International Boat Industry - June-July 2018

36 JUNE–JULY 2018 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com

Markets & Regions

PONTOONS | US

THEY WERE THE FIRST CATEGORY TO SHOW

SALES GROWTH COMING OUT OF THE

RECESSION, AND PONTOONS CONTINUE TO

LEAD THE WAY BY POSTING CONSISTENT GAINS

WORDS: CRAIG RITCHIE

Pontoons continue

to gain market share

W

here freshwater fishing boats represent the

largest segment of the US boat industry,

pontoon boats rank only a point or two

behind with a 20.36% share of the total US boat

market while sustaining year-over-year growth in the

high single-digit range. With new data from Statistical

Surveys Inc (SSI) showing 2017 unit volume sales

growth of almost 8%, pontoons could soon overtake

freshwater fishing boats and become the overall

market leader.

Pontoon boats were the first

category to show signs of recovery

coming out of the recession. Where

the fibreglass bowrider was once

the backbone of the boat industry,

that distinction now goes to the

humble pontoon, with one in five

new boats sold in the US now

riding on hollow aluminium tubes.

Indeed, the pontoon commands

such a substantial and growing

share of the overall market that

a number of boat manufacturers including Cobalt,

Lund, Larson, Playcraft and Ranger have leapt into the

segment by launching pontoon lines of their own.

What’s even more interesting is the pontoon’s

market share among boats powered by outboard

SWith increases

in performance

coupled with high-

end luxury and

unrivalled useability,

pontoon boats have

hit a sweet spot

with buyers both

old and young. This

is Premier Boats’

Boundary Waters

model

engines. For 2017, the National Marine Manufacturers

Association (NMMA) notes that pontoons represented

nearly one-third – or 31.8% – of all outboard-powered

boats sold in the US, a figure that has been relatively

consistent over the past five years.

RESONATING WITH TODAY’S BUYERS

Pontoon boats offer unique advantages that resonate

with today’s buyers, starting with plenty of seating – a

key factor as the market continues

to shift toward day boating and

away from cruising. Pontoons

also offer flat floors and dock-level

boarding gates for easy entry/

egress, eliminating the need to

climb over slippery gunnels or

negotiate narrow steps. Amenities

like change rooms, galleys, bar-

like seating, mood lighting and

high-end stereos have given the

pontoon a level of luxury and

sophistication to rival that of small

cruisers, while performance packages provide plenty

of driving thrills and the ability to pull wakeboarders

and skiers with ease. These features give pontoon boats

a level of practicality that resonates with consumers,

especially younger buyers. “We’ve had a good following

We’ve had a good

following with the

millennial group, mostly

because the pontoon boat

seems to be a no-nonsense

purchase