Pontoon vs. Tritoon: What the Third Tube Changes

A pontoon boat floats on two aluminum tubes. A tritoon is the same idea with a third tube down the middle. Both have the flat, open deck with patio-style seating that people buy pontoons for. This guide explains what the third tube changes, how to decide, and what our data can and can't tell you.

How our data labels them

We don't keep pontoons and tritoons as separate types. Both are in one Pontoon / tritoon type with 436 models from 32 brands. That's because many builders sell the same model with two or three tubes, so the tube count is often an option, not a different boat.

Only 18 of those 436 models have a builder page we recorded that names a tritoon or triple-tube version in the model name, page title, web address or spec list. Some builder pages list fuel capacity and horsepower separately for the two-tube and three-tube versions of the same model. Other builders may offer a third tube without saying so on the page we recorded, so 18 is a floor, not a share of the market. The table below covers the whole type.

What the third tube changes

  • More buoyancy under the middle of the deck. A third tube carries weight where two tubes leave a gap.
  • Bigger engines are often allowed. Builders set a maximum horsepower for each hull. When a model comes in both versions, check the builder's figure for the exact tube setup you're pricing.
  • More weight and cost. The extra tube adds material, so expect it to add to the price and the trailer weight. Compare the builder's own numbers for each version.
  • The same deck. Seating, layout and the patio feel usually stay the same. The tube count mostly changes how the boat rides and what engine it can carry.

Choose a two-tube pontoon if

  • You'll cruise, swim and fish on small or calm lakes and rivers at an easy pace.
  • A moderate engine is all you need and you'd rather keep the price and weight down.
  • You tow with a smaller vehicle. Check the boat's weight plus the trailer against your tow rating (Towing by Boat Weight).

Choose a tritoon if

  • You'll be on bigger lakes where wind chop builds, or you'll carry a full load of people often.
  • You want a larger engine for watersports or longer runs, and the builder's maximum horsepower for the tritoon version allows it.
  • You're comparing two versions of the same model and the extra cost fits your budget once you add the higher engine price.

What our data shows (checked 2026-11-05)

Pontoon / tritoon
Models in our data 436
Brands 32
Length (LOA) 8' 6" to 34' 5", median 23' (n=283)
Beam median 8' 6" (n=248)
Draft median 21 in (n=8)
Dry weight median 2,275 lb (n=176)
Fuel capacity median 37 gal (n=246)
Max horsepower median 187.5 hp (n=304)
Passengers median 11 (n=228)
Published prices $23,970 to $418,939, median $54,119 (n=163)
Priced under $50,000 69
Priced $50,000 to $99,999 51
Priced $100,000 to $249,999 40
Priced $250,000 and up 3

Figures checked 2026-11-05, computed from the model pages on this site (each value links to the builder's own page there). "n" is how many models publish that figure. Prices are the builders' published base or starting prices, not dealer or out-the-door prices, and many builders don't publish one, so treat the price rows as a rough picture of what's listed, not market prices. Medians are the middle value, so half the models are above and half below.

Questions to ask the builder or dealer

  1. Is this model offered with two tubes, three tubes, or both? What's the price difference?
  2. What's the maximum horsepower for each tube setup?
  3. What does each version weigh, and what will it weigh on the trailer with fuel and gear?
  4. Is there a performance or lifting-strake package, and what does it add?

Then sea trial the version you plan to buy, ideally on a day with some wind.

Next steps

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