Bass Boat Or Pontoon? What's Right For You? 2025

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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton

Bass Boat or Pontoon? What’s Right For You?

A Bass Boat or Pontoon is favored among boat enthusiasts and anglers. If you prefer the thrill of speeding across the water in a bass boat or the relaxation of cruising on a pontoon, both boats offer unique features that cater to different boating experiences.

Bass Boat: Sleek, high-powered design for specialized bass fishing.
Pontoon: Features flat deck on airtight pontoons, geared towards leisure.
Purpose: Choice depends on the intended use – angling or leisure.
Speed: Bass boats excel in speed, which is crucial for tournament fishing.
Capacity: Pontoon boats accommodate 10 to 15 people comfortably.
Fishing Features: Bass boats equipped for optimal fishing experience.

Whether sailing on the coastline or catching fish in the nearby lake, your boat is supposed to be your loyal companion throughout the journey. Since there are so many types of vessels, it can be daunting to pick the right one.

Explore our collection of interconnected articles for more insights and information on this topic.

So, if you’re confused between a bass boat or a pontoon, I can help you choose the right one according to your requirements.

In this article, I have listed all the details about these boats, hoping it will give you a better mental picture before you purchase your new boat.

Characteristics of Bass Boats

A small bass boat is designed primarily to fish in fresh waters like lakes, rivers, and streams. These boats are usually 17 feet long and around eight feet wide. They are motorized boats made of aluminum or fiberglass and have V-hulls.

Pros of Bass Boats

How does a bass boat help with fishing? Here are some benefits:

Speed

Bass boats have the upper hand when it comes to speed. They come with powerful 250-300 HP outboard motors that help zip through the water at high speeds of 35 to 50 mph.

You can easily cover a vast distance in a bass boat without burning too much fuel. They also have a trolling motor that is relatively quiet, which helps in catching more fish.

Easy to Handle

It is easy to maneuver a bass boat as they are small and lightweight, helping them smoothly move around obstacles in the water. So if the motors fail or you run out of fuel, you can easily paddle this boat.

These boats have V hulls and a flat front deck that gives them excellent stability even in rough waters. They come with swivel chairs and power poles that allow you to anchor your boat with just a button, letting you keep your fishing lines steady.

Capacitative

As the name suggests, Bass boats are mainly for bass fishing, so they have ample storage compartments for keeping fishing gear. They also have one or two live wells, which are big enough to hold many fish.

Moreover, these boats have enough space to accommodate three to five people. So, you can always bring along some company in a bass boat.

Cons of Bass Boats

Just like everything else, bass boats have some disadvantages:

Not Comfortable Enough

Bass boats do not provide shelter from rain or sun rays. Also, you do not have enough space to move around, especially when fighting a big fish, and you might end up with wet clothes in rough waters.

High Maintenance

With a bass boat, you must wipe it dry whenever you take it out of the water. Otherwise, it leaves stubborn spots behind. Moreover, their fiberglass hulls are prone to sun damage, cracking, and breakage.

So you might have to put much effort into keeping your boat in working order.

What is the Absolute Best Bass Boat?

To answer it, I’ve curated a list of the top five bass boats that offer unparalleled performance and value.

The Ranger Z519 Comanche, with its superior design and advanced technology, is a prime choice for professionals.

The Triton TR21 Bass Boats are known for their robust construction and speed.

The Nitro Z21 offers excellent handling and stability in challenging waters.

The Bass Cat Eyra boasts a sleek design with powerful engine options.

The Skeeter ZXR19, known for its roomy interior and top-notch features, offers a blend of comfort and functionality for any angler.

Characteristics of Pontoon Boats

A pontoon boat is a rectangular vessel fenced in with high rails. It has a flat deck that lies upon two hollow aluminum tubes. With an average length of 20 feet, these boats are like floating living rooms, aka ‘pleasure boats.’

Pros of Pontoon Boats

What makes pontoon boats so popular? Here are a few reasons:

Spacious

Are you planning a dinner party out on the water? Then, you are in luck with a pontoon boat. This boat has ample space and storage capacity, allowing around 20 people on board.

The ample deck space lets you stretch and snooze while 15 other people are fishing around you.

You can also accessorize it with multiple fishing rods, live wells, furniture, a boat grill, and whatnot. The sky’s the limit!

