Traditionally our April issue kicks off the fishing season for us at PDB magazine. This is the one issue where we really target angling in an attempt to get our readers excited about wetting a line and getting out on the water. This issue always puts us in a good mood. I like to sit back and imagine the thought of countless fish inhaling my lures this spring and the fight it’s going to take to get them in the boat. Spring is here; let the battle begin.
But as focused as we are right now on fishing, there is a trend in the boating industry that is causing some ripples in the water of its own. For the last few years we’ve made reference on several occasions to all the positive attention pontoon boats are receiving. Some even speculate that it was the pontoon boat that helped pull us through the down economy and get this industry going in the right direction once again. While larger, ocean-going type boats sat idle on showroom floors, it was the versatility and the value of a price-friendly pontoon that was just what our industry needed when the economy was at its worst.
Now I know pontoon boats are popular, but because we’re so focused on this niche as a magazine we sometimes don’t realized the magnitude from outside of our perspective. If anything, the boat show season this year really opened my eyes to the popularity of these unique vessels. When I visited the Chicago Boat Show last January I was pleasantly surprised by the number of pontoon boats on display. With over 22 different pontoon manufacturers represented and over 120 total ‘toons, it felt more like the Chicago Pontoon Show. It was impossible to walk down an isle and not see a gathering of buyers inspecting a pontoon.
This trend continued as we visited other boat shows around the country, and not just those held in the Midwest. Over the last few years the Miami Boat Show has become a new hot spot for our favorite type of boats. It used to be easier to find a doughnut at a Weight Watchers convention than to find a pontoon at this show, but that’s not the case today. Don’t get me wrong: they’re not exactly taking over the million dollar yachts, but ‘toons are now well represented inside the Miami Convention Center as well as in the water at this show.
You could make a number of different cases for why pontoons have become so popular. Many feel it’s the performance models that have the most to do with it. Being able to dive into a tight corner in a three-logged pontoon like it was a v-hull will get the industry talking. Others feel it’s the wide price range that still lets a family get into an entry-level model for less than $20K, yet the quality and high-end amenities are available for those who want more.
For me, it’s the style and the new look of the pontoon boat. Let’s face it: the old boxy style pontoons weren’t the most nautical looking boat in the fleet. Today wakeboard towers, top-of-the-line sound systems and contoured seating are just a small taste of what is being offered. Layouts that include grills, refrigerators, faucets and sinks are only limited by our imaginations.
It’s a fun debate to try and pinpoint why pontoons are so popular, but it’s actually a lot more fun just to enjoy it knowing we’re part of the fastest-growing segment in the boating industry. We’re living in pontoon central these days and our best days are still ahead on the horizon.
“It used to be easier to find a doughnut at a Weight Watchers convention than to find a pontoon at this show, but that’s not the case today.”
