Quick answer For most Rice Lake cottage families, the right pontoon is 20 to 22 ft, two-tube, with a Mercury Command Thrust FourStroke in the 90 to 150 HP range. Tritoons are worth the premium only if active water sports are a regular part of your use. We sell Legend Boats...
Quick answer
For most Rice Lake cottage families, the right pontoon is 20 to 22 ft, two-tube, with a Mercury Command Thrust FourStroke in the 90 to 150 HP range. Tritoons are worth the premium only if active water sports are a regular part of your use. We sell Legend Boats pontoons and handle Mercury repowers on existing pontoons. Get a quote at mercuryrepower.ca or call us at 905-342-2153.
Pick the right hull
Pontoon or V-hull? It depends what you actually do on the water.
These two boats solve completely different problems. Buying the wrong one is the most expensive mistake we see at HBW. Here's how to think about it.
Pontoon
- ✓You entertain 6 or more people regularly (family, grandkids, cottage guests)
- ✓You want a flat, stable platform for kids, dogs, mobility-limited passengers
- ✓Rice Lake or Trent-Severn calm-water cruising is your main use case
- ✓You want a swim platform, table, full bench seating, and shade
- ✓Top speed is not a priority; 30-35 mph at WOT is plenty
Best people-mover on the lake. Triple-tube pontoons can handle some chop, but 4 ft Lake Ontario waves are not their world. New 22-24 ft pontoon with 150-200 HP Mercury, $55K-$85K.
V-hull / runabout
- ✓You fish, water-ski, wakeboard, or tube
- ✓You launch into Lake Ontario, Georgian Bay, or open Trent-Severn sections with real chop
- ✓You value speed, handling, and rough-water capability over deck space
- ✓You're a 2 to 5 person group, not a big entertaining crowd
- ✓You want better gas mileage and easier trailering than a pontoon
Cuts chop, planes faster, tracks better at speed. Less deck for kids and grandparents, but the hull you actually want when the wind comes up. New 19-21 ft V-hull with 150-200 HP Mercury, $50K-$75K.
When in doubt:Honest answer, 70% of our Rice Lake customers should be in a pontoon, 30% in a V-hull. We sell Legend in both shapes, so we have no incentive to push you the wrong way. Tell us how you'll use it and we'll point you at the right hull.
Why pontoons dominate Rice Lake cottages
Pontoons are the most common cottage boat on Rice Lake, and the reasons are straightforward. They are comfortable for passengers of all ages, versatile across cruising, fishing, and swimming, easy to board from a dock or swim platform, and well-matched to Rice Lake's character, generally sheltered, with enough room to cruise but not so rough that you need a performance hull.
The question is not usually "should I get a pontoon?" Most cottage families have already decided that. The question is which pontoon, what motor, and whether you are buying new or repowering what you have.
What changes the answer for your cottage
Family size and typical passenger count. A two-adult household has entirely different needs than a multi-generational family of eight. A 16 ft pontoon comfortably seats four; a 22 ft pontoon comfortably seats ten.
What you do on the water. Cruising, fishing, and swimming are different from tubing and waterskiing.
Storage setup at the cottage. Boat lift, slip, shore storage, or trailer all affect which pontoon makes practical sense.
Where your cottage sits on the lake. Exposure to wind and fetch varies considerably around Rice Lake. Bewdley and the southern shore are different from Sugar Island or the Hastings end.
Long-term ownership. A five-year boat is a different investment than a twenty-year family heirloom.
Matching the pontoon to your use
Two adults, cruising and fishing
What works: 18 to 20 ft two-tube pontoon with a Mercury Command Thrust FourStroke in the 90 HP range.
At cruising speeds, two adults, light fishing gear, and a cooler, this setup is comfortable and fuel-efficient. Deck space is enough for fishing chairs and lounging.
Multi-generational family, cruising and water sports
What works: 22 ft two-tube or tritoon with a Mercury Command Thrust FourStroke in the 115 to 150 HP range.
The 22 ft length handles six to ten people comfortably. The 115 to 150 HP Command Thrust motor handles tubing and lighter water sports without labouring. If water sports are occasional rather than constant, two-tube is fine and costs less than a tritoon.
Active water sports family
What works: 22 ft tritoon with a Mercury Command Thrust FourStroke in the 150 to 200 HP range.
If tubing, skiing, and wakeboarding are a regular part of summer at the cottage, a tritoon is the right call. The third tube changes the hydrodynamics, better hole shot loaded, higher top speed, and better handling in sport use.
Rental fleet or charter operation
What works: 20 to 24 ft pontoons configured for high-use cycles. Sometimes Mercury SeaPro variants for commercial-duty ratings.
Why Mercury Command Thrust is not optional on a pontoon
Command Thrust is the single biggest performance factor for pontoon Mercurys, and skipping it is the most common pontoon repower mistake we see.
Pontoon hulls are heavy and blunt-fronted. They need pulling power to get up and move with any load aboard. Command Thrust delivers that pulling power through a larger-diameter prop and a lower-gear gearcase.
The performance difference between a standard gearcase Mercury and a Command Thrust Mercury on a loaded pontoon is significant, particularly at hole shot and at cruise with a full load. Customers who saved money by skipping Command Thrust routinely wish they had not.
This is not a sales pitch; it is just what we have seen on Rice Lake for years. Pay for Command Thrust once. You will not regret it.
Pontoon brands worth knowing
Legend Boats. We are a Legend dealer. Legend is a Canadian company, factory Mercury-rigged, and designed for Canadian lakes and weather. The supply chain integration matters for parts and service.
You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.
Princecraft. Also a Canadian brand. Mercury-rigged from the factory as a standard option. Common on Ontario cottage lakes.
Manitou. US-built, premium pontoon brand. Well-regarded for build quality and finish.
Avalon. US-built, premium category. Strong construction and layout options.
Bennington. US-built, premium pontoon brand. Popular and well-supported.
For Rice Lake cottage use, brand matters less than configuration. The right length, layout, tube setup, and motor will serve you better than the wrong spec from the most prestigious brand.
Common pontoon mistakes for Rice Lake cottage use
Underbuying length. A 16 ft pontoon feels fine at the dealership and uncomfortable with six adults aboard. Right-size for actual use.
Skipping Command Thrust. Already mentioned. Pay for it.
Buying a tritoon for a use case that does not need one. Cruising, fishing, and casual family use on Rice Lake does not require the third tube.
Underestimating storage. Outdoor uncovered shore storage is hard on a pontoon over time. Furniture fades, logs oxidize, Bimini tops degrade. Lift storage meaningfully extends the life of the hull and motor.
Underestimating trailer requirements. A 22 ft pontoon trailer is a real tow requirement. Know your tow vehicle rating before you commit.
Storage options for Rice Lake pontoon owners
Boat lift at the cottage. Best for the hull and motor, out of the water, protected from corrosion and dock damage.
In-water slip at a marina or cottage dock. Convenient and lower up-front cost, but the hull sits in water continuously.
Shore storage on a trailer. Most flexible, you can travel to other lakes. Highest exposure to weather if uncovered.
We recommend lift storage where the cottage allows it.
For HBW winter storage, we offer outdoor storage with shrinkwrap (no indoor heated storage). Call 905-342-2153 for current rates.
Ready for your Rice Lake pontoon?
For the motor side of a new or existing pontoon, build a quote at mercuryrepower.ca.
For new Legend Boats pontoon packages, call us at 905-342-2153 or visit HBW at 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11.
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Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.
