What's Hot?

In a lot of ways, boat show season is similar to a couple of months worth of family reunions—although it ironically includes spending a lot of time away from our own families. The reunions are with boat manufacturers, dealers, engine reps, aftermarket companies and anyone else who has a familiar face.

Each winter we hit the trail known as “Boat Show Season” and one thing that always impresses me is just how hard some of these men and women in our industry really work. I’ll only hit a couple of shows a year, but for some manufacturer reps it’s a couple of shows a month or more during this stretch! I guess their spouses just know not to plan anything on a weekend from January to March.

I’m not sure if it’s just small talk or a genuine question coming from someone forced to the confines of a small booth, but I always get asked the question, “What are you seeing that’s interesting?” as I greet friends in the marine industry. So as we head into Boat Show season, here is a little sneak peek on what to be looking for in 2018.

1) Pontoons remain smok’n hot. I know I’ve been saying this for years but it’s absolutely true. Pontoon boats are dominating the show floors like no other boat in the industry and even shows like the Miami International Boat Show are getting onboard with this trend.

2) Free stuff never goes out of style. You would think by now we’d all have enough pens and drink coozies to last us a lifetime, yet these giveaways draw people into booths time and time again. Attendees are even willing to provide personal contact info just for a cheap Frisbee.

3) Big boat sales are up. By big I mean high-ticket, twin engine $150K plus type pontoons that are making cruiser salesmen nervous. In fact, I was at a boat show last year where the longest boat on display throughout the show was a pontoon boat! Dealers don’t want to waste valuable booth space on huge cruiser models when the crowds are looking for ‘toons and deck boats under 30 feet long.  

4) Value is king. While pontoon boats with price tags greater than my first house are on the incline, the heart of our niche has always been about value-driven models. As you walk the shows this year the “bells and whistles” models may get your attention, but know that for less than $40K a family can still get a great model with power. 

5) Vinyl flooring is now the norm. We’ve been raving about the improvement in flooring for years and it’s nice to see the industry (and consumers) agree. The majority of pontoons on display have gone away from carpet and are now showcasing flooring materials that feel more at home in the boating industry.

6) Just a little more horsepower. Dealers used to display pontoons and deck boats with smaller engines so the boat show price tags looked friendlier, but consumers see right through this. Now these boats are equipped with not only a more realistic outboard on the back, but a good balance of options as well. No buyer wants to get all excited about a great boat that falls within their budget just to find out the steering wheel is not included with the show special price.

Well that’s what to look for this year at the shows—as well as a lot of other exciting trends. If you happen to see any of the PDB staff out walking your local boat show be sure to stop us and say hi. We’ll be happy to add you to our reunion list.