phoenix boats "pontoon" - craigslist (2024)

FAQs

What is the best pontoon length? ›

Carrying Capacity

Pontoon boating is more fun when friends and family come along. Before you buy a boat, consider how many people you expect to carry on it. For one to five people, a 15-foot-long boat is sufficient. For six to 10 people, you'll want something in the range of 16 to 21 feet.

Pontoon boats will continue to depreciate each year until they are about twelve years old.

“Pontoons are a pretty hot segment,” says Stevens in Michigan, the state that sells more pontoons than any other, with 5,800 sold last year — up 15 percent from 2015 and almost 2,000 more than the next-biggest pontoon state, Minnesota.

How long do pontoon boats last? Like any vehicle, the biggest determining factor in a pontoon boat's longevity is how well it was maintained by previous owners. In general, estimates put a pontoon boat's lifespan at 15-20 years. In many cases, outboard power can also be upgraded, extending a boat's lifespan.

Mid-size 18 to 24-foot pontoon boats are well suited for lakes and rivers that don't have large waves. Mid-size boats are well-equipped to seat up to 13 passengers.

The hours on the boat basically refer to the hours on the engine. So a boat just sitting in a dock for months will not accumulate many engine hours, while one out cruising and fishing will. Most boat experts say that 1500 hours on a boat is considered a lot.

Depth finders and chart plotters do help if you're well-versed in how to use them. Talking with local experts is a great way to go also. Remember, pontoon boats are some of the safest recreational boats on the market. Although they rarely sink, it can happen if the toons are compromised.

While a pontoon boat has two tubes beneath the deck, a tritoon boat has three. This third hull helps keep the boat stable, allows for quicker speeds, and makes the boat better equipped for choppy water.

The short answer is – technically, yes. The question is more about where and when they should go into the ocean. These boats are well-designed for saltwater lakes. Broadly speaking, a calm ocean isn't too different.

What are the downsides of a pontoon boat? ›

Despite their stability, pontoon boats may struggle to navigate through heavy waves or strong winds compared to other types of boats with deeper v-hull designs. This can result in a less comfortable and potentially slower ride, limiting the boat's usability in certain environments or during bad weather.

For standard two-pontoon boats of 18 to 25 feet in length, you can expect a moderate cruising pace of around 18 to 25 mph. These speeds are ideal for relaxed boating with ample time to take in the sights and enjoy the company of your passengers.

The PARTY BARGE® 24 DLX makes good use of its massive 24' 1” by 8' 6” deck to provide a crew of 12 plenty of seating, storage and space need for unlimited fun in the sun! In addition to those obvious benefits, this family-pleaser adds in a 10' Bimini top, new Wet Sounds® stereo with Bluetooth and cooler storage.

A trailer for a 20' boat should be 23'-24'. A trailer for a 24' should be 27'-28' length overall. In the photo to the left, the bunk could perhaps be a few inches longer, but with the weight in the back it's immaterial. Different manufacturers use various lengths of carpeted boards to support pontoons.

The more passengers, the bigger the boat. For example, a family of six will need a boat that's at least 20 feet long, while a family of three only needs a 12-foot-long boat. These are average boat sizes based on the number of passengers.