Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/467551
March 2015 | Boating Industry | 39 www.BoatingIndustry.com /// Market Trends /// "People are putting higher horsepower engines on their boats, looking in the engines for more technology that ac- tually speaks with the dash," said Barrett. Manufacturers believe increased performance will be the feature that drives young buyers to purchasing a pon- toon and creating performance-specifi c bottoms has been added to the design of many manufacturers' new products. "The pontoon industry has done everything they can to make round pontoons have more lift in the water and go faster, and there's a dynamic going on that you can only do so much to fi ght," said Poppell. "[A performance bottom] jumps on plane immediately — there is no resis- tance from that round pontoon effect trying to drag in the water. With the performance bottom, it will run faster with less horsepower." Poppell also says the performance bottoms cut and lean in the direction the pontoon is turning, much like a monohull boat. The Marker One series addresses this need for performance with its Power Wedge deck design, which is currently in the application process for a patent. Even with the largest-powered outboard on the stern of the boat, the deck maintains a fl at stance. "The weight of the engine is not pulling the transom underwater like it is on other platform-style boats," said Hunt. While many manufacturers would like to say they see young buyers pur- chasing pontoons, many still note that baby boomers are driving the seg- ment and their wants and needs are what drive new designs. However, many OEMs believe young buyers will be courted by the increased performance. Universally, customers want technology they are already familiar with — they don't want to relearn how to use electronics. "The world that they're comfortable in is very similar to their vehicle. They can run their stereo systems, their GPS, check the water and air temperature [from the dash]. All the information they need is at their fi n- gertips," said Melbostad. Growth in sales and size: The segment's future The question on everyone's minds now is whether this growth mo- mentum will continue in the segment. Manufacturers, for their part, are extremely optimistic. "The diversity of uses and the simplicity of a platform-style boat make it popular, and I believe this popularity is on the positive curve and going to continue to be on the positive curve," said Hunt. "Pontoons are more economical to buy, they're more economical to insure and they're more economical to use. It's the perfect trifecta. It's all of what a consumer really wants," said Melbostad, adding that she believes double-digit growth will continue for at least three years. OEMs expect pontoons to continue growing in size as sales continue to increase. While Premier focuses on pontoons between 8.5- to 10-feet wide and 20- to 31-feet long, Melbostad says she fi nds consumers are asking more and more for a larger craft. Parmentier says he believes pontoons will continue to grow, but at a slightly slower pace than in year's past, and pontoon size will continue to increase as well. He wouldn't be surprised to see 33- to 35-foot pontoons from manufacturers in the near future. "I don't believe [the pontoon segment] has plateaued yet," said Parmen- tier. "I think we've just touched the tip of the iceberg." Hunt expects the Marker One series to grow quickly into a full line of products of 21 feet and larger hulls. Cobalt will continue to watch the market closely to see how it changes, but Hunt believes there is room for a Marker One larger than 27 feet. Barrett notes that while he sees pontoons continuing to grow, it is neces- sary to attract more young buyers to the segment. He says the best way to do this is to address affordability in boating. "Millennials, we feel, are driven by price point. We certainly understand between college payments, getting their career in order and the debt load that they possibly have that affordability is really important for that group," said Barrett. "We have to do a better job to appeal to that generation, be- cause affordability, we feel, is a really big issue." While SmokerCraft's brands build pontoons up to 27 feet, he sees 22- to 24-foot pontoons as the strongest size. Customers get the most out of the boat while keeping the price point affordable, with ample seating and less horsepower required. "You fi nd the best value right there," said Barrett. "The customer always seeks out value." Twin motors on pontoons provide higher performance and better speed for water sports, which Premier includes on its PTX model.