Are you in the market for your first pontoon boat and wondering which pontoon boat brands to consider? Our boating resource guide explains the brands and what makes them stand out.
With so many pontoon brands out there, choosing a pontoon boat can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to boating and just learning about all the different boat manufacturers.
You can start with these top-selling and well-established pontoon manufacturers that have proven themselves reliable for a good amount of years now.
Picking the perfect pontoon boat isn’t easy, nor is it an exact science.
One important factor when choosing to consider is its brand.
To help make your pontoon boat selection a little easier, we’ve put together this article on the best pontoon boat brands on the market.
Is A Pontoon Boat A Good Investment?
If you are purchasing a pontoon boat because you value the fun to be had in a fishing pontoon or the luxury pontoon life on the water, then go for it!
A good investment can mean many things to different people, and this applies to whatever type of vehicle you purchase.
The best pontoon boats can provide a comfortable and fun experience on the water, and if you hold value in that, then a pontoon boat is a good investment for your family.
On the other hand, if you are buying a pontoon boat to sell again as an investment, then you need to know that nearly all motorized recreational vehicles lose their value over time and are generally not good investments.
If you’re not yet sure whether to buy and make a big purchase, its a good idea to rent a pontoon boat first and test the waters.
How Long Do Pontoon Boats Last?
Pontoon boats can last, on average, about 10 to 20 years. They are easy to maintain and are typically less expensive to insure.
Just like any other type of boat, pontoons are also bound to have mechanical and structural damages over time.
But unlike other types of boats, there is less wear and tear on pontoon boats.
Because pontoon boats are lifted by the buoyancy of the toons, there is less damage to the hull.
In general, the lifespan of any pontoon boat depends on the brand, its material, construction, maintenance, where it is used saltwater or freshwater, and how often you use it.
Pros And Cons Of Pontoon Boats
There are several reasons why pontoon boats are a great choice for watercraft, but just like any other recreational vehicle, they can have a downside. Here are a few pros and cons of owning a pontoon boat.
Pros
- More Spacious than most boats
- Comfortable
- Longer lifespan than other motorboats
- Easy to maintain
- Plenty of Customization Options
- Very Safe
- Great Stability on the Water
- Highly versatile
- Beginner-friendly
- Perfect family boat
Cons
- New ones can be expensive
- Not made for rough waters
- Most are not meant for high speed, though some of the newer ones can reach speeds of 40 mph
- Older models can be loud
When choosing a pontoon boat, it’s important to consider what your ideal day on the water looks like.
List down how you plan to use your future boat and weigh that against the pros and cons to arrive at the best pontoon boat that fits you right.
While there are so many pontoon boat manufacturers on the market, there are few that stand out among the crowd.
Based on consumer satisfaction reports, average sales, and search popularity, the following five pontoon boat brands come out on top.
Best Pontoon Boat Brands
Here are our picks for the best pontoon boat brands in 2023.
Premier Marine is one of the top manufacturers of luxury pontoon boats. In fact, this was the pontoon boat brand we chose when purchasing our new boat.
I loved the seating arrangement, and my husband loved the power (which was something that was holding him back from my obsession with pontoon boats).
Premier was founded in 1992 and is based in the USA. Premier is still a family-run and owned USA business which made it even more appealing to us.
Premier also partnered with the biggest names in the motor industry( Mercury, Suzuki Marine, Honda Marine, and Yamaha) to offer you a wide selection of brands and horsepower levels that suits your boating style.
Despite having a reputation for being a slow boat, the Premier pontoon boat has changed all that with speeds topping out of around 40 mph.
Your kids will go wild as you dump them off the tube into the lake. Ours definitely love it!!
They produce pontoon boats equipped with the unique PTX Hull Technology and Performance to deliver top speed with maximum riding stability and comfort throughout your ride.
Premier builds some of the best-selling pontoon boats on the market, such as the Sunsation RL, Escalante, and Solaris.
Visit Premier Marine for a complete list of units.
Based in Elkhart, Indiana, the company was founded in 1997 by a small group of industry veterans and has long since been making pontoon boats that are considered the cream of the crop.
The company made it a mission to build boats with meticulous attention to detail and quality and make the customers’ needs the utmost priority.
They take pride in their Trendsetting design and rock-steady construction that are genuinely one of the industry’s best. Bennington pontoon boats use exclusive THRU-BOLT™ technology on each and every hull that ensures far less flex for a more stable and safe ride for the years to come.
