Get Hooked! - 10 Fishing Specific Models to Consider
Pontoon and Deck Boat logo
Completing Their Fleet: Several Boats Later, Arizona Couple Finds Their Favorite
Seeing is Believing: Berkley Launches Three Forward-Facing Sonar Baits
What's On Board: How to Avoid Early Season Oversights
Statistical Backing: Pontoons Still Trending Up
April 2024
April 2024 | Volume 29, Number 4
CONTENTS
Features
18
COMPLETING THEIR FLEET
Several boats later, Arizona couple finds their favorite
22
SEEING IS BELIEVING
Berkley Launches Three Forward-Facing Sonar Baits
28
OUR 10 ROUNDUP
Top Fishing Models
34
FAST FORWARD
Paradigm Pairs Up With Volvo’s New Forward Drive
PDB TESTED
36
EPROPULSION
X40 Electric Outboard Released
38
MANITOU EXPLORE 24 NAVIGATOR
Modern-Looking Design Is Still Turning Heads
40
WHITEWATER
Torque Heated Vest
41
TOADFISH
Rod & Reel Spinning Combo
FROM THE BOW
DEPARTMENTS
man driving a boat
COVER PHOTO BY: Brady L. Kay
Pontoon and Deck Boat Logo
PONTOON & DECK BOAT STAFF
Editorial

Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
Assistant Editor Rebecca Blackson
Editorial Staff Nicole Richens, Roy Sparks

Editorial Correspondents
Dan Armitage, Sky Smith

Advertising

Advertising Executives
Greg Larsen, glarsen@pdbmagazine.com
Kevin Malcom, kevin@pdbmagazine.com
Taylor Bowen, taylor@pdbmagazine.com

Circulation

Circulation Director Chuck Harris

Production

Lead Designer Lavon Horne

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HARRIS PUBLISHING GROUP ADMINISTRATION

Publisher Brady L. Kay
Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
Circulation Manager Chuck Harris
Controller Clayton Ward

HARRIS PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION

Founder Darryl W. Harris
President Jason Harris
Vice President Chuck Harris
Vice President Ryan Harris
Treasurer Clayton Ward

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By Brady L. Kay
Captain’s Chair
“It was a little eye-opening that center console boats and bass boats combined still came in significantly behind pontoons. This really emphasizes how popular pontoon boats have become.”
Brady Kay in blue Pontoon t-shirt
By The (NMMA’s) Numbers
Each spring the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) releases its U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, the most comprehensive industry data for recreational boating. The data presented in the report spans 2008-2022, compiled to help NMMA members and industry stakeholders better understand the industry trends and shifts in market behavior. For me, I just like looking for stats that reassure me the popularity of the pontoon segment in the boating industry is trending up and remaining strong.

The report is a summary of statistics on the recreational boating industry in the United States and presents detailed data for boat registrations, boat engine and accessory sales, expenditures, and the retail and pre-owned markets. It also features an in-depth look at the import/export marketplace focusing on product categories, trade partners, and regional analysis.

BB: Better Boater
The Art of Angling
New book helps children catch the skills of fishing
By Rebecca Blackson
The Art of Angling
New book helps children catch the skills of fishing
By Rebecca Blackson
I feel like one of the best things I can give my kids is time outside, especially since they spend way too much time inside on video games. It’s even better when we go on a fun outdoor adventure such as fishing. Little beats a sunny afternoon spent casting our lines for brook trout, especially if I remember to pack cookies and sodas for bribery–I mean energy.

A big-time believer in helping children connect with nature by teaching them how to fish is Dan Armitage, a long-time presenter of the Kids’ Fishing Fun program at boat shows across the country. Having spent his lifetime fishing, Dan also taught his son how to fish and recently wrote a beautifully accessible how-to book for kids titled Let’s Learn to Fish!

NWZ typographic title in bold blue letters
NO WAKE ZONE
Joystick Steering For Single-Engines
Joystick Steering For Single-Engines
Mercury Marine’s new Joystick Steering for Single-Engine Vessels is compatible for use with the Verado family of V8, V10 and V12 outboard engines from 250 to 600hp. Enhanced by electric steering, the latest offering rounds out Mercury’s suite of joystick systems, delivering effortless command and control to owners of vessels powered by sterndrives, inboards, Zeus pod drives, multi-outboard installations, multi-outboards with an integrated bow thruster, single-engine pontoons with deployable thrusters, and now, boats with only a single outboard engine for propulsion.

