History
The premier issue of Pontoon & Deck Boat magazine first hit mailboxes back in 1995 as a quarterly publication and we're proud to say it’s been growing ever since. In 2025 we're celebrating 30 years as the number one authority on pontoon and deck boats after our humble beginnings as both a magazine and a publishing company.
In the basement of his home in 1971, Darryl Harris started Harris Publishing and served as PDB’s first editor. Back then the thought of producing a magazine on deck boats and those boxy, extremely non-nautical-looking and non-performance-minded pontoon boats had other employees in-house snickering around the water cooler. With successful magazine titles at Harris Publishing focused on the agricultural and snowmobiling industries, few could see the vision or the potential of PDB magazine.
A Veteran Staff
A few years after starting PDB, Brady Kay came on board and by the year 2000 was sitting behind the helm in the captain’s chair as the publication's editor. More than 25 years later he's still behind the wheel, now serving as the publisher and executive editor. Other “seasoned” in-house employees include Sales Executive Greg Larsen, Graphic Artist Lavon Horne, Videographer Steve Smede, and Controller Clayton Ward who have all been with Harris Publishing for at least 20 years. Long-time contributors who go back just as far include fishing columnist Dan Armitage as well as freelancer Gini McKain.
Right Place At The Right Time
Following the start of the 2008 recession, it was the pontoon segment and the development of performance pontoons that helped the boating industry as a whole survive. While the luxurious and comfort features were becoming better known, it was the big push for performance that helped consumers realize how great and versatile pontoon boats really are.
Not even Mr. Harris back in 1995 could have predicted just how popular pontoon boats would become today. Seeing the passion of both the manufacturers in this industry as well as those who truly love the lifestyle that is only possible with a pontoon or a deck boat, we all probably should have seen this coming.
Passing Of The Torch
In 2007 Darryl officially retired and sold ownership of the company to his three sons; Chuck, Jason and Ryan Harris with Jason serving as the current president of Harris Publishing. Today PDB magazine remains geared towards pontoon and deck boat enthusiasts who share the same passion for family boating. As our favorite trailerable type boats continue to grow thanks to dealers and manufacturers who represent our industry, so does our love for what we do.
Current Staff photo from 2024
