Pontoon Boats

Official Guide to Everything About Pontoon Boats

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor – And Your Fishing Adventure Can Begin!

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Since electric boat motors are often used for fishing, they are commonly called “trolling motors”. Many fishermen use trolling motors to steady their boat against wind or to slowly cruise exactly where they want to go (hopefully right where the fish are). Normally the trolling motor is attached to the bow of the boat but it can also be attached to the stern.  Fishing for bass, for example, means that you will want a trolling motor for fine adjustments to the boat without the noise of the engine because that frightens fish away off. A small pontoon boat with trolling motor is ideal for any fishing expeditions because trolling motor makes navigation easier.

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor AQUOS 7.5

A pontoon boat is your everyday boat but a small pontoon boat with trolling motor is actually a boat powered by electric trolling motor, with an option to paddle, and typically includes a deep cycle lead battery with it. The boat has exceptional stability and calmness in choppy waters and navigates with breeze any waterway. There are some things to know before buying a small pontoon boat with a trolling motor.

Purchasing a Small Pontoon Boat

First, you need to decide what you are going to use your small pontoon boat for. Typically people don’t buy a boat with a trolling motor unless they have one main activity in mind: Fishing! Assuming that you are purchasing a small pontoon boat with a trolling motor for fishing, then there are typically a few different types of small pontoon boats with trolling motors that you can choose from, depending on how portable you need the boat to be when transporting it to the lake, and how much range and stability you need once you are on the lake.

Inflatable One Man Pontoon Fishing Boat With Trolling Motor

Starting at the smallest and lightest end the most portable types of small pontoon boats that can come with a trolling motor include the one man inflatable fishing pontoon boats. These are a great choice if you want to be as portable as possible because most of these boats can fit into the trunk of a car, and some are pretty heavy but with a little sweat and tears you can walk one from your car to your lake by yourself and get fishing on the water in no time. Once you are on the water the trolling motor can get you going quickly since the inflatable boats are relatively light compared to a traditional pontoon boat. Some disadvantages include the risk of developing a leak in the boat and with an inflatable boat (other than a couple of options) you are going to be fishing alone on the boat. Sure you can bring a friend on “another” boat but the majority of these boats are made for a single person. Click this link for a full list of the 10 Best One Man Pontoon Boats or if you are in a rush here are a few of our favorites:

AQUOS Heavy-Duty Inflatable Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor Aquos 7.5 with trolling motor

The AQUOS Heavy Duty Inflatable Pontoon Boat is kind of like a hydrid between an inflatable fishing boat and a standard pontoon boat. It comes with a great sturdy chair on a rigid platform as well as a support pole to hold your gear. The difference with a traditional pontoon boat is that the platform is sitting on top of 4 inflatable pontoons. You can easily attach a trolling motor to the bow or stern of the platform and AQUOS even has an option available where you can buy the AQUOS Heavy Duty 7.5 ft Inflatable Boat With a Trolling Motor already included in the package. People who have purchased it in the past say that it’s a great quality and it’s a very nice platform to fish from. Some recommend buying a separate trolling motor that is a 35 lb or 55 lb thrust rather than the standard 20 lb thrust as it gets you around the lake better. Additionally, some of the larger customers (i.e. over 160 pounds) felt a little unstable on the 7.5′ model. Luckily we have just learned that AQUOS is releasing an 8.8′ model and a 10.2′ model that should be more suitable for people over 160 lbs. Trust me I don’t consider 160 lbs “big” either so I definitely have my sights on the 10.2′ model! Please note that although this boat is described as “portable” I wouldn’t plan on hiking it into the mountains or anything soon you can carry it but plan on making multiple trips, although AQUOS is releasing a new “Backpack Series” of boats for 2021 so check them out and see if they are any more portable than the first generation of boats.

Classic Accessories Colorado Pontoon Boat

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor Classic Accessories Colorado Pontoon Boat

Another inflatable small fishing pontoon boat with a trolling motor is the Classic Accessories Colorado Pontoon Boat. This boat is one of our most popular one man fishing pontoon boats and we are ecstatic that it comes with a perfect rear storage rack and mount that is absolutely perfect for a trolling motor and battery. They don’t typically come as a set with a trolling motor but you can purchase whatever you want for a motor anyhow. Most people who own a Classic Accessories Colorado Pontoon Boat absolutely love it. Some feedback from owners are that it is a very well made boat with high quality components. Many people modify the seat to make it into a swivel seat, although we just recently noticed that Classic Accessories came out with another Colorado model that makes a swivel seat optional. It is very portable and holds people up to 400 lbs, so it is quite stable! You may get a little wet in the boat since it’s so close to the water when you are sitting. Overall this is one of the best and portable small pontoon boats that you can get with a trolling motor.

