What to Look For When Buying a Pontoon Boat

So, you’re thinking about buying a pontoon boat. Great choice!

Leaning on our innovative watercraft design expertise, Sea-Doo has become a key player in the pontoon industry. No matter the size of the boat, we continue to redefine water experiences. Our Sea-Doo Switch series is where the Sea-Doo Life goes big.

As the segment’s popularity grows, the types of pontoon boats available are expanding too. Just within our Sea-Doo Switch lineup you’ll find the versatility to deliver family outings, water sports, fishing, and cruising.

With so much choice, it’s important to first know exactly what you want in a pontoon boat and second to understand the lifestyles and activities each type of pontoon boat can satisfy. Read this pontoon boat buying guide to become an informed buyer, ensuring your choice of pontoon fits your budget, meets your activity needs, and brings you and your crew the most fun on the water possible.

Now, let's see how to choose a pontoon boat!

 

 

Sea-Doo Switch

Our flagship pontoon boat is an ideal entry point into the big-boat space for prospective new owners. The desire for a different type of pontoon, one that serves a family’s everyday water adventures, should lead to the Sea-Doo Switch. It’s versatile, driven by simplicity and innovation. And like all Switch models, even our smallest model comes standard with a trailer - regional commercial conditions may apply.


Key Features:
• Modular layout for customizable seating and configuration.
• Extra control: Intuitive iBR (Intelligent Brake & Reverse) system is exclusive to Sea-Doo.
• Tri-hull design with outer pontoons set higher for stability and agility.

Who It’s Best For:

• Beginner boaters or casual riders that like easy maneuverability.
• Small families and groups in search of leisurely rides with scenic views.

When you make the Switch, you directly get on the water in a way the whole family can love. And you’re not just getting convenience — you’re getting comfort, watersports, gear storage and trailer. Our original pontoon, the Sea-Doo Switch, is a natural place to start your pontoon experience… and your Sea-Doo Life!

 

Sea-Doo Switch Sport

Active riders looking for that sporty ride — and a pontoon boat that can keep up with it — will love the Switch Sport. Equipped with big power and small touches, like a unique front lounge area, it’s designed for the go-getters and thrill-seekers. Plan on getting after it on a wakeboard or water skis? Need all-out, goosebump-inducing excitement on every ride? This is your pontoon.

Key Features:
• Sporty design and high-thrill power engine revs you up for towing and water sports.
• A unique front lounge with soft sun pads and backrests for sunbathing.
• An innovative tile system invites you to transform the onboard layout in seconds without tools.
• Sport-focused features. Try riding in Ski Mode for smooth acceleration while towing.

Who It’s Best For:

• Active people and adventurers.
• Water sport lovers looking for that extra oomph.
• Families or groups committed to an active boating lifestyle.

You don’t just get on the water, you get in the water. And you do it big. You’re an active person who likes to throttle up — same goes for your riding gang. The Sea-Doo Switch Sport won’t just enable you to do it up the way you like, it’ll push you to find new ways to make memories. Fashion yourself an athlete? Buying a pontoon boat begins and ends with Sport.

 

Sea-Doo Switch Cruise

Summertime and the living is easy. With more seating, the feeling is just different on the Switch Cruise. We’re talking big groups, long days, and ultimate relaxation.

Key Features:
• Extra seating capacity and more storage beg you to take an extended cruise.
• Extra comfortable: spacious layout, additional lounging areas, and added sun protection.
• Modular deck system makes the layout adaptable and the possibilities for activities endless.

Who It’s Best For:
• Families and groups who prioritize comfort, space, and an easy ride.
• Hosts. Social gatherings, casual entertaining, or day-long excursions.

It’s in the name. Riders that want to cruise and want to share these moments with family and friends from sunrise to sunset should gravitate toward the Sea-Doo Switch Cruise. It’s all the lounging of a lazy Sunday afternoon, only on the water.

 

Sea-Doo Switch Cruise Limited

No detail is spared on the Limited model of the Switch Cruise, which adds even more premiumness to an already elevated pontoon ride. It’s exclusive. It’s unmatched. It’s high-level leisure.

