The deck boat is more versatile in the water due to the hull but the pontoon boat can comfortably handle more people.

Pontoon vs deck boat. Fiberglass holds up well in saltwater whereas the pontoons of yesterday were not suited for this type of exposure. The fiberglass V-style hull allows the deck boat to cut through the water at rapid speed creating a wake as it goes. Deck boats typically have a V-shaped hull while pontoons lie flat on the water with the deck balanced on two or three hollow aluminum tubes.

Also unlike deck boats pontoon boats have two tubes on either side of the vessel. This feature drove a lot of the popularity for deck boats specifically in intercoastal areas. The V-shaped hull is the most impactful distinguishing difference between the pontoon boats and deck boats.

The pontoon boat has twice the square footage than the deck boat. However there are many options available to get a great deal. New and used models for sale.

So what is the difference between a deck boat and pontoon boat. Pontoons are designed for slow smooth sailing in. Therefore you can host twice as many people for a sunset cruise than you could in the deck boat.

While pontoon boats can accommodate fishermen theyre not as great for high-octane watersports thrills as deck boats. Most pontoon boats will be slightly more fuel-efficient than the deck boat due to the speeds they are each capable of. Deck boats are designed for speed although the manufacturers always try to maximize the deck space onboard.

Pontoon boats have rails good quality vinyl seats and plain carpet. They can reach higher speeds than pontoons making them more comparable to deck boats. Deck boats have a fiberglass V hull body style whereas pontoon boats sit on aluminum toons high up out of the water.