Sea Eagle 375fc FoldCat Inflatable Pontoon Fishing Boat

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor Sea Eagle 375fc Foldcat Inflatable fishing

The Sea Eagle FoldCat 375fc is a classic small fishing pontoon boat for either one or two people. It’s got a classic design, and it’s got a nice, stable deck attached to it (similar to the AQUOS design). This boat is a more sturdy and larger than the other small inflatable pontoon boats and you pay a little bit more price for it, but it is definitely made for two people and you will be thankful for the steadiness on the water when you are catching fish out on the lake! The boat comes in a few different packages including oars only, an electric trolling motor (70 lb thrust), or even a 3 hp gas motor if you want to stretch your range as far as you can. Buyers of the Sea Eagle 375fc are impressed with the stability and quality of the boat. Their only complaints are that some of the screws come loose on the seat and the oar holders’ position is a little awkward when fishing but they have found easy fixes for the issues and are generally very happy with the boat.

Mini and Small Pontoon Boats with Trolling Motor

If you want a little more “robust” fishing boat that is made of steel or aluminum instead of inflatable rubber, then there are a number of manufacturers and models available. For a full list of manufacturers please visit our Mini Pontoon Boat Manufacturers article, or if you are in a hurry here are a few of the most popular models:

Pond King – Patriot Mini Two-Man Fishing Pontoon Boat

small pontoon boat with trolling motor pond king

Pond King has been a mainstay in the mini and small pontoon boat industry since it started in 1995 as a pond management company. They know ponds and it shows in the high quality of their pontoon boats. The Patriot Mini Tow-Man Fishing Pontoon Boat is just one of a number of models that Pond King offers geared toward having a solid but small pontoon boat out on the lake for a great day of fishing. The Patriot Mini Pontoon is built entirely out of aluminum to withstand the elements and has been “modularized” so it can be shipped and assembled easily. It comes equipped with two seats and with a 45 lb trolling motor (or you can buy a motor of your choice). Pond King has a number of excellent models available as a one man or two man small fishing pontoon, but we wanted to spotlight the Patriot specifically because Pond King has an excellent annual program that gives away Patriot boats to veterans. We think that this program is absolutely fantastic and think that it’s a wonderful way to support our wonderful veterans and bring honor and recognition to those who served our country.

Fun Toons Pro Bass 19 Small Pontoon Boat

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor Fun Toons Pro Bass 19

The Fun Toons Pro Bass Small Pontoon is a solidly built little pontoon boat that is made for two people. It is built for fishing as it is super stable and has two swivel seats and a rail that extends around the perimeter of the boat. You can choose a trolling motor or a small gas motor to propel the boat.

Laker 612 Trolling Fisher Pontoon Boat

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor Laker 612 Trolling Fisher

The Laker 612 Trolling Fisher Pontoon is nearly as “deluxe” as you can get when it comes to small pontoon boats with a trolling motor. The Laker boats are all typically built with square pontoons and all aluminum construction with a “bed liner” floor for excellent durability. The Laker resembles a full-sized pontoon boat with it’s solid rail around the perimeter, canopy, and 4 swivel chairs. It can be propelled with a 55 lb. C2 Minn Kota trolling motor, a 5 hp outboard engine, or up to a 20 hp outboard if you buy an aftermarket bracket for it.

