Pro's and cons of a pontoon/party boat?

Question

We currently have a 16 ft tri hull, set up basically for fishing. My hubby wants a pontoon for more room, knowing that he will not be able to get into the back waters that he can get into now. What are some of the pro's and con's you pontoon boat owners have experienced?

Answer 1

I've never owned one, but here are some pitfalls I see:

Very high center of gravity.  In really rough water there would be a serious risk of capsizing.

Likely is not particularly fast--which may not be a problem.

Advantages are a fairly shallow draft, a lot of deck space for the weight, and good stability in relatively calm water.

Answer 2

I am about to build a pontoon boat 6.75 metres long and i want it for a "party" boat .It must be able to fish and crab from . Some of the rivers/creeks i want to entre with it are  shallow on low tide so my pontoons are going to be shaped like a "u" and i think MUST/WILL be filled with foam . I am looking at a finished weight of around 800 kg fully decked out and ready for the kids and i to go camping in . I hope i have helped you a little .

Answer 3

my family LOVES our pontoon boat.

you can fit a lot of people & it's great for swimming off of & decent for fishing.

Answer 4

You can cook on a Pontoon..pull up to shore anywhere and get on land to fish..you can anchor and fish all the banks....You can sleep on it....park in coves for the drunks to swim safely..etc....

Great FUN!!!

"PLAYING" on a pontoon is like playing in a waterbed..OH YEAH!!

Answer 5

I worked at a park in N Calif as an outboard mechanic for 9 yrs. Our most popular rental was the pontoon boats. They would go into the shallowest water. Safe as can be -provided you don't fall off between the pontoons while under way. I've been in one in flordia with a 120 hp motor and it flew. Never heard the "top heavy" problem, but I guess you can build anything up so it won't work. So Go rent one for a day and see how you like it. You can spend any amount on them from $1500 up to millions.