Last reviewed: 2026-05-25 > Quick answer: The best Mercury outboard for a pontoon in 2026 depends on tube count, length, and passenger load. For a 20 foot single-tube pontoon, a Mercury 90 HP FourStroke is the value pick at around $13,000 CAD installed. For a 22 foot pontoon,...
Last reviewed: 2026-05-25
Quick answer: The best Mercury outboard for a pontoon in 2026 depends on tube count, length, and passenger load. For a 20 foot single-tube pontoon, a Mercury 90 HP FourStroke is the value pick at around $13,000 CAD installed. For a 22 foot pontoon, step up to 115 HP or 150 HP with Command Thrust strongly recommended. For a tritoon used for tubing or skiing, a Pro XS V8 200 with Boost transforms the boat. Command Thrust is the right upgrade on most pontoons 22 feet and up. At Harris Boat Works we rig pontoons every spring and water test each one on Rice Lake. Pricing reflects 2026 model year. Build a current quote at mercuryrepower.ca.
Pontoons are different from runabouts. They're heavy, draggy hulls that need torque and lift more than top-speed headline numbers. The mistake most pontoon buyers make is sizing the motor for the lightest day instead of the busiest. This post walks through what we actually rig on Rice Lake every spring, and where Command Thrust and Boost earn their price.
What size Mercury outboard do I need for my pontoon?
Pontoon sizing depends on three things: length, tube count, and how many passengers you actually carry. Forget the chart on the boat brochure. What matters is real-world load. A pontoon is not a runabout. It needs gearcase as much as it needs horsepower, which is why we almost never separate the two when talking pontoons.
Here is the grid we use when a customer brings in a pontoon for repower. Pricing reflects 2026 model year ranges, all-in installed at HBW.
| Pontoon length |
Tubes |
Typical passengers |
Recommended Mercury |
Installed price (CAD, 2026) |
| 18 ft |
2 |
4 adults |
60 to 75 HP FourStroke |
$10,500 to $13,000 |
| 20 ft |
2 |
5 adults |
90 HP FourStroke (CT optional) |
$13,000 to $16,000 |
| 22 ft |
2 |
6 adults |
115 HP CT or 150 HP |
$17,000 to $21,000 |
| 22 ft |
3 (tritoon) |
6 to 8 adults |
150 HP or Pro XS V8 200 |
$20,000 to $28,000 |
| 24 ft |
2 |
6 to 8 adults |
150 HP CT |
$20,000 to $23,500 |
| 24 ft |
3 (tritoon) |
8+ adults |
Pro XS V8 225 plus Boost |
$26,000 to $30,500 |
| 26 ft |
3 |
10+ adults |
Pro XS V8 250 or 300 |
$28,000 to $34,000 |
Single-tube pontoons are happy with mid-range FourStroke power. Tritoons benefit from Pro XS and Boost because their planing dynamics are different. More wetted surface, more drag at low speed, but a third tube that can actually use bigger horsepower.
How do boat length and tube count change the answer?
Length matters, but tube count may matter even more. A two-tube 20 footer and a 22 foot tritoon are both pontoons, but they do not ask for power the same way. The tritoon can turn more horsepower into a better-running boat because the centre log acts like a shallow V. It lets the boat plane and corner like a bigger vessel. A traditional two-tube pontoon hits diminishing returns earlier.
If you own a classic two-tube pontoon used for sunset cruises and casual fishing, there is rarely a reason to chase 200 HP. If you own a 22 to 24 foot tritoon that carries a full crew and pulls on weekends, the bigger number finally makes sense.
Load changes everything. A 20 foot pontoon with two adults and a cooler is not the same boat as that same pontoon with six people, a tube, and a full lunch. Pontoons expose underpowering quickly because they ask the engine to push a lot of hull before the boat ever starts to run cleanly. Size the motor around the busiest day of the summer, not the lightest.
Why does Command Thrust matter on a pontoon?
Command Thrust is the most common upgrade we sell on pontoon repowers. The bigger gearcase and 15-inch propeller give a pontoon meaningfully better hole shot and stronger reverse, both things pontoon owners actually feel.
The difference shows up when you load the boat. A standard 115 HP gearcase on a 22 foot pontoon with five adults aboard takes longer to plane and labours through the climb. A Command Thrust 115 plants the prop and gets the boat up in noticeably less time. In reverse, the bigger gearcase lets you back away from a dock with authority instead of slipping the prop.
The upgrade typically adds $800 to $1,500 CAD over the standard motor at the same horsepower (2026 ranges). On any pontoon 22 feet and up, that is the easiest "yes" upgrade we recommend. On many pontoons, the right horsepower with the wrong gearcase still does a worse job than the right Command Thrust package. That's why we almost never separate horsepower from gearcase when talking pontoons.
For when Command Thrust is NOT worth it on lighter boats, see our Command Thrust vs Standard Gearcase guide and the pontoon-specific Command Thrust on Pontoons deep dive.
When is Pro XS with Boost the right pick for a pontoon?
Pro XS becomes the right call on three pontoon scenarios.
