Godfrey Pontoons for Sale

The Sanpan, 1958

The Godfrey Conveyor Company in Elkhart built industrial conveyors before it built boats. In 1958 it showed the Sanpan, an all-aluminum pontoon, at the Chicago World's Fair. Before that, most pontoons were plywood decks on steel drums that rusted. Aluminum tubes were lighter and did not rust, which is why nearly every pontoon is built that way today. The Deputy family owned Godfrey for decades, and the company is now part of Polaris.

Model lines

• Sanpan: the luxury line, with premium finishes, large touchscreen helms and premium audio.
• AquaPatio: social and watersports boats.
• Sweetwater: the value line, for families and fishing.
• Monaco: a family pontoon series.

Godfrey redesigned the Monaco and Sanpan for the 2026 model year, so a 2026 or later boat of those lines will look and lay out differently from an older one.

Current Godfreys use 3-inch C-channel crossmembers and Godfrey's F-Channel rubrail, which the company says cut deck flex. Ask what crossmember spacing and size an older boat has if you are comparing models across years.

Spec sheet: the Sweetwater 2286 SFL

Godfrey's Sweetwater line is its value pontoon range, and the 2286 is one of its most common sizes. Motor and Keel lists the 2026 Sweetwater 2286 SFL at 23'10" with an 8'6" beam. It weighs 2,506 lbs dry, carries 30 gallons of fuel and has a 2,265 lb maximum capacity. MSRP for 2026 is $42,074.

The tube package changes what the boat can carry and how much power it takes. On a base twin-tube boat the 30-gallon tank and the lower power rating that comes with it aren't meant for big engines. If you want a larger engine, look for a triple-tube boat and check the capacity plate rather than the listing.

Pontoon tubes are where problems show up. Look for dents and corrosion where the tubes meet the cross members, and on an older boat ask if the tubes have been pressure-tested.

What to check on a used Godfrey

Recall history. BoatVerdict, drawing on the Coast Guard index, lists six Godfrey Marine campaigns on boats from 1994 to 2011, covering cracked fuel fill fittings, ventilation and ignition protection. None is for current Sanpan or Sweetwater steering or fuel systems. On an older Godfrey, run the HIN and confirm any fix was done.

Steering. Godfreys are rigged with cable, hydraulic or power-assist steering depending on model and engine. On cable steering, turn lock to lock and feel for binding. On hydraulic, look for weeping fittings at the helm and the engine.

Year and line. The 2026 Monaco and Sanpan were redesigned. A pre-2026 Sanpan and a current one are different boats, so compare listings by model year, not just name.

Tubes and strakes. On Godfreys with lifting strakes or a third tube, check that the strakes are straight and the tube welds are intact, especially near the bow.