Aussie milestone for Misty Harbor pontoon boats

by Mark Rothfield on 19 Jul 2011 The punt to introduce an American-built aluminium pontoon boat to Australia is paying dividends, with the importers of Misty Harbor celebrating their first anniversary.

Not all ‘tinnie’ buyers are looking to go offshore. Increasingly there’s a move towards calm water boating as more residential developments spring up around Australia’s waterfront.

Aluminium pontoon boats appeal to those who rate family comfort and entertainment ahead of being the fastest across the lake.

Boasting a range of 41 models, there is a Misty Harbor model to suit every Aussie application, and official importer and distributor David Fraser has established a small but select dealership network to sell the range.

‘We thoroughly researched the pontoon boat manufacturers in the US and carefully matched our supplier to the needs of the Australian market,’ Fraser said. ‘We insisted on introducing a quality company with a proven product. Misty Harbor fits the bill perfectly.’

The Misty Harbor range commences at 4.3 metres and stretches all the way up to 7.62m (25 feet in the old money). In most cases you can fish, enjoy a barbecue or even tow the kids on a tube.

All of the Misty Harbor boats are manufactured in the US and shipped to Australia for assembly and commissioning. Seams on the aluminium pontoons are fully welded and each tube has three fully baffled chambers to ensure integrity and safety.

For added peace of mind, all tubes are pressure tested at the factory.

After a year in the Australian market, David Fraser is more than happy with the acceptance of the Misty Harbor brand and the boats themselves.

‘This is a boat which appeals to a specific and discerning market,’ he said. ‘Our initial group of 2010 customers are all very satisfied owners, enjoying their Misty Harbor pontoon boat and spreading the good word on their boating experience.’

Misty Harbor pontoon boats are available in Australia from BL Marine in Melbourne, Tweed Coast Marine at Tweed Heads and Bribie Boat Sales north of Misty Harbor Boats website