Fall 2026

2027 Boat Show Preview Industry Sneak Peek At What's Next

10 Maintenance Myths What Really Matters—And What You Can Skip

Fall 2026



Teak Isle Mfg

Boat Outfitters

A black motorboat with an American flag rides over water at sunset, featuring a prominent engine that reads "400 V10."

This Veterans Day, we honor the
brave men and women who served.

To all our veterans—thank you for defending our freedom and inspiring our future. Today, and every day, we salute you.

Antonio Ballard • Craig Bartoszewicz • Keith Bruens • Conner Calhoon • Mark Cichoracki • Cecil Comadoll • Genesis Comadoll • Jackson Conner • Thomas Dewey • Nathan Haas • Ronnie Haas • Daymon Haight • Eddie Hoelyfield • Kyle Kerins • Sean Kershner • Russ Kuhnle • Trey Neibert • Christopher Rousseau • Phillip Russell • Michael Stager • Andre Tousignant

FALL 2026 | Volume 31, Number 10

CONTENTS

30

Wulf Aero Paddle Board

32

Anacapa Gas Grill

34

OUR 10 ROUNDUP

Features

14

CELEBRATE 250

USA-Themed Boats

16

BOAT SHOW PREVIEW

Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Next

34

OUR 10 ROUNDUP

Holiday Gift Guide

Tested

30

BOTE

WULF Aero Paddle Board

32

MAGMA

Anacapa Gas Grill

FROM THE BOW

8

CAPTAIN’S CHAIR

10

BETTER BOATER

12

NO WAKE ZONE

DEPARTMENTS

38

FROM THE SWIM DECK

39

ADVERTISER INDEX

The helm console of a Crest pontoon boat featuring a steering wheel and digital Simrad navigation displays.

COVER PHOTO BY: BRADY L. KAY

Learn More

Learn More

PONTOON & DECK BOAT STAFF

Editorial

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

Editorial Correspondents
Shannon Mitchell, Lane Lindstrom

Advertising

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

Circulation

Circulation Director Chuck Harris

Production

Lead Designer Laci Thompson

To subscribe, go to:
www.harrispublishing.com/pontoon-deck-boat

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
Treasurer Clayton Ward

Copyright, PDB magazine is published 11 times per year by Harris Publishing, Inc., sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for contents of ads and submitted materials, mail permits printed in Idaho Falls, ID.

The basic subscription price is $39.95 for 11 issues. Cover price is $5.95. Canadian and Foreign subscriptions add $20.00 per 11 issues. U.S. funds only. Limited back issues are available for $5.00 each.

Call 208-524-7000 to purchase a subscription, to correct your mailing label, or to order back issues.

corporate office

Harris Publishing, Inc.
190 1st St., Idaho Falls, ID 83401
(208) 524-7000 • Fax (208) 522-5241
www.pdbmagazine.com

Pontoon and Deckboat Subscription Advertisement

Learn More

By Brady L. Kay

Captain’s Chair

“Before you drive 200 miles to save a couple of bucks, at least give your local dealer a chance to work with you. Your boat-buying experience doesn’t end the day you buy your boat.”

The Mistake New Buyers Make

Non-boaters love to quip that the best two days of a boater’s life are the day they buy a boat and the day they sell it. Unless they mean the day the boat is traded in for the next one, I don’t get it. Outsiders can’t possibly understand what many of us already know: Boating is the perfect way to escape the weekly work grind and keep families together through a unique lifestyle found only on the water. For me, the two best days of a boater’s life are Saturday and Sunday.

I’ve been sitting at the helm as captain of Pontoon & Deck Boat magazine for more than 25 years. I feel very fortunate to have been on more boats than I can count while meeting fascinating people from all over the U.S., Canada, Japan, Brazil, and beyond. Through my travels, I often get asked two questions. First, “What’s new in the pontoon and deck boat industry?” I love this question because it allows me to elaborate a little on exciting new models, key features, or innovative designs. The good news is, in this issue of PDB, we recap some of those bigger announcements and highlight what’s new in our niche for the 2027 model year as part of our Boat Show Preview edition.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Learn More

What really matters—and what you can skip

By Shannon Mitchell

Spend enough time around a marina, boat ramp, or on an online boating forum, and you’ll hear plenty of pontoon maintenance advice. Some of it is solid. Some of it is decades old. And some of it can have you spending more time polishing than actually enjoying your boat.

The good news? Keeping a pontoon in great shape doesn’t require obsessive maintenance. A handful of smart habits will protect your investment far better than chasing every “must-do” tip that’s passed around the dock. Let’s separate fact from fiction.

READ FULL ARTICLE

NWZ typographic title in bold blue letters

NO WAKE ZONE

A white Boat Outfitters utility tray table mounted on a metal rail, featuring raised edges, an integrated cup holder, and tool storage slots.

Pontoon Rail Mount Fillet Table

Make fish cleaning easier with this removable 20-inch by 12-inch fillet table, designed to mount securely to a 1-inch pontoon rail without tools or drilling. Built from durable King Starboard, it features a self-draining work surface, built-in tool holders for your knife, lures, beverage, and towel, and a comfortable working height to make cleaning your catch or preparing bait much easier. Easy to move or remove, it’s a handy addition for any fishing day on the water. (www.boatoutfitters.com)

READ FULL ARTICLE

Learn More

Manufacturers show their support with America-themed models

Avalon

In early March, Avalon started making plans to take its Excalibur 27-foot LTD with twin 500 horsepower Mercury Racing engines and wrap it in stars and stripes, red, white, and blue. The goal was to create something worthy of America’s birthday, and of the Statue of Liberty herself. The finished celebration-worthy model took a run up the Hudson River in New York back in July that include a visit to the Statue of Liberty.

