Harris Kayot Boats for Sale

Harris FloteBote, Fort Wayne

Brothers Ernie and Walter "Pete" Harris founded Harris Manufacturing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Harris dates the founding to 1956, and in 1957 it started building what it calls the world's first pontoon boats made on an assembly line, under the FloteBote name. The brothers had seen lake owners building their own pontoons out of oil barrels and aircraft drop tanks.

Where Kayot comes in

In 1983 Harris bought Kayot Corporation, at the time the second-largest builder of fiberglass deck boats in the US. The company then had two brands, Harris FloteBote and Kayot, which is why dealers and listings call these boats Harris Kayot. A used "Kayot" is usually a fiberglass deck boat, and a used "Harris" or "FloteBote" is a pontoon. Brunswick later bought Harris, and the company is still based in Fort Wayne.

Harris firsts

• 1959: the Dolphin nose cone, designed to cut through water without splash fins.
• 1964: anodized aluminum fencing to fight corrosion.
• 1971: the first sterndrive-powered pontoon.
• 1985: the Heritage, with an extended deck and a sun lounge over the transom.
• 1987: the Royal Heritage, with all rotomolded furniture bases, and the first wood-free aluminum transom.
• 1990: the Classic CF ("Circle of Fun"), the first pontoon with a rear entry gate.
• 1993: the HP Classic, a performance pontoon with lifting strakes.
• 1999: a power bimini top that raises and lowers at the flip of a switch.

Current model lines

Harris now builds six series: Crowne, Grand Mariner, Solstice, Sunliner, Cruiser and Breeze. The Cruiser line came in 2001 as a more affordable range, and the Crowne arrived in 2002. The Grand Mariner was redesigned for 2022 in 23, 25 and 27-foot lengths, with Mercury power from 150 to 400 hp, a new helm and a JL Audio system.

What to check on a used Harris or Kayot

Pontoon tubes. Look along each tube for dents, creases and repairs, and look closely at the nose cones. Older FloteBotes may have had decks and furniture replaced, so ask what is original.

Deck. Walk the whole deck for soft spots. Lift the vinyl around the gates and helm if you can.

Kayot deck boats. These are fiberglass boats, often with sterndrives. Check the transom for flex, the floor for soft spots, and the drive bellows and gimbal bearing.

Power bimini and electrics. If the boat has a power top, run it up and down. Check the switches, the battery and the wiring under the helm.

Engine. Get the hours, check the lower unit oil, and ask for compression numbers.