Select a Trolling Motor for your Small Pontoon Boat

After you select your boat model then you should select a trolling motor brand, then a model, and then mounting and other accessories. One detail that could be of importance when picking up the brand is if you already have a fish finder.  This is because of the fact that trolling motor and fish finder manufacturers often work together to make their technologies compatible. The first step to determine the model you want is where you want to mount the trolling motor.  Your main options are bow, transom (rear), or engine mount. The issue of power is important because pontoon boats are large and do not have the hydrodynamics of a v-hull boat. Speaking of accessories and mounting options, batteries and charger should be in your focus.  Contrary to your boat’s engine, the trolling motor is battery powered and does not recharge by running the motor, which means you will need to charge the batteries at home before each trip. The type of battery needed for a trolling motor is a deep cycle battery.  The deep cycle battery is aimed for longer battery drains that will often drain the battery entirely. When it comes to charging batteries, you should be sure to get one that is graded for marine conditions, has the connections for the number of batteries you will use, and be sure to get a “smart” charger to preserve the longevity of the battery.

Small Pontoon Boat with Trolling Motor Motorguide Varimax 24 volt

MotorGuide VariMAX 24-Volt Freshwater Hand/Pontoon Mount Trolling Motor is one of the leading brands used for making a small pontoon boat with trolling motor.  Key features include75 lbs., thrust, 50″ shaft, hand-control pontoon, pontoon mount style, precise BluVis integrated speed and battery indicator.

Another good brand of trolling moter to make a small pontoon boat with trolling motor is Minn Kota Terrova 55 Bow-Mount Trolling Motor. Key features are: easy to stow and deploy, universal solar, waterproof, low profile foot pedal, pre-installed i-Pilot gives you great control, two year warranty.

A small pontoon boat with trolling motor is a small but powered boat that can be an integral part of your big fishing pleasure!

How Wide is a Pontoon Boat

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Pontoon boats comes in different shapes and size. The dimensions of the boats are affected by a number of factors that include the manufacturing company, the model and make of the boat and the purpose it is to be used for. Generally, the length determines how wide a pontoon boat is. These are generally in a specific ratio to each other. Addition of a third pontoon does not necessarily change the dimension of the boat. This article addresses the question “How Wide is a Pontoon Boat?”

How Wide Is a Pontoon Boat

Though different manufacturers have slightly different width to length ratios in their boats, a general classification can be made that defines how wide is a pontoon boat.

Small Pontoon Boats

Small size pontoon boats can be defined as ones that have a length that is less than 20 feet. These boats typically have a width which is around 8 feet. They generally have two pontoons with a diameter of 24 to 26 inches each. A smaller boat which may be 12 or 14 feet in length, may have a width of 7 feet. Sport CRB / QL from the house of Tahoe Pontoons is an example of such a boat. Its 14, 16 and even 18 feet models have a width of 7 feet. The Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 16 DLX has a width of 7 feet while the Party Barge 18 DLX from the same manufacturer is 8 feet and 2 inches wide.  Small pontoon boats that are 7′ wide or less can also be characterized as mini pontoon boats.  Click the following link to see our comprehensive guide to all major mini pontoon boats.

Mid-Size Pontoon Boats

The mid-size pontoon boats are classified as those having a width from 8 to 10 feet. These boats generally have a length that can vary between 20 feet to 40 feet depending on the manufacturer. The boats can have two or three pontoons as per the choice of the buyer. This segment has the highest number of boat models and is quite sought after. The 27 feet wide beam QX series from Bennington has a width of 10 feet and can accommodate 18 people easily. However, as you can see from a Sylvan brochure (one of my favorite pontoon boat brands, and most likely the brand that I will be purchasing JUST as soon as we have enough money saved up), all of their standard boats have a 102″ (or 8.5′) width. In the 20′-30′ range I would say most standard pontoon boats hover around the 8.5′ (+/- 6″) range.

How Wide is a Sylvan Pontoon Boat

Large Pontoon Boats

If someone is thinking how wide is a pontoon boat at maximum, there are a few pontoon boats that are almost 12 feet wide. The Dodici manufactured by Premier pontoon has a width of 11 feet and 10 inches and is available in 29 and 31 feet lengths. The boat can easily accommodate 26 people and has 26-inch side pontoons and a massive 42-inch center pontoon.

Width of Customized Pontoon Boats

how wide is a standard pontoon boat

Besides the standard widths of models from different pontoon boat brands, customized boats are also available. Various manufacturers, fabricate pontoon boats that are as per the requirements of their customers. The biggest of these boats may have width anywhere from 12 feet to 20 feet in proportion to the length of the boat and the intended usage for the boat. The boats can be from 30 feet to all the way up to 50-60 feet. These boats require pontoons that may be 30 to 60 inches in diameter. These boats are generally used for hosting parties and events for a large number of guests on the water. We hope that this articles has answered your Question “How Wide Is a Pontoon Boat”. Please feel free to ask questions below.

