Pontoon boat vs bowrider — which is better?

What is the ultimate family boat and where can it go?

Pontoon deck boats — or “party boats” as they are sometimes called — are enormously popular in the US but have only recently garnered interest from Aussie boating families. Have we been missing out? Do the Americans know something we don’t?

Vee monohull bowriders have traditionally been the family boats of choice locally, but could a pontoon deck boat be the better option? Let’s examine the pros and cons of each.

In Australia, we have lakes and dams scattered about the coastal interior, but our impoundments are tiny in comparison to the giant inland lakes of North America — particularly those located in the Great Lakes region shared with Canada in the northeast of the country. 

Most Aussies go boating and fishing along the coastal strip, where sea conditions can get pretty choppy inshore and properly rough in open waters a few miles offshore. To cope with these changing sea conditions, we have traditionally opted for a smooth-riding vee-bottom monohull with high external topsides and a deep interior cockpit to provide inherent safety.

But … could a pontoon deck boat be equally suitable, safe and seaworthy enough for our bay and harbour boating applications?

Pontoon boat?

But what is a pontoon boat? Well, very broadly speaking, a pontoon boat is an outboard-powered craft made from two or three welded aluminium pontoon tubes held together with an alloy framework and then topped by a flat plywood or alloy sheet deck with surrounding aluminium enclosure fencing. Inward-opening gates provide entry to the interior. 

Bennington S20 

There are exceptions to this rule … such as the new Sea-Doo Switch which is made from reinforced polypropylene and powered by a PWC jet engine with handle-bar controls. 

You can also buy deck boats (like the US Hurricane FunDeck models) which have a pontoon-like deck with enclosure fencing mounted above a fibreglass gullwing/trihull bottom shape. 

Bowrider boats on the other hand are generally aluminium or fibreglass vee monohulls with bow and stern seating/living spaces, separated by a centre opening windscreen with opposing consoles for the skipper and the forward passenger. 

Aussie boaters and fishermen are well familiar with the bowrider concept, as this type of boat and layout has been popular locally for many years. 

Shapes and sizes

Bowrider boats generally start at around 4.8m in length and can stretch up to 10m or more in size for some of the more elaborate, deluxe US fibreglass models from brands like Crownline, Cobalt, Chaparral, Formula, Sea Ray and many more. 

Cobalt R6 Outboard 

There are bowrider models to suit all manner of boating applications — including bay cruising, coastal and offshore fishing, wakeboarding, water skiing and general tow sports. 

Bowrider boats can be outboard, sterndrive, inboard or even jet-powered, though outboard models are the most popular in Australia. 

Larger-size bowrider boats can also incorporate sub-decks with overnight accommodations, galley and head compartments — though I don’t consider these cross-over style models (or centre console bowriders) to be comparable with pontoon boats. 

Pontoon boats are also available in a wide range of sizes but generally start at about 4.9m or 16ft and stretch through to about 10m in length. Larger models are available in the US, but most craft sold locally are between 7m and 9m in length.

Sea-Doo Switch Interior 

Smaller pontoon boats generally have two pontoon tubes with single or dual outboard power. Larger models can have dual or triple pontoon tubes. Tritoons, as they are commonly called overseas, can even be powered by three outboard engines — one for each pontoon tube. 

In the US you can also buy luxury pontoon boats with two decks; the second deck is suspended above the main platform almost like a fixed hardtop or tower on a regular monohull.  

Price and availability  

In Australia, prices for bowrider boats start at around $45k for a 4.7–5m pressed aluminium bowrider trailer boat from manufacturers like Quintrex, Stacer, Stessl and Horizon. 

More luxurious fibreglass bowriders from about 5.5m in size have pricing from around $75k. From this point, the sky is the limit. You can spend up to half a million dollars on big, deluxe model bowriders from aforementioned US brands like Cobalt and Crownline — or from European makes like Axopar and Saxdor. 

It is a similar situation with pontoon boats — though starting prices tend to be higher. $65–70k seems to be the starting price for entry models in the 4.9–5.5m size range. 

For this money, you will get a dual-hull pontoon boat with a large internal deck with bow and stern seating areas, and a single outboard engine in the 60–70hp range. 

As with bowriders, pontoon boat package pricing escalates quickly for boat sizes above 6m in length — depending on the features and fit-out. 

Crest Continental NX 270 SLS 

Top-of-the-line 8–9m models from luxury US pontoon brands like Bennington and Crest are priced above $400k — although most mid-sized pontoon boats slot into the $125–200k bracket.

With regard to availability, pontoon boats are increasing in numbers and variety each year, but there is still more choice of brands and models in the bowrider market. 

Seating and deck space

The pontoon boat easily wins out for sheer space onboard because the rectangular shape of this type of boat allows its full length to be used. There are no gunwales or side coamings to suck up valuable space either. 

Most pontoon boats have a starboard side helm station and console but with vast seating and lounging areas at the bow and stern to accommodate as many as a dozen (or more) people on board. 

Conversely, a similar-sized bowrider boat has a much smaller interior because the bow tapers into a point on vee-hull boats and the occupants sit inside the hull, rather than on top of it. 

Bowriders also have a traditional full-width windscreen which separates the bow and stern seating areas — whereas the pontoon boat is much more open plan.

Crest Continental NX 270 SLS 

With regard to internal storage space, the two types of boats are about even; the storage space inside the lounge seats on a pontoon boat offsets the side pocket and sub-floor storage compartments in most bowriders.  

