We do this not only to educate ourselves, but also to share that information with our readers. However, in this case going to the top for answers is referring to the manufacturers themselves. Recently we reached out to get a little inside perspective on those upcoming trends and here are the highlights of those conversations.
Benoit Verley, president of Venture Group agrees, “We are seeing more and more first-time boaters enter the market representing diverse backgrounds, which is very exciting for the boating community as we welcome the next generation of boaters. In order to meet and exceed expectations, it’s imperative that our products and technology are designed to be intuitive and simplify the boating experience, giving everyone confidence at the helm. At Bayliner, we are proud of the fact that nearly anyone can find a point of entry into the boating lifestyle within our portfolio.”
“Covid has greatly influenced the marine market over the past 2-3 years by increasing the demand for boats and pontoons, but it is now back to normal,” said Jean-Philippe Martin-Dubois, director of marketing and consumer experience at Princecraft. “While we’re not able to predict the future, the market we currently find ourselves in is quite different. Boaters still want to spend time on the water, but with interest rates soaring and high inflation, they’re turning more to affordable family-oriented boats.”
Matt Long at Silver Wave Pontoons said, “The future of pontooning is brighter than ever as pontoons offer the best value for the entire family. With a pontoon you do not have to sacrifice comfort, room, speed, or the ride. We expect to see more fiberglass and triple pontoon configurations.”
Added VP of Operations Nathan Kyzer from Veranda Luxury Pontoons, “Providing value to families who want to enjoy quality and carefree enjoyment on the water is our main priority.”
And it’s not just about boat buyers, as the president of Bentley emphasized the importance of also taking care of your dealers.
“The Bentley brand is all about providing the absolute best value for our dealers and end consumers,” said Ryan Marcott, president of Bentley Pontoons. “If we’re fortunate enough to have a dealer choose Bentley and they sell a boat to an end consumer, the real goal for our team is to provide the absolute best experience when it comes to warranty, parts and service. We want lifetime long relationships with our dealer and end consumer partners.”
“We have always been at the forefront of performance and speed,” said Miranda Doan, the marketing manager at Avalon/Tahoe pontoons. “I anticipate more and more brands following our lead as the demand for performance pontoons continues to rise.”
Sylvan Marine Marketing Coordinator Steve Huber also sees performance pontoons trending. “The pontoon market trends have been driven by innovation and performance. At Sylvan, we believe those trends will continue to carry the pontoon industry going forward. With the addition of unique layouts and third-tube performance packages, our brand-new G-Series highlights the 2024 model lineup offering deluxe and innovative DF-ABS side panels, luxurious interiors, and high-end amenities.”
Forrest River Marine was the other manufacturer fortunate enough to run twin Mercury Racing 500R outboards when they were first released so it’s no surprise that Kevin Bestul, director of engineering, sees performance trending too. “Trifecta is fortunate to continue to experience the demand of high horsepower outboard motors being installed on our performance pontoons. This industry trend appears to stay headed in the right direction to allow Trifecta customers to be nimble and open their boating experiences into larger water and higher speeds. Mercury/Merc Racing has traditionally owned most of this high horsepower segment, while other motor OEM’s such as Honda and Suzuki have begun to invest in higher horsepower motors, specifically the 350hp segments.”
Bestul is expecting to see giant leaps of performance, efficiency, and raw power out of these motor manufacturers in coming years as he strongly feels the technology seems to get better year after year. “Trifecta became the first production pontoon to hit 80 mph on the twin 450R platform a few years ago and in 2023, Trifecta broke records again at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout with the Mercury Racing twin 500R’s at 89mph on a standard Trifecta production pontoon,” added Bestul. “Trifecta continues to be dedicated to high-end performance while pushing the limits of a pontoon experience.”
Added Josh Hansen at Harris Pontoon Boats, “Adoption of electric propulsion is gaining momentum and is likely to grow alongside the automotive industry.
“More than ever, families are looking for ways to personalize their boating experience and build a pontoon that meets their unique needs,” said Crest’s Director of Sales & Marketing Shane Torzy. “Crest’s commitment to premium construction and customization allows families to not only trust the longevity of our pontoons, but also personalize the features and styles to meet their functional needs.”
Steve Huber, Starcraft’s marketing coordinator, has seen success because its customers could customize. “Our best-selling fiberglass series is our Starcraft SVX and we were able to obtain that by capitalizing on the trend of customization and offering a product loaded with value at an affordable price.”
Bailey Boats, who is a 100 percent custom boat builder with no two boats ever looking exactly the same, is anticipating this trend to continue as well.