Versatile

Fishing experience with a bass boat or pontoon can be similar, but you have a more stable platform for fishing with a pontoon. They hardly wobble and stay steady when you reel in a good catch, making fishing easy.

Moreover, you can enjoy water sports, skiing, and tubing, and even attach an inflatable water slide to a pontoon boat.

Protection

You don’t have to worry about sunscreens when fishing in a pontoon, as these boats come with sunshades.

Plus, enjoying a ride with your children and pets is possible in pontoons, thanks to their high rails, ensuring safety. Overall, pontoons are safe boats as they are heavy and are unlikely to flip in the water.

Cons of Pontoon Boats

Despite being so versatile and comfortable, pontoon boats come with a few disadvantages:

Slow Speed

Need a speedy boat? Pontoons are not for you, then. With an average 20-30 mph speed, these boats will take longer than expected to reach your destination.

Since they won’t be winning you any races, they’re better suited for family outings and sports like tubing or some laid-back fishing.

Difficult to Maneuver

Pontoons aren’t exactly maneuverability masters. They’ll prove frustrating if you’re looking for swift and easy handling, as they won’t be able to go around tight corners or make sharp U-turns.

Not for Rough Waters

The biggest bummer about owning a pontoon is that you’ll always have to be on the lookout for bad weather. Due to the lack of a V-shaped hull, these boats can easily topple over in rough, angry waves.

Hence, taking pontoon boats out on the sea is not wise as they are designed for calm waters.

What is the Best Brand of Pontoon Boat?

When determining the best brand of a pontoon boat, several leading manufacturers stand out for their exceptional craftsmanship, innovative designs, and commitment to quality.

Avalon’s 2585 VBR Catalina Versatile Rear Bench offers the versatility that many boaters look for.

Bennington 25 QX Quad Bench stands out for its luxurious design and superior performance.

Lowe’s SS 210 Conversion Lounge (CL) is known for its comfortable seating and ample storage space.

Sea-Doo’s Switch Cruise is perfect for those looking for a sporty and high-performance boat.

Premier’s 330 Escalante, Manitou’s Explore 24 Max Navigator, Harris’ Grand Mariner 250, and Princecraft’s Vectra 21 RL are top contenders.

Why are Pontoon Boats Slow?

Due to their unique design and construction, pontoon boats are often perceived as slow. They typically have a smaller diameter and lower horsepower than other boats, which can limit their speed on the water.

This characteristic, however, may not be a disadvantage for everyone. Many people enjoy the leisurely pace that pontoon boats offer, finding the slower speed ideal for relaxed cruising, fishing, or sightseeing.

That’s why it’s essential to determine your speed preferences before purchasing a pontoon boat. A test drive can give you a clear sense of the boat’s performance and help you decide if it meets your needs.

Bass Boat or Pontoon: A Quick Comparison

A bass boat is all about speed, massive fish tackle, little personal space, and the ability to move swiftly in different water locations. It is smaller than a pontoon and is also pretty lightweight.

Bass boats suit professionals and competitive anglers participating in fishing tournaments. So, if you are into freshwater fishing or like to reel in dinner from the nearby lake, then a bass boat is all you’ll need.

On the contrary, pontoons are relatively slow, spacious, and stable boats suitable for recreational activities involving a large group of people.

If you like hosting barbeque parties or spending time with your kids, then a pontoon boat is the boat for you to live all your dreams.

Whether it’s a bass boat or pontoon, you can participate in watersports with both. However, skiing and kneeboarding are impossible with bass boats, as they’re too lightweight and small for this purpose.

As far as cost is concerned, bass boats are much more expensive than pontoons. However, pontoon boats can become equally costly once you accessorize them.

Summary

Choosing between a Bass Boat or a Pontoon should align with your intended purpose.

A Bass Boat would be more suitable if you focus on specialized bass fishing due to its sleek, high-powered design.

They are equipped explicitly for an optimal fishing experience, and their speed is crucial for tournament fishing.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a boat geared towards leisure activities, the Pontoon boat offers a distinct advantage.

Characterized by its flat deck on airtight pontoons, this boat provides ample space to accommodate 10 to 15 people comfortably. This makes it ideal for social gatherings or family outings on the water.

In conclusion, the Bass Boat and the pontoon have unique features and advantages. Your selection between a Bass Boat or Pontoon should depend on whether your primary intention is competitive angling or leisure.

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