More and more families are recognizing that pontoon boats offer a unique opportunity—and value—for on-the-water adventures. From entertaining to cruising to watersports, pontoon boats can do it all.
While the origin of the pontoon boat goes back thousands of years, it wasn’t until the early 1950s that a Minnesota farmer had an idea for building a family-friendly watercraft comprising a wooden platform strapped atop two steel barrels. And thus, the modern-day pontoon was born. More than 60 years later, pontoon boats, as well as the industry as a whole, have come a long way. Now, numerous manufacturers craft and sell them in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Plus, designs, construction processes and performance capabilities have been vastly refined and improved. From fishing to entertaining to watersports, pontoon boats now provide the versatility to do a wide array of activities on the water. So, what is the primary reason you should consider buying a pontoon boat? The company!
When was the last time you took an album-worthy photo in front of the television? Pontoon boats are like a family room on the water, where great memories come easy. Pontoons provide a wide, stable platform with enough room for the whole family. For grandparents, it’s a great way to spend time with the grandkids out of the house. High fences provide extra security for those boating with younger children. And as for friends—who wouldn’t love a leisurely day of cutting loose and relaxing on a floating deck?
Pontoon boats offer a variety of advantages over other boats. For one, while speed boats are nice, they’re not easy for just anyone to drive. With a pontoon boat, pretty much anyone of legal age and ability can take over the captain duties, allowing others to sit back and relax. Plus, pontoon boats feature wide gates and open floor plans, providing easy access and space for those with mobility issues.
Pontoon boats are also easy to use, easy to maintain and have a low cost of ownership. As long as you take care of it, a pontoon boat will last a long time. Pontoon boat ownership tends to be 20–25% longer than any other boat. And since they come with outboard motors, winterizing becomes a smaller task than with sterndrive or inboard motors.
The easy maintenance and versatility of pontoons provide a big return on a person’s investment. In terms of resale value, pontoons are phenomenal—in fact, the best boat segment overall. Plus consider the non-monetary returns—photos, laughs and memories with those near and dear on the water, that’s the pontooning lifestyle. The next question then is simple.
Choosing a pontoon comes down to a series of simple questions. What are you going to do on it? Are you planning on taking family and friends out? Grandkids? If so, how many? What is your budget? How are you going to stow or transport it?
Today, SUN TRACKER is a renowned leader in the pontoon industry with easy to buy and easy to own pontoons. BASS BUGGY® models were the first fishing pontoon boats, paving the way for larger FISHIN’ BARGE® and versatile SPORTFISH™ fishing models, and the PARTY BARGE® lineup is the epitome of the recreational pontoon lifestyle.
The legendary craftsmanship of Ranger fiberglass fishing boats carries over to Ranger Pontoons. Offering multiple series from Cruise, Fish, Classic and Luxury, each has standard premium-grade amenities, thoughtful layouts, quality, performance, safety and innovation built in to uphold Ranger’s pledge of the Five Star Advantage®.
REGENCY pontoons elevate your experience on the water to a new level of comfort and leisure. A select lineup of luxury pontoons offers a full complement of standard amenities that ensure time with friends and family is elegant and entertaining.
Across these brands, you’ll find a slew of standard, factory-equipped features that make each model ready for the water. Plus, tritoon performance models with three logs that deliver exceptional handling, top-end speeds and watersports capabilities. All provide exceptional value and top-tier craftsmanship backed by strong warranties, which is a huge comfort for potential owners.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Boating Centers are home to the foremost pontoon brands in the country: SUN TRACKER Fishing and Recreational Pontoons, Ranger Fish and Cruise Pontoons, and REGENCY Luxury Pontoons. These brands make up the top-quality pontoon brand family helmed by Johnny Morris, and most know, Johnny has a history of ideating, building and selling quality products to help families experience the great outdoors. After all, he was the one who started Bass Pro Shops® in 1972, and introduced the first fully outfitted boat, motor and trailer package to be sold at a nationally advertised price in 1978. So, creating a quality offering of pontoon boats that families could enjoy together was right within his wheelhouse.
Sales consultants are available at every Boating Center to help you at every step of the shopping process, from choosing a model, exploring finance options, and even ordering a customized pontoon build. Not ready to talk to a sales consultant? A great first step is to build and price a pontoon using the Build Your Own tools easily found on each of the brand’s websites, where you can tailor your selection to your needs on the water. It’s easy to get started!
Not all pontoons are created equal for every task. What separates them is the boater's choice in on-the-water activities, performance needs, and the pontoon's interior organization, particularly at the bow and stern. Find out what pontoon configuration may be best for you!
What stands out about the REGENCY LE3 Sport, LE3 and DL3 pontoon boats? That’s an easy answer. Head-turning luxury and style is obvious from bow to stern, inside and out.
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