Pontoon boats are popularly known as the party boats. A pontoon boat has a hull that is made of round tubes that are attached to the outside bottom edge of a large flat deck and a safety railing is provided on all the sides of the deck. The helm can be either in the middle of the deck or off to one side. Pontoon boats can be plain, with lawn furniture inside, or can be a luxurious with built-in upholstered seating, a dinette, cooler, roof, and a toilet.

A pontoon can usually seat between 6 to 12 people and is powered by gasoline. Pontoon boats are known for being very safe and stable. However, pontoon boats do not fare well in large bodies of water and are good for vacationing on a lake or where the water is calm. They are usually rented out for fishing, water skiing or boarding, swimming, or for a calm peaceful float in the river or a lake. Pontoon boats are usually preferred for family vacations or for vacationing with friends.

Pontoon boats can be rented for a half day or a full day. Some agencies help to launch and retrieve the rental boat as a regular part of their service. They also have their own shuttle services to move a personal vehicle to the take out.

Pontoon boats are usually rented during the summer. Some people spend their whole vacations on their pontoon boats. When a camper top is included to cover the whole boat, along with a sofa bed, a table, and storage spaces the pontoon boat greatly resembles a houseboat.

Since a pontoon boat does not cost much rent when compared to a fishing boat, most people prefer a pontoon boat to a fishing boat that provides the same facilities. Also, pontoon boats are an excellent choice when it comes to water skiing and swimming.