If you’re considering buying a pontoon boat, you must keep width in mind to make an informed shopping decision. Asking yourself, “How wide is a pontoon boat?” is a great place to start. The answer to this will influence a few factors like:
- Where you store the boat
- How much space you’ll have inside the boat
- The number of people it seats
Buying the exact size you need saves you money and gives you a pontoon boat you’ll love and enjoy for years. We’ll go over all the details regarding the width of pontoon boats in this guide.
What’s The Normal Width of a Pontoon Boat?
Let’s say your pontoon boat runs between 20 and 40 feet. Then, you need to look at a diameter of 8 to 10 feet. The exact width depends on the ship’s brand.
The normal width of pontoon boats is 8 feet. Anything under is considered small and anything over is considered large.
Pontoon Boat Width: Standard Sizes
How wide is a pontoon boat? That question does not have a definite answer because it depends on the vessel’s style, type, and manufacturer. However, the width is determined in relation to the length of the pontoon boat.
Larger boats will have a bigger beam and vice versa. The standard size is the medium-sized pontoon boat because of its versatility and ability to hold both a small and large number of people.
Below are some common pontoon sizes and how their width relates to their length.
Small Pontoon Boats
Any pontoon vessel with a length below 20 feet is considered small. However, small boats also vary in type and size. The ones that are 20 feet long will be approximately 8 feet wide, while those below 12 feet have a beam of 7 feet.
Anything smaller than that is known as a compact or mini pontoon and, in most cases, used to fish and navigate small waterways. With that width, a compact pontoon can only accommodate up to six people comfortably.
Compact pontoon boats are mainly for personal use or when you want to go out in the water with just a few friends. It can also accommodate small families of between three and six, making it a good purchase for small gatherings.
Medium Pontoon Boats
The width of pontoon boats considered medium size is about 8 to 10 feet. However, that depends on the company that manufactures the boat. Each manufacturer has its own width-to-length ratios that determine how wide a pontoon boat from their brand will make.
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.
Large Pontoon Boats
Large pontoon boats are for people who need to hold bigger parties, around 25 people. These pontoons are very large, and not too many of them are commercially available. The pontoon boat’s width is around 12 feet (few vessels are larger than 12 feet in width).
In summary, small pontoons have a width of about 7-8 feet, the width of a pontoon boat for medium vessels is about 8-10 feet, and for large vessels, it’s anything over, typically 12+ feet.
Final Thoughts
As seen above, most pontoon boats will have a beam of 8 feet and above. Larger boats have a few inches on top, but most standard-sized boats will have at least 8 feet in width.
Ready to purchase a pontoon? Get in touch with Avalon to get a quality pontoon boat you’ll absolutely love!
