Souped-up pontoons are a popular attraction at this year's Greater Rochester Boat Show and Sale.
"Pontoons have the reputation of being slow putt-putt boats, but now they are more performance-oriented," said Joseph Paris, treasurer of the boat show association and sales manager of Sutter's Canandaigua Marina.
To increase speed, boat designers are using three pontoons instead of the typical two. The modern pontoon may also feature illuminated drink holders and LED lighting.
Such boats are among the more than 300 boats that are on display at the Riverside Convention Center. There are also sport boats, cruisers, fishing boats, deck boats, performance boats, personal watercraft, ski boats, jet boats, canoes, kayaks and outdoor accessories.
Mark Hadden of Penfield was at the show Saturday morning looking for "a little party boat" to use along the Erie
Canal. He seemed to be happy with a deal he'd found on a Harris Floteboat.
"It's pretty slick," said Hadden, who likes to start cruising the day the canal opens to boat traffic and keep going until the fall.
Marty Faeth, who sells boats for Mark's RV and Marine Dealership and showed the Floteboat to Hadden, said he found the show turnout very encouraging. He said that he expects pontoons and smaller speedboats to be popular this season.
"They're making them more family user-friendly," he said. "You have more of the comforts of home."
EBRYANT@DemocratandChronicle.com
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110206/NEWS01/102060337/1002/NEWS
