Fishing boat or fishing pontoon

[jb426]

I now have a 16' fishing boat, all the toys, older but I like it. My family is growing. I have one 5 yr old who has been fishing on my current boat since he was 2 and a ahlf, loves it. I have another one who is a year and half. I don't think current boat has enough for space for both to play and stuff. So do I buy a bigger fishing boat or a fishing pontoon. I don't move it from the lake so transporting not a issue. I've heard some people don't like fishing from pontoon, just looking for opinions on fishing from pontoons. Thanks

[heat checker]

I would guess a pontoon would be much harder to control in the wind. Also if skiing, tubing are in the future I would stick with the boat. Our 5yr old has been tubing and kneeboarding for two summers now and loves it.If finaces permit, I would keep the 16', and look for a used pontoon.

[bassNspear]

Sounds like your looking for alot of space. A pontoon sounds like its the best thing for ya. It will give you alot of space, along with having the kids be alot safer with the rails. I would look for a pontoon with a fishing model as well, to help you with the fishing needs.

[BoxMN]

I fish from a 18' pretty nice (but older) "walleye" boat when I am serious, and a 16' boat when we have more people on the trip, and at cabin on small lake I have a pontoon, bare bones pontoon. Bring kids/grandkids on pontoon and it is GREAT!!! Especially even just sitting tied to the dock the pontoon is must if you are going to keep it at the lake.

But wind stinks on a pontoon, hard to control, and even bass fishing is horrible unless you a trolling motor, as moving the pontoon is harder than a boat.

That said, I fish on pontoon every weekend in summer and it works just fine. But it stinks when know there are smallies under the docks, or the wind keeps me from staying on a point, and I know I would catch more fish if I had the boat instead. But it works, and for a cabin "boat" you can't beat a pontoon. Get one with vinyl flooring, not carpet, you can thank me later

and while I am a 2 stroke fan on bigger motors, on a pontoon get a nice quiet 4 stroke. I have a 2 stroke Evinrude 25, and it smokes and is not quiet at all...

Good luck!

[Coach1310]

It really depends on what is important to you....If you want more space and room for the kids and stuff a pontoon would be great. Personally I own a boat, but when I visit friends and my aunt at the lake they have pontoons and I absolutely love fishing from them. You can bring a bunch of people out on them and have enough room for everyone to be comfortable. Like was already stated, they will also turn into an extension on your dock giving the kids and others more room to fish from or lay in the sun or whatever. The wind will be a pain, but if it is that windy, will your kids want to be out there anyway???