Small Pontoon Boats: For When Quality Beats Quantity

We all know the advantages of pontoons over regular boats. They’re less expensive to buy and cheaper to insure. They’re lighter, more maneuverable, and easier to transport. They’re durable, and they don’t cause much damage should a collision occur. But there are added advantages to purchasing small pontoon boats as opposed to some of the larger models. Obviously, they tend to be cheaper, but there’s much more to it than that.

1. Good for beginners: Small, compact boats are perfect for people who don’t have much experience with boating. If you’re just starting out and you’re not sure if this is going to turn into a long-term hobby, get a small pontoon boat, and practice maintaining, using, and handling it. After you try it out for a while, you can then decide whether or not to move on to a larger, more advanced type of boat.

2. Perfect for lakes that have restrictions: If you’re new to boating, you may be surprised how many lakes and other bodies of water enforce restrictions on what types of boats may enter. Some allow no gas-powered boats at all, which makes perfect conditions for a small pontoon with electric propulsion. Also, some lakes have restrictions on the level of horsepower that can be used. Small pontoon boats have such low horsepower that they’ll easily meet any of these requirements.

3. Best for small bodies of water: Some lakes and ponds are so small that it’s downright unreasonable to try to use a full-sized boat of any kind on them. But in these cases, small pontoon boats can make perfect sense. Using one in a small lake can actually be a great way to get some boating experience, train kids, or just to have a fun time without going far.

4. Easy handling: Compared to larger boats, small pontoons are incredibly easy to maneuver. Particularly for beginners to boating, larger pontoons and other types of boats can take extensive training and practice, which can really hamper the experience. Operation of smaller pontoon boats is so easy to learn that almost anyone can do it.

5. Ideal for couples or small families: Let’s say it’s just you and your spouse, and maybe you have a dog. Why spend the money on a larger boat that takes more power and is harder to transport, when you can get all the room you need from a smaller-sized boat? You’ll probably find the small pontoon to be sufficient and actually quite cozy.

6. Small size and light weight: The size of a small pontoon comes in handy for many reasons. For one thing, it’s easier to store. If you have a little extra room in your garage or even in your backyard, you can put it there, and it will hardly get in the way. Also, the size makes it easier to haul around, even with a mini-van or a smaller type of sports utility vehicle. This way, if you decide on a whim that you want to head out to the lake, it only takes you a few minutes to hook the boat up to your vehicle, get everything you need, and go have fun.