Aluminum Versus Wood

 At the time of purchase, all of our competitor’s plywood decks are void of moisture, rot, or mold. However, over time, exposure to the sun’s UV rays, weather, and moisture deteriorate this substrate and it absorbs countless gallons of water, begins the rotting process, separates, and begins to mold. Another disadvantage is that the plywood surface offers a weak mounting surface. More bolts through the plywood decking create more access for moisture. Protruding cross members between the decking and logs increase drag. Finally, exposed, or open, M-brackets, which connect the top of the pontoon logs to the cross members allow water to enter, create drag and hinder performance. The rotting deck decreases stability over time and increases the probability of mold, noise, and unnecessary stress. This cycle of deterioration forces the owner to either invest more money into the same pontoon to re-deck it or sell it and purchase a newer vessel.

Compared to our competitor’s “predetermined obsolescence” use of wood, Veranda’s no-wood “Lifetime of Enjoyment” construction featuring our Patented All-Aluminum All-Welded Interlocking Deck System clearly illustrates that Veranda Luxury Pontoons is the best choice!

If you squat down while standing at the bow, or front, and take a look under your Veranda, you’ll notice the underside of our patented all-aluminum, all-welded interlocking deck system, visible between each of the logs. This smooth surface we call the patented integrated wave shield, reduces water drag and eliminates all surging which can result from exposed cross members, providing a smoother ride. Veranda’s decks are engineered and constructed with extruded all-aluminum 2×6 planks, which interlock together to form a tightly held solid block of aluminum substrate. The trim around the edge of our patented All-Aluminum All-Welded Interlocking Deck System prevents you from seeing this on your pontoon, but as you can see from this video, it’s a masterpiece! Another benefit of the extruded all-aluminum 2×6 planks is that they allow for the movement of air, which works to cool our interlocking deck system. In fact, we compared deck temperatures between one of our Veranda Luxury Pontoons and a competitor’s deck with similar colored vinyl flooring. The results may startle you…temperatures on our deck were over 15° cooler than our competitor’s decks. Which would you rather walk barefoot across?

Moving down from the decking, you’ll notice that each pontoon log has full-length, enclosed M-brackets welded onto them that join the decking to the pontoon logs. Sometimes referred to as saddle brackets, these provide a stable foundation for the deck to rest upon and are capped and welded over to provide superior support and strength, eliminating stress caused by today’s large outboard motors.

The pontoon logs and nose cones themselves are fabricated at the plant from single 7’ or 9’ aluminum sheets that are 0.100 or 0.125 gauge thick and come in 25” and 27” diameter logs.

Baffles, the round caps that fit inside the logs, are tack welded in place and used to connect each section into one single 20, 22, or 25’ log.

The VLP performance motor pods, which include the fuel tank and attach the motor to the pontoon boat, are welded to the back of the middle log. Each log is pressure tested to ensure proper buoyancy.

Keels are welded onto the logs, starting on the bottom of the nose cone, and run the entire length of each pontoon. Optional side keels are attached to the outside and inside of each log midway up to provide additional performance and stability. If you look further down the log under the deck, you will see lifting strakes, which are located along the inside bottom edge of the logs and provide lift for the pontoon.