Craigslist Pontoon Boats For Sale By Owner (2024)

FAQs

Do pontoon boats hold their value? ›

Pontoon boats will continue to depreciate each year until they are about twelve years old.

For standard two-pontoon boats of 18 to 25 feet in length, you can expect a moderate cruising pace of around 18 to 25 mph. These speeds are ideal for relaxed boating with ample time to take in the sights and enjoy the company of your passengers.

Here are some average price ranges for new pontoon boats by size: 16 to 18 foot pontoon - $12,000 to $20,000. 20 foot pontoon - $15,000 to $25,000. 22 foot pontoon - $20,000 to $40,000.

According to SSI data, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are consistently the top states for national pontoon registrations, which isn't surprising given the states' proximity to the Great Lakes and abundance of in-land lakes. However, pontoon boats are also gaining popularity in new markets.

A medium-sized pontoon boat holds up to ten people and is 20 to 24 feet long. Such boats are excellent for family activities and are the most common type of pontoons. You can take a medium-sized pontoon boat on large water bodies and have fun with your friends or family.

Remember, pontoons are designed to ride level with the water. As a result of their wide shape and dual hulls, pontoon boats are designed not to flip over and are equally unlikely to capsize.

At Action Water Sports, you'll find pontoons ranging in length from 20 – 25 ft. Smaller pontoons are only able to be built with smaller motors, like 150 – 200 HP engine. The larger the boat, the bigger the motor you can equip your boat with.

For example, let us take a twenty-foot boat that is eight feet wide. In this example, we would round it down to ten average-sized people.

In general, estimates put a pontoon boat's lifespan at 15-20 years. In many cases, outboard power can also be upgraded, extending a boat's lifespan.

Mid-Size Pontoon Boats

Mid-size 18 to 24-foot pontoon boats are well suited for lakes and rivers that don't have large waves. Mid-size boats are well-equipped to seat up to 13 passengers. You'll be able to enjoy making memories with even more company aboard.

How big of a motor can you put on a 22 foot pontoon boat? ›

150hp-175hp engines, 200hp+

If you are shopping in the 21-24 foot pontoon range and plan on carrying 8-10 passengers, a 150-175hp engine with a triple pontoon is a great all-around pontoon boat choice.

Depth finders and chart plotters do help if you're well-versed in how to use them. Talking with local experts is a great way to go also. Remember, pontoon boats are some of the safest recreational boats on the market. Although they rarely sink, it can happen if the toons are compromised.

While a pontoon boat has two tubes beneath the deck, a tritoon boat has three. This third hull helps keep the boat stable, allows for quicker speeds, and makes the boat better equipped for choppy water.

As to distance from shore, a good rule of thumb is to stay within 1-2 miles in good conditions and decrease that distance accordingly in rougher waters.

Pontoon boats do not run very fast, nor do they have a great range. It is a great boat for a day on the water with friends and family, but do not plan on venturing out very far with it. The pontoon boat engines do not perform as strongly as other boat engines, check out our marine diesel engines to learn more.

In addition, certain boats are more likely to depreciate faster than others. For example, pontoon boats and fishing boats depreciate quicker than most other boats, in which their resale values drop approximately 25% to 30% after the first couple years of ownership.