The best pontoon boat fits your crew, lake and budget. For the lowest starting prices, compare the Starcraft GX and Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX. For families, look at the Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 DLX, Starcraft VX and Bennington S Line. For bigger groups, consider a tritoon such as the Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3.
Specifications and starting prices below were read from each builder's website on 12 October 2026.
| Model or series | Length | Max power | Starting price |
|---|
| Starcraft GX | 16 ft to 22 ft 10 in | 150 hp | $23,970 |
| Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX | 20 ft | 75 hp | $30,995 with motor |
| Starcraft VX | 20 ft 10 in to 24 ft 10 in | 300 hp | $31,352 |
| Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX | 21 ft 11 in | 115 hp | $32,995 with motor |
| Bennington S-One | 16 to 22 ft | 90 to 150 hp by layout | $34,326 |
| Bennington S Line | 16 to 25 ft | Up to 400 hp | $36,073 |
| Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 DLX | 24 ft 2 in | 150 hp | $37,995 with motor |
| Starcraft EX | 20 ft 10 in to 24 ft 10 in | 300 hp | $43,218 |
| Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3 | 26 ft 2 in | 250 hp | $51,995 with motor |
Length is length overall. Max power is the highest outboard rating the builder lists; for a series, it is the figure for the series as a whole. Starting prices are on different bases, explained in the next section.
See pontoon boats and other boats for sale on Searchshop.
The picks here come from published data, not sea trials. Each boat or series is a current pontoon shown on its builder's website with a starting price, and each was compared on length, maximum horsepower, persons capacity where given, and starting price.
Builders quote starting prices in different ways, so compare them with care:
- Sun Tracker lists a "No Haggle No Hassle" national price that includes the standard Mercury outboard. The price excludes the trailer, and dealer prep and freight are shown only after you pick a dealer.
- Bennington quotes 2027 model-year MSRP and says its prices do not include the destination fee.
- Starcraft shows a "starting at" price without saying what it includes.
- Barletta shows a starting MSRP without listing exclusions.
Sun Tracker labels the models here 2027 and Bennington prices 2027 models. Starcraft and Barletta do not state a model year in the text of the pages read. Ask every dealer for a written out-the-door price for the exact boat, engine and trailer.
The Starcraft GX has the lowest advertised starting price in this guide at $23,970, and the Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX is the lowest-priced Party Barge here, with its motor included in the price.
- Starcraft GX: one R layout from 16 ft to 22 ft 10 in, with a 96-inch beam and up to 150 hp, from $23,970.
- Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX: 20 ft long with an 8 ft 2 in deck width, rated for 9 persons and up to 75 hp, at $30,995 with a 40 hp Mercury FourStroke. A single-axle trailer is an extra $3,450.
Sun Tracker names its boats by a smaller figure than the length overall: the Party Barge 18 DLX is 20 feet long, and the Party Barge 22 DLX is 24 ft 2 in. Check the length overall before you measure your garage, slip or trailer space.
The family boats in this group come in lengths from 16 to 25 feet, and the two Sun Tracker models are rated for 10 and 11 persons.
- Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX: 21 ft 11 in long with an 8 ft 6 in deck width, rated for 10 persons and up to 115 hp, at $32,995 with a 60 hp Mercury FourStroke. A tandem-axle trailer is an extra $4,950.
- Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 DLX: 24 ft 2 in long with an 8 ft 6 in deck width, rated for 11 persons and up to 150 hp, at $37,995 with a 90 hp Mercury FourStroke. A tandem-axle trailer with brakes is an extra $5,200.
- Starcraft VX: Q, R and FD layouts from 20 ft 10 in to 24 ft 10 in, with a 102-inch beam and up to 300 hp, from $31,352.
- Bennington S Line: 16 to 25 feet, up to 400 hp and 6 to 15 people across the line, from $36,073 MSRP. Bennington also lists 16-foot Standard models from $34,795 MSRP and Sport and Luxe trims from $53,980 MSRP.