Handling and ride

This is the big question for most Aussie boat buyers. How does a pontoon boat fair against a bowrider for handling and ride?

Well, given two equal-sized boats, the bowrider with a traditional modified vee hull will handle, ride and perform the best in an overall sense. This type of hull is more versatile and more capable in conditions varying from bay chop to offshore coastal swell. 

Pontoon boats (tritoons in particular) can be fast, remarkably soft riding and incredibly stable in choppy water, but most are ungainly through the turns as they tend to sit flat or even lean outward like a car. 

Vee monohulls are much more manoeuvrable at speed as they bank sharply inward through the corners, allowing them to turn much more sharply, to change direction more easily. 

Haines Signature 580BRX 

Vee monohulls don’t plane as easily or as quickly as a pontoon boat, but they do respond much better to power trim, allowing the ride angle of the vee hull to be infinitely adjusted to suit the conditions when the hull is underway. 

With regard to sheer straight-line performance, the vee monohull again wins out because the pontoon boat has more drag on the water surface — and requires more power to achieve a similar top speed.

Safety and seaworthiness

With two or three separate, air-tight aluminium tubes, pontoon boats are generally unsinkable — although they can be submerged due to overloading. 

Pontoon boats are also more stable at rest than a comparable vee-hull bowrider in sheltered waters. 

Many pontoon boat hulls are also capable of running in rough water. However, these craft do not have enclosed topsides. The open fencing surrounding the large deck and seating areas is great at keeping people safely enclosed — but it does not keep the sea out. 

Pontoon boats also have a shallow draft with virtually no weight beneath the waterline. This is great for inshore boating/fishing applications — but it does allow them to be pushed about in rough waters, given a big enough ocean swell. 

Sea-Doo Switch 

A traditional vee fibreglass hull, in contrast, will have high topsides to keep the sea out, a pointed bow and sharp vee-hull entry shape to cut through the waves (rather than punch into and over them) and enough weight and displacement to act as kind of a keel to keep the hull balanced in rough water. 

In summary, the bowrider monohull is the more versatile performer as it can be used safely inshore and offshore. It is designed for that purpose. 

Most pontoon boats are designed and work best on enclosed waters such as lakes, dams, rivers and impoundments. Taking a small/middle-sized pontoon boat out into the open ocean is not recommended. 

Maintenance and upkeep

Here I believe the bowrider again has the advantage. Fibreglass and alloy bowriders will suffer less from general wear and tear. In a vee hull boat, the seats and upholstery, carpets, fittings and accessories are contained within — or inside — the hull itself. All you need to protect the interior is a decent storm cover over the lot.

Conversely, the deck, seating and upholstery on a pontoon boat sit up proud of the pontoon hulls, on top of the deck — with airflow coming in beneath the side fencing. You may need individual covers to shelter things like the helm console, etc. 

You can fit a cover right over the top of the pontoon boat, but it will need to be a big one because of the large, rectangular dimensions of this type of boat.

Pontoon boats are also more susceptible to galvanic corrosion and electrolysis — particularly when used in saltwater. Stainless steel fixtures and other metal components are used to secure the alloy framework and the alloy pontoon tubes to the top deck. Having mixed metals like this can create a galvanic reaction — which causes the alloy to corrode. To prevent this from happening, pontoon boats must be washed down thoroughly (to remove built-up salt) after use when trailered, and the hull bottom painted with special anti-fouling paint (and fitted with sacrificial anodes) if the boat is kept on the water. 

Towing and storage

Here again, the smaller, more compact dimensions of the bowrider boat will prove an advantage, making it easier to tow about — and to store alongside your driveway at home. 

In smaller sizes, pontoon boats are wider than a comparable bowrider. This extra beam also extends the full length of the boat — instead of tapering into a point at the bow. This makes the pontoon boat a more awkward towing proposition, especially as the pontoon boat hull sits up higher on the trailer rather than inside it like a vee monohull.

Harris Solstice DC 250 

In the large trailer boat sizes, the bowrider begins to lose its advantage. Big fibreglass bowriders can be heavier than a similar-sized pontoon boat. A larger towing vehicle may therefore be needed to haul a big fibreglass bowrider on the highway. 

The verdict

If you like to entertain friends and family and have no particular desire to take your boat offshore, then a pontoon boat is the perfect boating choice. These vessels have a lot more usable deck space and seating than a similar-sized bowrider monohull. 

Pontoon boats are called party boats for a reason. These crafts are smooth riding and wharf-like stable in enclosed waters making them ideal for social gatherings. 

A pontoon boat is the perfect craft to anchor up before your favourite beach or swimming spot to enjoy a summer afternoon barbecue with family and friends on board. 

Rail-mounted barbecues, wet bars, sun lounges, outdoor cooking facilities and pop-up toilet/shower compartments can be easily added to a pontoon boat as well. 

With suitable power on the transom, pontoon boats are also great for social tow sports and bay, harbour and impoundment fishing.  

Conversely, for competition tow sports and wakeboarding, I would be opting for a specialist tow sports bowrider from a manufacturer like Malibu or MasterCraft.

For more general boating and fishing applications, the bowrider monohull also wins out in this comparison. The vee-hull bowrider boat is more versatile as it can be used for boating and fishing both on enclosed and open offshore waters. 

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