24' pontoon boat plus allowed for overnighting, pulling tubes/skiers, would cruise at 45mph and handle big water (not as well as a deep V but not bad).

When you can get am early 2000's 24'-28' pocket cruiser for under $50K I just don't understand the draw to a pontoon or tri-toon style.

Like I said to each their own, I kind of feel the same way about the high end ski/wake boats that folks drop $200K + on and.... I guess I'm just not a very tolerant boater...lol

EDIT... OK maybe I was a bit harsh, there are some nice looking toon's for $40-60k.....

 

[gr8knurlin]

I can't seem to find any used tritoons in Quebec, Canada

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Your right not many given the number of boats down that way, there seem to be lots in Manitoba & Saskabush. I thought I was going to have to go to Quebec or Ontario for my upgrade given the number of larger cruisers down there compared to here Alberta.

 

[JASinIL2006]

For tubing, anyway, unless you're looking to provide a fairly mild ride, a pontoon won't be ideal. You just can't cut hard enough back and forth to swing the riders through the wake (at least not on any pontoon I've seen). With enough power, it might not be bad for skiing, assuming you can pop the skiier up out of the water quickly enough. If water sports are high on the list, I think advantage goes to the deckboat. If having a stable party barge with room for lots of folks is more important, I would probably look more at the pontoon.

 

[ahicks]

I live on an inland lake and have been a huge fan of pontoon boats most of my life. We have a 24' boat with a 90 Honda 4 stroke on it. We can idle nearly silently all day, and pull the kids on a tube easily.

Recently, I've become exposed to having access to the Gulf of Mexico - big water. That's a whole new experience. We found the pontoon we had just wasn't fast enough to cover the ground we wanted/needed to cover in a reasonable amount of time there. We sold the pontoon we were using and went with a 22' alum. deck boat, also powered by a Honda 90 4 stroke. That was a great solution for us. Now, we can cover some serious ground, cruising in the low to mid 20's - where the pontoon runs wide open. We STILL have the ability to idle slowly taking in the sights. Because the bottom of this deck boat is a fairly shallow vee and is nearly as wide as the pontoon boat, it pops right up on plane easily and will hold that speed easily way down into the teens, also great for cruising, but at a much higher speed than the pontoon would be comfortable at.

When it comes to tubing, the pontoon works, but the deck boat is far more maneuverable for that purpose. It can put anybody WAY outside the wake and sling them around pretty easily.

Neither boat will have the power to do a real good job at pulling a skier, although the deck boat would likely do a good job with more power. We're running just enough for our purposes.

If I had unlimited resources, a 300hp modern design tri-toon would appeal to me - but they are not only expensive, they can be kind of big, and may not be so easy when it comes to trailering. Outboard powered deck boats, if you can get by with one of reasonable size (they can get pretty big as well) seem like they would trailer much more easily.

Bottom line, it's about compromises and priorities. One man's 'druthers may not even work when it comes to somebody else's.

 

[Captain Caveman]

We have boats of every kind on our lake. What I generally see are pontoons pulling young kids on tubes in a straight line. If you have kids that want the thrill of twists and turns, you'll need a more nimble boat.

Used pontoons are/were a reasonably priced option, which could pair well if you also got an outboard fish & ski or deck boat to accompany it.

As for your last question, there are a TON of things to look out for when buying a used boat. Do some searches on this forum. Somebody asks the same question every week.

 

[Scott Danforth]

To each their own but I fail to understand the "evolution" of the pontoon boat. I get the theory behind them - large open deck great for entertaining, durable, stable etc.... but they used to be a budget alternative to a fixed hull boat made mainstream popular by Craig Morgan and his Redneck Yacht Club.
Now they are new & shiny with all the bells & whistles but holly crap the $$$$. I remember looking at a Bennington a few years back at the boat show... $237K - I can get a 2014 36' Sundancer for that.
I could never justify that or even $100K for a floating dock with 300hp - Comparatively speaking I surprised more folks don't own pocket or express cruisers. My Regal 2650 LSC had as much cockpit/deck space as a 24' pontoon boat plus allowed for overnighting, pulling tubes/skiers, would cruise at 45mph and handle big water (not as well as a deep V but not bad).

When you can get am early 2000's 24'-28' pocket cruiser for under $50K I just don't understand the draw to a pontoon or tri-toon style.

