Compiled by Paul South
and Graham Hadley
Submitted Photos
For many lake lovers, whether on Logan Martin, Neely Henry, or anywhere along the beautiful Coosa River, December’s visions of sugarplums melt away in January, replaced by dreams of new boats – crafts that will be a surefire cure for the summertime blues.
Think pontoons or tritoons, ski boats, surf boats or kayaks. The first frost of the season draws more than a few folks into showrooms to check out the newest offerings. Consumer confidence is on the rise.
“We sold four boats yesterday,” Rambo Marine General Sales Manager Grant Stinson said in a phone interview shortly after Thanksgiving.
Optimism, it seems, like lake levels in summer, is high at boat dealerships up and down the river and its popular lakes and streams.
The Sunchaser Calais 23
Available at University Marine at Pine Harbor, the new boats will feature the Honda 350 eight cylinder engine.
The pontoons are a celebration of quality and comfort. The Calais, according to the company, is “the crown jewel” of the Sunchaser fleet.
Featuring a lavish interior that includes four wrap-around couches a power bimini top, as well as theX-Treme PR25 Third Tube performance package that ensures smooth navigation even at breathtaking speeds, the Calais can seat up to 12 passengers.
The Calais also includes platform lighting, an executive console with cooler storage anda WetSounds MC 2 music system that is Bluetooth/USB/satellite-radio ready. Colors include a white panel with black or blue stripe, or a Carbon panel with black stripe.
The Sunchaser Lucerne
Billed as a pontoon that delivers style, functionality and exceptional value, the Lucerne is sleek and durable and comes in eight exterior colors. The entry-level Lucerne has a 50-horsepower motor.
Options include a luxury package that offers a power bimini top, Helix 5 in-dash GPS, high-back helm chairs, interior mood lighting and other features.
Sunchaser offers a variety of pontoon choices for first time buyers on a budget, or boaters who are looking for a luxury experience. That’s what makes these boats special, said University Marine manager Ricky Ganey.
Visit University Marine at www.pineharbormarina.com
Starcraft RX Series
Rodney Humphries, owner of Rodney’s Marine in Pell City, is a veteran of the boat business, working at marine businesses since he was 13. And he’s just as excited today as he was then.
Listen to him talk about the new Starcraft RX Series tritoon boat, a craft that combines plush features, elegance, durability and high performance.
“It’s a new styling. It’s got fiberglasss railing. The design of it is different from their traditional pontoon.”
Depending on options, the boat sells for $80,000 to $120,000 – and the Starcraft traditionally offers seemingly limitless options.
Visit Rodney’s Marine at rodneysmarine.com
Savannah Center Console
Center-console fishing boats continue to grow in popularity. The Savannah line for sale from Rodney’s is no exception. And Savannah keeps stepping up the game for 2025.
Dive into the world of hybrid-bay boats with Savannah Boat Works’ Hybrid Inshore Series. Designed for fishing and family outings, these boats offer the perfect balance of agility and performance. With luxurious features, efficient layout, and unmatched versatility, Savannah boats ensure a comfortable and exhilarating experience on the water, whether you’re chasing fish or enjoying leisure time with your loved ones.
Your Hybrid Inshore model is ready for a quiet early morning fishing followed by rallying the family for an afternoon anchored off a lake island. At 2500 pounds, they’re easy to tow over the road, will pull a tube or a skier, and float in just over a foot of water.
Nucanoe Kayaks
Allen Norris and his wife, Jessica, moved their kayak shop from Shelby County to Cropwell in 2024, recognizing that kayaking is increasingly popular on the Coosa, which is part of the Alabama 650 paddleboat racecourse.
The Nucanoe Unlimited Kayak is a hot property for 2025. At more than 12 feet long, this boat is, as the name suggests, a new design in kayaking. A sturdy craft, it can hold up to 650 pounds and up to three people and offers a great experience for hunters, anglers and kayakers.
The craft sits high on the water and has 360-degree seating. Sold in a variety of colors and crafted in one-piece durable plastic – no seams or weak areas here. A second 360-degree seat can be added, as well as a bench seat, perfect for pets.
A second kayak, the Nucanoe Flint, is also worth a look in 2025. Like the Unlimited, it’s fully customizable, but is better suited to creeks than big water, Norris said.
Visit The Yak Shak at 2705 Martin Street South or online at theyakshak.com.
