Boat - Tritoon vs Pontoon
When you want a spacious, stable, and comfortable boat, you end up with two main options: pontoon or tritoon? We know narrowing down your options can be hard, so we’ve put together a brief comparison below to get you started. If you have any questions, or if you want to see the pontoons and tritoons we have for sale, contact our stores in Sanger and New Braunfels, Texas, today!
Terminology
First, it helps to get a feel for the definitions of the boats. The term “pontoon” refers to a style of boat that uses aluminum tubes for floatation. These form the bottom of the hull. Traditionally, they utilize two tubes, one on each side of the boat.
A tritoon, as you may have guessed, uses an extra tube, giving it one on each side and one down the middle of the boat. Though it’s technically a type of pontoon, in this article we’ll be referring to two-tube models as pontoons and three-tube models as tritoons.
Weight And Size
Both pontoons and tritoons have a range of sizes, but typically speaking, tritoons are larger. Where a pontoon will be anywhere between 16 and 27 feet long, tritoons average out between 22 and 30 feet long. Because of this, pontoons also tend to be lighter than comparable tritoons.
If you’re hoping for a relatively more maneuverable and compact boat, pontoons are the way to go. They’ll be able to navigate more narrow waterways—and more shallow ones, thanks to their lighter weight. However, the extra size means a tritoon has the upper hand in storage space and leg room. They also have a higher passenger capacity, often up to 25 passengers.
Transportation
If getting the boat to and from the water is a big concern for you, pontoons may be your preference. Because they’re smaller and lighter, it’s easier to afford and buy a trailer that can handle them. You also won’t need as large or powerful a tow vehicle to tow a pontoon, and will use less gas getting to and from your destination.
Performance
Both pontoons and tritoons are fairly stable in calm water, since they rest on the water rather than cutting through it. However, a tritoon is more stable thanks to the third tube in the hull and is more able to handle slightly rougher waters. Tritoons also tend to pack more horsepower, which means you can cruise at higher speeds and can more easily tow watersports enthusiasts. They even have a higher fuel capacity than pontoons!
Cost
Finally, if your budget is tighter, a pontoon is your best option. They tend to average out to around $20,000, while tritoons typically cost around $35,000. Exact prices will depend on make, model, size, and included features, of course.
Ready to get started? Contact us at Fish and Ski Marine for more information, or to see our selection of pontoons and tritoons. We proudly serve Dallas and San Antonio, Texas—let us serve you today!