The 10 Best Pontoon Boats To Buy In 2019
Pontoon boats have changed a great deal in the past twenty years or so. They were once made with a simplistic box shaped floating concept and they really werent that spectacular in appearance. These highly functional water craft have undergone a metamorphosis which can be compared to a butterfly shedding its cocoon, and what has emerged from the original designs is now more geared towards luxury rides than the practical function based models. Here are the 10 best pontoon boats that money can buy for 2019.
Bucks Bag High Adventure Pontoon Series
The Bucks Bag High Adventure Pontoon Series is a good middle of the road inflatable fishing pontoon boat. It also has a steel frame, with the pontoons made of PVC coated polyester with an internal vinyl air bladder. It has its own patented Line-Lock anchoring system, making anchor release and retrieval quick and easy. It is only 8 feet long and 4.5 feet wide and weighs 60 pounds, but can accommodate one person up to 350 pounds for a long day of fishing out on the lake.
Best Pontoon Boat Brands
If you think that pontoon boats are still the same simple, box-shaped boats, floating on the lake at low speeds, you should definitely reconsider. Over the past two decades, these boats have seen a massive change in their design, facilities, and comfort level.
Nowadays, pontoon boats are more inclined towards luxury than their original, practical models. Moreover, you will find more variety in designs and construction with the increasing number of pontoon boat brands in the market.
These brands compete with others by making their boats faster, expansive, and more comfortable. And if they want to make them stand out, they will make sure to add the best state-of-the-art innovations.
To help you out, I have done all the tiresome research and listed down 20 of the best pontoon boat brands here.
Since all brands below are experienced and trustworthy, you can browse through their catalog to find the perfect pontoon boat.
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Sea Eagle 285 Frameless
Image from seaeagle.com
The Sea Eagle 285 frameless pontoon boat is a one person portable inflatable fishing boat that gives you the most space for your money. It is only 9 feet long by 4 feet wide, and weighs 59 pounds, yet with a 3 hp outboard it can run at speeds of up to 5 to 7 mph and only has a draft of 4 inches. It takes five minutes to assemble and inflate, so it is incredibly portable and can be stowed in the truck of a car when not in use. The floorboards are wood, which provide stability and plenty of standing room for casting, as well as a pedestal swivel seat that turns 360 degrees allowing for reeling in that trophy fish.
Free Boat Buyers Toolkit
In addition to the videos, youll want to grab a free copy of the Boat Buyers Toolkit. Its packed with checklists, questions to ask and a sea trial checklist to ensure you dont make a major mistake.
Something every pontoon buyer looking to ger the most for their money needs to consider is who is going to help support me in my pontoon boating lifestyle.
For the easiest and best time on your pontoon, the dealer or service provider you work with will have a major impact on how positive or negative your experience will be.
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Why Suntracker Partybarge And Bass Buggy:
Although SunTracker pontoons are on the cheaper end of the pricing spectrum, they do deliver a good value for boat owners. They are able to sell for a cheaper price for a number of reasons.
They buy Mercury Motors in huge quantities for the all Tracker brands and only offer Mercury motors. This provides an enormous pricing advantage because the motor is a significant portion of the total pontoon cost.
Tracker has built a very streamlined manufacturing process. They do not have a significant number of options in their build process. This efficiency translates into a less expensive build cost. They are able to automate more on the production line and are able to build boats faster cutting down on labor cost.
In addition, they sell via a network of dealers including Bass Pro Shop, Cabelas and Tracker Marine Centers giving them a huge distribution network with a majority owned by Tracker Marines parent company, White River Holdings providing them additional scale.
Evaluating The Best Pontoon Boat Brands And Manufacturers
There are pontoon boats to fit every budget from economy to luxury models. Boat manufacturers carry multiple brands to cater to the variety of needs on the market. Be sure to compare objectively when deciding to buy a pontoon boat.
For example, pontoon boats with outboard engines will be cheap and more economical, but will lack power on the water. A stern drive engine will increase the cost, but will offer speed and power for skiing and tubing with a pontoon boat. Decide how the pontoon boat will be used on the water and let the intended usage guide the final buying decision for the best pontoon boat brand.
Many pontoon boats offer boaters an affordable way to get into boating with their first boat purchase. Marine lenders can offer very attractive boat loan financing with payments that can make owning a pontoon boat very similar in owning a second car.
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Cypress Cay C 171 Cruise
Youd rather have a smaller boat thats loaded to the gills with every conceivable option and accessory, as opposed to a larger one with less glitz and glam? Then its time to check out the Cypress Cay C 171, which sits under the $18,000 mark with a 50 horse Mercury FourStroke on the transom. That leaves plenty of room in the budget to check off the box for each and every option.