The Starcraft VX allows a bigger engine than the Sun Tracker DLX models of similar length. The Sun Tracker prices include a motor, so compare them with a Starcraft or Bennington dealer quote that includes an engine.
The Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3 is the largest and most powerful Sun Tracker in this guide, built on three pontoon logs. Sun Tracker lists it at 26 ft 2 in long with an 8 ft 6 in deck width, rated for 12 persons and up to 250 hp, at $51,995 with a 150 hp Mercury FourStroke. A trailer is an extra $5,850. For what a third tube changes, read pontoon vs tritoon.
Pontoon brands span a wide price range, so pick the brand line that matches your budget before comparing layouts. Starting prices on each builder's website on 12 October 2026:
- Sun Tracker: the Bass Buggy 18 DLX fishing pontoon is $26,995 with motor, and the Party Barge 24 XP3 is $51,995 with motor.
- Starcraft: from $23,970 for the GX to $173,503 for the SX, with the VX at $31,352, EX at $43,218, EXS at $58,673, SLS at $81,499 and RX at $124,757.
- Bennington: from $34,326 MSRP for the S-One to $188,136 MSRP for the QX Line, with the M Line from $71,140 and the R Line from $148,304.
- Barletta: the Sanza, its entry series, starts at $35,000 MSRP.
For a broader look at pontoon sizes and engines, read the pontoon boat buying guide.
The Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 18 DLX is the lowest-priced Sun Tracker in this guide and comes set up for fishing. Sun Tracker lists it at 20 ft long, rated for 8 persons and up to 75 hp, at $26,995 with a 40 hp Mercury FourStroke. It has aerated livewells at the forward console and at the stern, and three removable fishing chairs. For more fishing models, read the best pontoon boats for fishing guide.
Check five things on any pontoon before you sign: what the price includes, the engine fitted, the trailer, the length overall and the rated capacity.
- Know what the price includes. Sun Tracker prices include a motor but not the trailer, prep or freight. Bennington MSRP excludes destination. Ask for a written out-the-door price.
- Compare the engine, not just the rating. The Party Barge 22 DLX is rated for 150 hp but is priced with a 90 hp outboard.
- Budget for a trailer. Sun Tracker trailers for the boats here range from $3,450 to $5,850.
- Measure with length overall. The Sun Tracker Party Barge models here are 1 ft 11 in to 2 ft 2 in longer than the number in their names.
- Confirm the capacity. The federal capacity-label rule in 33 CFR Part 183, Subpart B applies to monohull boats under 20 feet, so it does not cover pontoons. Use the persons capacity the builder lists for the exact boat.
Start with how many people you will carry, then how you will tow and store the boat, then your budget.
- Lowest price: Starcraft GX, or the Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX if you want the motor in the quoted price.
- Fishing on a budget: Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 18 DLX.
- Family of up to ten or eleven: Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX or 22 DLX, or a Starcraft VX.
- A wider choice of trims and sizes: Bennington S Line.
- Twelve people and more power: Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3.
Browse pontoon boats for sale on Searchshop and set a price-drop alert on the models you shortlist. If you are still deciding on the boat type, read pontoon vs deck boat.
The answers below use only the builder figures quoted in this guide.
Starting prices in this guide run from $23,970 for a Starcraft GX to $188,136 MSRP for a Bennington QX Line. Sun Tracker's 20- to 26-foot Party Barge models run from $30,995 to $51,995 with a motor, before the trailer, prep and freight. Ask dealers for an out-the-door price.
The Sun Tracker models in this guide are rated for 8 to 12 persons, from the 20-foot Bass Buggy 18 DLX to the 26-foot Party Barge 24 XP3. Bennington lists 6 to 15 people across its S Line. Check the rating for the exact boat, because capacity rises with length and tube setup.
A tritoon has three pontoon logs instead of two. In this guide, the Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 XP3 is a tritoon and is rated for up to 250 hp, against 150 hp for the two-log Party Barge 22 DLX. Read the pontoon vs tritoon comparison for the full trade-offs.
Figures in this guide come from these pages, read on 12 October 2026.