And when it comes to comfort in the water, Bennington is on top of the game, offering luxurious interiors and the industry’s most sophisticated furniture and seatings made by the finest craftsmen.
Some of the most famous units they make are the Bennington S21 L Bench and their R Line 21′-30′ luxury performance boats.
For a complete list of units and details, visit Bennington Marine.
Princecraft is a Canadian brand known to be one of the top manufacturers of high-quality aluminum boats. Today, the Princecraft pontoon boats are found across Canada and the US, supported by a vast network of dedicated, seasoned dealers.
For over 60 years, the company has continued to produce expertly designed and ready units of aluminum fishing boats, pontoon boats, and deck boats tailored to fit every fishing and boating enthusiast.
The boats are built using H36 aluminum alloy, which is 25% harder than other aluminum alloys used by some competitors on the market. This material allows for a truer pontoon shape and provides a better ride and uncompromising durability for long-lasting use.
Princecraft pontoon boats are known for their ergonomic design for optimum comfort and performance. They also feature spacious floor plans with a large seating capacity making the pontoon boats perfect for families and groups of friends.
They make awesome pontoon boat units like the Princecraft Brio E17, considered one of the best pontoon boats on the market today.
Check out all their pontoon boat units at Princecraft.
Avalon is a worldwide leader in producing luxurious and smartly designed pontoon boats, this is a far cry from their humble beginnings in 1972 when they made handcrafted toons in a pole barn in Mason, Michigan.
Today, they produce a wide variety of boats, from affordable family models to luxurious cruising models that are backed with a 10-year bow-to-stern and lifetime structural warranty.
Compared to most competitors who outsource most of their components, Avalon is a vertically integrated builder, which means that they build 90% of their boats solely in their manufacturing facility. For this reason, they have a much higher degree of control over the quality of each boat that they produce.
The company continuously uses cutting-edge technology in constructing its pontoon boats. Such features are the water jet cutter for a smoother finish and more accurate dimensions and the computer-driven Gerber fabric cutters, which allow for more precise furniture patterns.
Their Excalibur and Catalina series are some of the most popular pontoon boats today.
Their success in the industry is evident with their numerous recognitions; they are the first winner of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) innovation award for an aluminum pontoon boat and a perennial winner of the NMMA CSI award. They are also the only pontoon manufacturer able to take multiple endurance trips across some of the most challenging waterways of the world.
Avalon has proven to be one of the best manufacturers of rugged and heavy-duty pontoon boats in the world, need I say more?
Check out Avalon for a complete list of all the awesome pontoon boat models they make.
The company was founded in 1948 and is dedicated to delivering the finest watercraft that suits whatever floats your boats. Run by five generations, Sylvan stands up to its core values: to build innovative, high-quality boats that families can afford and back them with the best warranty and customer service possible.
Sylvan is one of the best pontoon boat brands and has been a pioneer in the boating industry; they are known to be the first one to offer pontoon boats with colored side panels and the first to develop high-performance pontoons that deliver impressive acceleration and handling.
Their top-performing boats feature RPT tubes or Revolutionary Planing Technology, which redefined pontoon performance in 2006, wherein they were first introduced to the market. This technology allows pontoon boats to slice through the water with less resistance and superior speed.
Sylvan also builds their boats using hat-channel construction, contributing to better weight distribution and strength and adding years to their pontoon boats.
Although they continuously innovate over the years, they have always been firm in using meticulously guided construction on their boats to produce premium and luxury features that will address the needs of their customers.
Sylvan has produced several high-performance pontoon boats that many people enjoy today. The M3 CRS Sylvan, 2021 Sylvan Mirage 8522 Party Fish Pontoon Boat, and 2020 Sylvan L-3 DLZ pontoon boat.
Check out their special boat units at Sylvan Marine.
Pontoon Boat Accessories
Pontoon boats are a great way to have some outdoor family fun on the lake or a party with friends out on the open sea. Check out these practical must-have pontoon boat accessories to add to your boat for smooth sailing.
Download Your FREE Boating Pre-Departure Checklist
Recommended Boating Resources
- Recommended Pontoon Boat Accessories
- Best Boat Snacks– These are easy to make and yummy, too
- Pontoon Boat Hacks– Simplify your days on the water with these boating hacks
MORE RELATED RESOURCES
Are planning a boating trip soon? Make sure to read these 18 essential things to bring on a pontoon boat. And speaking of plans, have you chosen a destination already? If not, here is an adventurer’s guide to Tybee Island in Georgia.
