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Is It Okay to Use a Pontoon Boat in the Ocean?

Oct. 5 2023 Buying Guide By L&M Marine LLC

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Are you curious about pontoon boats and where you can use them? Are you wondering if it's okay to use a pontoon boat in the ocean? You're not the only one asking and the answer to ‘is it okay to use a pontoon boat in the ocean?’ is ‘yes’ assuming you use it in the manner we’ll explain below. Some aspects to truly understand the answer include the layout, comfort, construction and how and where you use the pontoon boat as well as the cost and maintenance.

Pontoon Boat Benefits: Layout + Comfort

A pontoon boat is made of up a flat, large deck with parallel pontoons, metal tubes full of air, underneath it that keep it afloat. Pontoon boats are spacious and comfortable boats aimed to maximize leisure and fun. Pontoon boats feature two pontoons while tritoons feature three pontoons providing even more buoyancy and stability than pontoons.  

The most important feature of a pontoon boat is its comfortability. There are performance features such as Sports Performance and Waveglider Packages and other accessories available, but the ultimate goal of a pontoon boat is to provide as much comfort as possible. Pontoon boats are built for cruising and enjoying the water with your friends and family.

Pontoon boats are easily customizable. There are lots of features available to maximize and customize your pontoon boat such:

  • Upright seating

  • Sofas

  • Beds

  • Tables

  • Bimini tops

  • Ski tows


The Build of a Pontoon Boat: Differences Between a Saltwater and Freshwater Pontoon 

The difference between a saltwater pontoon and a freshwater pontoon isn’t the build of the boat, it’s the materials used to protect the pontoon from corrosion as well as the electrical components. The corrosion-resistant features of a saltwater pontoon boat include sacrificial anodes, stainless steel bolts, and door latches. Saltwater packages from some manufacturers offer better electrical packages/components than others and corrosion features differ based on make and model.

How Sacrificial Anodes Protect Pontoons from Electrolysis

The pontoon boat’s sacrificial anodes are made up of zinc, which are placed on the back of the pontoon and in the foot of the motor to attract corrosive properties. These anodes are sacrificial meaning the purpose of them is to get corroded, so the zinc takes the damage and not the stainless steel of the boat. The sacrificial anodes protect the boat from electrolysis and stainless steel bolts and latches are used to reduce rust. Electrolysis can cause oxidation or corrosion of a pontoon which can cause pitting and eventually affect the structural integrity of the aluminum log.

Although boat and motor manufacturers used to make a ‘Saltwater Series’ and a ‘Freshwater Series’ of their products in the past, the way they build them now is nearly all the same. There are still features included with Saltwater Packages that with help protect your boat from corrosion. Overall, by today’s standards in the marine industry, the construction has improved to the point where even with a standard package, the preventative measures are nearly on par with the saltwater packages and upgrades.

You can absolutely use a pontoon boat in the ocean, but it takes some steps to ensure your boat is equipped to handle the saltwater. If a pontoon boat isn’t classed as a saltwater pontoon boat, then it can easily be done for a low cost. 


How + Where You Use the Pontoon Boat

How and where you plan on using your pontoon boat is important since you’ll need a boat with the appropriate buoyancy and size to suit your needs. The activities you plan to take part in, the number of passengers and where you intend to take your pontoon boat are all things to keep in mind. The size of the boat and features also determine where the boat can go. 

Best Uses for Tritoons:

The larger, heavier tritoons are better suited for rougher water as they provide more stability than smaller, lighter pontoons. The sealed tubes (or pontoons) are filled with air, making it nearly impossible to sink a pontoon boat, either a tritoon or pontoon.

Best Uses for Pontoons:

Pontoon boats overall are designed for calmer, more shallow water as the design makes the boat sit on top of the water and doesn’t allow the boat to break waves. Pontoon boats ride well until the waves become taller than the logs, which can then crash over the bow and potentially damage the boat.