“With almost everything, customization is a key factor in not only standing out, but also giving the customer something to fit their exact needs without having to settle or compromise,” said David Bailey, president of Bailey Custom Boats. “We hope to change that by not only giving power and performance with our patented hull design, but also luxury and convenience with the customer’s ability to fully design their boat.”
Jason Rick, senior product analyst at Manitou, is excited for the technology evolution. “Pontoons have evolved more than any other type of boat, transforming from slow, floating platforms to luxurious, innovative, and exciting boats, regardless of the price point. This evolution is evident in the volume of growth of the past 10-20 years. Customers are now seeking boats that offer more versatility, usable space, and technology wrapped in a modern design that breaks away from traditional pontoon perceptions. Manitou is perfectly positioned to leverage our rich history of innovation and timeless design, combined with our focus on quality, to continue to push the limits of what a pontoon is and can be.”
Vanderbilt Pontoons are fairly new to the industry, but feel understanding what customers want has helped them grow so quickly.
“Our industry will see continued product innovations that enhance the overall boating experience,” said VP Sales Tricia Niebuhr. “Today’s tech-savvy consumers are expecting more advanced features and technologies incorporated throughout the pontoon to ensure their on-water experience is safe and pleasurable. Manufacturers will continue to incorporate sustainable manufacturing processes and materials and offer more eco-friendly, efficient, and high-performance propulsion options in the coming years.”
Added Thomas F Cox, Aloha Pontoons president, “We believe the pontoon industry will continue to evolve through multiple user-friendly features as we see today. They are incredible family water sports boats and the high performance models as well as electric powered vessels will continue to evolve this boating segment.”
Added Russ Hafner, VP sales & marketing at Apex Marine Inc., “The current boating market has proven challenging. “For small companies like Apex Marine, we have taken notice of several trends towards buyers wanting more features built-in standard, as well as higher performance from boats. By keeping our ear to the ground and adapting quickly to changes in the market, we are able to not just survive — but thrive.”
“An industry trend I could see and it may have started already is that boat buyers are interested in smaller boats,” said Splendor Boat part-owner Amy Parker. “Due to inflation, high interest rates and shaky economy, a smaller boat is more cost effective.”
“People want to walk up to the boat and have it react the same way as their car with lighting, performance, wireless interaction, etc. With the introduction of joystick controls, auto-pilot, thrusters, and high horsepower engines, pontoons have become ‘The One’ boat you need to do everything.”
“This year, we have achieved and exceeded that goal, and our boaters will see that difference,” added James Heintz, the global director of product strategy at Sea-Doo. “The buzz that the Sea-Doo Switch has created is only the beginning. In the not-too-distant future, we will see even more groundbreaking ways to have fun on the water. A new generation of pontoon owners are asking for more adaptability, versatility, and value for their money.”
Added Steve Huber, Sunchaser marketing coordinator, “The pontoon industry trend has been driven by performance and versatile layouts. Pontoons are coming with standard third tubes with performance features more than ever and the innovation of different layouts and swing-back seating designs creates a package that all types of boaters enjoy.”
Hurricane is another manufacturer that not only feels versatility is trending, but credits it for their success.
“The original Hurricane deck boat was invented in the 1960s, and has been one of the market leaders since 1974,” stated Doug Adrian, GM, Godfrey Marine. “We’ve been perfecting fun on the water with our innovative and incredibly versatile deck boat design. We like to say that we didn’t just invent fun on the water, but we like to think we perfected it.”
“Godfrey Pontoon Boats continues to be one of the leaders in the industry for design, construction and innovation, as well as being instrumental in making memories through many generations of boaters,” said Doug Adrian, Godfrey Marine general manager.
Stingray VP of Sales/Marketing Bob vanVollenhoven added, “As an industry we need to continue to provide a quality, innovative product, all the while continuing to expand our reach into new emerging markets/buyers. Opening up the lifestyle and fun of boating to new prospects is paramount not only to our industry, but to all of our futures. Fuel economy and performance will continue to be driving factors for potential buyers, alongside quality and strength of brand.”
Added Berkshire GM Ryan Casey, “We are blessed to be backed by Berkshire Hathaway (the fifth largest company in the world) and build their values and reputation into every pontoon we manufacture. This unmatched financial stability gives buyers of all income levels the trust that Berkshire invests in our customers’ future through constant innovation and commitment to quality, and the simple assurance of knowing Berkshire will not only stand the test of time building boats in any economic environment, but Berkshire will stand behind our product for years to come.”
Steve Huber, Starcraft marketing coordinator concluded, “Today’s pontoon market has been driven by the innovation of unique layouts and advanced performance pontoon tube technology. Here at Starcraft we have capitalized on both trends and 2024 is no exception. We have set the bar even higher with our brand-new RX series with DF-ABS side panels, the first in the industry.”