Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776460
February 2017 | Boating Industry | 45 www.BoatingIndustry.com /// Market Trends /// to fish at once without fear of tangling lines. It's an observation not lost on Smoker Craft, which offers more than 45 fishing-specific models be- tween its various pontoon brands. "If you think about it, there isn't a more stable casting platform out there," said Smoker. "You have a lot of room to spread out, and you have all the amenities you could ask for with rod lock- ers, live wells, swivel seats and so on. A hard-core fisherman will still gravitate to a purpose-built fishing boat, but for more casual anglers, which is probably the majority of them, a pontoon brings a ton of additional benefits that make them more attractive to anglers who also need a versatile family boat." Evidence of the growing acceptance of pon- toon boats by anglers was further reinforced during the 2016 season when New York Mills, Minn.-based aluminum fishing boat builder Lund Boats announced its plans to enter the pontoon market with the 2017 season. The company's all-new LX series, targeting the mid- market, consists of five models offered on 21, 23 and 25 foot platforms, including both two-log and three-log boats suitable for both cruising and fishing, some complete with livewells, bait wells and rod lockers. Lund's announcement was followed a few weeks later by news that Flippin, Ark.-based bass boat manufacturer Ranger Boats was also enter- ing the pontoon category with the introduction of its seven-model Reata series. "In recent years fishing pontoons have evolved and provided higher-end comfort and quality. Our belief that Ranger is able to provide a product that combines the desire for a high- quality fishing boat with a pontoon platform," said Mark Zwicker, senior sales and product manager at Ranger Boats. "The pontoon market is of course much more diverse than the fishing segment, and it is only natural that we would also diversify into the luxury cruise segment as well. To that end we have developed an all- inclusive line of Cruise models to complement the fish models. Based on the enthusiasm of our dealers, and orders already received, we are confident that our product goals are being achieved." With steadily growing sales of fishing, watersports and performance models every years, the once-hum- ble party raft has clearly reached a level of wide- spread acceptance among consumers as a capable and versatile family boat. As manufacturers continue to develop new models with increasingly sophisti- cated features, performance and comfort, the out- look for the pontoon segment points to continued steady, sustainable growth. Demand for pontoons is steady across North America, Smoker Craft says. The Premier Cast-A-Way includes many features built around fishing as well.