Pontoon Boat Reviews


Pontoon boats have become one of the hottest, most exciting segments of the boating market. Entry-level models perfect for a family outing or sunset cruise embrace classic pontoon features, whereas mixed-audience offerings add amenities for fishing and watersports outings. And with demand high for these versatile boats, you can find pontoons that'll fit in at the yacht club alongside more traditional craft. This year, the pontoon scene is flourishing with a variety of innovative boats embracing varied propulsion options and features.

Here's a sampling of our favorite pontoons in 2022.

  1. Bennington 30QX

  2. Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX

  3. Harris Grand Mariner 250

  4. Ranger 200F

  5. Tahoe 25 Grand Tahoe QL Windshield

  6. Barletta Cabrio 24UE

  7. Starcraft CX 25 DL Bar

  8. Sea-Doo Switch Compact

  9. Princecraft Vectra 21 RL


Bennington 30QX


The 2022 Bennington QX30 is highly customizable.
Twin engines can take the above 2022 Bennington QX30 north of 60-mph. Image Credit: Bennington

Bennington's 30QX is known for its distinctive style and can fly across the water at speeds of over 60-mph with twin-engine options. This energetic fiberglass-clad pontoon features over 20,000 different possible color combinations to adorn the frame, a curved bow with stainless trim, and composite glass skin. Bennington's attention to passenger experience is clear throughout the 30QX. The low-profile windshields and dual-console offer adequate protection while cruising, and the 30QX can transform into a floating boombox with its 13 color-illuminated speakers that span beyond the boat's interior. Impressive new features included standard for 2022 cater dually to performance and amenity, such as standard-beam twin-engine models, SX Pillowtop furniture with thicker foam, fastback pods, and cup and phone holder console pockets.

View Bennington Pontoon Boats for sale on boats.com today.

Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX


2022 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX embraces pontoon living.

Sun Tracker's 2022 Party Barge 24 DLX lives up to its name. Image Credit: Sun Tracker

The 2022 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX embraces the classic family-and-friends pontoon experience, taking advantage of its massive 24’ 1” by 8’ 6” deck to offer up enough space for a crew of 12 to kick back, relax, and enjoy the water. It's apparent in the 24 DLX design that no sacrifices were made regarding comfort and companionship. The co-captain's chair has the same reclining and self-leveling arm features as the helm chair, and it has a larger playpen this year. The Party Barge 24 DLX also has several thoughtful features for boaters to truly make experiences aboard their own, including a removable table with four molded-in drink holders and two additional movable drink holders and armrests. A full-width platform sporting a swim ladder to make quick dips and dives into the water irresistible and easy. Plenty of storage space is thoughtfully offered for watersports and day-adventure gear onboard, including convenient compartments in the end of the lounges and under the Bimini top. The 2022 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX also has impressive updates on the 2022 model year, including mooring eyes, fold-down cleats, a new Bluetooth stereo, and a redesigned motor pod. Attractive to many buyers has been the new 10′ SureShade powered Bimini top with convenient push-button stow and deploy.

View Sun Tracker Pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Harris Grand Mariner 250


The 2022 Harris Grand Mariner 250 has two new tower options this year.

The 2022 Harris Grand Mariner 250 offers many tech upgrades. Image Credit: Harris Boats

Harris launched their Grand Mariner redesign this year, featuring bold sweeping lines, an all-new bow profile with a sloped design and silhouette, a new helm design, and technical innovations. They come together to deliver a lively combination of luxury and sporting pontooning experience. Passengers will enjoy the interior redesign, with soft-touch vinyl furniture for optimum comfort available in multiple accent colors and the new sun lounger. Other thoughtful inclusions are ample under-seat dry storage and USB ports throughout so devices like cameras to cellphones can stay charged without worry. Captains are afforded spacious legroom at the helm and have two new tower options to choose from this year, manual and power choices in four colors that can match the boat's exterior. The tech upgrades on the Grand Mariner impress, too. It's decked out with integrated LED lighting, an all-electric tower, a fully digital dashboard at the helm, and a newly designed JL Audio sound system all that can be controlled by a key-fob from afar. Enough power is pushed from its Mercury outboard for water-sporting action in a moment. The Grand Mariner line is available in 23’, 25’, and 27-foot options.

View Harris pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Ranger 200F


Family fishing made possible aboard Ranger's 200F pontoon boat.

Ranger's 200F has an excellent design for fishing. Image Credit: Ranger Boats

Ranger’s 200F is an attractive option for buyers that want to blend the three Fs — family, fishing and, uh, ‘fordability. Passenger accommodations include an L-shaped lounge, with a removable table for snacks and drinks, and an additional double-wide seat forward of the helm. Captains will note a better-than-average fiberglass helm that blends style with practicality. It’s the abundance of legit fishing features, however, that leave the lasting impression. Two swiveling, fold-down fishing chairs occupy the bow, each with its own corner storage unit set up with rod and tool holders and built-in measuring boards. Swivel aft and a livewell waits under the forward console seat; a second livewell is found in a similarly equipped station like those forward. All that’s standard. Upgrade to the optional fishing package to add a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance fishfinder.

View Ranger Pontoon Boats for sale on boats.com today.

