Do you have fond memories of going fishing with your family? Are you someone who grew up by the sea or lake and who now has an incurable love of the open water? Are neither of those previous cases true, leaving you all the more eager to experience boating for the first time?
There are any number of reasons why you should buy a boat. Even if you’ve already decided that life at sea sounds sublime, however, the question remains – just what type of boat should you get, anyway?
There are a wide range of different types of boats out there, each with their own pros and cons. You likewise have your own unique personal history and budgetary constraints. No one type of boat is perfect for everyone.
But if we may be so bold as to say so, pontoon boats come as close as can be. There’s quite a lot to like about pontoon boats – so let’s dive right in.
Ease of Movement
One of the biggest upsides to opting for a pontoon boat is the fact that they feature quite a bit of deck space where passengers can stand up and walk around with ease. By contrast, a rowboat as well as many types of motorboats are far more compact and thus have a far smaller area in which passengers can sit. While this can be cozy and convenient if that’s your kind of thing, if you’d like to actually stand up and socialize with friends while out on the water, a pontoon boat will be far more your speed.
Storage Space
In addition to all that deck space, the best pontoon boats also typically feature a decent amount of storage space as well. Luggage can be safely and snugly stowed in spacious onboard compartments, and high-end models sometimes even have USB connections. There's also plenty of space to store a cooler that will keep your drinks, or any catches nice and cold.
Low Maintenance and Low Cost
One of the biggest obstacles to boat ownership for many people can be the twin-headed hydra of maintenance and cost issues. You don’t want to have to spend forever maintaining your boat, and you don’t want to spend a fortune doing so, either.
Thankfully, when you opt for a pontoon boat, neither of these are problems.
Maintenance for pontoon boats is among the simplest of any type of small domestic boat. They are easy to attach to trailers and transport, saving you the hassle of maintaining a special area for them. They are also comparatively easy to clean. You’ll want to pay close attention to the aluminum tubes, making sure they remain in top condition, make sure the hull remains free of algae, barnacles, and similar seaborne issues, and be sure to keep an eye on your fuel and the condition of your outboard motor.
Aside from that, you’re largely good to go!
With that ease of maintenance comes a low cost of maintaining your boat. The average cost of boat ownership can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and pontoon boats are often on the lower end of that spectrum.
Entertain in Style
As stated, pontoon boats allow for a far greater degree of onboard mobility and movement than other types of boats. This, in turn, makes them a far better choice for entertaining friends. If you are looking to spend a solo day at sea, then there’s nothing wrong with looking at a small rowboat or fishing boat.
If you’re looking for an affordable party boat, however, pontoon boats are a great choice.
In addition to having loads of space onboard, modern pontoon boats are often manufactured with entertainment in mind. For example, if you think having a barbeque or hot meal at sea would be a great idea, a pontoon boat is more likely to offer both the space and possible outlets and amenities necessary to make that feasible.
Tube Fun
Pontoon boats are ideal for dragging behind a towable tube for people to sit on and enjoy the water up close. Buy a good tube to drag behind your pontoon boat, one that has plenty of positive reviews and is built to last. As long as you know how to drag a tube behind your pontoon boat correctly, you can enjoy countless hours of fun on the water with them.
Gone Fishing
Of course, in that scenario, you’re going to need something to eat, and since you’re out on the water and all, why not go fishing? You already have an ample amount of space in which to store fishing equipment. What’s more, you have something that other types of boats often limit – easy access to each side of the boat.
That may seem basic, but it’s due to the pontoon boat’s brilliant design. Other types of boats can be too high or are otherwise fenced off, making fishing difficult. With pontoon boats, however, you have far more freedom and access to all sides of the boat, making finding fish much easier for everyone on board.
This can also allow everyone to fish at once without bumping into or crowding one another.
Pontoon boats truly are an entertainer’s delight. With so much space, you’ll be able to have more guests onboard and give them free range to do a greater amount of activities than with other types of boats.
A pontoon boat is stylish, spacious, and fun for family and friends alike. And what could make for a better day at sea than that?
Last Updated on August 27, 2020 by Pete