Pontoon boats have gained popularity over the years as the perfect multi-purpose vessels. They can be used as luxury boats, cruisers, water sports platforms, and they make excellent fishing boats. However, there is always the question of affordability when choosing these boats. That is why many boat owners are looking for the best value pontoon boats that offer excellent features at an affordable price.
What is affordable may differ from person to person, depending on their pockets. The average pontoon boat costs about $30,000. The price can be much higher if the boat is from a known brand with a lot of features. While going for an affordable boat is essential, longevity and durability should be the priority for anyone investing in a pontoon boat. This article will provide a detailed review of some of the best value pontoon boats across many price points.
Considerations Before Purchasing a Pontoon Boat
Before deciding on which pontoon boat to buy, there are certain things one must consider.
Reason
Why are you buying a pontoon boat? Are you buying a pontoon boat for relaxation, fishing, water sports, cruising, hosting parties, etc.? Knowing your purpose for the pontoon boat will help you select an appropriate style, model, and size.
Budget
How much are you willing to spend on a pontoon boat? Having a budget in mind will help you narrow down your selections, while making sure you don’t over extended your finances. Certain major factors will significantly impact the price of the pontoon boat. Factor such as manufacturer, model, length, floor plan, and engine size.
Passengers
How many passengers will you need to accommodate? Knowing the approximate number of passengers will help you select the appropriate size pontoon boat. It will also assist in selecting an accommodating floor plan.
Environment
Fresh water or salt water? Pond, lake, river, bay or ocean? Knowing type and size body of water you plan to use will help select the pontoon boat size. If planning to navigate small water bodies, you can elect for the a smaller pontoon boat, and vice versa for larger water bodies.
Storage and Transportation
Where and how will you store your pontoon boat when not in use? Nearby boat or general storage facility? Marina? Inside your garage? On your property?
How will you transport the pontoon boat to the water? Truck and trailer? Transportation company?
It would be best if you know this information before buying your pontoon boat. Answers to the previous questions will help select the appropriate pontoon boat, specifically, the appropriate size/length pontoon boat.
Maintenance
How do you intend to maintain your pontoon boat? A regular maintenance service will be needed to keep it n good condition, just like a vehicle you need to care for your pontoon boat.
Best Value Pontoon Boat – $20,000 or Less
If you are looking to buy a new pontoon, then $20,000 is the minimum price point. Sure, there is an assortment of mini pontoon boats available, but if you want a legitimate full-sized pontoon boat, then you should look at a couple of manufacturers who specialize in value priced pontoons. Sun Tracker and Lowe sell a large volume of high quality boats.
Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 16XL
In this category, the Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 16XL stands ahead of all its competitors for the best value pontoon boat. It is built specifically for fishing, but it is also perfect for cruising. It has fishing rod holders and a nine gallon live well. This model also comes with a Bimini top, two folding chairs, a forward console seat, interior courtesy lighting, an aft L-lounger, a single-axe trailer and a 20 or 50 horsepower Mercury outboard. The 16 XL comes with a ten year warranty, which is significantly better than pontoon boats which are twice the price.
If you are not into fishing, Sun Tracker makes a very similar model called the Party Barge. The Party Barge is made for cruising. It is similar to the Bass Buggy, but with wrap around cushion seating at the front instead of captain’s chairs.
Sun Tracker sells the largest volume of boats in the country. They use that large volume to their advantage when setting a price on their pontoon boats. You can use it to your advantage when selecting the best value pontoon boat.
Lowe Ultra 162 Fish N Cruise
The Lowe Ultra 162 Fish N Cruise also makes the mark in this category and is equally good. Lowe Boats has a similar story to Sun Tracker. They have been around for 50 years now and they sell a lot of boats. One of their niches is providing a value package pontoon boat called the Ultra Series. The Ultra Series is geared towards people just starting boating who are looking for high quality pontoon boats at a great value. The Ultra is advertised as a value boat, and based on its features, comfortable seating, and layout it feels like one of the best pontoon boats you can buy for under $20,000.
