Pontoon boats are a popular type of recreational watercraft that offer plenty of space and stability. These boats are characterized by their flat-bottomed, tube-shaped floats, or pontoons, which provide buoyancy and support for the vessel. However, many people wonder if these pontoons are filled with anything.
What Are Pontoon Boats?
Before we dive into the question of what fills pontoon boats, let’s first take a look at what pontoon boats are and how they work. As mentioned earlier, a pontoon boat is essentially a boat with two or more buoyant tubes or pontoons attached to the bottom. These tubes can be made from different materials such as aluminum or fiberglass.
The pontoons on a pontoon boat serve several purposes. Firstly, they provide buoyancy to keep the boat afloat in the water.
Secondly, they increase stability by distributing weight evenly across the water’s surface. This makes pontoon boats ideal for activities such as fishing or entertaining guests.
Are Pontoons Filled With Anything?
Now that we’ve established what pontoon boats are let’s answer the question that brought you here: Are pontoons on a pontoon boat filled with anything?
The short answer is yes; most pontoons on modern-day pontoon boats are filled with air – not water or foam as some people might assume. The air-filled pontoons provide enough buoyancy to keep the boat floating on top of the water.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, some older models may have been filled with foam instead of air to achieve buoyancy. Foam-filled pontoons were once popular because they provided extra stability and prevented leaks from sinking the boat.
What’s Inside A Pontoon?
Typically speaking, modern-day pontoons are made up of three main components: an aluminum frame, an outer skin made from aluminum or fiberglass, and airtight chambers that are filled with air.
The aluminum frame acts as the skeleton of the pontoon boat and provides structural support. The outer skin is attached to the frame and forms the tube-shaped pontoons. Finally, the airtight chambers are located inside the pontoons and provide buoyancy to keep the boat afloat.
Benefits Of Air-Filled Pontoons
Air-filled pontoons on pontoon boats offer several benefits over other types of filling. Firstly, air-filled pontoons are lightweight, which makes them more fuel-efficient than foam-filled pontoons. This means that you can travel further on less fuel.
Secondly, air-filled pontoons are easier to repair than foam-filled ones. If a puncture occurs in an air-filled pontoon, you can patch it up with relative ease. Foam-filled pontoons, on the other hand, require extensive repairs that can be expensive and time-consuming.
Finally, air-filled pontoons provide better performance than foam-filled ones. Air is more compressible than foam which allows for better shock absorption when riding over waves or choppy water. This means that air-filled pontoons offer a smoother ride overall.
Conclusion
In conclusion, modern-day pontoon boats are typically filled with air in their pontoons to provide buoyancy and stability on the water’s surface. This type of filling offers several benefits over other types of fillings such as foam or water.
Whether you’re using your pontoon boat for fishing or entertaining guests on a weekend getaway, knowing what fills your pontoon will give you peace of mind while out on the water.
