April 28, 2026

Bennington, North America’s leading manufacturer of luxury pontoon boats, has announced the launch of its Pontoon Dock Assist — a proprietary-engineered docking technology purpose engineered to solve one of the biggest challenges for pontoon owners: having the necessary precise control and maneuverability for pontoons at low speeds.
 
For many pontoon owners, docking is the most stressful moment on the water—often determining whether they boat with confidence or hesitation. Traditional pontoon steering relies on a single propeller system, which limits lateral movement and makes docking in tight spaces or shallow water difficult at low speeds, especially in windy conditions. Available on select models of Bennington pontoons, Pontoon Dock Assist fundamentally changes that experience. This industry-defining innovation makes pontoon ownership and the boating experience even more enjoyable. 
 
“Dock Assist gives captains unmatched confidence, even in challenging conditions,” said Ben Duke, President, Polaris Marine. “By integrating thruster technology directly into the pontoon’s hull, we are giving captains a tool that dramatically improves handling, so they can focus on enjoying their time on the water rather than battling the dock. This technology reflects our commitment to simplifying the boating experience and advancing intuitive, smart solutions that benefit boaters across our entire pontoon portfolio.”
 
Pontoon Dock Assist, which was submitted for an NMMA Innovation Award at the 2026 Minneapolis Boat Show, features an advanced hull‑integrated propeller design with bow and stern thrusters that delivers 360‑degrees of predictable control at low speeds. Controlled by an intuitive joystick, two motors mounted in the center pontoon operate side-facing ports for lateral movement and a center port for forward and reverse motion. This allows pontoons to rotate, slide sideways and navigate with precision.
 
Unlike adapted or bolt‑on solutions from other segments of the marine industry, the Pontoon Dock Assist is engineered directly into the pontoon’s hull to provide more precise movement exactly when and where captains need it most.
 
Pontoon Dock Assist is designed as a scalable technology platform, launching initially on select 25-, 27-, and 29-inch center and elliptical pontoon configurations, with future adaptability across additional marine applications. Pontoon Dock Assist comes standard with a bow thruster, with an option to add the stern thruster for full 360-degree control. Currently, this feature is available on select models in Bennington’s R and Q series.
 
“With Pontoon Dock Assist, Polaris Marine is raising the bar and leading the pontoon category forward with a solution that delivers a more predictable, repeatable docking experience—helping captains of all experience levels approach the dock with confidence rather than hesitation,” Duke added.
 
To learn more about Bennington’s entire lineup of offerings, visit benningtonmarine.com.