5 Helpful Tips for Buying a Pontoon Boat

Interested in buying a pontoon boat?

It can be a good investment for recreational fun and family bonding.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the pontoon boat, including 5 buyer tips.

What is a Pontoon Boat?

A Pontoon Boat is often flat and large, providing ample space for guests, storage, and a great time. What makes this boat unique is its flat shape and the several buoyant pontoons it relies on to stay afloat. The Pontoon Boat is the ideal watercraft for anyone who plans on spending long days on the water accompanied by friends or family. It’s a great choice for watersports, fishing, or just hanging out at the lake.

Why Choose a Pontoon Boat?

There are plenty of advantages of owning a Pontoon Boat, but we’ll start you off with the top three:

Storage Space: There are several advantages to owning a Pontoon Boat, but the greatest of all may be the storage space this watercraft offers. Thanks to its shape and size, this particular type of boat can comfortably store all of your safety equipment and day trip necessities like extra towels, dry clothes, lunch fixings, ice chests, life jackets, and more.

Family Friendly: Unlike other small and speedy vessels, a pontoon boat is the ultimate family-friendly watercraft. There’s plenty of room for children to move about the deck without being in the way of the driver or preoccupied adults and all that storage space really comes in handy when planning a day at the lake with the whole family.

Beginner’s Choice: Whether you choose a small pontoon boat, or you spoil your family with a luxury pontoon boat, you’re choosing the perfect watercraft for beginners who don’t have much experience in the boat owner arena. Compared to other watercraft options, the pontoon boat is relatively easy to drive with a simple control panel and steady handling. It has also been said that a pontoon boat is much easier to dock than other vessels.

5 Tips for Buying a Pontoon Boat

1. Do Your Research

It would be rather unfortunate if you jumped at the first deal you found and ended up with a boat that was too large, too small, or too expensive. Before you even think about buying a pontoon boat, do your research to find out which size would be best for your situation, if you’ll be needing any extra amenities, and what your ideal boat is worth.

2. Buy Used

Buying a used pontoon boat can be a fantastic way to get a good deal on a fully-functional watercraft. Why buy brand new if you can find the same boat for a cheaper price simply because it has been used a small handful of times? If you do choose to buy used, we highly suggest you a hire a trained marine surveyor to make sure you’re not about to blow your money on a dying watercraft.

3. Survey Meticulously

Whether you hire a marine surveyor, or you choose to investigate the boat yourself, make sure the boat is surveyed from top to bottom, back to front, and inside out! The best way to make sure you’re getting a quality watercraft that’s in great shape is to survey the boat in and out of the water. If you or the marine surveyor detects any noteworthy issues, do even more research to determine whether or not the boat is still worth it and how much it will cost to bring it up to par.

4. Get the Warranty

Always get the warranty on a boat purchase and make sure the warranty covers every last detail. Above all, make sure your warranty covers the electronic components that are at the highest risk for damage and among the most expensive to repair.

If you’re interested in learning more about getting a warranty to protect your boat, Southeast Financial can help you find the ideal boat protection plan.

5. Finance the Boat

Depending on the size, condition, and extra amenities, a pontoon boat will cost anywhere between $14,000 to $47,000. Unless you’ve got the cash on hand, you’re going to need to finance your family’s new investment.

At Southeast Financial, we provide specialized financing for an assortment of recreational vehicles, including pontoon boats. Get in touch with us to learn more about financing your pontoon today!