The average pontoon boat weight is between 2,000 and 2,500 pounds. This weight includes the weight of the motor.
Most pontoon boats of this size and weight can support as much as 2,000 pounds of weight. That weight would be the combined total of accessories, gear, coolers, people, and gasoline.
These vessels come in varying lengths and widths, with a lot of different accessories like covers, extra seating, and tables. That means that their weight varies depending on the size of the craft and the accessories and features on it.
Some of the longer varieties, with all of the bells and whistles on them, can weigh as much as 10,000 pounds. Some of the smallest vessels with little or no accessories can weigh as little as 1,000 pounds.
Pontoon Boat Sizes
These boats come in three basic size categories.
Small
The smaller vessels are normally between 12 and 19 feet in length. There are some that are shorter, but the majority of the small size will start at 12 feet.
They weigh between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds depending on what type of seating they have, whether they have a cloth cover or metal cover, and possibly no cover.
Medium
The mid-size units start at about 20 feet in length and top out at lengths of close to 35 feet. Their weight is between 2,200 pounds and 8,500 pounds.
Large
The big boys in this category start at about 30 feet in length and they top out at close to 60 feet in length. They are definitely what you call a party barge.
Larger boats can weigh between 7,500 pounds and 10,000 pounds. You need a truck with a serious tow package to drag these bad boys behind.
Weights to Consider
When you are talking about boats of any kind there are three main weights that you should be concerned with.
The Dry Weight
The dry weight of the boat is the weight of the boat chassis and the engine. It is the weight of the boat when it is devoid of any accessories, people, or cargo.
The Wet Weight
The wet weight of the boat tells you how much it weighs after you load it with gasoline, people, drinks, accessories, and supplies. Most of the boats will gain up to 2,000 pounds when they are packed and ready to go out on the water.
The Tow Weight
The towing weight is critical because it is the weight that your vehicle must be able to pull to transport the boat to and from the water.
The tow weight is the combined weight of the boat with accessories on it and the trailer that the boat is riding on.
This weight is important because you have to have a vehicle with a towing ability that equals the weight of the boat or you will not be able to travel safely to and from the water.
Pros and Cons of These Boats
Pros:
- They are safer, especially for families with children
- They are comfortable with ample seating
- You can get up and move around freely and do not have to stay in a cramped seated position
- They can be used as fishing boats
- They can be used to pull a skier or a tuber
- You can actually sleep on them
- The covers protect you from excessive exposure to the sun and help keep you cooler
- They often have radios
- The things on the deck are less likely to get wet
- There is often a table for lunches and picnics
- There is plenty of room for coolers of drinks and supplies.
- Most of the bench seats lift to reveal hidden storage compartments
- You can easily get off of them and go for a swim and then get back on the boat using the handy ladder positioned close to the motor
Cons:
- They do not go very fast. The top speed in one of these boats is about 25 mph.
- Outboard engines can be noisier than inboard engines.
- They weigh more than many other boats so they are more difficult to tow
- They are larger so you might not be able to get as close to your favorite fishing spots as you would like
- If you hit a submerged item you can damage the pontoons
FAQs
Are Pontoon Boats Safe?
They are safer than other boats with a much lower chance of passengers falling out of the boat.
Do Pontoon Boats Come With Toilets?
The casual leisure pontoon does not have a toilet but usually has a space where a porta-potty can be sat for privacy.
Can You Flip A Pontoon Boat?
These boats are stabilized and it would be very hard to flip one. With that said, you could potentially flip one of them under extreme conditions.