If you live in “lake country”—which covers ground as close to the coast as Candlewood Lake, Connecticut, or as far from the coast as Grand Lake of the Cherokees, Oklahoma—you already know that pontoon boats rule the world. And if you are not aware, consider that the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association reports that 33 percent of outboard boats sold in 2019 were pontoons. That’s more than twice as many as bass boats (14 percent) and center-consoles (17 percent) combined. Notably, outboard boats represent the largest segment of recreational-boat sales, numbering 173,000 against a total of 201,400 boats sold in total in 2019. So, figure about 52,000 new pontoons sold in 2019. Many of these come in saltwater versions.
Besides, price and features don’t tell the story of the pontoon boat.…
