Are Pontoon boats any good?

I've just come across that kind of boat looking for hulls, and I like the fact that they seem easy to build. But are they safe, and do they make efficient use of engine power? If not, what would be better? I'm building a commuter boat for four people to go across a harbour at 5 knots every day (placid seas, sometimes windy).|||I don't know what world these people are living in that say you can't put a big motor on a pontoon. The only thig regulating HP on them is length of hull and tube size. Some pontoon companies are making sport models now which run 60 plus mph and use up to 200 hp outboards. As far as saftey, the bigger the tubes the better. Tri toons are better.(one in the middle also) Just so you know, speed wise, I have a 20 foot pontoon with a 50 hp E-Tec and we run 21 mph on gps. Also, as far as these people who are saying they are no good in chop, we use ours in the great lakes. It takes 3 footers and doesn't even get us wet.|||We are thinking about buying a pontoon a 18 ft with a 25 hp on it is this a good engine size for this lenght of boat

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|||Since a pontoon boat doesn't draw as much water line as other type boats, it certainly would be more fuel efficient than another type boat. They have used pontoon boats for that same purpose here in Massachusetts for years with very little, if any problems. Lots of people on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire use them every day, and some people actually live on them there during the summer months.|||Check out www.svensons.com/boats for free plans if you haven't settled on any yet.|||there cool and have a lot of room but are slow and you cant put a big motor on them.|||pontoon boats come in alot of sizes and design. you can get your basic open deck style to the cadillac's of pontoon boats with built in coolers pop up changing room, sinks,live wells if you fish, name it....there are two hull and tri hull ones, they are alot of fun cause you can throw anchor, and walk around on it, have a picnic, even grill on it. They can however be dangerous in a storm, or if you are swamped with water by a passing cruiser. I have seen one flip over due to an unexpected storm that produced some hellacous winds on our lake here. Alot of pontoon boats have some pretty big motors on them and are quite capeable of pulling a tuber or skier as well.|||Pontoon boats (sometimes called "deck boats" because of all the flat deck space) are usually found in protected waters. You see them quite often on lakes and rivers in the USA. They are very stable in calm water, and are great recreational platforms for fishing or for parties. They can carry a lot of weight or passengers for their size, and with the right hull shape, they can be fairly efficient on the water. They seem to work best with twin outboard engines, one driving each hull. They do have a high profile, and are not too comfortable in rough water or windy conditions.|||I love Pontoon boats. They are very fun, safe, and stable. I'm not a boat expert but we have always enjoyed Pontoon boatts as a family.|||pontoon boats are for real calm waters, they cant handle the chop very well|||IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN WHAT YOU HAVE NOW! sorry for the caps