Like I said to each their own, I kind of feel the same way about the high end ski/wake boats that folks drop $200K + on and.... I guess I'm just not a very tolerant boater...lol

EDIT... OK maybe I was a bit harsh, there are some nice looking toon's for $40-60k.....

you should look up avalon pontoons.

the pontoons of today have 5 different target markets

• the fishermen
• the family on a small lake
• the go-fast and loud music crowd
• the rental market
• retiring yacht owners that want luxury and bells/whistles and have the disposable income

some of those boats have well over 600 hp, and up to $30,000 worth of upholstery. add features such as sea legs, powered boarding ladders, folding towers and you are pushing $0.5M in a pontoon with sileather upholstery

 

[gr8knurlin]

you should look up avalon pontoons.

the pontoons of today have 5 different target markets

• the fishermen
• the family on a small lake
• the go-fast and loud music crowd
• the rental market
• retiring yacht owners that want luxury and bells/whistles and have the disposable income

some of those boats have well over 600 hp, and up to $30,000 worth of upholstery. add features such as sea legs, powered boarding ladders, folding towers and you are pushing $0.5M in a pontoon with sileather upholstery

That's insane....

 

[ahicks]

That's insane....

Some of the offshore center consoles "fishing boats" are pretty insane as well. 4 motors? I think they take the prize.... until you start talking yachts.

 

[Earl Cordova]

At a bare minimum a used boat needs to be test driven by someone that knows what they are doing.
I have had friends purchase a used boat because it looks nice and got burned.

 

[Jimwhall]

you should look up avalon pontoons.

the pontoons of today have 5 different target markets

• the fishermen
• the family on a small lake
• the go-fast and loud music crowd
• the rental market
• retiring yacht owners that want luxury and bells/whistles and have the disposable income

some of those boats have well over 600 hp, and up to $30,000 worth of upholstery. add features such as sea legs, powered boarding ladders, folding towers and you are pushing $0.5M in a pontoon with sileather upholstery

There was a Bennington at a dealer I saw when I was looking for a new to me boat that was selling for 89K. I'm just floored.

 

[Jimwhall]

To each their own but I fail to understand the "evolution" of the pontoon boat. I get the theory behind them - large open deck great for entertaining, durable, stable etc.... but they used to be a budget alternative to a fixed hull boat made mainstream popular by Craig Morgan and his Redneck Yacht Club.
Now they are new & shiny with all the bells & whistles but holly crap the $$$$. I remember looking at a Bennington a few years back at the boat show... $237K - I can get a 2014 36' Sundancer for that.
I could never justify that or even $100K for a floating dock with 300hp - Comparatively speaking I surprised more folks don't own pocket or express cruisers. My Regal 2650 LSC had as much cockpit/deck space as a 24' pontoon boat plus allowed for overnighting, pulling tubes/skiers, would cruise at 45mph and handle big water (not as well as a deep V but not bad).

When you can get am early 2000's 24'-28' pocket cruiser for under $50K I just don't understand the draw to a pontoon or tri-toon style.

Like I said to each their own, I kind of feel the same way about the high end ski/wake boats that folks drop $200K + on and.... I guess I'm just not a very tolerant boater...lol

EDIT... OK maybe I was a bit harsh, there are some nice looking toon's for $40-60k.....

When the tri toons first came out (Manitou with their 232 system maybe?) they were far more reasonable. But they were rougher. I remember a test drive with a 225 HP Evinrude where I blew the front door in at 38mph. But, the thing could turn. And at low speeds it was a regular toon.

That's a good compromise for me. The Benningtons are insane.

 

[Commander_47]

To me a pontoon boat is a raft with a motor. Or a floating dock. The only tubing I see going on is towing the little kids. People like to laze along on the toon and enjoy life. More power to them.

I have seven grand kids and 5 of them are teens. We can ski, tube, fish, sleep, bar b que and do overnights on my pocket cruiser. It's plenty fast with 5.7 mercruiser, or we can just putt along.

I'm not bad mouthing toons. Some of my best friends have them and we enjoy time on them. Not for me though.

 

[roffey]

so each their own.. I had a cruiser and nobody wanted to go out so I traded it for a go fast bowrider and now the grandkids go out all the time. We go for ice cream then a beach day with tubing and swimming, memories in the making. Having said all that, we go out on the next door neighbors tune and have a great day on the water. They are comfortable and more than capable of pulling a tube and spending the day at the beach...get what you can afford and more importantly what you want.