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A light gray and blue Qwest pontoon boat cruises on water with five people on board. A man drives while two passengers lounge on the stern sun pad. The boat features a black bimini top and a Honda outboard motor creating a wake.

Golf Cart Manufacturer Acquires Qwest

Whisper Carts LLC announced at the end of December its acquisition of Qwest Pontoons, marking a significant step forward for both companies as they expand their impact on the outdoor recreation industry, building on their long-term goals to become a multi-industry powerhouse.

Qwest Pontoons, known for its American-made, high-quality pontoon boats, has built a strong reputation for craftsmanship, integrity, and lifestyle-driven design. Whisper Carts CEO Dave Hatley emphasized that the acquisition reinforces both brands’ shared commitment to delivering premium products and creating American jobs.

“This acquisition will quickly advance our future goals of expanding Whisper into the outdoor recreational market even further, with more acquisitions still anticipated in other outdoor industries soon”, says Hatley.

Whisper Carts, an industry leader in modern golf cart innovation, alongside its sister company, LPI Inc., the nation’s largest hot tub and swim spa manufacturing business, continues to invest in US manufacturing. (www.pontoonboats.com)

ePropulsion Spirit 2 electric outboard motor features a white and black powerhead, a white tiller handle with a black grip, a silver shaft, and a blue three-blade propeller. The mounting bracket includes blue adjustment handles.

Electrifying New Option

Expanding its acclaimed Spirit series, ePropulsion launched Spirit 2, an electric outboard that delivers an exceptional combination of power and portability, redefining what boaters can expect from a compact electric outboard.

With high-efficiency engineering and intelligent, user-friendly design, the Spirit 2 sets a new benchmark for small electric outboards. Powered by a 2 kW motor, Spirit 2 features a lightweight yet robust design suitable for a broad range of boating applications. A newly introduced 3 kW Boost Mode delivers extra power when needed, without compromising the system’s signature efficiency and quiet operation. The motor is paired with a 1539Wh quick connect battery, the largest in its class, providing extended range and dependable performance.

Close-up view of a black smartphone secured by black mounting clips with bright green silicone grips; The RAILBLAZA AnchorPoint phone holder with green silicone grips is mounted on a blue and white kayak.

No Onboard Drops

The RAILBLAZA AnchorPoint phone holder ensures your device stays safe when you’re on the water. This adventure-ready mobile device holder is built for the harshest environments. It has a five-point vice and no-slip silicon grips, so it battens down devices through any bumps, bounces, or rattles. The system also features four-point suspension vibration dampening technology to keep devices steady and footage crystal clear through every jolt, wave or off-road detour. A 360-degree full-locking arm allows users to keep their device locked in at any angle they wish. (www.railblaza.com)

White parallel guide rails of the Docked entry system sit in calm water. A pontoon boat with two people on board approaches the bars from a distance.

Smooth, Simple Docking

Docked is a system that attaches to your dock and effortlessly guides your pontoon into place without assistance—turning any boater into a docking pro. Just aim your bow toward the Docked entry bar. The system locks you in and guides you into place. Docking becomes a smooth, one-person job every time. Step off. Tie up. Don’t worry, you’re docked.

Easy to assemble, install, or remove for storage, the Docked system is made from stringently tested, marine-grade and UV-stabilized materials. Built for freshwater lakes, it will live up to the harshest sun and weather elements year in and year out, giving it an extremely long useful life. (www.urdocked.com)

A pontoon boat with a black cover sits on a lift beneath a large, black, curved canopy with a silver aluminum frame. The boat and canopy are located at a residential waterfront dock with houses and trees in the background.

Coastal Canopy System

Waterfront Brands is redefining shoreline protection with the launch of the new Coastal Canopy System. Purpose-built for coastal environments, this high-performance canopy features precision-engineered aluminum framing and marine-grade construction to withstand salt, sun, and surf—delivering lasting reliability and refined style for any waterfront installation.

Designed for real-world performance, the Coastal Canopy System pairs corrosion-resistant materials with a streamlined, low-profile design that enhances both strength and aesthetics. Its modular framework simplifies installation and adapts easily across multiple boat lift and dock brands, while stocked and custom options give contractors and dealers the flexibility to meet diverse site requirements with confidence and efficiency. (www.waterfrontbrands.com)

Where’s The Paddle?

