Pontoon Boat

By: Jason Petrina



A pontoon boat is a specially designed boat to seat between 6 to 15 passengers. It his built with the intent to host entertainment venues for small groups or families. Because of this the pontoon boat is also known as a party boat or a social boat. Pontoons vary a lot in size and style. There are certain pontoons that are two stories, while others can barely fit on 2 people. Pontoons can also have built in seats and chairs; however the lower priced pontoons do not and require you to use lawn furniture.

Pontoon boats have two different types of engines. Pontoon engines are all powered by gasoline; however they are either 2-cycle or 4-cycle. These two types of engines are responsible for out putting between 10 to 100 horse power. 2-cycle engines are much smaller and require a mix of gasoline and lubricating oil. They are very light weight and have the best weight to power ratio. The lubricating oil has a tendency to produce more smoke then 4-cycle engines because they do not burn well. 4-cycle engines have been slowly taking over the marine engine department and are replacing 2-cycle engines. 4-cycle engines are used in all sorts of marine vehicles; from cruisers to ski-boats they are slowing becoming the standard engine.

The size of pontoon boats can range from 3ft to 30ft. The big difference in size depends on purpose of the pontoon boats. Smaller boats are built for 2 or 3 people for primarily leisure purposes. These smaller pontoon boats are usually owned by the dock and rented out during tourists and vacation seasons. Larger pontoons are usually owned by wealthy individuals who use the pontoon for entertainment and leisure.

Pontoons are often referred to as party boats because of the large spacious deck. Simply drape a cover to block off the sun, and you can have yourself a good place to gather as a family or group of friends. Pontoon boats are also often used for fishing because of the easy going space and large atmosphere.

A common misconception concerning pontoon boats are that they are be taking out to sea. They very well can be; however they are not the greatest boats for long trips. They are built to be used as entertainment and leisure boats and should not be used for long periods of time in very deep or rough waters.

Pontoon boats have been around for a long time; however it is not until recent that they have been popular. From used pontoon boats starting from as low as 1500 and new pontoon boats from as low as 8500, they are the perfect price for a boat that can house up to 15 people.



Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com