Pontoon Deck Boats

2011-12-21

For people who enjoy spending their leisurely time on water, the only thing to do is to buy a sturdy boat with a good sized deck that provides plenty of room for stretching out and relaxing. Pontoons and deck boats are ideally suited for this job. Both types of boats have large bodies that provide plenty of seating, spacious cargo areas and can house a large variety of engine packages. It is the hull design which differentiates the two types of boats.

Selecting which boat is better suited to individual needs will depend on what one plans to use it for. Pontoon boats are large platforms floating on top of two or three “logs” of air under a flat deck. The log structure of pontoon boats provide greater durability and more ease when beaching on sandy shores. This design also protects the structure of the boat from getting scratched. The logs of a pontoon boat make up the draft, which is the portion of the hull under water, and are usually no more than a foot deep in water. This feature allows them to get closer to shorelines. Pontoons tend to rock less in still water as compared to a deck boat, but they cannot handle waves over three or four feet. The added benefit of a pontoon boat is that it is almost impossible to capsize them.

The deck boats, by contrast, are sleeker in that they have a more V shaped hull. Some of the deck boat space is cut into due to the tapering V design. The higher sides also take up a bit of the deck space. This very design also makes it better suited for fishing by increasing visibility and the casting area. It is also easier to cut through water due to the sleek shape, which makes it better suited for sporting activities like skiing and tubing. Along with the fast speed of a deck boat, one gets greater maneuverability and handling; however, they have a draft of 2.5 to 3 feet, which means they can’t get too close to shorelines. Additionally, the very shape that allows them to be able to withstand higher waves also makes them rock more when standing in still waters due to the hull’s V-shape center of gravity. This also makes it a bit more vulnerable because it can capsize if the wave hit it in the wrong way.

Pontoon boats are usually constructed of aluminum and have smaller horsepower engines so they are easier on the budget. Deck boats, too, are lightweight, but are constructed of fiberglass and can be packed with a 150hp to 260hp engine, which provides great speeds quickly. If all things are the same, then, in general, one will pay thousands of dollars more for the fiberglass hull of a deck boat then a pontoon boat.

Whether one already owns a boat or is considering buying one of them as their first purchase, the staff at Marine Connection, www.marineconnection.com, is fully equipped to provide all the latest information and handle all queries.