Joystick Steering for Single-Engine Vessels eliminates the need for boaters to use both hands to throttle, shift and steer during low-speed maneuvers such as docking. Not only is one-handed operation more convenient, but the precision control that the steering system provides will give users greater confidence in situations where maneuvering a single outboard can be more challenging than a multi-engine configuration. (www.mercurymarine.com)

JC TriToon Marine logo
Forty-five years in the making, today’s JC TriToon soars over the water as one of unequalled technology and comfort in the world of pontoons. Let JC TriToon introduce you to extraordinary boating!
Suzuki boat engine attached to a boat on the water
Find your local dealer* today
*Not for sale in California.
Suzuki Marine & JL Audio link
JC Manufacturing, Inc. | North Webster, IN 46555
e-mail: sales@jcpontoon.com
Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.
Forty-five years in the making, today’s JC TriToon soars over the water as one of unequalled technology and comfort in the world of pontoons. Let JC TriToon introduce you to extraordinary boating!
Suzuki boat engine attached to a boat on the water
Forty-five years in the making, today’s JC TriToon soars over the water as one of unequalled technology and comfort in the world of pontoons. Let JC TriToon introduce you to extraordinary boating!
Suzuki boat engine attached to a boat on the water
Find your local dealer* today
*Not for sale in California.
Suzuki Marine & JL Audio link
JC Manufacturing, Inc. | North Webster, IN 46555
e-mail: sales@jcpontoon.com
Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.
Completing Their
Fleet
Several boats later, Arizona couple finds their favorite
By Rebecca Blackson – Photos by Brady L. Kay
Completing Their
Fleet
Several boats later, Arizona couple finds their favorite
By Rebecca Blackson – Photos by Brady L. Kay
In the middle of the hot, arid, and cactus-covered desert of Arizona, there exists a boater’s paradise with warm, clear lakes and river waterways stretching for 60 continuous miles. Situated amid this splendid year-around boating oasis is Lake Havasu, where pontoon owners Brian and Sherry Friedrichsen have retired to spend sunlit afternoons cruising past palm trees, the famously relocated London Bridge, and a community of other boaters.

Over the last several decades, Brian and Sherry have owned a myriad of different boats—an entire fleet if they’d kept them all. Recalling Campbell boats, fishing boats, a Biesemeyer flatbottom, a Howard speed boat that could go 100 mph, and a Southwind deck boat, Brian admits, “We’ve owned a lot of boats.”

fish that has been caught
Seeing is Believing title
Berkley launches three forward-facing sonar baits
BY BRADY L. KAY
Whether you’re in the Bassmaster Classic competing for thousands of dollars or just a dad hoping his young child can snag his first fish, there can be a little bit of pressure when it comes to fishing. Berkley has taken to science to evolve the sport to make angling that much better.

Forward-facing sonar (FFS), otherwise known as live sonar, has become a hot topic and is an incredible tool to allow anglers of all abilities to evolve as fisheries change. It enables anglers to understand more about fish behavior than ever before by providing them with the ability to see how fish react to their baits in real time.

Live sonar from brands such as Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, Raymarine and Simrad provides a dramatically different view than that offered by a fish finder or scanning sonar. With forward-facing sonar, the view is dynamic. You can see gamefish, bait and lures moving in real time and in resolution that rivals that of ultrasound imaging.

Our 10 Roundup department heading
Fishing Models
By Rebecca Blackson
While it’s true that pontoons and deck boats are widely known for their versatile use in everything from water sports to entertaining to fishing, not every boat is specifically designed with fishing in mind. We’ve brought you the latest and greatest in fishing models that were intentionally crafted to take your fishing game to a new level. For all you dyed-in-the-wool fishing fans, this one’s for you.
Angler Qwest 818 XRE Cruise L
Specifications Table
Angler Qwest 818 XRE Cruise L
Ready for a full day of activities all from the same boat, the Qwest XRE has a multi-functional layout perfect for early morning fishing, midday water sports, and an evening sunset cruise.

Extend comfort to all of your passengers with forward and mid-ship lounges and a padded chaise seat at the front of the helm. The XRE Fish has four pedestal fishing seats, one in each corner; all are removable so anglers have the option to open up the deck for fishing from the stern and the bow, or both.

Fast Forward title
Create the perfect wake on the Damascus 296 Surf with Volvo Penta’s new Forward Drive
By Rebecca Blackson
Fast Forward title
Create the perfect wake on the Damascus 296 Surf with Volvo Penta’s new Forward Drive
By Rebecca Blackson
In a complete shift from rear propulsion, Volvo Penta and Paradigm Boats have re-imagined a way to create the perfect waves, smooth cruising, and improved safety by relocating the sterndrive’s props to the front of the drive rather than the rear. With two forward-facing, counter-rotating props, the new Duoprop pulls you through the water instead of pushing you, eliminating propeller exposure at the rear and providing maximum boating control. Supplying faster acceleration and unequaled thrust, the Damascus 296 Surf is ideal not only for wakeboarding and water sports, but also for tranquil cruising.

For the perfect wake and wave specific to each individual rider, the Watersports Control system allows you to customize separate settings and speed preferences for 21 specific profiles, as well as personalize the boat’s speed and trim to create the optimal wake. With an adjustable angle of thrust, you can draw the stern lower into the water and fine-tune your surfing wake on the fly. Switch to Tow Mode to automatically accelerate your pre-set engine speed and adjust for your tow load. The intuitive engine system will quickly compensate when your skier turns sharply, and keep your engine at the set rpm.