Key Features:
• Switch model with the most seats to accommodate your whole family.
• Premium seating and upgraded finishes create top-end comfort.
• Loads of storage space and a best-in-class sound system.
• Premium adjustable captain's chair with tilting handlebar for agile steering and on-the-fly adjustments.

Who It’s Best For:
• The most passionate pontoon boaters with an eye for the premium experience.
• Entertainers that insist on extra space and comfort for their guests.
• Audiophiles with a high standard for sound.

An adventure is only as good as its captain. Anyone steering the Sea-Doo Switch Cruise Limited gets instant credibility for their ability to provide the most comfortable pontoon experience. Those still wrestling with how to choose a pontoon boat can likely end their search with this one.

 

Sea-Doo Switch Fish

Where your two passions collide. For fervent fishers that live the Sea-Doo Life (or want to), it all comes together on this fishing pontoon boat. All the size, space, and stability of a pontoon with fishing-focused features to please the most avid anglers.

Key Features:

• Angling amenities, such as rod holders, livewell, and corner doors.
• Modular configuration that transforms a spacious casting area to a family lounging space.
• Stable, maneuverable design for handling in tight or open space.

Who It’s Best For:

• Serious fishers whose adventures include the whole family.
• Families that cruise at leisure and chase down fish in the same outing.

It’s simple: You love to fish and you love group on-water outings — and you want to combine your worlds. The Sea-Doo Switch Fish doesn’t believe in compromise, so it seamlessly delivers high-end angling capability alongside all the family cruising characteristics the Switch lineup is known for. The catch? You’ve never seen a fishing pontoon boat like this.

 

How to make the Switch

 

By this point in the pontoon boat buying guide, you should be able to see yourself steering one of our Sea-Doo Switch models. Be it cruising at low speeds, towing a tube, or casting a line, your favorite on-water activities have a home within our pontoon lineup.

Your next move? Head over to our website to dive even deeper on your preferred Sea-Doo Switch or even Build your own Switch pontoon.

Already have your eyes on one specific Switch model? Check out our latest promotions or visit a BRP-approved Sea-Doo dealer near you to schedule a demo ride with your favorite Switch & get a taste of owning an amazing pontoon boat!

 

  • Switch
    2025

    Switch

    Starting at $29,799

    Starting at $29,799

    A new way to live the Sea-Doo life. Fun, adaptable and modern with never-before seen value. *Trailer included in the MSRP

  • Switch Sport
    2025

    Switch Sport

    Starting at $36,399

    Starting at $36,399

    Geared and styled for the active adventurer with watersports-ready features and spacious versatility. *Trailer included in the MSRP

  • Switch Cruise
    2025

    Switch Cruise

    Starting at $41,299

    Starting at $41,299

    Switch Cruise is more than just a pontoon boat; it's crafted with the heart of a Sea-Doo and now refined to maximize all your adventures. *Trailer included in the MSRP

  • Switch Cruise Limited
    2025

    Switch Cruise Limited

    Starting at $63,599

    Starting at $63,599

    Unmatched comfort, convenience and premium technology wrapped in an exclusive Limited Switch pontoon package capable of delivering more memorable moments than ever before. *Trailer included in the MSRP

  • Switch Fish
    2025

    Switch Fish

    Starting at $55,399

    Starting at $55,399

    A serious fishing boat that’s committed to family fun. How can it be both? A modular layout you can transform on the fly and plenty of space for your people, your gear and your catch. *Trailer included in the MSRP

 

 

Frequently asked questions

  • Riding Information
    How do you safely ride a Sea‑Doo with a passenger?

    How do you safely ride a Sea‑Doo with a passenger?



    Learn More
  • Riding Information
    What is the riding etiquette on a Sea‑Doo?

    What is the riding etiquette on a Sea‑Doo?



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  • Riding Information
    Where can you ride a Sea-Doo?

    Where can you ride a Sea-Doo?



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Can't find what you're looking for?

If you still can´t find what you´re looking for, get in touch with your local dealer or reach out to us here!