New pontoon ideas

[Liquid Asset]

Ok so I have been working on a few new ideas for a pontoon for just over a year now. The type of ideas I have are what could be seen on most boats such as the stern entry we all are used to and the performance items commonly seen today. My ideas would fit across many brands easily will a little work. Without getting into details I will just say that I cannot believe that a pontoon with a price tag of 50k plus does not have a head. You have to open up a cloth fold up type device with a bucket in it and that's the upgraded option. Also for the same price as many high end toons you can get a nice cuddy boat or pocket cruiser that you can sleep on. I know you can sleep on a toon but but it requires Bimini tops a lot of canvas, an air mattress, etc,etc all a p.i.t.a. If you ask me. Ok so now that I have given a clue to my ideas of a real head and sleeping quarters with out a tracker party cruiser type boat how do I approach a manufacture ? I have been asking a lot of questions across all brands at boat shows over the last year. Just yesterday at the Detroit show I had a hard time finding any reps but did hear that most ideas come from the dealers and what the customers want. I talked to my brothers salesman (not a pontoon guy ) and with my vague description he said I need to sell my ideas. He said he works with rinker all the time on designs. My boat layout will still tow easily and have a bridge clearance very close to a standard boat. Adding to the beam for large lakes and resivours would make it that much better. I know the pontoon market it the fastest growing part of the industry and I think with my ideas it would be easy to take sales from other segments. So I guess my 2 main questions are
1. Can you approach a manufacture with ideas ?
2. How would one go about it?

I have researched design patents and for what that cost I could build a couple of these and I don't have that coin laying around anyways ! If anyone has any experience with this (doesn't have to be with boats) I would love to hear how and if I go about passing along ideas !

Thanks,shaun

[Cycleman07]

Since you technically you can patent an idea, my thoughts are a good 3D modeling program (solid works, etc.) would be your best bet. Once you have a good 3D model and cost analysis you should be able to get with R&D of any of the major manufacturers with a simple phone call.

[Cycleman07]

Be careful though as a patent is really the best way to protect your intellectual property and even they are not air tight. Good luck with everything and I cant wait to hear what comes of this.

[Bamaman]

Most manufacturers have their own in house think tanks that consider ways to differentiate their boats from the rest of a generic pontoon boat industry.

But they have a breakeven cost point to consider, and if proposals will payoff in retail market sales. Will their new options sell well at a price?

For example, why don't they sell many full canvas enclosures @ $4,000? PortaPotty's are available for pontoons, but people don't like having to clean them out after getting off the lake. And they sell relatively few of either.

I am more interested in having great seating plans, etc. than a bunch of expensive add on's I'll never use. We try to keep our boating life as simple as our off the lake life.

[Liquid Asset]

Thanks for the input guys I understand the patent thing and would love to do it but it just cost way to much. I could submit it on my own and atleast get the process started so I could claim patent pending maybe? I planned to trademarking my name ideas well atleast a few words but that gets expensive as well. The rep from nautical global group said they don't patent unless it looks like it's taking off then they rush into it. My ideas would not cost much to work into a line up . I wish I could just post them here but then again I might as well send them to all the o.e.m's. At that point l.o.l. I know guys that have had a patent on a product only to have it copied after 6 figures spent to protect it. They said they would never do it again,rather flood the market trademark every close name and go with it. For me I'm not looking to get into building boats ,sounds fun but impossible. I would trade my ides for a new boat but I have been told that I would be screwing myself even with that. The more I look into trying to get ideas to a mfg. I realize your totally on your own and I might as well be dealing with a company in china!

[pond tuuunes]

I am pretty sure you can call Playcraft, and they will build what you want. But my guess is its gonna cost alot. I do know that you can call Playcraft, and speak directly with the owner. I have and he is a very nice person. I would think you could explain your ideas to him and he would tell you yes or no, and why. JT

[ToonGuy]

^^^ This. Not to rain on your parade, but all OEMs employ a team of people they call R&D or some other fancy name, and that's their job. To analyze the market trends, and build the most rounded boat for the public. That doesn't mean it's EXACTLY what every one wants, to do that would not be cost effective. I'm sure you have great ideas, the problem is can you convince an OEM that the costs incurred will reap them more sales, because it will incur them more costs to build it. OEMs will switch a vendor or part to save 2-3 points, it all comes down to margins with publicly owned companies. Perhaps your best bet would be to approach smaller companies that don't have so many board members to report to.

[Liberty MO]

My guess, and its just a guess, is that you can have just about anything put on a boat within the confines of the law, and as long as your checkbook can afford it.

[Liquid Asset]

Thanks again for the responses guys. I understand that the o.e.m's have their own idea people but it just kills me that they can throw out boats in the 50k-100k range that are just fancy seats and other creature comforts rather than functional items. I guess I am just looking at what you get on most fiberglass boats for that price. Even day boats offer one of my ideas. I look at the nice toons at the boat show and my brother just laughs and says you can get so much more In a glass boat. If premier can sell their grandview with twins then my options are like ordering a ski tow bar. Actually I could turn a grandview into a sweet boat , then you could do the great loop in comfort on a pontoon l.ol. Thanks again,Shaun

[r&s20]

don't know if you've thought about a "poor man's patient" or not. it's not bullet proof.but better than nothing.before submitting to any manufacturer be as detailed as possible on your ideas.including drawings, measurements whatever you can think of.place all of this in envelope and mail to yourself.upon receiving in mail place in safe place without opening.the postmark is the proof of the date. it's very important not to open.i used this from the advice of a attorney, it worked for me.

[Liquid Asset]

don't know if you've thought about a "poor man's patient" or not. it's not bullet proof.but better than nothing.before submitting to any manufacturer be as detailed as possible on your ideas.including drawings, measurements whatever you can think of.place all of this in envelope and mail to yourself.upon receiving in mail place in safe place without opening.the postmark is the proof of the date. it's very important not to open.i used this from the advice of a attorney, it worked for me.

Yup ,along with pictures of me talking to reps dated on a phone !

[BoatCop]

don't know if you've thought about a "poor man's patient" or not. it's not bullet proof.but better than nothing.before submitting to any manufacturer be as detailed as possible on your ideas.including drawings, measurements whatever you can think of.place all of this in envelope and mail to yourself.upon receiving in mail place in safe place without opening.the postmark is the proof of the date. it's very important not to open.i used this from the advice of a attorney, it worked for me.

You can also have the "idea" recorded at your County Recorder's Office. They will record anything, and that recording is a legal record of whatever it is you're recording, including date and time stamp on all pages. It may cost a couple of bucks, but it provides a better legal basis than just a postmarked letter.