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www.pdbmagazine.com Pontoon & Deck Boat January 2019 30 Feature | Pontoon Versus Deck Boats slight advantage over the pontoon, but that gap is quickly closing—especially on the sport pontoons that now offer full wakeboard towers or arches. Fishing While deck boats are more than capable of helping you reel in the catch of the day, with pontoons, the shallow draft makes it easy to get to those honey holes. Plus the stable platform and extra room to move around are two other advantages that give pontoons the edge. Good Company Since pontoons are literally floating, fenced patios, if your idea of spending a day on the lake includes a barbecue, wine, music, lounging in the sun or beaching on a sand bar, a pontoon would be a perfect fit for you. Pontoons are great spaces for parties and for low-key family outings. Deck boats are roomy in their own right, but they don't lend themselves as easily to being a floating party like pontoons do. If your idea of fun is towing family and friends on tubes, kneeboards or skis, either a pontoon or a deck boat would be a good fit for augmenting your time on the lake. Bang For Buck Typically it is cheaper to acquire a decent pontoon than a deck boat. However, keep in mind that with pontoon and deck boats, the engine can be up to a third of the total price of the boat. A pontoon may cost $30K, but after buying an engine and a few options the total price could equal $50K or more. That being said, you can expect to pay anywhere from $80K to $100K (or even more) for a fully-equipped pontoon with maximum horsepower. The starting price for a decent deck boat starts at around the $30K mark to upward of $80K. But as with anything, you can spend as much as you want on a boat and you do get what you pay for as far as quality, craftsmanship and amenities. But whatever craft you choose, there has never been a better time to get out on the water and start enjoying the benefits and advantages of owning either a pontoon or a deck boat than there is today. •