Tahoe 25 Grand Tahoe QL Windshield


2022 Tahoe 25 Grand Tahoe QL Windshield has Tahoe trademarks and some serious pontoon tech.

2022 Tahoe 25 Grand Tahoe QL Windshield. Image Credit: Tahoe

Another flagship model, Tahoe’s 25 Grand Tahoe QL Windshield impressed with its combination of the conventional and modern. The former is found in what appears to be a traditional fence enclosure, but upon closer inspection is revealed to be sleek painted aluminum panels with sculpted style lines, seamlessly blending into fiberglass modules aft. It’s a combo paired with a fiberglass day-boat trait, a wraparound windshield spread across dual consoles that offers welcome protection from the elements underway. A helm complete with multiple touchscreen displays, plush couches lining the perimeter, and Tahoe’s trademark ventilated, aluminum-framed seat bases round out interior offerings. Interior and exterior multi-color RBG lights are programmable. Below, the Waveglider Performance Package includes triple, 27” pontoons with extruded lifting fins featuring a cupped design to reduce drag, plane higher on the water and deliver a fast, smooth ride.

View Tahoe pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Barletta Cabrio 24UE


The 2022 Barletta Cabrio 24UE pontoon has a high-topped table great for entertaining.

Enjoy the sunset aboard the 2022 Barletta Cabrio 24UE. Image Credit: Barletta Boats

Barletta's Cabrio 24 Ultra Entertainer certainly lives up to its name, designed with the intention to bring people together on the water. A high-topped table, dual swivel stools, and adjacent bench port of the helm are this vessel's center point, providing ample space for conversation and play. Chaise-lounge style seating can be found forward, concealing a stow-away table and quickly accessible additional stowage compartments. The 24UE's most sought-out spot, though, might be its one-of-a-kind Ultra-Lounge. Found at the stern, the Ultra-Lounge offers five different seating positions to relax in. Barletta offers a diligent array of optional extras that allow 24UE owners to customize the boat to their needs. Some of our top picks are the exterior lighting package, ottoman with a built-in cooler and storage, changing room in place of the chaise table, and table with "Yeti-Ready" cup holders. For those interested in watersports, a tow bar is an option extra to consider.

View Barletta pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Starcraft CX 25 DL Bar


2022 Starcraft CX 25 DL Bar is a pontoon you can pull up to the sandbar in confidence.

The 2022 Starcraft CX 25 DL Bar invites you to kick back and relax. Image Credit: Starcraft Marine

Pontoons with actual “belly up to the” bars have been done before, but the emphasis on the cocktail in cocktail cruise often results in losing precious interior space when it’s not party time. Starcraft’s CX 25 DL Bar manages to offer up the best of both worlds. Aft, it features what looks like the familiar setup of stern bench backed by large, inviting sunbed but pull up to the dock or sandbar, lift each half of that divided pad upwards toward the centerline and voila, up pops a bar, with faux-granite countertop and six oversized cupholders. Rail-mounted stools are ready to be popped into a pair of floor mounts on port and starboard sides. When cocktail hour is done, lower the bar back into position and relax on the sunbed, or one of the multiple lounges surrounding the perimeter.

View Starcraft pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Sea-Doo Switch Compact


2022 Sea-Doo Switch Compact is an affordable, innovative pontoon.

Above: The 2022 Sea-Doo Switch Compact. Photo by Sea-Doo.

Sea-Doo managed to send waves through the pontooning world this year when they launched the Switch, the manufacturer's first pontoon. Sea-Doo's history as a PWC manufacturer shines through in the Switch's many innovative aspects— most notably, that it's the only pontoon propelled by jet power, skimming the surface aboard three of Sea-Doo’s Polytec tubes. The Polytec tubes are made of the same lightweight and easy to repair material as their jetskis. At the helm, you'll find further PWC influence in the controls, as its steering system closely resembles that of a jetski. The Switch further strays from traditional 'toons, but still embraces the pontooning culture of community in its innovative modular deck design. The floorplan can transform as owners' outing call for, with furniture and accessories the modular tile system. Another great aspect of the Switch is its price point: the Compact, the smallest Switch at 13-feet, starts at a base MSRP of $17,999, including the trailer.

View Sea-Doo pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Princecraft Vectra 21 RL


The Princecraft Vectra 21 RL pontoon has many custom options.

The Princecraft Vectra 21 RL is highly-customizable. Image Credit: Princecraft

Looking for an affordably priced, highly-customizable pontoon in the 20’ range? Princecraft’s Vectra 21 RL delivers, with prices ranging based upon location and chosen options, such as engine configurations, which range from 40 hp to 150 hp. No matter what your speed, you won’t feel as though you’re on a basic model. The helm may be rotomolded plastic, but it adds an acrylic top and molded dash panel, complete with lit aircraft-style toggles and Bluetooth Jensen stereo. The Bimini is standard, as is the stainless steel four-step stern ladder for easy access to the water. Below deck, choose from double or triple pontoon configurations. A tow bar is included among the plentiful options for owners, leveling up this vessel's watersport's capability. A removable table with four built-in cup holders, a deluxe driver seat, and a safety railing are a few options that truly allow captains to craft this vessel into their own.

View Princecraft pontoon boats for sale on boats.com today.

Pontoon enthusiasts interested in buying a new boat have many excellent options with this year's line-up, from vessels that focus on accommodations for fishing and watersports, to embracing the classic party-barge lifestyle that pontooners love. Hopefully, one or more of these will fit the bill for you!

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