Pontoon boat

A pontoon boat comprising:

• a left pontoon and a right pontoon, the left and right pontoons extending longitudinally, a central axis of the left pontoon being parallel to a central axis of the right pontoon;
• a longitudinal centerline disposed in a plane containing the central axes of the left and right pontoons, the longitudinal centerline being equidistant from each of the central axes of the left and right pontoons;
• a deck being supported by the left and right pontoons;
• a tunnel extending between the left and right pontoons below the deck;
• a bow end being defined by at least one of the left pontoon, the right pontoon and the deck;
• a stern end being defined by at least one of the left pontoon, the right pontoon and the deck;
• a boat length being defined by a distance between the bow end and the stern end;
• a longitudinal center plane of the boat being defined by a vertical plane normal to the longitudinal centerline and disposed longitudinally equidistant from the bow end and the stern end;
• an opening being defined in the deck and communicating with the tunnel;
• an outboard engine being mounted in the opening;
• and
• a hatch being disposed over the opening and the outboard engine,
• the outboard engine comprising:
• a drive unit comprising:
• a driveshaft;
• a propeller shaft operatively connected to the driveshaft;
• and
• a propeller connected to the propeller shaft;
• and
• a mounting bracket connecting the drive unit to the deck,
• the outboard engine being disposed forward of the stern end by a distance at least equal to one-fourth of the boat length in the longitudinal direction, and
• the outboard engine being one of aligned with and rearward of the longitudinal center plane in the longitudinal direction.