The C 171 Cruise also offers a seating arrangement thats a bit different from the norm, with an aft forward-facing couch, helm and passengers pedestal seats, and a pair of forward loungers. So despite this boats relatively small size, all eight passengers still have a comfy spot to plop down.
Visit Cypress Cay to learn more.
Nrs 14′ River Cataraft
Image from nrs.com
The NRS 14 River Cataraft is the luxury and yet ultimate sportsmans version of the basic inflatable pontoon boat. At almost 14 feet in length and weighing 72 pounds, it has a large upper frame allowing for 2-3 passengers, all the while carrying gear for those trips to that overnight campsite. The pontoons are made of heavy-duty Pennel Orca material which is super abrasion, chemical and UV-resistant for extra durability.
The tubes are comprised of three air chambers, allowing maximum peace of mind in any emergency situation. The Cataraft has a 10-year retail warranty, which goes a long way to ensure they stand behind their product. This is the inflatable you would raft down a river with and have no worries that it would pop on the first rapid you came across. The Cataraft is built to last, and strong enough to endure some major force in its everyday use.
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Best Harris Boat For You
Any boat in Harriss Crowne Series is a good buy.
These pontoons won the 2013 NMMA Innovation award. With the introduction of this series in 2013, Harris blurred the lines between a pontoons aluminum fencing and a v-hulls fiberglass curves.
The boat has fiberglass modules that form the boats exterior walls and also incorporate interior furniture bases.
The Crowne 270 SL TE can be outfitted with a pair of 400 HP Mercury Verado outboards that can push this craft to speeds over 60 mph.
Which Brands Make The Best Pontoon Boats
Barletta L25UCA
Barletta Content Manager, 6+ years Manufacturer Marketing, Brand Management, Content Marketing, Customer Experience
Shopping for a high-ticket item such as a new pontoon boat can be overwhelming. Thats because theres a sea of options when it comes to different types of models, brands, series, and price points.
Our team at Barletta Boats helps shoppers work through this every boat show season when there is a convention center full of different makes and models to choose from. With such a similar product, we know that it can be difficult figuring out which brand is right for you.
Although I believe that the Barletta lineup fulfills nearly every shoppers needs, we know that everyone is different, and there might be a certain brand that meets your needs a little bit better.
A happy boater is one that truly loves their boat, so Ive compiled a list of the top seven pontoon boat manufacturers in the industry to help you find your perfect vessel. The list includes:
Headquarters: New Paris, IN
Noteworthy: They offer a few different brands under their umbrella and make fishing boats as well as pontoons. They compete best in the lower price categories but do have a full offering.
Websites: Sylvan SunChaser
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Best Pontoon Boats For 2021
by Kyle WUpdated on June 10, 2021.
Boat Safe is a community supported site. We may earn comission from links on this page, but we have confidence in all recommended products.
While pontoons may not give you the adrenaline-pumping action of center console boats, they are one of the most versatile water vessels youll ever come across. Since they arent exclusively built for fishing or water sports, they offer a great compromise for people who like a bit of both.
Did we mention how comfortable they are? Yeah we probably should have led with that. Imagine how great it would be to have your living room couch on the river or lake without having to fork over loads of cash for a luxury yacht? Well, thats what you get with a pontoon boat.
Now, if youre thinking of those simplistic old-school-looking box-like structures mounted on two hulls, and with a couple of garden chairs inside, well, lets just say theyve come a long way from what they once were. Todays models are designed for luxury and functionality.
Weve put together an in-depth review of the 10 best pontoon boats, and a buying guide to help you choose the best one.
One look at the M3 and youll immediately tell it was built to deliver maximum comfort and relaxation. Thats why its number one on our list.
Venture Galvanized Single Axle Pontoon Trailer
Ventures Galvanized single axle pontoon trailer features galvanized wheels with 20.5 x 8 x 10 LRD 5 H Eco Trail Galvanized 5-4.5 bolt circle upgrade available. You can also upgrade to 10 inch tires. The lighting system is LED throughout the complete trailer and it comes with a dual wheel tongue jack and tandem axle brakes.
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Bennington 2552 Qcwwa I/o
When it comes to luxury pontoon boats, Bennington is a name that you can trust. The 2552 is beautifully-designed pontoon boat that is stylish and elegant, making it the Rolls-Royce of pontoon boats. The boat has dual-lounges sitting opposite each other, comfortable sofas with roto-molded seat bases, and armrests that flip down. There are also ample cup holders, so that everyone on board is able to store their drink in a convenient location.
The Bennington 2552 is a superb pontoon boat. Its dark purple and tan interior is a stylish combination. The help comes with a number of luxurious features, including a spoked steering wheel, wood panels, and ample storage space for small devices and gadgets.
