Watersports With Pontoon Boats

One of the best ways to enjoy your time on the water is through watersports. There are different kinds of activities you can try with a boat ─ adrenaline-pumping ones like wakesurfing and waterskiing or more laid-back ones like fishing. However, boats are expensive and the thought of spending all that money is daunting for some people.

Pontoon boats have been gaining popularity with watersports enthusiasts as one of the alternative methods of having fun on the water. If your pontoon boat has a strong engine, there’s no reason you can’t partake in watersports. To learn more, read on or come to The Harbor (Boat & Yacht Sales) in Branson, Missouri. We’ll give you a tour of pontoon boats for sale and help you pick the right one.

Tubing

The term ‘tubing’ comes from the innertubes that are used for this watersport, which is great for beginners and kids. A rider sits or lies on the tube which is attached to the pontoon boat by a rope and is towed behind it. Big tubes can accommodate multiple people and come in various fun shapes. This sport is easier for the operator too because it doesn’t require fast turns or sudden acceleration.

Kneeboarding

Kneeboarding is great for slightly older children who have developed coordination and love being out on the water. You need a surf style board on which you kneel while being towed by a pontoon boat. It needs a little bit of practice to perfect the maneuvers but once you get the hang of it, it’ll give you a great sense of accomplishment. This is also an inexpensive way to have fun. Keep the speed of your pontoon boat between 15 to 25 mph to provide a thrilling, yet safe ride.

Waterskiing

With waterskiing you get some options to choose from; do you want two skis or one board? The most popular is the two ski option since it’s the easiest for beginners to learn. At moderate speeds, even slightly older kids can try it. When the rider uses a board, it’s called slalom skiing (the water version of snowboarding). This style is more physically challenging but allows you to carve deeper into the water.

Then there’s the option of waterskiing barefoot. This is the most extreme version as riders skim the surface of the water with their bare feet. For this, you need to pick up the speed of your pontoon boat to ensure that the rider stays stable. While this is the toughest form of this watersport, it gives you great bragging rights.

Wakesurfing

If you want to try out more extreme watersports, only check out the speedier models when looking at pontoon boats for sale. For the next two activities, you need to really practice and acquire some skills. You first need to get the hang of standing upright on a wakesurf board, wakeboard, or water skis. In this sport, you surf the wake of the pontoon boat on a foreshortened board that’s like a surfboard.

At first, you can use a tow rope to get the hang of it. Usually, pros stop using the rope and use the forward force of the wake to propel them. You can pull simple tricks from your surfing repertoire, and you’ll probably pick up a few moves of your own after a while.

Wakeboarding

To try this watersport, you need to be in pretty good athletic shape. A wakeboard has rubber and plastic bindings to keep the rider’s feet placed on the board. The rider uses the force of the pontoon boat to pull up and out of the water. Then a tow line propels them along. If you pick up some skills, you might be able to do some air jumps, like flips and spins. Always wear a well-fitted life jacket because faster speeds mean harder crashes.

Fishing

Okay, so some of you might object to having fishing in a watersports list, however, it’s a great way to spend a day on the water. Pontoon boats are perfect for fishing, especially when it's been floating long enough for the fish to become used to its presence. For freshwater fishing on lakes and rivers, pontoon boats are a great option.

Can’t wait to get on the water? If you’re looking for pontoon boats in Missouri, we invite you to visit The Harbor (Boat & Yacht Sales) in Branson. We have a wide range for you to choose from and our helpful staff will make sure you get exactly what you need. If you’re looking for pontoon boats for sale near Springfield and Kansas City, call or come over today!