A paddle is hiding inside each issue of PDB and the names of the first readers to find it are printed in an upcoming magazine! As soon as you find the paddle, email its location, your name, and hometown to paddle@pdbmagazine.com. Paddle on!

Prepare Fish For The Fryer

EGO Fishing’s new BAYWATER Fillet Tool Kit is a comprehensive kit that contains all the essential tools to clean, prep, and fillet your catch with accuracy and ease. Built for both freshwater and inshore saltwater anglers, this versatile fish-cleaning kit makes it simple to process everything from walleyes, perch and panfish to redfish, seatrout and flounder. Prepare your catch for cooking, freezing, or preserving with professional-level results—no matter where you fish. The tool kit includes both a 7-inch and a 9-inch EGO fillet knife, a polypropylene cutting board, a sharpening tool, and PVC-coated fishing gloves. (www.egofishing.com)

More Chartplotter Options

Garmin has expanded its flagship chartplotter lineup with the GPSMAP 9000xsv series – superior chartplotters designed for captains and anglers that demand world-class performance. Available with a 10-, 13- or 17-inch touchscreen display, these multi-functional displays boast Garmin’s cutting-edge integrated xCHIRP traditional sonar and UHD scanning sonar to help anglers see and catch more fish. Users can get 5Ghz Wi-Fi connectivity for seamless software and map updates at ultrafast speeds, and see charts, maps and entertainment in vivid detail with up to 4K resolution. (www.garmin.com/marine)

From Deck To Dock

While deck boots are a common commodity found easily online, not all deck boots are created equally. Whitewater’s Basin Deck Boot has the design, performance, and quality of a well-made deck boot for an exponentially better experience. The 100 percent waterproof and durable boot features a slip-resistant sole channeled to shed water, a premium rubber body with a reinforced heel and toe. It also has a molded kicker that allows for easy removal: simply step on the tab with the opposing foot and the boot pops right off. Dual web loops provide easy on, and the comfortable insides have a mildew-proof, antibacterial, and moisture-wicking treatment, while the contoured polyurethane insole provides arch support and comfort normally found in a running shoe. (www.whitewaterfish.com)

Advancements Made Affordable

The vastly improved CROSSFIRE LT spinning reels and combos now feature core DAIWA technologies while maintaining attractive pricing. The $35 reel features a carbon light body which is 20 percent lighter than previous models and AIRDRIVE engineering centered on reducing weight, improving balance, and enhancing rotational efficiency across multiple reel components. The CROSSFIRE LT also boasts DAIWA’s exclusive Long Cast (LC) ABS spool and the famed TOUGH DIGIGEAR gearing system with larger, digitally designed and machine-cut gears, engineered for significantly increased strength, durability, and smooth rotation. (www.daiwa.us)

Three people wearing headsets sit at desks facing a wall of six large monitors. The screens display data dashboards and maps. The room is dimly lit by blue screen light and a red light in the corner.

Boat Fix’s New Partners

Boat Fix provides remote monitoring, GPS tracking, theft prevention/recovery and 24/7 live customer support and is now partnering with Landau Boats and Veranda Luxury Pontoons. New purchasers of Landau pontoons will receive three years of complimentary Boat Fix services, along with one year of towing via the Landau Link App. Standard on all 2026 Vertex models and optional on all other Veranda models, the Veranda Information Portal Service will provide new Veranda owners a premium experience including direct access to live technical support, maintenance tracking, real-time GPS monitoring 24/7, all through a powerful, dedicated mobile app that puts boat management in the palm of their hand. (www.boatfix.com)

The Perfect Fishing Pants

Whitewater Fishing’s Luswea Jogger has key fishing and boating features for both outdoor performance and style. Made from a soft 100 percent polyester material with four-way stretch, the jogger is treated with DWR to shed light moisture. The soft fleece lining provides warmth that’s perfect as a midlayer or under waders, but also works well as a standalone. Amply equipped with four specialty pockets, storage is easily accessed including a back thigh drop-in phone pocket. The elastic waistband stitched within the fabric prevents bunching while allowing a secure fit, and tapered legs with elastic in the heel cuff keep them from riding up under boots or bibs. (www.whitewaterfish.com)