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Pontoon Boats
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Published: September 12, 2006
Pontoon boats are great for much more than what is conventionally thought: putzing around small lakes and rivers. It's true they make a great get-together boat or party platform, but nowadays some pontoon boats are specifically designed for bait-fishing and fly fishing.
A potential buyer should think of what activities the boat will be used for after purchase. Different uses will mean different criteria: if a buyer would like to tow their children on a tube, he should look for a higher horsepower engine. For a fly fishing pontoon boat for rivers, an engine is most likely not necessary (and more so, undesirable) with paddles being used instead.
There are some questions to keep in mind before purchasing a pontoon boat. Apart from what it will primarily be used for, include how big the body of water is that it will be used on, whether it will be docked or dropped off on a boat ramp, how often it will be driven around on a trailer, and how many people will be using it.
More specific questions may come up as you look at various models and notice the small differences between brands of pontoon boats (i.e. one may have a built-in cooler and another may not). If a buyer is looking for a boat to tan on, tanning decks are available with privacy enclosures on the bow of the boat, or if a buyer is looking for the option to stay in the shade as well, most leisure pontoon boats have built-in canopies that stretch out over the aft of the vessel.
Storage space is very important on pontoon boats. The more people one plans to have on them, the more life jackets must be stored on the boat (usually in bins or under the seats). So be sure to check how much storage space is available on a potential purchase. If looking to bait fish on a pontoon boat, look for fishing seats which are usually available in the front, back or both.
Pontoon boats made for fly-fishing (and some for bass fishing) look much different and are much smaller than conventional pontoons. They are made for either one or two people, are highly maneuverable, and can be used on even the shallowest rivers. Because fly-fishermen are usually in shallow, rocky rivers, there is no motor on these pontoon boats for fear that the propeller would easily get damaged. Pontoon boats specifically designed for bass fishing may have a small engine on them because bass fishermen usually do not find themselves in as shallow of water as fly-fishermen.
The price range of a pontoon boat (the conventional kind) is anywhere from $8,000 to $30,000 new ($1,500 to $8,000 used) depending on size, amenities, engine, etc. For a fly-fishing or bass fishing pontoon boat the range is from $150 to $1,500.
Keeping in mind all this information will hopefully result in a favorable boat purchase along with many days of fun on the water to come!
Discover Boating. 2006. National Marine Manufacturers Association. 11 Sept. 2006 <www.discoverboating.com/buying/types/detail.as px?id=29>.
Pontoon Boat. 2006. About Inc. 11 Sept. 2006. <www.powerboat.about.com/cs/boattype1/p/pontoon _boat.htm>.
A potential buyer should think of what activities the boat will be used for after purchase. Different uses will mean different criteria: if a buyer would like to tow their children on a tube, he should look for a higher horsepower engine. For a fly fishing pontoon boat for rivers, an engine is most likely not necessary (and more so, undesirable) with paddles being used instead.
There are some questions to keep in mind before purchasing a pontoon boat. Apart from what it will primarily be used for, include how big the body of water is that it will be used on, whether it will be docked or dropped off on a boat ramp, how often it will be driven around on a trailer, and how many people will be using it.
More specific questions may come up as you look at various models and notice the small differences between brands of pontoon boats (i.e. one may have a built-in cooler and another may not). If a buyer is looking for a boat to tan on, tanning decks are available with privacy enclosures on the bow of the boat, or if a buyer is looking for the option to stay in the shade as well, most leisure pontoon boats have built-in canopies that stretch out over the aft of the vessel.
Storage space is very important on pontoon boats. The more people one plans to have on them, the more life jackets must be stored on the boat (usually in bins or under the seats). So be sure to check how much storage space is available on a potential purchase. If looking to bait fish on a pontoon boat, look for fishing seats which are usually available in the front, back or both.
Pontoon boats made for fly-fishing (and some for bass fishing) look much different and are much smaller than conventional pontoons. They are made for either one or two people, are highly maneuverable, and can be used on even the shallowest rivers. Because fly-fishermen are usually in shallow, rocky rivers, there is no motor on these pontoon boats for fear that the propeller would easily get damaged. Pontoon boats specifically designed for bass fishing may have a small engine on them because bass fishermen usually do not find themselves in as shallow of water as fly-fishermen.
The price range of a pontoon boat (the conventional kind) is anywhere from $8,000 to $30,000 new ($1,500 to $8,000 used) depending on size, amenities, engine, etc. For a fly-fishing or bass fishing pontoon boat the range is from $150 to $1,500.
Keeping in mind all this information will hopefully result in a favorable boat purchase along with many days of fun on the water to come!
Discover Boating. 2006. National Marine Manufacturers Association. 11 Sept. 2006 <www.discoverboating.com/buying/types/detail.as px?id=29>.
Pontoon Boat. 2006. About Inc. 11 Sept. 2006. <www.powerboat.about.com/cs/boattype1/p/pontoon _boat.htm>.
