Pond King Champ

All of Pond King’s mini pontoon boats are intended for 2 people fishing relatively small bodies of water. So, the other factors you should consider are your budget and ability to do some assembly. If you are very budget focused, and pretty handy, the DIY Boat Kit would be a good option. However, if price is important but you aren’t very good at building things, the Patriot could be right for you. If you want a fully-assembled boat you can just put out on your backyard pond, choose the Champ if you want to use a trolling motor to get around.

All of Pond King's finished pontoon boats are made to order, right here at our facility in Gainesville. Once we receive your order, we'll get started building your boat but production time will depend on when you place your order. (If you are ordering between March and June, call for an estimated delivery time.) A typical lead time is around 4-6 weeks for completion, depending on the season. The DIY boat kits are usually able to be turned around a little quicker -- around 2-3 weeks -- but again, it all depends on the season!

It is very important that you examine your shipment BEFORE accepting it. Here’s how to properly receive a shipment: 

1. Inspect all boxes/pallets and make sure you have all the pieces to your order.
2. Check the bill of lading from the delivery company to make sure you have all your boxes/pallets.
3. Report any missing boxes/pallets to the driver and NOTE ON THE BILL OF LADING. Get it in writing!
4. Next, inspect all the boxes/pallets for anything that looks like damage. If there is a punctured or smashed box/pallet, open it, and make sure that there is no damage.
5. In the event of damage, you must report it to the driver and NOTE ON THE BILL OF LADING. If you do not note the damage on the bill of lading, you are confirming that you received the goods in perfect condition, and you release both Pond King and the shipping company of any liability on the shipment. While we will do what we can to help you out, ultimately Pond King is not responsible for any damage caused during shipping by a third party.

The DIY boat kit and the Patriot have 4 pontoons because we wanted to be able to ship these boats via common carrier. So, instead of one long pontoon on each side of the boat platform, we made two shorter pontoons. Functionally, on the water, they provide exactly the same stability and buoyancy as a single pontoon would, it is just that the smaller pontoons make it possible to ship the boats - which can be less expensive than delivery.

The main difference between Pond King’s mini and small pontoon boats isn't just their capacity (the mini boats are 1 or 2 person) but also the size body of water for which they are appropriate. The Pond King mini pontoon boats are intended for smaller bodies of water, specifically ponds or limited access fishing on lakes, whereas the small pontoon boats can handle larger bodies of water.

If you choose the DIY pontoon boat kit, because we are only providing parts of a boat, and not a completed one, the boat kits do not have a HIN (Hull Identification Number), and therefore, no title. The Patriot and Champ are completed boats and will come with an MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) and a HIN (Hull Identification Number).

In Texas, if you are only using your boat on your private property, you don’t need to register it. However, if you’ll be transporting your boat to public waters, registration is required. If you’re not a Texas resident, we recommend checking with your state to find out the laws and requirements.

We will either have one of our employees drive the boat to you or we will contract with a “hot-shot” driver to deliver it. If you ordered your boat with a trailer, they’ll drive it right to the address you’ve provided and go over the boat with you. If you ordered the boat without a trailer, as long as you have adequate access, our driver will launch the boat into your private pond or lake for you and you are ready to go. 

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. Let us help you determine if the Pond King Champ is right for you.