Small Pontoon Boat Kits

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To own a pontoon boat, one does not necessarily have to spend huge amounts of money. There are small pontoon boat kits available from different manufacturers that enable a person to build their own pontoon boat. These kits give a high degree of customizability to a person allowing them the freedom to add features and components to their liking. These are perfect for do-it- yourself enthusiasts.

What do the kits contain and how to choose the right kit?

These kits contain all the parts that are required for assembling of the pontoon boat. They allow freedom to build a boat as per their requirement and at a substantially lower cost as compared to pre-manufactured boats.

The small pontoon boat kits generally comprise of following parts.

  • Pontoons

The kit generally comes with two pontoons. These are made up of an aluminum-magnesium alloy though some manufacturers also sell polyethylene ones. While selecting the size of a pontoon a person must consider the gross weight of the boat including those of the number of persons that the boat will carry and the purpose of the boat.

  • Engine

A kit may or may not include an outboard motor engine. There are different companies that manufacture engines with varying horsepower such as Yamaha and Mercury. The boat buyer may choose a motor as per their requirement and compatibility with the kit.

  • Steering and Console

Steering wheels and consoles are one of the integral equipment and their quality must be considered while selecting a small pontoon boat kit for assembling pontoon boat. These may be available by the kit manufacturer or other companies.

  • Deck Frame and Flooring

Decks are available in different materials like wood and fiberglass. The kit will also contain a frame that will be used to attach the pontoons to the deck and provide structural integrity and strength. Multiple flooring options such as carpets and vinyl are available with different kits.

  • Furniture

Another aspect to consider while buying a boat kit is the furniture that a person intends to install on the boat. A boat may be installed with anything from two simple chairs to luxurious vinyl lounges and even special fishing chairs. Selecting the furniture will depend on the number of persons that the boat is required to carry and the purpose.

  • Railings

The small pontoon boat kits may come with railings that are used both for safety and aesthetic purposes. The railings come with various graphic decorations with some manufacturers giving options for customizing the design to the buyer.

  • Other Accessories

The kits also include bolts, nuts and screws, instruction manuals, mounting brackets and other hardware required for assembly. In addition, the boat buyer may consider additional gadgets and accessories depending on the purpose of the boat.

While choosing a small pontoon boat kit, a few factors must be considered. The boat kits are available in different size and a person may choose one that fits their needs and the intended usage. Kits for fishing pontoon boats will slightly differ from those intended for cruising. For salt waters, the kits will be made of a material that is less prone to corrosion and a person must buy these if they intend to use them in salty water bodies. Some companies manufacture kits that are customized to the requirements of the customer.

Manufacturers of Pontoon Kits

There are a few manufacturers of small pontoon boat kits.

U-Fab Boats: The company has been in the boat business since 1999 and is a manufacturer of pontoon boat kits made of aluminum. They manufacture kits in different sizes and depending on their intended usage.

American Pontoon Co.: Another manufacturer of small pontoon boat kits is American Pontoon based in Manning city of South Carolina. Different kits are fabricated by them that are in accordance with the design and specifications of the boat buyer.

Advantages of Pontoon Boat Kits

Using a boat kits has a number of advantages. The kits are straightforward to assemble and there is no need of welding for building a pontoon boat out of them. It is easy to ship and transport kits as compared to a full pontoon boat saving delivery costs for the boat buyer. It is much cheaper to assemble a pontoon boat from a kit rather than buying a fully fabricated pontoon boat. For someone looking for a pontoon boat at low costs and having a knack for doing things themselves, the small pontoon boat kits are perfect.

Pontoon Boat Types

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A pontoon is a metallic tube, flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load over it. Boats using pontoon as a floating device are called pontoon boats. Pontoon boats are typically cylindrical and do not have inside access; they are simply for flotation.

In today’s world, pontoons have become a common item in most of the households. Pontoon boats are suitable for families and can accommodate furniture as well. With its many designs, pontoon boats offer a variety of features to make it more comfortable and more appropriate for the usage of the boaters. There are small pontoon boats, mini pontoon boats, fast pontoon boats, fishing pontoon boats, wakeboarding pontoon boats and many more. Each of them have their own features and characteristics which make them unique and customized according to the preferences of the customers.

