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Publisher Brady L. Kay
Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
Circulation Manager Chuck Harris
Controller Clayton Ward
Founder Darryl W. Harris
President Jason Harris
Vice President Chuck Harris
Vice President Ryan Harris
Treasurer Clayton Ward
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Boats are one thing, but I’ve discovered selective blindness and unrealistic listings aren’t just limited to the pontoon and deck boat market. I’ve found listings for used tow vehicles to be just as unrealistic as those for some used boats.
Skimping on essentials may leave you unprepared for emergencies on the water, but overloading your boat can take a toll on your performance by slowing you down and hampering your fuel efficiency. (If your dealer promised you a top speed you haven’t been able to reach, extra gear on board might be the problem.) Strike the perfect balance by remembering to pack these essentials in three categories: safety, comfort, and fun.
e-mail: sales@jcpontoon.com
Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.
e-mail: sales@jcpontoon.com
Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.
Designed with an eye-catching red, white, and blue theme, the Legacy model pays homage to the American flag and the patriotism that was always so important to Jim. Only 50 numbered models of the Powertoon X-Treme will be produced to celebrate each year the company has continuously been in business since 1974. But each will have the power, speed, and handling that PlayCraft is known for. Ready for lounging on the lake or racing in the Ozark Shootout, the boat features stylish designs, overstuffed seats, RAC-R-FINS, and a triple ‘toon package. Partnering with Mercury Racing which is also celebrating 50 years this year, the Legacy Edition model has Mercury Racing outboards available in single or twin applications.
Hosted across six locations, there were an estimated 100,000 attendees and the show once again provided a platform for hundreds of debuts, spotlighting cutting-edge marine products and boats. From the pontoon perspective, Avalon, Bennington, Harris, Manitou, Montara, Sea-Doo, Starcraft, Sylvan, Ventura, Veranda and Viaggio each had at least one boat on display with some having boats in the water too. Here are the highlights from what we came across at the show.
Boating
Boating
As she approaches the row of boats, she’s greeted by friendly marina dockhands who have her boat gassed, cleaned and ready for her like they do each time she arrives. She originally considered going out on the Sea Ray deck boat, but her boat of choice today is the Bennington pontoon. Now don’t be quick to assume the Illinois dermatologist owns her own fleet of boats. While she has full access to them, she doesn’t actually own a pontoon, deck boat, center console, or even a sailboat. However, thanks to her membership in the Freedom Boat Club in Michigan City, Ind., Stephanie experiences the best parts of boat ownership without dealing with the maintenance or any of the other hassles.
In late 2021, we were one of the first to get out on the Switch series of pontoon boats when they were just being released. The Switch, Switch Sport, and Switch Cruise, ranging from 13 to 21 feet, have taken the industry by storm and the most appealing quality might just be the starting prices ($23,699, $28,999, and $33,199 respectively) that include a trailer that can be towed behind a variety of smaller-sized vehicles.
This past show season, the “it” phrase among avid anglers, at least those who fish from boats, was forward-facing sonar, or “FFS.” Since the technology was introduced in 2018, its use has become as widespread as the controversy surrounding the live-time, fish-watching capabilities that some say give anglers’ using the same an unfair advantage. That’s a discussion for another day.
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How many of us like high performance vehicles? I grew up in the muscle car era. You know: big engines, wide tires, and loud exhaust. My family had all those things. Even our ski boat was a custom built project. It started with an aluminum V hull and we added a custom interior and a big horsepower inboard outboard. The boat was set up specifically for water skiing. Somewhere we have pictures of it pulling ten skiers behind it.
Even the auto book I did for Motorbooks International was about a Honda Civic customized for improved performance. I improved the suspension, the looks and added a Nitrous Oxide kit for a little added engine performance–not that it was needed. The speed limit on the interstate was still only 70.