Best Value Pontoon Boat – $30,000 or Less
If your budget is $30,000, then it opens up more possibilities of pontoon boats. As you can see from our list below you can start stretching out the size of your boat to over 20′, and you can start hitting that 90 hp mark on the motor. There are not a large number of manufacturers out there who can get you in a nice decent sized pontoon boat at under $30,000 but that’s why you have me to point you in the right direction of the best pontoon boat for the money!
Lowe SS 190
It is difficult to find a 20′ pontoon boat for under $30,000. But the Lowe SS 190 is just what you want to buy in this category. This boat has everything for a water-based party: 9/11 person capacity, an L-shaped couch, Bluetooth stereo with speakers, Bimini top, pedestal table and drink holders. The base model starts with a 9.9 HP outboard engine.
We are featuring another Lowe pontoon boat because we really feel like they are a great brand for the value.
Princecraft Jazz 19
The Princecraft Jazz 19 is a great value for the money. We found this one for under $30,000 including a 60 hp motor. Princecraft is offering abundant seating, a Bimini top, a built-in table, and many additional optional features depending on your desires. The Jazz 19 is a pretty cool looking boat with all the features necessary for a sweet ride on the lake!
Bennington S Series
With starting price of around $29,000, the Bennington S Series will make your life better on the water. Bennington pontoon boats is where quality, performance and safety is given due importance. They have the easy trailerable 8 feet narrow beam width. They have a box welded construction with beauty in every detail. The aluminum side panels are of full height and premium grade.
The S Series has the best in house seats made from Simtex soft touch vinyl. You the Kicker Stereo System with Bennington Deluxe Flush Mount Speakers. You can have three furniture layouts: Quad Bench, L Bench and Fishing. The Quad Bench configuration is the most popular one, which maximizes seating capacity and lounge space but also storage. With many of the available floor plans you can have sleek Fastback stern with speakers so as to extend your entertainment space.
The L Bench offers flexible seating with wised options of under storage and easy boat access.
The fishing layout offers floor plans for both occasional fishing enthusiasts and full time fisherman. You can have a ski tow bar, bass seats, live wells and rod holders to options that fit your specific needs.
Sylvan Mirage Cruise
If you are an avid reader of this website, you will know that we have an affinity towards Sylvan pontoon boats. One of the main reasons why we like them so much is because they look and feel like a higher end boat, such as a Bennington, but their price point is a little easier on the pocket books!
The Sylvan Mirage Cruise is a great example. The “Cruise” Series from Sylvan is their value series. But, with their standard features such as plush furniture, Bimini top, stereo, rear ladder, and cool color scheme, then it starts to feel like their value series is on par with other manufacturers’ high end series.
Best Value Pontoon Boat – $40,000 or Less
If you have the ability to stretch your budget to $40,000 then you are nearly able to purchase a pontoon boat from every major manufacturer. Now there are some luxury lines out there that you will have to keep dreaming about, but this article is really meant to focus on the best value pontoon boats. Here are some great models that provide a lot of boat for $40,000, and we were pleasantly surprised at what we could find.
Starcraft LX 18
The Starcraft LX 18 R (or F) is yet another boat that we would like parked on our dock. We wanted to introduce you to Starcraft pontoon boats at this price point, because $40,000 is about when you can start to afford a Starcraft with a powerful engine. What we like about Starcraft is they are one of the longest family owned pontoon boat manufacturers. They started manufacturing steel rowboats in 1903 and kept going into the 60’s by pioneering fiberglass boats. They have been making pontoon boats for decades, and your business doesn’t last this long unless you are doing something right!
