Is It Hard to Drive a Pontoon Boat?

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Are you looking to spend a few of Arizona’s 296 sunny days on a pontoon boat, but worried about your boating skills? Perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering “just how hard is it to drive a pontoon boat, anyway?”

It’s not hard to drive a pontoon boat. They move slowly and sit high off the water to give the driver a good vantage point. Additionally, their steering systems operate similar to that of a car - when the steering wheel turns left, the boat turns left, and vice versa. Many first time boaters get their start driving a pontoon boat because of how easy it is to drive.

If you are looking to purchase or rent a pontoon boat and have not driven one before, please read on for step-by- step instructions on how to launch, start, drive, turn, stop and dock a pontoon boat.

How to Launch a Pontoon Boat at the Boat Ramp

For a 2-person boat launch, have the driver back the trailer into the water leaving 1-2 inches of the wheel well out of the water. The water intake should be underwater but don't have the boat so deep that it's going to float away. Take off transit straps and load gear into the boat. There is no drain plug on a pontoon boat, so don’t worry about that. Next, start the pontoon boat.

How to Start a Pontoon Boat

To start a pontoon boat, turn on the battery switch and make sure the throttle is in neutral. Then, lower the motor partially into the water and make sure it’s deep enough that the water intake is underwater. Check that the kill switch is attached and clip it to some part of your clothing, as required by Arizona law. Next, turn on the boat.

Check to see if the motor is running properly by looking for water flow coming out of the side of the motor. This indicates the engine is getting cooled down and that the motor is functioning properly. Next, turn the steering wheel back and forth and check that the rotor is responding properly. When everything looks good, undo the bow strap to loosen the boat from the trailer.

Next, put the boat in reverse and have the driver pull the trailer forward which allows the boat to float off the trailer. Never rush this and don’t force it. Once the boat has floated into deeper water, put the trim all the way down and point the front of the boat in the right direction. Put the throttle in forward drive to pick up speed.

How to Drive a Pontoon Boat

Before leaving the dock, make sure all the Coast Guard required safety gear, including enough life vests for all passengers, are on board. Check the water level and trim down the motor so that the water intake is touching the water but high enough to avoid touching the bottom of the lake.

Put the throttle in neutral. Check behind and around the boat to make sure you have plenty of room and there are no other vessels or obstructions nearby. Pontoon boats are big and slow, so they need deeper water than other types of boats. When it’s safe to proceed, turn on the boat and set sail.

A pontoon boat drives just like your car. Turn the steering wheel to the left and the boat goes left. Likewise turning right will direct the boat to the right. This is also true when reversing the boat. When reversing straight out of the slip, just go slow and turn the steering wheel away from the dock to get in the right direction. Put the throttle in forward, and go.

Pro Tip: When leaving the dock in a pontoon without a push off, turn the wheel towards the dock and put it in gear then neutral a couple times. The back of the boat will begin separating from the dock. Now, turn the wheel away from the dock so the front of the boat moves away from the dock.

How to Turn a Pontoon Boat

To turn a pontoon boat, just speed up smoothly, make sure to check for other vessels and obstructions, and begin a slow and easy turn. This changes the angle of the boat and can make the propeller come out of the water. The propeller should always be underwater while driving a pontoon boat. If it does come out of the water, and is sucking air, it will make a loud howling sound.

How to Stop a Pontoon Boat

The biggest mistake new boaters make is forgetting that boats don’t have brakes. Stopping takes a little bit of planning. To slow down and stop, make sure to reduce speed well in advance. Putting the boat in reverse makes a hard stop but it’s important to go slow before putting the boat in reverse.

How to Dock a Pontoon Boat

To dock a pontoon boat, always go slow and put out bumper buoys. Check the water level and if the water is shallow be sure to trim up the motor.

In normal Arizona lake conditions, with very light wind and a weak current, start by going slow and putting the motor in neutral.

When coming into the slip straight on, start at a 30 degree angle which allows the nose of the boat to be at the right angle. Once the boat gets closer to the dock, turn the wheel all the way towards the side the dock is on and put it in reverse to swing the back of the boat in. If you need quick bumps forward, put the boat in gear and back to neutral. Once you’re halfway up to the dock, put the boat in a slow reverse and come to a stop. Tie up the boat and disembark. Never leave the motor running to step off and tie up the boat.

How to Parallel Park a Pontoon Boat

To parallel park a pontoon boat, meaning parking from the side of the dock, turn the boat to a 45 degree angle and aim at a point in the middle of the slip as you very slowly go forward. Once you have entered the slip turn the engine straight. Then, put it in reverse to slow and stop the boat.

How to Dock a Pontoon Boat in the Wind

To dock a pontoon boat in stronger winds, approach the dock at a 45 degree angle and come in very slowly, letting the wind push the boat in. As you get closer, put the boat in neutral and drift towards the dock. When the front of the boat touches the dock, put it in reverse and turn the wheel to bring the back of the boat into the dock.

Expert Tips for Driving a Pontoon Boat

Picture 2 front tires on a pontoon boat. The boat turns the way your steering wheel turns, it’s not opposite like other types of boats.
Be aware of the wind. Pontoon boats sit high off the water and are susceptible to getting blown around by the wind. If the boat is difficult to control due to wind, just bring the boat back to the dock and wait for the wind to die down.
Don’t get off the boat if the motor is running
Don’t shut off the boat until it is tied up or it might drift
Always keep your motor in the deepest water possible.

Final Thoughts

Driving a pontoon boat is easier than most people think. Many boaters find that they are not hard to drive because they sit high up off the water and steer like a car. Arizona lakes are known for good weather and fair conditions, just remember to go slow and follow safety precautions.