374
ePROPULSION
X40 electric outboard released
By Brady L. Kay
ePROPULSION
X40 electric outboard released
By Brady L. Kay
A few months back I was lured to a Florida home with other members of the marine media where we were promised a glimpse of the future of boating. What we discovered was a zero-emission outboard that truly is ideal for the pontoon industry and well worth our time. The X40 electric outboard from ePropulsion is the equivalent of a 60hp outboard, but weighs 20 percent less than its gas-powered equivalent. Inside the home we were met by ePropulsion CEO Danny Tao, President Tom Watson and other members of the team.

Before getting out on the water, Tao first explained he originally co-founded the company in Hong Kong after he realized there weren’t any electric boats in his area.

375
Manitou Explore
24 Navigator
Modern-looking design is still turning heads
By Roy Sparks
Manitou Explore 24 Navigator
Modern-looking design is still turning heads
By Roy Sparks
When first released for model year 2023, the sleek, modern, and revolutionary Explore from Manitou caught a few showgoers by surprise at the early boat shows. Pontoon enthusiasts weren’t expecting such a dramatic evolution from traditional-looking pontoons that typically have exterior rails with thin sheets of aluminum behind them. Instead attendees discovered a beautiful exterior with automotive-inspired styling and contoured aluminum panels, an exclusive to Manitou. Taking fit-and-finish to a whole new level, the exterior was designed to stand out on the water, but was drawing people in at the boat shows as well.

Even the Sport Bimini (that is rated for up to 55 mph so you can keep it open while underway) incorporates a unique style line that matches up perfectly with the color stripe on the exterior wall for a continuous look. Every Explore model comes standard with a gas-assisted, easy-to-use Sport Bimini that offers 12 feet of coverage.

376
Whitewater
Torque Heated Vest
By Brady L. Kay
plugging a USB cord into a device
putting a phone in a jacket pocket
pointing to the logo on a jacket
There are times when our product testing doesn’t quite line up with the seasons. For example, last year on a 90-degree day in Arizona I tested a boating jacket. We took photos quickly while trying not to look sweaty. However, that was not the case with the Torque Heated Vest from Whitewater.

On the day I went out to take my photos it was actually 50 degrees with overcast skies. I slipped the heated vest on, started pushing buttons and the next thing I knew I was pleasantly warm. There is a lighted push button to indicate the settings, but otherwise it just looks like a comfortable vest. It really is the perfect layering tool for spring and late fall boating.

377
ToadFish
Rod & Reel Spinning Combo
By Roy Sparks
close up of fishing rod
person fishing wearing a long white sleeve shirt
ToadFish
Rod & Reel Spinning Combo
By Roy Sparks
The definition of a combination is something created by joining or mixing two or more people or things together. In this case, the Rod & Reel Spinning Combo from ToadFish come together to create the ultimate fishing setup.

We recently tested the 2000 Carbon Sealed System reel that is paired with the 6-foot, 8-inch medium light rod and instantly loved the ergonomic handle design with soft-touch rubber inlays. ToadFish is patenting its comfort control grips so really that’s all you need to know about how unique it is.

Tackle Box logo with fishing lure
Gotcha’ Covered
Avoiding Early Season Oversights
By Dan Armitage
Those first frigid fishing trips of the season are when you are most likely to forget something critical, so make it a point to note the essential basics you need and place them aboard before heading out.
Gotcha’ Covered
Avoiding Early Season Oversights
By Dan Armitage
Across much of North America’s most popular pontoon and deck boat cruising grounds, April kicks off the boating season. What’s more, if they like to fish, boaters find the year’s fourth month can be an excellent one for hooking up with a variety of species in fresh and salt water. As waters warm and fish seek shallows for comfort, food and seasonal spawning fun, they come into range of those of us who fish from boat and shore.

Considering that this is a boating publication, we’ll concentrate on the former with regard to the tools you want to consider having aboard as you seek your finned quarry, basic angling accessories that may have been forgotten, broken, overlooked or otherwise fallen out of mind or by the wayside during the off season.

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By Sky Smith
STAYING IN ‘TOON
Boating Tips and Observations with Sky Smith
Animals Gone Wild
Sky Smith Headshot
I like animals. Over the years we’ve had horses, chickens, geese and more and we’ve always had dogs (and cats) until the last few years. Now all we have are Maine Coon, 20-pound cats—as close to a bobcat as I could find. They are great house cats and they never get out unless it’s in a totally fenced “Catio” area. I have also found that we don’t have any mice in the house. Wait, that is not quite true: we do get the occasional small snake or mouse, but the cats make sure to catch them and bring them to us for removal as soon as they are located. And the cats are fully house trained.

Like your house, when you store a vehicle (boats, cars or even aircraft) you run the risk of pest infestation. I once bought a Cessna aircraft that was stored in a hangar for a number of years. The engine intake system was a mouse apartment complex. Then there was the aircraft I was asked to try and sell, which was a mouse habitat. The owner had poured a full bottle of High Karate aftershave (guess that dates me) throughout the interior in an attempt to mask the smell. You couldn’t even get in the plane.

Pontoon and Deck Boat
Thanks for reading our April 2024 issue!