After a long hiatus from the water, I recently dove back into boating, but this time with an ultra comfy pontoon boat. My kids have space not just to lounge, but walk around, too. My ten-year-old gives it a definite thumbs-up!
Many of our readers have felt the same way—opting for the living room on the water—and what’s interesting is that they choose it to accommodate both the younger generation as well as the older. Basically, pontoons are perfect at any stage in life.
Keith Hicks said, “Pontoons are so versatile: we can cruise around with the family, fish, or pull a tube around, all while feeling safe and comfortable. They’re the best boat to have the family on.”
Another reader, Susan Oliver, said she bought a pontoon to entice her grandchildren to spend more time with her. She said, “We camp frequently with our grandkids. Adding a pontoon to our camping routine keeps them coming back for more. They love it so much!”
Billy Drueke started boating with his daughter sitting in his kayak with him, until he and his wife witnessed those fun-looking pontoons. He said, “We began kayaking with our daughter on our lap when she was a baby. We’d kayak to where all the pontoon boats were beached and families looked like they were having a great time. Once she started getting older, we realized a pontoon would be a perfect way to make great family memories.” Long story short, they bought a pontoon and have loved it ever since.
Some of our readers had dreams of owning a pontoon for years. Patricia Bishop-Schuster said, “I have wanted a pontoon boat for a long time, so I was thrilled when my hubby finally bought us one. We love to fish so it was perfect. We recently went on a six-day fishing vacation.”
Cindy Drummond was hoping for a pontoon so definitively that she started a pontoon savings account and built up her funds for seven years. Although the idea of driving a ski boat made her nervous she said, “I thought that if I had a pontoon I would feel comfortable taking my family and friends for a day of fun on the water. Last fall a friend called and said, ‘I think I found the perfect pontoon for you!’ So I bought it and achieved my goal!” She’s now the happy and confident driver of a pontoon.
Another reader, Sandee Schade, was initially against the boat idea. She said, “I thought my husband was crazy for taking me boat shopping, and even my adult kids said my grand kids wouldn’t like it. Fast forward four years and we all love it. It’s the best decision we ever made! Some days we have four generations on the boat. Family time is the best!”
Being together with family is a common thread for pontoon owners because with their open layout and comfy seating, pontoons are just perfect for spending time together. Jason Ray said, “With my wife and I both growing up around boats on a lake, pontoons are a perfect fit. We love the space they provide and how much performance has improved. We have a teenage son and the boat helps keep the family doing stuff together. Recently we explored beautiful Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, which did not disappoint.”
Pontoons are also great for the way they can glide over rough waves. Henry Evans said, “Our lake is surrounded by retaining walls so it has the bathtub effect on crowded weekends. Our first boat was a runabout and it rode rough as hell. But our pontoon glides right over the waves and it’s a smooth ride every time.”
Being on the water is often a nice reprieve from other motorsports. Lori Craig and her husband decided to switch from the land to the water after owning a side-by-side for years. She said, “We live in our motor home full time and always went exploring on our ATVs. We got tired of being hot and dusty on the back roads. At the time we were near Lake Havasu, Ariz., and attended a balloon festival with pontoons along the lake. It happened to be my 51st birthday and we thought how much we’d love to be out on the water! So we bought a boat and now stay at RV places near lakes.”
And Scott Wheatley made the switch from motorcycling to pontooning. He said, “I was about three years from retirement and wanted to move to nearby Lake Logan Martin in Alabama. I have had a couple of V-hulls over the years, and they were fine, but I took a demo ride on a pontoon during our lake fest and that changed everything. It felt like my living room on the water. There’s more room to move around, more storage for lake stuff, and a much slower pace while cruising (I’m older now, so I don’t care about speed). My motorcycles sit in the garage and collect dust because the pontoon is much more relaxing.”
So whether you’ve spent your life boating, have set a goal to make it to the lake, or switched over from other sports to the water, arriving at the pontoon life is a great way to find your happily ever after.
