Right-Size Boat for Older Owners: Pontoons, Bowriders, Stable Kayaks, and Jon Boats

The right boat for a senior is not the boat in the magazine ad. The right boat is the one that loads easily, steps aboard at knee height, sits flat in the water without tipping, has clear paths from stern to bow, and stops in a predictable distance. The four boat types most commonly recommended for older adults by AARP, by the BoatUS Foundation, and by the US Power Squadrons are pontoon boats, small bowriders under 19 feet, stability-tuned kayaks, and aluminum jon boats. Each has trade-offs worth understanding before a senior writes a check or signs a loan.

Pontoon boats are the most popular choice for seniors. The deck is flat, the freeboard is high enough to feel safe but low enough to step aboard at the dock, the rails wrap the perimeter so a senior with balance issues can walk hand-over-hand, and the seats are usually facing forward like a living room. A modern pontoon in the 20 to 22 foot range with a 90 to 150 horsepower outboard cruises at 20 to 28 miles per hour, plenty for cocktail cruising and tubing for grandchildren. Used pontoons in good shape run 12,000 to 30,000 dollars depending on year and motor. New pontoons run 30,000 to 80,000 dollars.

Small bowriders under 19 feet are the second choice. A bowrider is a traditional open-bow runabout with seating in the bow and helm and stern seats in the back. The lower hull cuts chop better than a pontoon, so a bowrider is the right pick for coastal bays and large lakes with afternoon wind. A senior should look for a walk-through windshield model so the path from helm to bow does not require climbing on a seat. Used bowriders in the 16 to 18 foot range run 8,000 to 20,000 dollars.

Stability-tuned kayaks are the right pick for a senior who wants quiet water access without dealing with a trailer. The key feature is hull width. A 28 to 32 inch wide sit-on-top kayak from Old Town, Wilderness Systems, or Pelican is very hard to tip. Sit-on-top boats let a senior reboard from the water if they do tip. A pedal-drive kayak from Hobie or Old Town moves with the legs, sparing the shoulders and wrists. New pedal kayaks run 1,800 to 3,500 dollars. Used ones run 800 to 1,800 dollars.

Aluminum jon boats are the right pick for a small inland pond or river. A 14 to 16 foot flat-bottom jon boat with a 9.9 horsepower outboard is light enough to launch solo, sturdy enough for two adults and a cooler, and cheap enough to leave at the dock all summer. New jon boats run 1,800 to 4,500 dollars. Used jon boats run 600 to 2,500 dollars. Sources include boatus.org/boating-tips, the Discover Boating senior guide at discoverboating.com, and the AARP boating article at aarp.org.