People are towing them around as their primary boats now. They are on the Great Lakes. There is no getting away from them! WTF is up with this pontoon madness? They used to be second boats for lake front dwellers to take out in the evening or to anchor and swim off of. I hope it's a passing fad because I think they are more annoying than PWCs!

Fuel costs!

Just like center consoles, the country is getting older and need things to board and move around in easier.

Not older......fatter!

Padraig

Those aren't pontoons, they're slow moving aluminum catamarans... Congratulations, all your boats are now cat killers!

What's wrong with pontoons?

I don't disagree with you on pontoon owners but for everyone I see driving slow and in the way of faster moving boats I see some a-hole in a bow cruiser doing stuipd things also. Case in point just this last week. My wife and I along with some other friends are having a few cold ones cruising the shore line (less then 100ft from shore) and here comes a guy pulling skiers between us and shore. The old paint ball gun came out on that one.

Also they are more popular today because they aren't these slow moving vessels anymore. A 24ft tri-toon with a 250hp+ outboard will easily do 45mph with 8 people on it. Not to mention they are comfortable seats.

I totally get the pontoon craze. I hate to say it but I wish I'd picked up a pontoon I looked at before I bought my boat. It was a Playcraft Powertoon Xtreme with twin 300 Mercs that a local guy put up for sale in IL. It was faster, better fuel economy, and easier to dock than my 29' MCOB with a single.
Even Brad Rowland considers his 38' Scarab his family boat and his toon his go-fast.

Speak for yourself.

My wife has a rule: All toys must be paid for with cash, no financing. I have a 242 Formula, but if I wanted a $50k pontoon she would sign on the dotted line for one. She says they are so practical. I find the 242 to be very practical though. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Now that's funny shi$ Third. I was out last weekend and it seemed like every other boat was a pontoon. That being said they aren't my grandfathers pontoon anymore. I'm still astounded they get into the 6 figures.