Godfrey

Consumers are loving Godfrey exterior panels these days, but before you assume the detailed looks are just a decal, think again. The manufacturer now offers optional painted exteriors, and with America’s 250th being celebrated this year, they decided to kick things off with an elaborate American eagle design on one of its Monaco pontoon boats.

Avalon

In early March, Avalon started making plans to take its Excalibur 27-foot LTD with twin 500 horsepower Mercury Racing engines and wrap it in stars and stripes, red, white, and blue. The goal was to create something worthy of America’s birthday, and of the Statue of Liberty herself. The finished celebration-worthy model took a run up the Hudson River in New York back in July that include a visit to the Statue of Liberty.

Godfrey

Consumers are loving Godfrey exterior panels these days, but before you assume the detailed looks are just a decal, think again. The manufacturer now offers optional painted exteriors, and with America’s 250th being celebrated this year, they decided to kick things off with an elaborate American eagle design on one of its Monaco pontoon boats.

READ FULL ARTICLE

What’s new for model year 2027

By PDB Staff Report

It’s a bit too early to be thinking about spring boating, but it’s never too early to start making plans for the early boat shows as we look ahead to what’s new for the coming year. To help you get properly ready for the January boat shows, we’re taking a look at some of the new models and major changes coming for the 2027 model year. You can think of it as a preview of the boat shows or as a sneak peek at what’s new in our part of the boating industry.

What’s new for model year 2027

By PDB Staff Report

It’s a bit too early to be thinking about spring boating, but it’s never too early to start making plans for the early boat shows as we look ahead to what’s new for the coming year. To help you get properly ready for the January boat shows, we’re taking a look at some of the new models and major changes coming for the 2027 model year. You can think of it as a preview of the boat shows or as a sneak peek at what’s new in our part of the boating industry.

Alera Marine

Building on its early success as a new manufacturer, backed by decades of experience in the pontoon industry, Alera has made significant changes to its 2027 lineup. Starting with its Model A line, which comes in at a lower price point, yet still has the solid construction as its Model M Series. Steel Blue Exterior is a new exterior color option for 2027 that brings a rich, modern blue. The floorplan has also expanded for the Model A lineup with the new 20Q, 20L, 24Q, and 24L floor plans, giving boaters even more options across multiple lengths and layouts.

A new optional windshield adds wind protection at the helm while complementing the Model A’s streamlined design. Another option, available on the Q and L floor plans, is the new convertible table that adds flexibility for dining, entertaining, and relaxing aboard.

READ FULL ARTICLE

By Roy Sparks

Person attaching a black removable fin into the slot of an inflatable paddle board.

Person holding a BOTE Wulf inflatable paddle board vertically while standing on a dock.

Person paddleboarding on calm blue water with a BOTE Wulf paddle board.

Product review breakdown card for boteboard.com showing an overall score of 95.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Black metal mounting post for a grill installed on a pontoon boat deck.

Husky hard-shell storage case sitting on the carpeted deck of a boat.

Close-up of a Magma stainless steel boat grill control valve and propane canister.

Anacapa Gas Grill

By Brady L. Kay

I would never disrespect a boat food staple, but let’s be honest, you can only eat so many cold sandwiches when out on the water. The idea of grilling on a boat isn’t new, but thanks to Magma and LilliPad Marine, it’s getting easier (and more tempting) for the captain to cook up a hot lunch.

Have you ever noticed a flat circular piece smaller than a quarter on your pontoon’s deck and wondered what it was for? As a new boat owner, you might have been stumped if you came across a LilliPad Ghost Mount. More manufacturers are including them as standard features these days, so your boat might already have one mounted. If not, it’s an easy aftermarket install.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Gift ideas boaters will love

By Rebecca Blackson

It’s the season for giving—and there’s no better way to make a boater smile than with something that makes life on the water even better. From practical must-haves to fun extras, this year’s gift guide is packed with ideas for everyone who’d rather be at the helm than anywhere else. Consider it your shortcut to putting a little more boating under the tree.

READ FULL ARTICLE

By Shannon Mitchell

From the Swim Deck

The Gateway To More Boating

Illustration of a woman wearing a life jacket and standing in a small boat

I love telling my friends about cool things I see popping up in the pontoon world—movable lounges, heated seating, light-show-worthy LED options—there’s no end to the creativity here. Every year I am surprised about the new designs and handy features that boat builders add into their already supremely comfortable boats. I mean, how could I not feel completely spoiled when a co-captain’s chair includes a heated cupholder (that lights up!) and an extendable footrest?

But is comfort getting too extreme? Should I need to “rough it” just a little bit on a boat outing? Nah. Pass me the chips, please, `cause I’m not getting up out of this awesome recliner-on-a-boat-with-headrest-and-phone-charger-built-in.

READ FULL ARTICLE

ADVERTISERINDEX