It can be hard to find a gift for the boater in your life that is quick to buy every boating accessory, helpful onboard tool, and nautical-themed accoutrement. But wait until you see these adorable, 1:25 scale-model replicas of actual pontoon models created by the company 3D Pontoons.
The 10-inch miniature boats are custom 3D printed to look exactly like the original boats they’re modeled after, complete with facsimile logos and floor plans. These little pontoons make the perfect keepsake and allow boaters to cherish the boating experience even when they’re not on the water.
Not only do the boats actually float (if you wanted to take some fun side-by-side pictures), but they are ideal for display in showrooms, offices, or homes.
The family-owned company 3D Pontoons was started by brothers Matt and Brian Carman, along with their wives Annie and Alicia and their daughters Evelyn and Kathryn.
“We started a little side business of 3D printing as something fun for us to do with our kids,” Matt said. They began by 3D printing a variety of products and custom orders which they sold at flea markets or craft shows. But all that changed in August of 2024, when they were approached by Bentley and asked for a custom pontoon replica.
“Eventually we had a request for a custom order for pontoon boats from Bentley Pontoons, and the product was received so well we decided to shift the business focus to boats.” It helped that brothers Matt and Brian both worked as engineers in the marine industry and were friends with the Marcott family, owners of Bentley.
“Bentley asked us to provide some boat models for their dealer show, and that is where we received the reception that drove the decision to pursue manufacturing boat models full time,” Matt said.
3D Pontoons legally must have permission from the boat manufacturers to include their branding. Right now, they have dealer agreements with Bentley and NorthStar Pontoons. They are working to reach out to other pontoon manufacturers soon to offer more options, and they are open for any manufacturers or dealers who want to reach out to them.
“Our ultimate goal is to spread the business to all manufacturers so dealers can request any boat they would like,” Matt said.
Aside from the popularity of a boat owner having such an accurate scale replica, dealers are additionally finding the models to be incredibly useful because they can show customers exactly what their pre-ordered pontoon will look like.
With the current dealer program, 3D Pontoons matches every boat that Bently and NorthStar dealers order and has a 1:25 scale model delivered before the full-size boat arrives. This gives dealers a physical representation of what their order will look like, which they can share with customers.
Dealers have loved the program so much that 80 percent of the company’s orders are through the dealer program. Custom boat orders account for 10 percent, with the final 10 percent of orders being pre-built boats listed on 3D Pontoon’s website.
Average turnaround time for custom orders is 11 days. A less intricate order may be sooner, while a more complex order can take longer, but no order will take longer than 30 days. All pre-built orders are shipped within 24 hours. Size is generally limited to 10” x 10” x 10”. However, this can be overcome by assembling multiple pieces together if needed. Order yours today at www.3dpontoons.com.