Avalon Quad Lounger Shift
At Poor House Branch Marina, the buzz words are Avalon and Tahoe — for Avalon & Tahoe Manufacturing, makers of the 2025 Quad Lounger Shift. The Quad Lounger gives boaters a “retro feel” and boasts “luxurious design and a spacious sundeck,” according to the company website.
The boat includes a push-button switchback seating system, a tapered front deck and an expanded rear deck. It offers a 10-year bow to stern warranty and a lifetime structural warranty.
Tritoons like the Quad Lounger offer a smoother ride, according to Poor House owner Dina Chappell.
Avalon Catalina VRL
A second hot boat that was especially big in 2024 was the Catalina VRL for Versatile Rear Lounger, a “bed boat.” The Versatile Rear Lounger features both a port and starboard bow bench. The aft features a seating area that converts into an oversized lounge area perfect for the sun worshippers of the family. Also, the seat can move back and forth so the occupants can face either the bow of the boat or aft.
Poor House Branch also offers a variety of accessories – lifejackets, floats, mats, noodles and more are available.
“We have a shop that has everything you need for a fun day on the water,” Chappell said.
Bennington M Series
The boat that has folks stoked at Woods Surfside is Bennington’s new M Series. The company trumpets it as “a modern expression of style” in the pontoon boat fleet. The series comes in three lengths, 22, 24 and 26 feet and in a variety of colors.
The boat cuts an elegant figure on the water, and includes a newly designed digital display system, Rockford Fosgate Audio and state of the art vessel control.
A sleek, new interior and exterior design, makes the boat “look fast standing still,” said Surfside’s Mark Hildebrant.
Check out Woods Surfside Marina, one of Bennington’s top dealers in the U.S., at www.woodssurfside.com or visit at 37 Marina Drive in Cropwell.
MasterCraft X Series
At Skier’s Marine in Westover, Jeremy Talbot is fired up about the MasterCraft X Series surf boat. Redesigned for 2025, the boat has more ballast capability, a newly-designed sound system, a mix of comfort and performance for all watersports. “it’s a really awesome boat,” he said.
MasterCraft has also revealed new colors for 2025, including the elegant magnetic blue that makes a statement on the water.
“This boat will check all the boxes, handle all the watersports and provide all the comfort that the family needs,” he said.
Harris Pontoons
Skiers is now the area dealer for Harris Pontoons. At January’s Birmingham Boat Show, the dealership will feature Harris’ two top-of-the-line boats, the Crowne and The Grand Mariner. In all, Skiers Marine will feature 32 boats at the show.
Skiers features a pro shop in the dealership with everything from towables, surfboards, innertubes, wakeboards, skis and lifejackets.
Visit Skiers at10171 Highway 280, Westover, AL 35147 or at skiersmarine.com
Barletta Luso
Designed with you and your on-water experience in mind, the Barletta Lusso models offer something for everyone. A classic and stylish rail-set, ultra-soft and ultra-comfortable furniture, a sleek helm loaded with technology and leg-room, pet-friendly amenities…the list goes on and on. Take a look and see why the Barletta L-Class pontoon boat just might be the perfect choice for you and your family.
Barletta Boats redefines luxury pontooning with its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design. Born from a passion for boating, Barletta prides itself on creating pontoons that blend style, comfort, and performance seamlessly. Each Barletta boat is meticulously crafted with premium materials and cutting-edge technology, ensuring durability and reliability on the water. From spacious lounging areas to state-of-the-art entertainment systems, every detail is thoughtfully curated to enhance the boating experience.
Check out the Barletta line at Rambo Marine on U.S. 280 or visit online www.rambomarine.com.
Yamaha FSH
Yamaha is leaning hard into the center-console boat lines, specializing in their FSH jet boat series, which you can find at Rambo Marine.
Yamaha’s Center Console series epitomizes the flexibility of Jet Boats, whether you’re fishing at dawn, enjoying tubing with the kids in the afternoon, or cruising to your favorite on-water dining spot at sunset. Available in 19-foot, 22-foot, and 25-foot configurations with single or dual engines.
Yamaha’s Helm Master EX and joystick control deliver seamless, precise low-speed maneuvering. With Helm Master EX, drivers can effortlessly command boat movements—forward, reverse, lateral shifts and rotations — all controlled with just one hand on the joystick.
