Pontoons for Any Activity are Found at Godfrey Pontoons
Published: Thursday, November 11, 2021
When it comes to an enjoyable time on the water, you know that there are different boats for every activity. A leisurely day of sailing takes a totally different boat than a day dedicated to fishing or wakeboarding. Back in the days after World War II, when people started really spending time on the water purely for fun, there were a lot less options. That’s when someone had the brilliant idea to put a deck on a couple of barrels, creating a stable platform that could accommodate more people than you could fit in a traditional fishing boat. Fun for the whole family was invented with the introduction of the pontoon boat.
Godfrey Conveyor Company, which began in the early 1900’s making conveyors that moved coal and grain, introduced the first all-aluminum pontoon boat at the 1958 World's Fair in Chicago— the Sanpan—and a new segment of the industry was born. Owned by the Deputy family for three generations, Godfrey Marine went on to acquire AquaPatio from the Freeland Company of Sturgis, Michigan, who had been making galvanized steel pontoon boats for the U.S. Government. These days Sanpan and AquaPatio are still dominant forces in the pontoon world. The company was sold to private equity and now is under the ownership of Polaris Industries.
The modern pontoon has evolved quite a bit from the early days. The stable platform of a pontoon or tri-toon lends itself to a host of configurations, and high-horsepower outboards allow you to use a pontoon for almost any activity. Godfrey’s product line includes unique layouts and options designed for any boating style from lounging and cruising to fishing and towsports. They also have performance upgrade packages, canvas options, and decking features that can suit your desired activities and necessary weather protection.
Godfrey pioneered many of the systems that have become industry standards. The driving force behind their success has been a commitment to bringing together the best designers, engineers, and craftsmen to create superior products. Godfrey pontoons are customizable and able to suit various price points and budgets.
Every detail in a Godfrey pontoon is over designed. The tubes of the boats are outfitted with oversized, heavy-duty, extruded spray rails. Their concave shape channels water down, away from the interior of the boat and the passengers, to keep the ride smooth and dry. The thickness and shape of the rubrail creates a durable deck-edge finish that protects the boat from dock rash and dings. They are built with larger strakes for quicker planing to maximize efficiency and minimize drag. The railskins are fluted like corrugated boxes for added strength, impact-damage resistance, and a quiet, rattle-free ride.
For the 2021 model year, they introduced performance tube packages: the Innovative Marine Power and Control Technology (iMPACT+) system. Increasing both passenger capacity and maximum engine power, the new surfaces delivered a substantially stronger platform and more efficient ride. With its integrated system of continuous saddles, full tube length lifting strakes, and full-length under-deck skin that curves at the top of the tubes, every iMPACT+ Performance Tube Package provides increased rigidity that improves overall boat efficiency and performance. The largest gains are most notable in higher horsepower offerings, resulting in increased top speed and better fuel economy. Look for more exciting updates in model year 2022.
The leader in quality, innovation and styling, Godfrey pontoons continue to set the standard for design, construction and innovation. Visit their virtual showroom to configure the boat of your dreams or find a dealer near you.
A version of this article appeared in the Buyer's Guide (November/December) 2022 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: New Boat Models
