The Best Pontoon Boat Brands: An In-depth Review

There are many pontoon boat brands available, offering different models, at different price points. Before purchasing, it is best to understand the different pontoon boat brands in the market. There are brands which come with standard features, those with advanced features, and those which are affordable. Most brands provide different “series” of pontoon boats so you can find exactly what you desire. In this article, we explore the best pontoon boat brands so you are informed when purchasing your boat.

Pontoon Boat Brands – How to Select?

Select Desired Pontoon Boat

Before reviewing and selecting pontoon boat brands, you first need to determine the pontoon boat you desire. Will you use the pontoon boat for cruising, fishing, water sports, parties, or a combination of these uses? Navigating fresh water or salt water? What size pontoon boat can you afford, transport, store, etc?

Don’t worry about answering these questions, because we have provided you with all the resources necessary to decided which style pontoon boat is best for you. Head over to our Find Your Dream Pontoon Boat section to start researching your next pontoon boat.

Review Pontoon Boat Brands

Pontoon boat brands provide insight into their heritage, construction quality, craftsmanship, and customer reviews. You can also review other important aspects such as customer support facilities and owner resources. These details are valuable during the purchasing process, but they become extremely important during pontoon boat ownership. A thorough review of all aspects of the pontoon boat brands will instill the confidence necessary to successfully complete this large purchase.

Select A Dealership

Once you have selected your desired brand, use the provided dealership links to select the nearest dealer for quality service.

Pontoon Boat Brands

Bennington Pontoon Boats

Bennington pontoon boat brands

Bennington, “The Pinnacle in Boating Experience,” is the world’s leading premier pontoon & tritoon boat manufacturer. Headquartered in Elkhart, IN, it’s a wholly owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc. Bennington Marine, the world’s premier luxury pontoon manufacturer, was founded in 1997 by a group of industry veterans. They provide innovative design, while paying great attention to quality construction. Customer satisfaction is highly important.

The Bennington lineup includes 5 Series:

  • Q Series, Pinnacle of Luxury pontoon boats (23′ – 30′ Models)
  • R Series, Ultimate Luxury pontoon boats (22′ – 30′ Models)
  • M Series, Premium Luxury pontoon boats (22′ – 26′ Models)
  • L Series, Upgraded Luxury pontoon boats (20′ – 26′ Models)
  • S Series, the best selling series, Versatile Luxury pontoon boats (16′ – 25′ Models)

Bennington has a 3D Boat Designer so you can design the perfect pontoon. You can also build and customize your pontoon boat with their Build & Price tool.

Bennington offers an industry leading lifetime structural + 10-year bow-to-stern warranty. There are dealers in USA and Canada.

Avalon Pontoon Boats

Avalon Pontoons boat brands

Avalon has over 40 years of pontoon boat manufacturing experience. They offer high end luxury, mid-range, and affordable pontoon boat models. Headquartered in Alma, Michigan, Avalon Pontoon is committed to “The Art of Pontoon,” and they have won various awards including Michigan Manufacturer of the Year.

Their models are backed with superior construction using the best materials. Additionally, they are designed with extreme care so you get exceptional performance and durability. Avalon pontoon boat design offers maximum storage and flo thru ventilated seating. Additional design features include easy to clean bacteria-resistant external walls, Waveglider high performance lifting fins, side impact protection keel, and stainless steel Bimini top connectors. Care is taken for every detail ensuring customers continue to be satisfied for another 40 years.

The Avalon lineup includes:

  • Excalibur: The flagship model from Avalon offers superior quality (25′ and 27′ Models).
  • Catalina: Premium pontoons with technical refinement and aesthetic accomplishment (23′, 25′ and 27′ Models)
  • LSZ: Signature Collection with custom options (19′ to 25′ Models)
  • Venture: Boutique Collection offering compact models (15′ – 23′ Models)
  • VLS: Affordable, easy to trailer and easy to drive models (19′ – 23′ Models)
  • VTX: Affordable heritage design (17′ and 19′ Models)

You can build and customize here: Build a Boat.

Avalon pontoons come with a 10 year structural limited lifetime warranty. There are dealers in USA and Canada.

Tahoe Pontoons also fall under the Avalon umbrella.