First, tritoons used for tubing or skiing. The third tube adds drag and lift, so planing a tritoon clean with a skier on the rope requires real torque. A Pro XS V8 200 with Boost will get a skier up cleanly even with the boat loaded. Press the Boost button, the motor delivers 25 extra HP for 4 to 6 seconds, the rope comes tight, and the skier is up. After that the boat settles into pull-pace easily.
Second, pontoons over 24 feet. These big pontoons carry a lot of people and gear. A Pro XS V8 225 with Boost handles the load with margin and gives you mid-30s mph top end, which on a big pontoon is plenty of fun.
Third, owners who simply want a faster boat. A Pro XS V8 250 on a tritoon will run mid-40s mph and accelerate harder than most fibreglass family boats. It is not the budget pick but it is the right pick for that customer. Our Boost upgrade analysis covers the math on whether it earns its premium.
How much does a pontoon repower cost at Harris Boat Works?
The installed price ranges above (2026) include motor, rigging, controls and cables, propeller selection, fuel system inspection, old motor removal, and a water test on Rice Lake before pickup. Pickup only at Gores Landing, no shipping, no delivery.
Some pontoons need additional rigging. Examples we see often:
- Mechanical controls being replaced with digital: add $800 to $1,500
- New fuel tank if the existing one is steel and corroded: add $600 to $1,400
- Steering upgrade for higher HP (hydraulic): add $1,200 to $2,000
- New gauges or chart-plotter integration: add $500 to $2,500
Most pontoon repowers fall between $14,000 and $28,000 CAD all-in (2026 ranges). Financing is OAC, with current rates set by Mercury Canada's financing partner and updated periodically. Build a real quote at mercuryrepower.ca for confirmed current rates and a line-item total for your specific pontoon. Our full Mercury repower cost guide breaks each line down.
What about the Mercury Avator on a pontoon?
The Avator 7.5e is a small electric outboard. Useful as a silent kicker on small fishing pontoons for trolling, but not a main motor. Pontoon main propulsion needs sustained torque at 3,500 to 4,500 RPM and the Avator 7.5e is sized for slow-trolling applications.
Mercury rates the Avator by output power in kilowatts and equivalent thrust, not by a direct gasoline horsepower figure. The "roughly 3.5 HP equivalent" comparison is a shopping reference, not a literal HP rating. The technical spec is 750 watts at the prop.
If you are building a pontoon repower and you want quiet trolling for walleye or bass, talk to us about pairing a gasoline main motor with a small electric kicker. We rig that combination on Rice Lake fishing pontoons regularly.
What we see at HBW
Three patterns from rigging pontoons every spring on Rice Lake:
The 115 HP Command Thrust on a 22-foot two-tube pontoon is our most common pontoon repower. It fits the boat, fits the family, fits the budget. If you are not sure where to start, that's a defensible default.
The single biggest mistake we see is owners stretching too hard on a two-tube pontoon. A 200 HP Pro XS on a basic two-tube pontoon will not transform it. The hull design caps performance regardless of horsepower. If you want significantly faster, the question is "should I go tritoon?" not "can I add 50 HP?"
The Command Thrust upgrade pays for itself in customer satisfaction. We have never had a pontoon customer regret choosing CT. We have had multiple wish they'd added it the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size Mercury motor do I need for a 22 foot pontoon?
A 115 HP or 150 HP FourStroke covers most 22 foot single-tube pontoons. Command Thrust is worth the upgrade if you carry six or more adults. Step up to a Pro XS V8 with Boost on tritoons of that length.
Is a 90 HP enough for a pontoon?
Yes, on an 18 to 20 foot single-tube pontoon carrying four people, a 90 HP FourStroke cruises well at 18 to 22 mph and planes cleanly. Add a third tube or routinely carry six people and you will want more horsepower.
Should I get Command Thrust on a pontoon?
On pontoons 22 feet and up, almost always yes. Command Thrust gives a 15-inch propeller and larger gearcase that meaningfully improves hole shot and reverse on heavy pontoons. The upgrade adds roughly $800 to $1,500 CAD as of 2026.
How much does a pontoon repower cost in Ontario?
A pontoon repower at Harris Boat Works typically runs $13,000 to $30,000 CAD installed in 2026, depending on horsepower. It includes motor, rigging, controls, propeller, fuel system inspection, old motor removal, and water test on Rice Lake. Build a current quote at mercuryrepower.ca.
Is the Boost upgrade worth it for pontoons?
On large, heavily loaded tritoons, yes. The 25 HP surge for 4 to 6 seconds gets the boat on plane quickly. On a light two-tube pontoon under 22 feet, the money is better spent on horsepower or Command Thrust.
Can a Mercury Avator electric work on a pontoon?
The Avator 7.5e is too small to be a main motor on a pontoon. It works as a quiet kicker for fishing finesse on small pontoons. For main propulsion on a pontoon you want gasoline 60 HP and up.
Ready to repower your pontoon?
Build a quote at mercuryrepower.ca and we'll match you with the right motor for your pontoon. We are the repower side of Harris Boat Works, a family marina in Gores Landing serving boaters since 1947. The same techs who write your quote are the ones who rig and water-test the motor on Rice Lake.
Phone: 905-342-2153
Address: 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON
Service: hbw.wiki/service
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