More Than Meets The Eye

Old salts often deride pontoon boats as little more than party rafts, but today’s pontoons boast some of the most high-tech engineering on the water, with luxurious amenities to rival those of any day yacht. 

By Craig Ritchie

You could almost hear people’s jaws hitting the floor at the 2022 Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement when it was announced that the event’s marquee innovation award had been won by a pontoon boat.

Not only did BRP’s Manitou pontoon take top honours at the boat industry’s most prestigious international event, it beat out a who’s who of European luxury yacht builders, including entries from Ferretti, Sanlorenzo, Sunseeker, Azimut and Benetti. Yet after the dust had settled, even the companies who lost had to agree there was far more to the humble pontoon than first meets the eye.

The pontoon boat’s knack for being more than meets the eye is precisely why these vessels continue to attract new buyers every year. For more than a decade, pontoons have accounted for between 25 and 30 per cent of all boats sold across the country, according to the most recent NMMA Canada data. Even in the aftermath of COVID-19 when high interest rates skewered boat sales, pontoons continued to attract new buyers. To understand why, we need to take a closer look at what gives these boats such universal appeal.

For starters, the flat floor and living room-like layout of pontoon boats has always been a key factor in their popularity, and that’s especially relevant today. Flat decks accessed by wide, door-like boarding gates accommodate strollers and mobility scooters with ease, making pontoons far more accessible to multi-generational families than any other type of watercraft. There are no gunnels to climb over or steps to negotiate, allowing an unparalleled level of access to boaters of all ages and abilities.

Further, once aboard it become immediately obvious that it’s all usable living space. There’s plenty of room for everyone—parents, grandparents, kids, grandkids, friends and pets as well. There’s simply no need for anyone to be left behind on the dock and miss out on those afternoon ice cream runs and relaxing after-dinner cruises.

And don’t be surprised if those seats offer hidden features. Some ride on spring-loaded bases to absorb any shocks, while others recline at the push of a button. Here in Canada, where we go boating in all sorts of weather, pontoon buyers can opt for advanced seat upholstery that doesn’t heat up in the sun—or go one further and upgrade to heated or air-conditioned seats and enjoy greater comfort on especially cool or warm days. It’s even possible to find pontoons with onboard misting systems for those who want to make the most of summer while staying cool onboard.

All The Right Stuff

While seating is a huge part of any pontoon boat’s appeal, of course there’s much more to it than just plush upholstery.

The catamaran-like understructure of the pontoon that gives it such remarkable stability is a big part of its growing appeal. Pontoons don’t really rock and they definitely don’t roll, making them feel safe and secure—especially to new boaters and first-time buyers. Today it’s even possible to add stabilizer systems like the Seakeeper Ride interceptor tabs to smooth out the bumps when underway.

With their ability to handle large outboards, pontoons also permit the addition of power steering systems to provide a truly car-like driving experience when underway. Twin engines? Sure. Bow thrusters? Of course. Joystick docking? Absolutely. A fully digital helm with an oversized touchscreen MFD? You bet. There isn’t a technology on the market today that can’t be found on a pontoon.

Of course that includes an incredible marine stereo system. With their expansive interior space, pontoon boats make it a breeze to place speakers and subwoofers precisely where they need to be in order to enjoy great sound without having to crank up the volume.

Yet even with their boatload of engineering, pontoon boats still feel comfortable and approachable.

“One thing we notice at boat shows is that pontoons are seen as being unintimidating,” said Peter Barrett, CEO at Smoker Craft Inc., builder of Sylvan, Starcraft and Sunchaser pontoon boats. “Pontoons offer a lot of seating, and they’re extremely versatile—you can fish from them, you can pull skiers or wakeboarders, you can cruise around the lake or anchor and go for a swim and enjoy a picnic on the water. They’re very approachable boats, so they don’t intimidate the first-time buyer. Yet the platform is so versatile they don’t lose the experienced boater either.”

The Sky’s The Limit

Pontoon boats have always been known for representing terrific value. But continually adding new features and luxurious amenities can’t help but drive up the cost of top-line models. There are pontoons on the market today with retail prices approaching $500,000, and no, that’s not a typo. Who on earth would pay that kind of money for a pontoon boat?

Ironically, much of that market is made up of buyers moving down from larger cruisers and day yachts. With no further need for overnight accommodations onboard, these buyers find the expansive seating and luxurious amenities of premium pontoons familiar to what they already know. The good part is they’re finding it in a new boat that costs less than half what their previous one did. For these buyers, a luxury pontoon is a bargain that’s simply too good to resist.

At a recent Godfrey Marine product launch, Walter Ross, Senior Director of Product Management and Marketing, acknowledged the high demand for ultra-premium pontoons like Godfrey’s flagship XP model, which can surpass $460,000 CAD with added options. “There are a lot of people who look at that and think wow, that’s crazy expensive,” he said. “But we also have people coming from 40-foot fibreglass boats who are looking to downsize while maintaining the same level of comfort. And they look at that and say wow, that’s amazing value because the boat they came from cost more than twice that. There is a very solid market for the ultra-premium pontoon boat. We wouldn’t build them otherwise.”

Current Trends

Putting the high-end aside, even entry level pontoon boats found in dealerships today have evolved considerably in recent years, inheriting features and amenities that were only available on flagship models just a few years ago. That’s especially true for boats built in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a period of super-high demand accelerated innovation.

Since then, carpeted decks have all but disappeared from even low-end boats, replaced by a range of synthetic options that have proven far more durable. They also dry much faster, so an overnight shower doesn’t leave the boat with a mushy wet floor for the rest of the week.

We’re increasingly seeing the familiar flat aluminum side fencing replaced by formed panels that yield a more finished, car-like appearance. These panels, formed from aluminum, fibreglass or various composites, do more than provide a more appealing look—they can also significantly reduce the boat’s weight, allowing boat builders to deliver top performance with smaller, less expensive engines that use less fuel and accordingly produce lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Body panels on today’s pontoons may be painted in clearcoat finishes for added depth, or matte finishes inspired by European luxury sedans. Pontoons are increasingly painted to match the boat for a more upscale look, rather than left bare.

You’re also likely to find these boats equipped with integrated docking lights placed within the body panels like the headlights on a car, giving the bow a more appealing profile. Some, like the Vogue 27 WRL that Princecraft debuted at the 2026 Toronto International Boat Show, even feature LED strip lights up front for an appearance reminiscent of the headlight on a Tesla Cybertruck.

Look up and the Bimini top found on almost all pontoons these days is more likely to be electrically powered. Even kids can now raise or lower the top at the push of a button, eliminating a major pain point for many, many boaters.

Integrated coolers, kitchen units, bar units, fishing stations and infinitely adjustable seating options now give pontoon boats greater comfort and versatility than anything else on the water. In fact, today’s pontoon boats rank among the most highly engineered and technically advanced watercraft afloat—no doubt why they continue to attract new buyers every year.

If you’ve not tried driving one, take a ride in a new pontoon boat and you may just be as surprised as the luxury yacht builders were. There’s a lot more to these boats than first meets the eye, and that’s exactly why so many boaters are taking a second look.