Buying a new pontoon boat is just the beginning of what can be an expensive hobby. I won’t lie, it’s not something that is cheap, and the cost of ownership of a pontoon boat annually can sometimes be quite high, and this can put people off purchasing one in the first place.
But, that’s not to say that you can’t make it more affordable. This is especially true if you follow many the tips and how to guides on Pontoonopedia which show you how you can reduce costs, as well as my buyer’s guides to what you will need to buy to keep your boat in great condition.
On the lower end of things, if you are frugal, sensible, and keep your pontoon boat well maintained, then the annual running cost of ownership could be as little as $2,000 a year. But it’s hard to give exact figures without breaking down all the elements, and you can see those below.
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Pontoon Boat Cost of Ownership & Running Costs
Once your new or used pontoon has been purchased (and here are some average costs for new boats) there are a few decisions you will need to make, which can influence the annual running costs. This will include aspects such as maintenance, gas, storage, and insurance.
Not only that, but once you buy your new boat, I can almost guarantee that there are going to be upgrades, changes, and accessories that you will no doubt want to add.
Below is a list of everything that you will need to consider, split down into the different costing aspects.
Start-Up Costs
When you buy a new boat, there’s every chance that it will come with the basics that you will need to get started. For example, dealers will give you various add-on options for safety equipment as well as optional extras. You can find out more in my beginner buyer’s guide.
When buying on the used market, it’s a good idea to negotiate with the seller to see what they will throw into the deal as well.
Items that you will need include the following:
- Essentials including safety equipment, anchors (click here for options), lines, and ropes – $1,000 to $1,500
- Training costs if you are completely new to boating (see US Coast Guard safety courses) – $250 to $300
- Boat trailer – $2,000 to $5,000 if not included with purchase
Handy Hint: If you don’t have all the required safety equipment on your pontoon boat, then you can see a checklist that you will need to tick off and buy from.
On-Goings Recurring Costs
Once you have the boat, there are going to be further decisions to be made. For example, will you be storing yours at home, or at a marina? That can have huge implications for annual ownerships costs as you can see below.
- Marina rentals costs – $1,500 to $2,500 per year (dependent on marina)
- Boat insurance – £100 to $360 per year
- Maintenance costs – $1,000 per year (depending on boat age)
- Cleaning – $450 per year (if you employ someone)
- State boating license – $50 to $75 per year
- Cost of gas and fuel – dependent on your own usage
- Taxes, title, and registration fees – will differ from state to state
Breaking Down the Running Costs Further
Let’s take a look at the pontoon boat costs of ownership in a little bit more detail, as I want to give you an in-depth idea of what this hobby and lifestyle choice is going to mean for your wallet.
Annual Mooring Fees or Storage
Where is your pontoon boat going to be moored up, or stored? If it’s a small pontoon boat, then you can fit it on a trailer and store it at home in your garage or on the driveway.
Larger pontoons will probably need to be kept at a marina, and this doesn’t come cheap.
Docking your pontoon at a marina can be quite expensive. But it will be easier if you want frequent access to the water and don’t want the hassle of trailering.
Depending on the size of the boat, the location of the marina, and their own monthly rates, you could be paying anywhere between a couple of hundred dollars a month, up to the thousands. With that in mind, costs could reach up to $15,000 in very exclusive areas, but for most pontoon owners, a realistic cost could be between $1,500 to $2,500 annually.
Pontoon Boat Trailer Costs
A decent trailer is going to set you back between $2,000 and $5,000, so it’s essential that you secure it properly as there is a market for them to be stolen together with your boat.
Using a trailer will reduce your annual running costs over time.
Using a trailer to transport your pontoon from your home to the water will save you a lot of money in the long-term, so for me it’s a preferable cost versus annual mooring fees despite the fact it not as easy as simply paying for a marina dock.
Handy Hint: Read my tips and advice on how you can secure your boat and trailer against thieves.
Winter Boat Storage
If your boat is kept in the water and not trailered up, then you won’t want to leave it in the water during the cold winter months unless you are lucky enough to live in a very sunny state with warm weather all year round.
These are often annual running costs that new pontooners don’t consider, until it’s actually time to do it, with potential costs sometimes reaching a few thousand dollars.
The cost of winterizing a pontoon boat can include:
- Storage fees
- Shrink wrapping
- Draining and changing of gas and oil
These costs are another great reason why you would probably want to invest in a trailer and store your own pontoon at home.
Fuel and Gas Costs
Pontoon boats use a lot of fuel, but you can mitigate that by the way in which you use your boat, and also how you buy your gas.
For example, I never buy my gas at a marina, as it’s always going to be far more expensive than buying from a stand gas station.
But I am also very careful in managing fuel economy.
Slow pontoon boats don’t use as much gas as fast motorboats, and in some cases the fuel consumption can be as little as five gallons per hour. If you use your pontoon for just five hours a week on average, then you could expect to pay about $3,000 dollars a year on fuel.
Handy Hint: For tips on how you can save money on fuel and gas, read this guide to gas caddies which has some useful information in it.
Pontoon Boat Insurance
Never do without boat insurance. It will protect you legally and financially from the inherent dangers that can present themselves when out on the water. No matter how careful you are as a boat owner, accidents can happen due to other water users and passengers.
With there being nearly 5,000 boating accidents each year in the United States (see source), never think that it can’t happen to you.
Thankfully it’s possible to buy annual boat insurance for as little as $360 a year.
Handy Hint: To find out the average costs of pontoon boat insurance, including common scenarios and averages, please read this guide.
Conclusion
So how much does it cost to run a pontoon boat?
Well I hope that this guide has gone some way to answering your questions, but as you can see, there are so many variances in the costs, as it will depend on what you already have, and how you intend to use your boat.
No matter how well looked after your boat is, just like a car, there will be annual maintenance costs, many of which will suddenly come out of nowhere that you were not expecting.
I try to put by some money each year into a separate bank account each month if I can, just so I have some form of insurance policy against anything unexpected that could crop up.
Pontooning is not a cheap hobby by any stretch, but if you are careful and make use of the guides available on this website, then you should be able to keep those annual running costs of ownership down significantly and it can be affordable.
Just always expect the unexpected!