Pontoon boats are more of a boat for social gatherings and hanging out on sandbars and their close proximity to the water makes this a breeze. Pontoons are well-equipped for water recreation activities such as tubing, fishing and water skiing on a pontoon, but offshore fishing or riding in windy, rough water with a large swell in a pontoon boat isn’t what the boat is built for. 


Cost + Maintenance of Pontoons

There’s a wide price range for pontoon boats, a pontoon boat could cost you anywhere from $30,000 to $150,000, the price just depends on what you’re looking for. L&M Marine and Day Break Marina focuses on the mid to high end of the spectrum of that price range with pontoons from $60,000 to over $100,000.

Performance features and comfort features determine the cost of the pontoon boat while cost and features are the main decision-making factors.

Pontoon boats require a good amount of maintenance and aren’t quite as forgiving as other types of boats. For example, pontoon boats compared to a fiberglass bay boat are more high maintenance. The actual platform that the pontoon boat is built on is solid – what’s built on the platform is what will have issues with things such as wiring or switch panel. Different geographic locations come with different issues but there are always preventative measures you can take to minimize the issues. Neglecting to maintain your pontoon may result in:

  • A lower resale value

  • Sun damage

  • Corrosion, etc.

You can avoid these types of issues by doing maintenance on your pontoon as soon as you get the boat out of the water. It’s best to create a plan with what steps you’re going to take to maintain your boat after you’re off the water before you hit the water and will create good habits from the beginning will help maintain them.

This is especially important as a lack of maintenance will cause any problem to arise faster. Fading can be prevented by using a cover, certain products can be used to clean and seal the vinyl seating, and dehumidifying products can be used to prevent mildew in the boat. Even simple things like not parking your pontoon boat underneath a tree will make a big difference in minimizing issues. Other preventative measures to take to maintain your pontoon boat include washing the outside, flushing the engine and pontoons, as well as running your boat on a regular basis and charging the battery.

A composite bunk is recommended for your boat trailer versus a carpeted bunk because the composite bunk has a groove in it which allows water to drain and airflow to reach the boat therefore reducing corrosion.


Yes You Can Use Pontoon Boats in the Ocean

So in summary, yes, you can use your pontoon boat in either the ocean or lakes, or both you just need to take the simple, precautionary measures to make sure it’s saltwater ready. A pontoon boat can last you a very long time, whether you use it on freshwater or saltwater – if and only if you maintain it.

Take a look at the pontoon boats we currently have in inventory at L&M Marine and Day Break Marina here, which are all saltwater ready.


Customer Testimonial

Linda and Steve recently purchased a 23 Berkshire from Day Break Marina, here’s why they decided to buy a pontoon: 

  • “We knew we wanted a pontoon. We’ve had ski boats and whatnot, pontoons seemed more to fit our lifestyle and what we’re looking for.” 

  • “It’s a beautiful boat, the color scheme was a selling feature for us and its layout, its electronics. And size and storage.”

Here’s where they plan to use it:

  • “We live within sight of Big Lagoon. We can see Big Lagoon from our house, we’re only like a driver and a wedge away. It’d be nice to have a pontoon boat to just go out and run around Big Lagoon, maybe down to Orange Beach, and Floribama and down to Gulf Shores.

As far as the buying process:

  • “It was a great experience. I think the one thing that pleased me the most is finding out that we could keep it here and not have to trailer it. That we could store it here and the in and out service.” 

And here’s where they plan to service their 23 Berkshire:

  • “Right here, for convenience. That’s why we bought it. We don’t have to drive it anywhere.”

We’d love for you to experience all of the benefits of purchasing a pontoon from L&M Marine and Day Break Marine. Call us, email us or stop by either location, L&M Marine in Baldwin County, Alabama or Day Break Marina in Pensacola Florida, with any questions about purchasing a pontoon, storing a pontoon and maintaining it too, we’re here to help.