Pontoon boats

Any of you boys know anything about pontoon boats? I am thinking of adding a pontoon boat to my armada for putting up the intercoastal when the wifies aincent relatives come by for sunday dinner and for sea duck hunting. I see them go by my house quite a bit but I dont know anyone who has one. Do you need a special kind of aluminum for salt water? If I keep it in the water do I need to bottom paint it or is it easier to scrape off the bottom crap than a glass boat? I was thinking that a 50 or 60 HP would be plenty for a 24 footer..It would also be a nice night fishing platform for sitting on some of my puppy drum and trout holes....Frank.