30 Years of PDB

The premier issue of Pontoon & Deck Boat magazine first hit mailboxes back in 1995 as a quarterly publication and we’re proud to say it’s been growing ever since. As we kick off 2025 with our annual Buyer’s Guide edition 30 years later, I can’t help but think back to our humble beginnings as both a magazine and a publishing company.

Harris Publishing founder Darryl Harris served as PDB’s first editor and back then the thought of producing a magazine all about deck boats and those boxy, extremely non-nautical-looking and non-performance-minded pontoon boats had other employees in-house snickering around the water cooler. With successful magazine titles at Harris Publishing focused on the agricultural and snowmobiling industries, few could see the vision or the potential of PDB magazine.

A few years later I came on board and by late 2000 I was sitting behind the wheel in the captain’s seat as the editor and what a ride it has been so far. Following the start of the recession that began in 2008, it was the pontoon segment and the development of performance pontoons that helped the boating industry as a whole survive. While the luxurious and comfort features were becoming better known, it was the big push for performance that helped consumers realize how great and versatile pontoon boats really are.

Not even Mr. Harris back in 1995 could have predicted just how popular pontoon boats would become today, but seeing the passion of both the manufacturers in this industry as well as those who truly love the lifestyle that is only possible with a pontoon or a deck boat, we all probably should have seen this coming.

The drive behind our Buyer’s Guide each year is to inform potential buyers about what is currently available. This includes the family looking to upgrade to a newer model to the guy who is now just realizing he can sell his performance boat and get everything he needs in one great vessel.

The editorial team at PDB worked overtime to compile this issue which is loaded with valuable information for both potential buyers and those who are casually looking—as well as for the guy who doesn’t yet know but he’s about to see the pontoon or deck boat he’s been looking for but didn’t know it even existed.

As you flip through the different sections of this issue, create a list of manufacturers you’re most interested in and then follow these three tips. First, shop your local dealers. Find the marina or shop that is motivated to sell to you and also check those places with more inventory than they know what to do with. Second, know which amenities are must-haves versus those that are just wants. A depth/fishfinder may be a priority to an angler, but not worth the price to the buyer who will never truly need it. Third, don’t under power and don’t go too short. The most common “regret” from first time buyers is wishing they would have gone with a model two feet longer and/or had a little more horsepower.

While there is no such thing as the one perfect boat that will be great for everyone, I truly believe there is a perfect boat out there for each and every one of us. Enjoy the pursuit of finding your next pontoon or deck boat and don’t hesitate to reach out and share your success stories with us.

Brady L. Kay,
Pontoon & Deck Boat Editor