There are many manufacturers present in the market today. They build and create and sell all the types of pontoon boats as mentioned above. To describe a few of them in a gist:

The best pontoon boats available in the market today are:

  • Aqua Patio 250 Express: Targeted to appeal to the younger generations, this pontoon boat is styled very edgily. It has up to three hundred horse power. IT also comes in the form of triple pontoons. It is fit to use in bigger waters and for water sports too.

  • Premier 220 Cast away: It provides a composite fish station with an integrated livewell, and two flanking fishing chairs. The lid serves as a bait prep station with built in lockable rod lockers.

  • Cypress Cay Sea breezes 230: With an upscale layout, it provides a sun pad for all out lounging, with supportive accommodations.

  • Manitou 23 Legacy Ship: It comes with a patented V-Toon technology with twenty-three-inch diameter outer pontoons with a twenty seven inch centre tube.

  • Harris Grand Mariner SL 250: It consists of a large low-profile sun pad, with a pivoting back rest with an excellent quality of upholstery.

  • Sylvan 8525 Mandalay Bar: Dubbing the design of “Revolutionary Planning Technology” , Sylvan Mandalay Bar comes with an actual bar at the craft’s stern!

  • Sweetwater SW 1880: This is a small pontoon boat, with a standard 50 horse power enough for a small group for fishing.

  • Bennington Q25 I/O: In Bennington Q25, the anchor housed below the motor is a Mercruiser or Volvo-Penta drive with a power of three hundred horse power.

  • Avalon Windjammer Quad Lounger: Places a premium on kicking back, with wrap around seating, lining the perimeter of the boat. It is fastened completely outside the perimeter rails giving a sleek look to the exterior.

  • Suntracker Bass Buggy: It is furnished with fishing chairs with screw in pedestals at the bow, an aerated livewell, vinyl flooring, rod holders and drink holders.

Small Pontoon Fishing Boats

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A pontoon is a metallic tube, flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load over it. Boats using pontoon as a floating device are called pontoon boats. Pontoon boats are typically cylindrical and do not have inside access; they are simply for flotation.

When we generally talk about fishing, people generally think of a sturdy aluminium V-Hull, or a sleek bass boat or even an offshore tolling machine. But these views are changing. With the advent of technology, pontoon boats too are gaining popularity as the families’ choice for fishing. And they have their own reasons to be becoming the favourite among the fishing boats! They are stable, they have multiple anglers to cast, and they can accommodate a number of people on board to enjoy fishing together. They also have high tech fishing features included within them due to the technology today, which makes fishing more fun and easier on a pontoon boat in comparison to other contemporary boats. One can add a number of add-on features as well on the pontoon boat as it has ample space on its deck for the same. You can add fish finder or GPS or both, and to make fishing a more comfortable experience, you can also add tables for meals and even a mini bar!

Small Pontoon boats are pontoon boats of width 7 or 8 feet and are available in shorter lengths. These pontoon boats are perfect for cruising smaller lakes accommodating two to four people on onboard. The main advantage of these pontoon boats is that these type of boats are easier to handle and easier to maintain and can be taken anywhere!

Small pontoons are generally equipped with electric motors as they are used for treading short journeys over small water bodies. The advantages of small pontoons can be summed up as follows:

  • In case there are any local restrictions put in place to protect the waterways, and those restrictions are in form of physical challenges like constant water depth fluctuation, small pontoons are very practical.
  • Small pontoon boats are environment friendly as they do not require a diesel engine and would need 75 horse power.
  • This kind of pontoon boats is very favourable in shallow waters, especially in local ponds.
  • These are more stable and the flat deck keeps the boat and the gear steady , instead of constant rocking motion.
  • It is perfect for beginners who want to start their fishing ventures, but do not have much idea about boating. The stability and the steadiness in these boats would further encourage a beginner to use it to its potential.
  • Handling, maneuvering and docking big boats can be difficult but the small boats are easy to do so!

Most of the pontoon manufacturers in the market are in the business of small pontoons. The following pontoon manufacturers are well known for their small boats : Apex Marine (Qwest, Gillgetter), Pond King, Sunny Days, Pro Strike, Tahoe, Kennedy and Outcast.

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