An inflatable pontoon boat is a small craft built on two inflatable tubes (pontoons) with a seat or deck between them. Most are one or two person fishing boats, popular for fly fishing and lure fishing on rivers, dams and sheltered lakes because they are light, stable and pack into a car. This 2026 guide covers framed, frameless and stand-up types, what to compare, where to use them and safety rules.
This is a different product from the floating docks and platforms covered in our inflatable pontoons guide: a pontoon boat is something you sit in and paddle or motor, rather than something you moor.
Main Types
- Framed pontoon boats: two tubes held by a metal frame with a raised seat, foot rests and often oar locks. Common for fly fishing on rivers.
- Frameless pontoon boats: the tubes and floor form one inflatable body with no separate frame, so they set up faster and pack smaller.
- Stand-up pontoon boats: wider designs with a firm deck so an angler can stand to cast.
- Two-person pontoon boats: larger hulls with two seats, usually rowed or fitted with a small motor.
What to Compare
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Load rating | Must cover you, your gear and any motor or battery |
| Frame or frameless | Frames give a higher seat and better rowing; frameless boats set up faster and store smaller |
| Motor mount | Needed for an electric or small petrol motor; check the boat’s maximum rated power |
| Tube material | Heavier fabrics resist abrasion from rocks, snags and boat ramps |
| Weight and packed size | Decides whether one person can carry it and whether it fits your vehicle |
| Storage and mounts | Rod holders, pockets and mounting rails make fishing days easier |
Where Australians Use Them
Highland trout lakes and rivers in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania; impoundments such as Lake Eildon, Lake Burrendong and Lake Tinaroo; estuaries for bream and flathead; and sheltered bays on calm days. Their light weight makes them popular for spots without a boat ramp.
Safety and Rules
- Wear a lifejacket; requirements apply to small craft in every state
- Rules on registration and licences depend on the state and on the motor fitted, so check with your state maritime authority before fitting a motor
- Stay off exposed water in wind; small inflatables are pushed around easily
- Avoid fishing from small inflatables in saltwater crocodile habitat
Inflatable Pontoon Boat FAQs
Are inflatable pontoon boats stable?
Yes, the twin-tube design is very stable on calm water, which is why anglers like them.
Can I put a motor on an inflatable pontoon boat?
Many models have a motor mount. Stay within the boat’s rated power and check your state’s rules for registration and licensing.
Is a pontoon boat the same as an inflatable pontoon dock?
No. A pontoon boat is a craft you ride in; a pontoon dock is a floating platform you moor in place.
Related Guides
Find Your Local Water
Our local pages describe the rivers, lakes and bays near each town.
- Victoria: Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Melton, Shepparton and Mooroopna, Sunbury, Wodonga, Mildura, Pakenham, Warrnambool, Traralgon, Torquay and Jan Juc, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, Bacchus Marsh, Wangaratta, Warragul, Horsham, Drysdale and Clifton Springs, Lara, Moe and Newborough
- New South Wales: Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong, Maitland, Tweed Heads, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga, Port Macquarie, Orange, Dubbo, Queanbeyan, Bathurst, Tamworth, Nowra and Bomaderry, Blue Mountains, Lismore, Goulburn, Bowral and Mittagong, Cessnock, Morisset and Cooranbong, Armidale, Griffith, Forster and Tuncurry, Kurri Kurri, Ballina, Taree, Broken Hill, Grafton
- Queensland: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Mackay, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Maryborough, Nambour, Bongaree and Woorim, Gympie, Yeppoon, Mount Isa
- Western Australia: Perth, Bunbury, Geraldton, Albany, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Busselton, Karratha, Port Hedland