Behind the Scenes

We’d like to recognize those who helped with our Shootout this year. A lot goes on behind the scenes of our annual boat test and there are plenty who helped make our event a success and deserve a little recognition.

Two men on a marina dock next to a Phoenix Trailers sponsor banner.

Thanks—Phoenix Trailers

For starters I want to shine the spotlight on our title sponsor this year, Phoenix Trailers from East Jordan, Mich. Owner Chip Schwein (L) made a visit to our test and it’s always great to catch up with him. With the cost and the quality of pontoons on the rise, the need for a quality product from Phoenix Trailers has never been greater.

Portable kitchenette unit on a boat with an open sink and storage.

Open compartment with a trash bin inside below a cup holder on a textured floor.

Black storage unit with tackle boxes, a fishing rod holder, and an open drawer, on a woven carpeted floor.

Interior of a cabinet with wine glasses and ice buckets.

Thanks—Teak Isle

For a second straight year, Boat Outfitters, a division of Teak Isle Mfg., helped sponsor our Shootout as well. The Florida-based manufacturer specializes in CNC fabrication of plastics, wood, metal and solid surface products and creates unique storage options to make the most out of the space on board boats. Areas such as the back of chaise lounges on a pontoon are considered wasted space, but this is where Boat Outfitters shines. We saw plenty of examples of their handiwork at our test this year as they continue to dominate the marine industry.

Thanks—Fourwinds

Next, a big shout-out to Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina on Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Ind. This full-service resort and marina had plenty of rooms for our staff and those coming to our test, great lunches at its Windjammer Grill restaurant and several slips to conduct our test. The marina offers a wide selection of pontoon rentals with a gas dock, plus a ship store to pick up anything you might have forgotten.

The staff treated us like family and they couldn’t have been better hosts. Those in the area probably already know about this gem of a marina, but for those looking for your next pontoon vacation, this Indiana marina is calling.

Marina with covered docks and boats on a calm lake surrounded by forested hills.

Thanks—Fourwinds

Next, a big shout-out to Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina on Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Ind. This full-service resort and marina had plenty of rooms for our staff and those coming to our test, great lunches at its Windjammer Grill restaurant and several slips to conduct our test. The marina offers a wide selection of pontoon rentals with a gas dock, plus a ship store to pick up anything you might have forgotten.

The staff treated us like family and they couldn’t have been better hosts. Those in the area probably already know about this gem of a marina, but for those looking for your next pontoon vacation, this Indiana marina is calling.

Two boats on a body of water, with people on board a red pontoon and a black motorboat.

Person lying on a pontoon boat taking a photograph near a Yamaha motor.

Thanks—Godfrey

Taking photos and videoing during our test is a lot easier when you have a designated photo boat to shoot from and thanks to Godfrey we did. The Godfrey Sweetwater 2286 Split Bench with a co-captain seat and a back porch, powered by a Yamaha 150 four-stroke, was perfect for our needs. Our professional video crew from Nicolini Media had plenty of room to spread out while chasing down boats to capture the fun of each model at our test.

Suzuki outboard motor on a boat at sunset in a marina.

Thanks—Engines

We’d also like to thank the engine manufacturers BRP, Honda, Mercury, Suzuki and Yamaha for offering technical support, as well as the boat dealers and manufacturers who provided the amazing vessels for us to test. Without your support, our test wouldn’t be possible.

Five people smiling and waving on a pontoon boat at a marina.

Bennington’s Grey Wyland (in helm chair) gives the thumbs up before taking the VCAT crew, who were visiting from Brazil, out for a ride on the twin engine QX.

Person photographing from a pontoon boat on water.

The VCAT team from Brazil was invited to our Shootout. (From L to R) Benedito Prado Neto, PDB’s Brady Kay, Valéria De Fusco Pereira, and Marcos Ferreira sit down for lunch at the Windjammer Grill restaurant inside the Fourwinds resort.

Thanks—VCAT

As our invited guests, we welcomed the manufacturers of VCAT Pontoons that are built in Sao Paulo, Brazil. VCAT owners Benedito Prado Neto and Valéria De Fusco Pereira, their business partner Marcos Ferreira and the rest of their crew instantly made friends with the manufacturer reps and dealers at the dock. Thanks Neto, Valéria and Marcos for making the effort to come see us.

A group of people on a red and beige pontoon boat on calm water, all wearing matching T-shirts.

Thanks—Staff

Finally a quick shout-out to my hard-working crew. Despite what you might think, there really are a lot of long hours and hard work that go into test week. Each member of our testing crew worked hard to contribute to this issue and again, I can’t thank them enough.

The 2025 Shootout Boat Test crew on board the Godfrey Sweetwater photo boat included Shantelle Stewart, who is sitting in front, and then (from L to R) Brady Kay, Keith Nicolini, Lane Lindstrom, Kevin Malcom, Rebecca Blackson, Michael Frisk, Randy “Cotton” O’Malia, Terry Sohm, Malcolm “Goofy” Sohm, and Greg Larsen.