Not Slowing Down - January 2024

NOT SLOWING DOWN

WHILE PONTOONS HAVE EXPLODED IN POPULARITY, BENNINGTON PROPELS THE SEGMENT FORWARD WITH ITS NEW RANGE OF 2024 MODELS.

by Chuck Warren

As epic makeovers go, the pontoon boat has pulled off one of the greatest image upgrades in history. For a decade or more, pontoons have been evolving from their original image as a slow, utilitarian “floating front porch,” to become fast, luxurious, aquatic entertainment platforms equally suited for wakeboarding, fishing or an evening cruise complete with fine wine and cheeses.

The pontoon boat went into a phone booth wearing a suit and black framed glasses and emerged in blue tights, red boots and a flowing cape.

Today, pontoon boats account for more than 20% of all new model sales in the recreational boating market. Driven by industry innovations, technological advancements and dramatic improvements in comfort and performance, pontoon boats have become a versatile option for anyone looking for a multi-use boat that can handle almost any task.

Although many new brand names have appeared in the pontoon boat industry in recent years, a few boat builders have stayed firmly anchored at the top of the list.

Widely recognized for building versatile models with high-quality construction and innovative designs, Bennington has developed a following that brings repeat buyers, enthusiastic recommendations and overwhelmingly positive reviews.

BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION

Founded in 1997, Bennington set out to create the best luxury pontoon boats on the market. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, the company prides itself on its dedication to quality and customer satisfaction.

Once buyers have owned their first Bennington, they rarely purchase any other pontoon brand.

For the 2024 model year, Bennington has introduced new models, new features and cuttingedge technologies that make it obvious the company is committed to maintaining its position at the top of the pontoon food chain.

“We are not going to slow down,” says Michael Shedivy, Bennington’s general manager. “We continue to try and build the next generation of performance luxury pontoon boats.”

Bennington’s 2024 models are built to appeal to everyone, from first-time or entry-level buyers up to customers looking to upgrade to a more luxurious boat.

With the S series, Bennington offers a variety of lower-priced or entry-level models that make it easy for any boater to purchase a high-quality pontoon. However, lower cost does not translate to reduced quality or fewer features.

S series models, which include the SV, S and SX lines, each offer a mixture of creature comforts and customizable styling that allows buyers to build the boat that matches their own unique lifestyle and personal branding.

Models in the L series offer more luxurious materials and styling while maintaining a lower price point. The L series offers more comfort and floorplan choices along with a wider variety of customizable colors and accents.

With the R series, luxury and performance come together in single- or twin-engine packages that can easily pull wakeboards and tubes or just get out to the sandbar in a hurry. However, higher performance does not displace comfort.

At the top of the model line, Bennington’s flagship Q series offers the very best in luxury and style in a variety of highly customizable sizes, floorplans and hull configurations. Bennington’s Q models are perfectly suited for a day at the beach in swimsuits and sunglasses or an evening cruise ferrying tuxedoed passengers to the opera.

MORE THAN JUST A FACE-LIFT

For the new model year, the company has added lots of value from bow to stern. Instead of just giving a face-lift to old designs, 2024 models offer distinctive colors, new upholstery choices, convenient options and lots of new standard features that stand out from Bennington’s previous generations.

New model and floorplan choices also make it easy for boat buyers to build a pontoon that meets all of their needs. Bennington builds models designed for fishing and other specific activities such as wakeboarding and skiing, but simple seating and feature changes allow boaters to build a single pontoon boat that’s perfect for fishing in the morning, wakeboarding during the day, and a comfortable sunset cruise around the harbor in the evening.

For 2024, Bennington has also dramatically redesigned its SV and S series entry models. Features and options now include full-height panels, new lighting packages and usable choices like a locking glovebox, USB ports and a wireless phone charger.

Bennington’s 2024 SV and S series models also include a completely redesigned helm with a better focus on ergonomics and comfort. With the newly redesigned S series models, there is no trade-off between price and comfort or style.

Feature, design and material changes have increased Bennington’s luxury and style options throughout most of the 2024 product line. New upholstery options like Simtex and Soft Touch create a luxurious ride, but the most surprising new comfort feature might be dark upholstery options that stay cool in direct sunlight.

On Bennington’s higher-end models, a new option known as Permacool will allow buyers to match black upholstery with bright colors like red. Black Permacool soft touch vinyl stays comfortable to the touch on sunny days and also creates a visually striking package when matched with orange accents.

NO BARRIER TO ENTRY

Many of the standard features found on today’s pontoons have been improved. New technology can be seen throughout the industry, and Bennington has driven more than its fair share of the pontoon market’s innovation.

Although pontoon boats have traditionally been a simpler choice for less experienced boaters, new options have made even the bigger, faster pontoon boats with twin engines easier to handle.

Now available on some Bennington models, joystick controls can make docking and maneuvering in tight quarters easy, even for beginners. Offered by many bigger boat manufacturers, joystick controls use computer-driven commands to shift and turn twin outboards independently of each other.

The result is a boat that can go wherever you point the joystick — including sideways.

Also torn from the bigger boat playbook, Bennington is working hard to add bow thruster technology to tritoon boats. Driven by a fan in the center tube, nozzles angled slightly downward direct thrust below the outboard pontoons but provide enough thrust to easily move the boat side-to-side.

“It’s just to get folks comfortable around the dock,” said Bennington President Ben Duke. “It’s really just the last 50 to 100 feet of docking that we’re trying to help folks with.”

Matched with a joystick, Bennington pontoons would leave little to no “barrier to entry” for new boaters.

With so much focus on electrification, it should be no surprise that Bennington is working closely with some engine manufacturers to develop an all-electric tritoon.

Although it may not launch with the 2024 line-up, advancements in electric motor and battery design are making electric Bennington pontoons a genuine possibility for the near future.

“The next step for electrification is continuing to invest in running surface chassis and battery solutions,” says Mclean Potts, Bennington’s program manager for new product development. “We’re also looking at unique floor plans that electrification can bring to the table.”

Over the last three decades, Bennington has become one of the most trusted and respected names in the boating world, providing a wide range of models that cater to every type of boater.

With its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, it’s no surprise that Bennington continues to dominate the still-growing pontoon boat market.