Godfrey Sweetwater Cruise
You can sit back and enjoy in the Godfrey Sweetwater Cruise models. Offering excellent cruising performance and optimal seating for the whole family, they have the conversation friendly, comfortable and spacious stern seating. This can be the perfect place to hang out with your friends and family. You can connect with the water using the sturdy stern mounted ladder, made from stainless steel and rugged in design and beautiful in finish.
The Sweetwater Cruise comes with 19′ to 24′ long models with an 8′ 6″ beam width. Depending on the lengths, they can accommodate 10 to 17 passengers. There is room for people as well as immense storage options in the form of helm cubbies, under the seat storage as well as in floor storage options. The optional rectangular stern mounted table provides room for drinks and snacks with your friends.
With the performance packages, you can take the experience to the next possible level and even have a tritoon. The maximum engine horsepower is 150 to 300 HP and is model specific. They also offer saltwater packages. Know that with these expensive add-on features, the price point my extend beyond $40,000.
Harris Cruiser Series
Costing a little more than $34,000, you can have fun in the sun and live your best life on the water with the Harris Cruiser Series. Yes it comes at an affordable price and it is compact too, but yet comes loaded with all the features you may need to spend your day on the lake. You can cruise the water, relish nature or fish like a pro. There is a standard Bimini top.
The small pontoon boat will let you store all of your gear under the helm or loungers so you have the space to move about the deck. There are gates at the port, bow, and stern. They offer great handling capability in the small water spaces. You can carry a maximum of 8 to 11 passengers for your pontoon adventures. The maximum engine horsepower the models can accommodate is 115 HP. You also get the option to upgrade to the saltwater package.
Best Value Pontoon Boat – $50,000 or Less
Bennington L Series
Bennington L Series is one of the best options in this category. It has a 50 HP Yamaha four-stroke, and a strong sport performance system which also includes an under deck wave shield, lifting strakes, full length keels and a third centre tube. It offers several options in luxury, like pillow top upholstery, a privacy enclosure, for use with a portable MSD, four step ladder and a Bimini top.
Manitou Cruise
The Manitou Cruise series is a high-end luxury pontoon boat series that starts out just under the $50,000 price tag. The model comes with a standard floor plan and is available in lengths of 20′, 22′, and 24′ with a beam width of 8′. You can add a Bimini top. With the standard floor plan, you get a spacious rear sundeck. There is also plenty of additional bench seating. They have the Fusion RA60 Bluetooth stereo and 4 standard speakers. You get vinyl flooring, a privacy station, and a ski tow bar. It can have up to a maximum of 13 passengers.
The maximum engine horsepower supported is 200 HP. With the rear facing floor plan, seating is maximized by putting benches both in the front and back of the boat. You have the option to have the saltwater package. Also with the Limited and Premium upgrade packages, you can have the best of the best pontoon boat experience out there in the waters. But, know that these additional packages will easily push the MSRP above $50,000.
Conclusion
This concludes the best value pontoon boats article. It was very hard to pick a winner in each category, but it is even harder to exclude some manufacturers. There are so many potential pontoon boats to choose from. We love our pontoon boats and it seems like every major and mid-sized boat manufacturer has decided to throw their hat in the ring.
If we could offer any advice, it would be to attend a local boat show when available. Nationally, there are so many pontoon boat manufacturers, so a great way to narrow down the choices is to see what local dealers are offering. We highly recommend purchasing a pontoon boat from a local dealer. Similar to vehicles, you are going to need service or quality OEM parts/accessories, and there is no substitute for finding a local marine dealer who can help meet your needs as they evolve. Going to a boat show allows you to compare different manufacturers without driving to visit each dealer individually.
Finding the best value pontoon boat means striking the perfect balance between quality, features, and affordability. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option for family outings or a versatile vessel for fishing and relaxation, there are plenty of great choices available. By carefully comparing models, considering your needs, and prioritizing durability and performance, you can invest in a pontoon boat that offers exceptional value and years of enjoyment on the water. Make your choice with confidence and get ready to create lasting memories!