The pontoon boat is also a top performer. It comes with a Volvo Penta engine that puts out 430 horsepower and is able to reach a top speed of 51 mph. Other features that make the Bennington 2552 a good pontoon boat to have include increased storage space and ample legroom.
If youre looking for a beautiful pontoon boat that gives you the comfort that you need for those long boating excursions, this is the perfect boat for you.
Why Are Pontoon Boats So Popular
The significant upsides of the pontoon boat design are a very shallow draft, low wetted area and a very stable, flat ride.
The fastest recorded pontoon boatTooned In, a South Bay 925CR with twin 330hp Promax engines, achieved an average speed over a mile of 114mph back in 2013.
The luxury end of this segment has a number of manufacturers vying to create the perfect pontoon boat for its customers.
With prices ranging from just over $30,000 to north of $400,000, the level of performance and luxury can be tailored to suit any budget.
There are options for fishing, water sports, lounging at anchor and of course long-distance cruising the 5,500-mile Great Loop from Florida to the Great Lakes and back has been completed on pontoon boats on more than one occasion.
Outboard power is the dominant option when it comes to pontoon boats
More focused examples of the breed include the fishing-orientated pontoon boats from the likes of Ranger and Sun Tracker.
These feature live bait wells, dedicated rod and tackle storage, electric trolling motors and ground anchors, providing the perfect boat for sneaking into shallow and hard to access fishing holes.
Even watersports enthusiasts are turning to pontoon boats. With very little wake and small turning circles, the pontoon boat makes an excellent and easy choice for everything except wakesurfing.
Easy-access sterns make pontoon boats ideal for watersports
Pontoon boats can be deceptively quick
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What To Look For In A Luxury Pontoon Boat
The best luxury pontoon boats come with features that arent offered with your standard, run-of-the-mill pontoon boat. When choosing a luxury pontoon boat, you want to find something that looks and feels better than its competitors, while also having a reputation for excellent performance and durability.
Select A Less Expensive Yet Reliable Outboard Motor If You Can Get It Serviced:
If you can find a Suzuki motor on the brand you are considering, you will likely save an additional few hundred to few thousands dollars. In the past 5 years or so Suzuki has been growing in market share. And the reliability of their 200HP and under motors has been very strong.
As a matter of fact, youll find many Suzuki outboards outside of the pleasure boat market on charter fishing boats, tour boats, police and fire boats and other boats that work harder than any almost any outboard on a pleasure pontoon boat.
The key is to ensure you have a reliable and near by certified Suzuki outboard service provider that is able to perform the required maintenance on schedule. If you do, you are likely to save a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on the motor alone and have a great experience.
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How To Choose The Best Pontoon Boats Buyers Guide
If youre a first-time pontoon buyer, youre likely confused about which one to get from all the different options available. Although it may seem overwhelming, the good news is whatever you decide to go with will likely be able to meet your specific needs. Nonetheless, here are a few things you need to know before you buy your pontoon.
Who Makes The Best Pontoon Boat
The 10 Best Pontoon Boats to Buy in 2019
. Besides, what is the most luxurious pontoon boat?
Just take one look at the QX25 and you can see that this is one of the best luxury pontoon boats around.
- G3 SunCatcher Diamond Elite 326SS. G3 SunCatcher Diamond Elite 326SS.
- Manitou 25 X-Plode SRS. Manitou 25 X-Plode SRS.
- Premier Escalante. Premiere Escalante.
- Starcraft SX 25 C. Starcraft SX 25 C.
- Sylvan M5 LZ DC.
Additionally, are Tritoons better than pontoons? Tritoons A pontoon with triple tubes will have a higher horsepower rating than a model with two tubes, and thus is capable of higher speed and is better suited for use as a watersport tow boat. The third pontoon also makes the boat more comfortable and capable in rougher water.
In this manner, what pontoon boat should I buy?
When determining what size you will need based on the number of people, consider the following: For 2-6 people choose a pontoon between 18 to 20 ft. For 6-10 people choose a pontoon between 22 to 24 ft. For more than 10 people you will want to consider a pontoon 24 ft. or larger.
How fast can a pontoon boat go?
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When To Choose A Tritoon Vs A Pontoon
Many times either boat will get the job done, but in general:
Suncatcher Amara By G3
The Amara by G3 from Suncatcher includes premium entertainment and technology for the ultimate party boat, along with an optional premium XTO engine from Yamaha to give you the ultimate in performance at the same time. The boat features upscale styles and limited availability for the 2020 model year. At 275, this craft has room for 12 passengers and a variety of color options are available for a custom finish.
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