types of pontoon boats – Pontoon Boats

Wakeboarding Pontoon Boat

July 2, 2017 by Dan

A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load on the surface of water. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float.

Pontoons are tubes which contain more than sufficient amount of buoyancy. This feature allows boat designers to design and create massive decks which can then be customized according to the owners’ preferences. Customers can have extended lounge areas, sun pads and many more similar luxurious options. This also makes pontoon boats favourably suitable to accommodate large groups of people as well.

Generally pontoon boats are comfortable fishing boats while whittling the time away at nearby lakes or ponds but today they have become much more that. Today, pontoon boats come in different shapes and sizes with different features, offering everything from small in house bars to wakeboarding towers to underwater lights. Most of the people love their pontoon boats for the comfort, space, amenities (which can be added such as lounge chairs, and even water slides). But now, they can be really fast as well! Modern technology has allowed pontoon boats to turn into these high performance and super fast boats that are safe as well as fun.

As technology advancement has enabled pontoon boats to be faster, there are various forms of water sports associated with fast pontoon boats. The most popular of them is wakeboarding. Wakeboarding is the sport of riding on a short, wide board, which is similar to the surfboard, and performing acrobatic stunts while being towed on a fast pontoon boat. Primarily, it is riding a wakeboard over the surface of the body of the water. It is a combination of waterskiing, snowboarding, and surfing.

The wakeboard is usually towed behind a fast pontoon boat with motorboats, at a speed of 18-25 mph. The speed depends upon various factors like the board size, weight, and the type of tricks to be performed and the comfort level of the performer. The other factors which would affect the speed are the make and model of the boat and also how old the boat is.

The primary difference between a normal pontoon boat and a wakeboarding pontoon boat is the wake board tower. The wakeboard tower is generally constructed of thick-walled stainless steel or aluminium tubing. The steel or the aluminium places the pull point about 7 feet off the water surface. The advantage of the high point is that it makes easier to jump and get air since the rope is not pulling in the downward direction, as it happens in skiing, when it is attached to the low tow point.

However, there are limitations while wakeboarding behind a pontoon boat. First of all, there is a lot less torque. So, only beginners can start wakeboarding with pontoon boats. It is not for serious wake boarders and water sports enthusiasts. They would prefer a traditional v-hull boat. Again, the wake has less shape. The best part about wakeboarding behind a lake is the opportunity to jump, flip, and perform tricks off of the wake, and the shallow nature of the wakeboarding pontoon boat (coupled with the outboard motor, as compared to an inboard or in/outboard motor) just doesn’t give the size wake that serious wakeboarders are after. Finally, the boat is not as maneuverable. A wakeboarder behind a boat creates an enormous about of drag and the boat counts on the force of the motor to steer with tight turns. An outboard on the back of a pontoon boat coupled with the shallow depth of the boat in the water just doesn’t give quite the control of a traditional V hull boat with an inboard motor.

With all of that being said, if your kids would like to get out on the lake with your pontoon boat and go wakeboarding, and your boat has enough horsepower to get them up out of the water on a wakeboard and keep them moving without dragging them through the water, then by all means get out there on your pontoon boat and enjoy wakeboarding!

Small Pontoon Boat

June 30, 2017 by Dan

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.

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.
Environmental regulations limit the horsepower usage by imposing some horsepower restrictions over boats. But as these boats are already using way below than the restriction limit without any performance damage, they are more feasible to use.
It is perfect for beginners who want to start their boating 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, manoeuvring and docking big boats can be difficult but the small boats are easy to do so!
Small pontoons are easy to store especially in case of winter storage. They would just fit inside a standard garage just fine. It is also easier to turn and park these boats in the garage in comparison to the other bigger boats of standard size.

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

Small pontoons are also used by the Department of Natural Resources for maintenance of water bodies, law enforcement and rescue operations. They are used to clean up small debris from shallow waters which would be unreachable by standard sized pontoon boats. And since small pontoons have much lesser weight on themselves, they make s speedier rescue as compared to their counterparts. They can be helpful in assisting stranded boaters with engine troubles or boats with low fuel tanks .

Best Mini Pontoon Boats

June 30, 2017 by Dan

Pontoon boats can be big or small, depending upon the size of the boats. Generally the boats which are used for fishing are mini pontoon boats. The best mini pontoon boats generally range from 6 feet to 16 feet in size. They can accommodate one or two people and are typically used for fishing. Since they are comparatively smaller in size, they cannot be used for luxurious options like a sweet water pontoon boat. Apart from fishing, they can be used for enjoying the water for smaller journeys over the local ponds. It is not recommendable to take the mini pontoon boats in open waters. Mini pontoon boats are so small that they can even skip on the electric motor option and are sometimes promoted as paddle boats or pedal pontoons. The best mini pontoon boats are ones that can safely and steadily serve their purpose of getting you to where the fish are at so you can catch the big one. The best ones are made with quality materials, are wide enough to provide stability, and allow a motor or oars to easily propel the boat around the pond or lake where you are cruising.

Best Mini Pontoon Boats Manufacturers

There are a variety of manufacturers who build and sell the mini pontoon boats. Some of the big names in this field are:

Apex Marine (Qwest)

Qwest and Gillgetter are the subsidiaries of Apex Marine. Apex Marine is still the owner of these two brands.

Pond King

Pond King provides a number of mini pontoon boats depending upon the primary purpose of the boats. They also provide a “turn around guarantee” to their customers ensuring a full refund if the customer is not satisfied with the mini pontoon. They claim that they provide the best value for money in the market.

Sunny Days

Sunny Days boats make for immense use and fun as new boats for new beginners. They can be either electric or pedal or pro bass.

Pro Strike

Pro Strike is said to be the best quality mini boat in the market. It is on top of the material and construction as well as design, with their new square hybrid pontoons. These pontoons create high higher capacity, a lower centre of gravity along with more stability in a smaller area.

Tahoe

Tahoe claims to be the industry leader in pontoon boats. Their mini pontoons are favourable for fishing, easy hauling and sunset cruises for 2 or 4. They brand their mini pontoon boat as “ America’s best economical pontoon boat”.

Sunray

Sunray (by Fiesta) makes a number of mini pontoon boats like the Paddle boats, Electric Mini Toons, Outboard Mini Toons, Super Sport small pontoon boat, and the Sundeck model. With 50 square feet of ample carpeted deck area, these boats have ample room for fishing, sun tanning, and diving.