Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776460
www.BoatingIndustry.com February 2017 | Boating Industry | 41 BY CRAIG RITCHIE W hile the recreational boating industry in North America has seen more than its share of highs and lows over the years, one constant has been the continued growth of the pontoon boat category. From humble be- ginnings where they were derided as little more than crude party rafts, pontoons have evolved steadily, adding luxuri- ous refinements and performance enhancements, growing in popularity to the point where they now represent about one-third of all boat sales in North America. With their comfort, versatility and approachability, pontoons con- tinue to gain market share while bringing steady, depend- able profits to dealers and manufacturers alike. From a national perspective, the pontoon category continues to enjoy steady, sustainable growth in the high single-digit range. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, American builders sold a total of 49,829 pontoon boats during the 2016 calendar year. This figure represents a solid 9.7 percent increase over the 45,440 boats sold during the 2015 calendar year, which was itself a gain of 9.3 percent over the 41,563 pontoon boats shipped to dealers during 2014. The reasons for continued growth in pontoons are many, with the primary driver being simple demograph- ics. Aging boomers remain the single largest cohort of boat buyers, and the ability to simply step aboard onto a flat floor that's roughly the same height as the dock has far more appeal than climbing over high gunnels or walking tightrope-style over a slippery deck. Legitimate national appeal The steady growth of the pontoon segment has been more or less consistent across North America. This is unique in an industry that is widely known for having distinct re- gional variances, the result of vastly different local boating conditions influencing consumer preference. "Pontoon sales don't seem to show any sort of regional pattern," said Phil Smoker, vice president of sales for New Paris, Ind.-based Smoker Craft Inc., which manufactures a full line of pontoon boats under its Starcraft, Sylvan and SunChaser brands. "We have a fantastic dealer network that's spread right across the U.S. and Canada, and de- mand for pontoons has been consistent across the map. In the Pacific Northwest boaters were a little slower to accept pontoons, but now they seem to be catching up. Canada was also a little bit slower to adopt pontoons at first, but today it's become a very important pontoon market for us. Pontoon boats offer a lot of versatility, so that helps to give