Sun Tracker Pontoon Boats

Sun Tracker Pontoon Boat brands

Sun Tracker has been in the industry for over 35 years. They are headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. In 1983, Sun Tracker introduced the industry’s first fishing based pontoon boat, the BASS BUGGY®. Over the years, they have offered many models for anglers and families.

Sun Tracker offers top quality models at affordable prices utilizing the Lean Sigma manufacturing processes. Winner of the CSI Award for Excellence in customer satisfaction, you’ll be at peace knowing they stand behind your purchase. The models come with comfortable and deep storage options.

You can even run faster with the XP3 models. These models come with three 26” logs with lifting strakes, hydraulic steering and a ski tow pylon base.

The Sun Tracker lineup includes:

  • Fishing Pontoons: Bass Buggy, Fishin’ Barge and Sportfish. These pontoon boats provide everything you need for your fishing adventure with at least one live well (most have two), rod storage and fishing chairs (16′ – 24′ Models).
  • Party Barge Pontoons: Come with tons of options for your lounging, cruising, partying, swimming, tubing, and more! (16′ – 24′ Models)

You can build and price your dream pontoon here: Build Your Own.

The models come with 10+ LIFE ™ warranty. There are many dealers across USA and Canada.

Godfrey Pontoon Boats

Godfrey pontoon boats offer “Everything that great days on the water are about”. They are designed to make your water adventures memorable. Godfrey pontoon boats are where good quality meets great craftsmanship. With good storage options and comfortable seating, there is a floor plan suiting all your needs.

The Godfrey lineup includes:

  • SanPan: Offers ultimate in premium elegance and comfort (21′ – 28′ Models)
  • XP: Where bold performance meets sophisticated class (25′ – 28′ Models)
  • AquaPatio: Offers bold performance with quality class (22′ – 28′ Models)
  • Monaco: Family focused features with style and quality (21′ – 28′ Models)
  • Sweetwater: Modern design with superb quality (21′ – 25′ Models)
  • Xperience: Good craftsmanship with lasting quality (19′ – 22′ Models)

You can compare Godfrey pontoon boat models or use Build and Price.

Godfrey pontoon boats come with Lifetime Structural and 10 year bow to stern warranty. There are dealers in both USA and Canada.

Sylvan Marine Pontoon Boats

Sylvan Marine Pontoon Boat brands

Sylvan Marine is known as the “Creator of the Revolutionary Planing Technology Pontoon”. Their history dates back to the 1940s, when they were founded near Sylvan Lake in Wolcottville, Indiana. Headquartered in New Paris, Indiana, “Luxury meets Technology“ is what Sylvan Marine pontoon boats are all about.

Sylvan Marine pontoon boats are known for quality, innovation, and value. Sylvan pontoon boats provide exclusive floor plans loaded with unique features. These features include a seating area that converts into a bar area, a quick release Bimini top, and Biggie Vision camera system. Customers claim Sylvan offers “High quality fit and finish, beautiful interiors and excellent handling boats!”

The Sylvan lineup includes:

  • M Series: The pinnacle of pontoon boat design (24′ – 27′ Models).
  • S Series: Powerful, agile, comfortable and distinctive with excellent performance, handling and acceleration (24′ – 26′ Models).
  • G Series: Designed and built without compromise. Pinnacle of pontoon boat design and cheaper than M series (26′ – 28′ Models).
  • L Series: Used for fishing, waterskiing, cruising or hanging out at the sandbar (20′ – 25′ Models).
  • Mirage X: Known for superior handling. The most family-friendly options on the water (20′ – 24′ Models).
  • Mirage Cruise: Offers innovative design and superior handling with quality performance (19′ – 24′ Models).
  • A Series: Superior valve with functionality and sophisticated design (20′ – 22′ Models).
  • Mirage Fish: An unbeatable value, versatile, family-fishing machine with comfortable seating options (19′ – 22′ Models).

You can view the Sylvan Showroom and use the Build your Sylvan tool.

Sylvan Marine offers award winning customer satisfaction and a Lifetime +6 year warranty. Dealers are spread across both the USA and Canada.

Manitou Pontoon Boats

Manitou Pontoon Boat brands

Manitou, headquartered in Lansing, Michigan is an industry leader in the manufacturer of performance, leisure and luxury pontoon boats. You can make every summer count with Manitou pontoon boats. You can have a heart-racing ride at full throttle or just be on the water and enjoy the sunset.

