Pontoon boats are fun and recreational. They’re easy to navigate and are a great way to enjoy a variety of activities on the water.
If you’re new to the world of pontoons, then you’ve probably wondered about pontoon boat drafts and what they’re used for. If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
Because we want you to enjoy your time on the water, we put together this guide on pontoon drafts. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to choose the best draft for your pontoon boat. So, let’s get to it.
What Is a Pontoon Boat Draft?
When talking about pontoon boats, the draft refers to how deep the boat can float in the water. There are different types of boats with different drafts. Each one is used in different settings, ranging from shallow to deep ocean waters.
So, what exactly does ‘draft mean? It simply means the distance from the lowest point of the boat as it sits in the water to the surface.
There are three different types of boat drafts. Here’s a quick overview of each.
Shallow Draft
Shallow boat drafts are used in shallow lakes and other areas with little depth. Boats with shallow drafts, like pontoons, are designed to navigate easily in only a few inches of water.
Deep Draft
Boats with deep drafts are better at traveling in deeper waters like seas and oceans. They’re also designed to handle loads that weigh relatively more than shallow draft pontoon boats, such as a speed boat or sailboat.
Shoal Draft
Shoal draft boats are a sort of mix between the shallow and deep draft boats. They refer to boats with a shallow draft but still have a pretty significant size.
The most popular type of shoal drafts is pontoon boats. Accordingly, they can go pretty much anywhere you want and use them in almost all types of waters. This is what makes them popular among seafarers.
How Does Draft Affect a Pontoon Boat?
Pontoon boats are renowned for their flat bottom hulls, allowing smooth sailing even in shallow water. As a result, they rarely snag on anything underneath the waterline, which is what makes them ideal for both shallow and deep waters.
These flat bottoms allow pontoon boats to traverse shallow waters with no problem. On the other hand, deep draft boats won’t be able to travel through shallow waters. Their hulls can become damaged and even crack due to their deep drafts.
In addition, pontoon boats are made with balloon-like add-ons on the bottom, or pontoons, which is how they got their names. These buoyant tubes help keep the boat afloat on top of the water surface, as opposed to sitting deep in the water as deep draft boats.
Because only a small portion of the pontoon is submerged under the water, it can move unhindered in any type of water, even inland bodies of water. Hence, people who enjoy recreational inland water activities love their pontoons and how versatile these boats can be.
How about bigger pontoon boats? The irony is that the bigger the pontoon, the flatter their hull and the better their buoyancy levels. Thus, as a result of this clever design, they can slip into shallow waters with ease and finesse.
Do Heavy Loads Affect Pontoon Boat Drafts?
The best thing about pontoon boats is they’re designed to be lightweight and easy to navigate in all types of water. They’re made of fiberglass frames and lightweight aluminum. So, even with moderate loads pushing them down, they glide effortlessly through the water.
For example, an 18-inch draft can travel with ease through as little as three or two feet of water. However, on average, you can expect a pontoon draft to come to about 16 inches for a boat of that size.
For larger pontoons that measure anywhere between 20 and 24 feet, the draft can be in the range of 20 to 24 inches when the boat’s propeller, or prop, is down. Though, when the prop is out of the water, the boat’s draft can be as little as 10 or 12 inches.
So, as you can see, the position of the prop makes a huge difference. The prop is the fan-shaped device situated on the bottom of the boat. It’s what gets the boat moving by transferring power from the motor to the water. It’s pretty heavy, which is why having it in the water means a more significant draft and vice versa.
Bear in mind that this draft will differ from one situation to the next. For example, if your motor is running, the draft will decrease. Alternatively, the draft may increase by several inches if you’re carrying a heavy load.
What Are the Drawbacks of a Shallow Draft?
Sadly, nothing is perfect all the way. There are a couple of drawbacks to having a shallow draft on your pontoon boats, which mainly revolve around the boat’s inboard engines.
The first one is that there’s a risk that the engines may suck up debris and silt from the waterbed. This isn’t usually a problem with deep draft boats because they simply trim their outboard motors, and they’re done.
A second drawback is that the engine can get damaged if the boat runs aground in muddy waters. Certain types of muddy waterbeds can become nearly impossible to move through and may lead to the engine or the hull getting damaged or broken.
Wrap Up
There you have it! Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about pontoon boat draft is in this handy guide. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks will help you get the best experience possible when you’re out on the water.
The best thing about pontoons is that they’re so versatile, regardless of their size. So, do you like inland water activities? Or would you prefer docking on the shore for an afternoon barbeque with your friends? Whatever your fancy is, you know precisely the best way to maneuver, navigate, and maintain your pontoon boat.
Happy sailing!