Pontoon boats for your watercraft enjoyment

Pontoon boats are the ultimate watercraft for lake or river adventures. They are versatile, spacious, comfortable, and provide a platform for swimming or fishing from. This report will examine the construction and benefits of a pontoon boat, as well as suggest ways to maximize the experience of owning one. This will be accomplished through the use of the following sections:

• Construction
• Models
• Benefits/Activities
• Buying a Used Pontoon
• Precautions

Construction

The construction of a pontoon boat is simple in concept. There are four main stages of building, beginning with the tubes.

Tubes

The tubes provide the flotation for pontoon boats. They run the entire length of the boat and are usually made of aluminium, hard plastic or fibreglass. A curved nose cone is attached at the front end to maximize the flow of the boat. Most tubes have a drain valve for use in case of breaching; pontoons have two tubes, one on either side of the frame. This is also where the boat gets its name; the tubes are referred to as pontoons.

Framing

The quality of your pontoon will dictate the quality of the frame. Higher quality frames are made of numerous aluminium cross-beams, while lower quality frames may use steel or cast aluminium, a cheaper, weaker substitute. Attached to the tubes by brackets or fasteners, the frame provides the groundwork for the decking.

Deck

The deck, or flooring, of the pontoon boat is constructed of marine-grade plywood, at least 5 ply, which is pressure treated. High quality decking will not be predrilled, thereby creating a better seal with the frame when it is drilled into place. The deck is then sanded, levelled out with marine putty, and finished with marine grade carpet or vinyl.

Railing

The rails are attached to the deck and frame with spacers and bolts. They are generally between two and four feet high, and enclose the pontoon. Rails are then covered with a coating to prevent rusting.

Then there are items such as the engine, furniture, extra electrical gadgets etc. The higher quality pontoon you buy, the more luxurious the above items will be. When it comes to pontoon boats, price will dictate quality.