Are you in the market for a new boat and are debating between a tritoon or a pontoon? Are you trying to figure out which one is the best type of boat for you? Here at Day Break Marina and L&M Marine we are asked this question on a regular basis and we’re here to make the process easy. We’re going to give you definitive pros and cons of both tritoons and pontoons and by the end of this article, you should have a clear choice.

The Difference Between a Tritoon and a Pontoon

There’s a difference in the construction of tritoons versus pontoons, you have more space on a tritoon to add things that will increase the performance, such as controlling running surfaces. Generally, both are 8 and a half feet wide and the length varies pontoon by pontoon by tritoon by tritoon.

Pontoons are built for calm, protected water and tritoons are better suited for open, rougher water. You have the same option for amenities for pontoons as you do tritoons, and both can potentially perform the same depending on the conditions. Overall, pontoons are built for leisure and tritoons are built for performance.

The additional pontoon on a tritoon, pontoons have two tubes while tritoons have three, changes the price point. The additional tube of air underneath tritoons makes them less likely to sink than pontoons and also makes them more expensive. The tubes are made up of different compartments full of pressurized air:

• Pontoons have two tubes: total of six compartments full of pressurized air

• Tritoons have three tubes: total of nine compartments full of pressurized air 

If one tube does get punctured, the tube still has two more compartments full of air which are designed to not take on enough water to flip the boat. The tritoons we carry are self-evacuating, meaning water will automatically begin to drain if the boat does become submerged.

Three Deciding Factors When Choosing a Tritoon or a Pontoon

The deciding factors when choosing between a tritoon versus a pontoon are:

• What you like to do with your boat

• Where you like to take it

• How much you want to spend

What You Like to Do With Your Boat

The advantages of the tritoon are that it’s more stable on the water, and there’s more opportunity for wakeboarding and skiing because a tritoon has more horsepower - but the tradeoff is a higher cost. The advantage of a pontoon is that it has the same amenities options as a tritoon, but typically with a lower cost.

The activities you want to do affect your decision between a tritoon and a pontoon, for example: if you decide to start wakeboarding, you can’t get a bigger motor to go faster in your pontoon due to the structure of the boat so a tritoon would be a better option. Wakeboard tritoons may include a fin to help cut the water and direct the boat.

Where You Like to Take Your Boat

Pontoons are designed for casual, calm and sheltered water and aren’t built to handle waves over two feet. If you’re looking to take your boat out onto a calm lake, the performance of pontoons and tritoons will be very similar. 

But when it comes to open, rough water, the more hull the better, which is why tritoons are better suited for rough water. Tritoons can handle this type of water because of the third toon or tube full of air helps stabilize the boat by allowing friction between the water and the bottom of your boat.

Tritoons are a better fit for saltwater or unprotected water, anywhere that’s calm and protected, pontoons would be the best fit. 

How Much You Want to Spend

The difference between the two is that it all comes down to lifestyle. Where you use your boat and the activities you want to partake in are the biggest deciding factor.  Tritoons can go faster since you can put a larger motor on it and usually cost more than pontoons so a tritoon would be a good fit if performance and speed are a big factor. But if luxury is more important, spending that money on the finish and high-end for a pontoon may be better suited.

Customization

As far as customization goes, it all just depends on how particular you are and how specific and set you are on getting exact customizations. Although tritoon prices are typically higher than pontoons, you could potentially deck out a pontoon enough that it could be around the same price as a tritoon.

Just like most other purchases, the more stuff you put on a boat, the higher the price will be. If you have your sights set on a certain customization, special ordering may be the best bet for you. Special ordering is a great option because it doesn’t cost you any more than it would to buy a boat straight off the lot. The process is very easy - we can help you customize your boat (at either our of locations in Pensacola or Baldwin County) and your boat would get delivered to the dealership, allowing you to pick it up from the same place.

No matter what type of customizations you have in mind, here at L&M Marine and Day Break Marina we’re always ordering boats and we’re happy to order your custom boat with no extra charge. (Certain features may cost extra but the delivery to our dealership won't.)

• Tritoons are built for performance and the activities you want to do determine the type of performance package that you should go with. 

• Pontoons are built for leisure, and your wants and needs (seating, sound system, cup holders, lighting, etc.) will determine the price. 

We recommend purchasing a boat with good enough bones so that as you go on your boating journey you’re easily able to upgrade it.

Maintenance + Storage

As far as maintenance goes, there’s not much of a difference in maintaining a pontoon versus a tritoon. The only difference is you’ll spend a little bit more time washing your tritoon due to the additional tube. 

One thing to think about when making your decision is to be mindful of clearance space as they sit higher the water. Generally speaking, the dimensions are the same as far as length and width go between tritoons and pontoons. The major difference is the construction and weight, tritoons are heavier than pontoons and are built to handle a larger motor/more horsepower. 

Summary

It always comes down to how and where you’re using your boat. Owning a tritoon just makes things more available to you – once you get into choppier water, with a tritoon it’s pretty stable. Tritoons are versatile since there are more places and things you can do while you’re on a tritoon, and for a boater who does everything, tritoons give you a better advantage in controlling the water. In our area around Baldwin County and Pensacola, more of our customers tend to lean toward tritoons because most of the water in the Gulf area can be unlocked by a tritoon's capabilities.

Tritoons can be taken out nearshore as well as inshore and are a smoother, better ride, are more stable on the water overall and have higher horsepower, providing more opportunity for wakeboarding and skiing but will cost you more than a pontoon.  

Pontoons are the perfect fit for protected water and are great for cruising calm water with family and friends and beaching on sand bars. Tritoons are built for performance while pontoons are built for leisure. Your choice between a tritoon or a pontoon all depends on the activities you plan to do with the boat, how much you want to spend, and what’s important to you.

The best tritoon or pontoon is the one that best fits your lifestyle. Check out our current inventory and get a quote on our website. We’d be happy to discuss the difference between tritoons and pontoons and help you determine which one best suits your lifestyle at either of our locations, Day Break Marina in Pensacola, Florida and L&M Marine in Baldwin County, Alabama.