Different types of pontoon tops, from lightweight Bimini to hard composite, have advantages relative to location and owner preference. Tops reflect lifestyle and purpose, with full-coverage soft-sided convertible tops for all-weather boating and half or quarter tops for fishing.
There are several different styles and types of pontoon tops, from a lightweight Bimini top and soft top style to a hard composite top type. Different pontoons have specific advantages compared to other styles, and some are designed for a specific use on the boat. The advantages among pontoons are relative to the location of the boat, as well as the preference and personal taste of the individual owner. Often an owner may have more than one top and change it as conditions require. From full tops that cover the entire deck to half and quarter tops that cover only part of the deck, a pontoon top often reflects the owner’s lifestyle and the purpose of the boat.
Most leisurely pontoon boat owners employ a top of one type or another to protect the boat from the intense sunlight and heat so typical on a body of water. Boats used primarily for slow cruising and sightseeing often replace the original style top with that of a pontoon style Bimini. This is, in essence, a tank top for a pontoon boat. Consisting of a thin, lightweight single-layer fabric or nylon top that covers only the top of the boat frame, the Bimini Top offers minimal sun protection.
Those owners who enjoy all-weather boating often choose the full-coverage, soft-sided, convertible style of pontoons. These pontoons not only cover the entire deck area and protect passengers from sun and rain, but can also be folded down to allow for maximum sun exposure. Some boats used in very cold and freezing climates use full hard type pontoons which can function as a protective winter cover when folded up. Hard tops prevent snow and ice, as well as animals, from entering the boat while it is in storage during the winter months.
Many pontoon boats are used for fishing as well as leisurely cruising the waterways. The pontoon tips used on these boats are often half or quarter tips to allow the fishing rods to be cast without making contact with the top. The open front of the boat allows anglers to sit or stand while fishing, and the top covering the rear of the boat provides an escape from the sun for anglers and also shade for the captain of the boat. Regardless of the boat’s intended use, there are pontoons for almost any occasion and lifestyle.
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