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Published: Tuesday, Jun. 08, 2010 / Updated: Tuesday, Jun. 08, 2010 05:14 PM

Matt Sellhorst: Choose the right pontoon for you

There is a huge selection of boats and pontoons out there today to match almost any boater and boater’s budget. And the wrong choice could put a damper on your boating experience.

Here are a few key points to consider when searching for the right pontoon:

1. Consider how you’re going to use the pontoon.

Before you rush out to the dealership or search boat trader online, think about how you and your family will be using your pontoon. What have you liked about other boats you’ve been on? What didn’t you like about other boats? How many people will be boating with you? Where will you keep the boat?

The answers to these questions will tell you about the size, seating lay-out, accessories and motor size you will need to maximize your enjoyment of your new boat.

2. Test a boat on the water and in the show room.

There is a big difference between the feel of a boat sitting on the trailer or in the showroom versus how it feels out on the water while you’re using it. The more you can do during the on-water sea trial, the better you can feel about the decision to own that boat.

Most importantly, never buy a pontoon or any other boat without taking it on the water before cutting the check. While on the water, you want to do more than just go for a boat ride.

The best way to describe what you want to do is to feel the boat. How does it handle in turns? How does it maneuver around the docks? How does it sound in rough water and taking off from a dead start?

Move around the interior as if you already owned the boat. Are there cup holders in the right places? Where will you store the life jackets, snacks, water toys, etc? Open and shut all the doors, seat storage and gates; does everything feel solid like it won’t break the first trip out?

3. Discover poor quality and construction before it’s too late.

It can be difficult to tell solid construction from cheap construction on a new pontoon. The cheap screws haven’t stripped out yet. You can’t hear the rattles that’ll appear in a few months. But, if you know what to look for, there are some tell-tale signs.

One of the best indicators I’ve found on any boat is the ‘Hinge Test.’ Rattle the hinges on the seats, ladders, doors and so on and feel how they hold up. If the hinges are cheap, the whole boat is generally cheap and will be a major headache.

Another area to check out is not so easy to find — the underneath construction. How is the floor constructed and attached to the pontoons? A quality pontoon that will hold up for the long term and give you the best ride possible will have a different construction than a cheap pontoon. Some things to ask about are: What’s the distance between the bracing under the plywood decking? How is the plywood decking protected from spray between the pontoons? What material is used in the seating?

The basic idea is to ensure that 100 hours from now, when you have guests out on the pontoon, that it rides, looks and sounds like it does the day you dock it for the first time. So don’t be afraid to poke around, ask questions and wiggle and shake things to see for yourself the quality of your new pontoon.

Matt Sellhorst is the pleasure boat specialist for Lake Wylie Marina and author of “The Pleasure Boat Buyer’s Guide: 11 Mistakes Boat Buyers Make ... and How to Avoid Them!” available online at BoatingTheCarolinas.org.