The Manitou lineup includes:

  • Luxury XT Series: Experience luxurious details, cutting-edge technology and renowned craftsmanship (23′, 25′, and 27′ Models).
  • Sport LX Series: The perfect sports pontoon with thrilling acceleration and cornering (23′, 25′ and 27′ Models).
  • Recreation Explore Series: Explore offers sports pontoon performance at an affordable cost (22′, 24′ and 26′ Models).
  • Recreation Explore Dual Engine Series: Similar to the Explore but now with dual engines (24′ and 26′ Models).
  • Value Cruise Series: Combining enviable features with extraordinary value (20′, 22′, and 24′ Models).

You can customize your own Manitou pontoon boat. Manitou offers Limited Structural Lifetime warranty and Limited Transferability of warranty. You can find a dealer in the USA and Canada.

Harris Pontoon Boats

Harris Pontoon Boat brands

Harris Boats headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN became a pontoon industry leader not by simple chance. With good quality and craftsmanship, Harris boats stay a step ahead of the competitors.

Founded in 1956, Harris boats produced the world’s first assembly line of pontoon boats, trademarked as FloteBote in 1957. And since then, it was always a journey of innovation and quality. 

The innovations they came across elevate your riding experience. Harris pontoons feature the patented Total Torsional Reduction System in the deck construction. With watertight deck construction, rub rail deck protection and marine-grade wiring, they have lot to offer. This helps in creating a strong, lightweight pontoon platform which is proven to overcome long years of rigorous use. With the Dolphin Nose Cone design the pontoon boat can navigate through water with grace and ease.

The Harris lineup includes:

  • Crowne: offering prestige and power in stunning designs (25′ Model)
  • Grand Mariner: known for versatile elegance (23′, 25′, and 27′ Models)
  • Solstice: emphasizing both performance and style (23′, 25′, and 27′ Models)
  • Sunliner: the new range where comfort meets convenience (21′, 23′, and 25′ Models)
  • Cruiser: offering comfort and style (19′ – 25′ Models)
  • Breeze: offering uncomplicated quality (21′ and 23′ Models)

You can Build & Price your Harris Pontoon boat.

Harris boats come with limited lifetime structural warranty. The ten year bow to stern warranty is transferrable to the second owner within the first five years. You can locate Harris dealers in USA and Canada.

Lowe Pontoon Boats

Lowe has been in the boat manufacturing industry for over a half century. Based in Lebanon, Missouri, the brand Lowe has been providing quality family time on the water. With thoughtful design, premium raw materials and the highest quality construction, Lowe assures you get the best bang for your buck.

Lowe pontoon boats are also built with safety and stability in mind. By exceeding safety standards, you are guaranteed floatation even in extreme conditions. The design is also quieter compared to the other models. With good customer satisfaction and affordability you can have a great time owning a Lowe pontoon boat.

The Lowe lineup includes:

  • RS: Limitless opportunities for recreation and memories (23′, 25′ and 27′ Models).
  • SS: Relax or splash on the new series which is a versatile platform for fun on the water (19′ – 27′ Models).
  • SF: For your dream lake life. You could fish or just cruise and relax (19′ – 23′ Models).
  • LS: Total pass through design with comfortable seating for 12 passengers (17′ – 23′ Models).
  • Ultra: Feature packed classic pontoons at affordable price (16′ – 20′ Models)
  • Deck Boat: Versatility and fun with the Deck 224 (22′ Model).

So what to wait for! Just Build & Price your Lowe!

Lowe offers limited lifetime structural warranty and limited ten year bow to stern warranty. Dealers are available in USA and Canada.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing from pontoon boat brands is key to ensuring a reliable, enjoyable, and long-lasting experience on the water. With so many trusted names offering unique features, innovative designs, and excellent craftsmanship, there’s a brand out there to meet every boater’s needs and budget. Whether you prioritize luxury, performance, or versatility, understanding the strengths of top pontoon boat brands will help you make an informed decision. By selecting a brand that aligns with your lifestyle, you can invest in a pontoon boat that brings years of adventure and enjoyment.

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