Editor’s note: All information and images have been provided by iKon Boats.
At the core of the iKon brand is innovation, engineered precision, tailored craftsmanship, with an enthusiast and conservationist winning spirit. As a tribute to the original Hydrasports Bass Boats that graces the waters almost a half-century ago, this announcement is the latest chapter of a two-year plan in the making. JCB Yachts proudly introduces the new iKon bot brand to the marketplace with their first LX21 and LX20 editions, with plans for the first VLX Series to follow in late 2023 and early 2024.
This new expanded company is solely enthusiast-owned and truly recognizes the need for a new category in the bass boat industry. The brand was chosen to register the iconic aspiration to grow fishing and be remembered for it. iKon, which will be showcased at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. is embodies in four major areas:
- Protect fish
- Run comfortably on rough and calm waters with no compromises
- Maintain vessel performance and responsiveness with no compromises
The prerequisites for the ongoing expansion centered on leveraging sophisticated yach engineering and technology with consummate fishing anglers’ intellect to develop an innovative product that will redefine history in the market. In favor of adopting such a strategy, HCB Yachts partnered with experience-enabling, product expert and professional angler Brent Butler and ultimately two-tim angler of the year Jacob Wheeler.
“Between the yacht engineering and firsthand expertise from professional anglers, we knew we had a good product,” said VP Sales and Marketing Scott Womack. “Th challenge was that we wanted to do more than just add another boat to a vibrant segment. We wanted to build a boat that would grow fishing and protect the fish. Our company vision is to preserve the future of fishing for generations to come.”
New iKon Boats push limits in the bass boat industry
The new brand uniquely illustrates more integration, more fishability, more intuitiveness, more comfort, more response, more storage, more conservationist protection and way more personality. Born of an iconic spirit, the LX Series epitomizes the power of a lifelong passion for fishing in a changing world. After careful product design and development, the boat exemplifies the all-new “iKonic Terrain” (IT) stinger and deck system, the “L2” livewell system and the “hydrodynamic stabilizer system” (HSS) with a first class e-seating.
The two-piece flexible architecture used in our “iKonic Terrain” (IT) stinger and deck design(s) were optimized to yield more fishing real estate than any other product in the game. Our forward fishing locker is fitted with over 21.5 cubic feet and sets the record to be outrigged over 50 tackle boxes while leaving ample room for spare clothing. The rod locker can store a staggering 36 rods measuring 9 feet, 8 inches. Our ultra-dry, tall gutter system protects our waterproof hatches for the wettest climates with a polished finish under the hood.
The world is now revolutionized with a livewell to protect fish during and after the tournament. The patented livewell system is integrated with technology that has kept bait alive in the hot coastal salt water industry for days. This innovative, first-in-class, automated livewell system controls auto-fill, auto-maintain-fill, auto-circulate, auto-oxygenation, auto-inject fish additive and even auto temp to allow more time spent focused on fishing.
The all-new “Hydrodynamic Stabilizer System” (HSS) hull combines the most accomplished naval architect design strategies used in saltwater fisheries with the performance requirements for freshwater applications to deliver a ride that is unlike any other in every perspective: Stability, comfort, responsiveness and speed. It was designed to ride smoothly in rough waters.
With capabilities unmatched by any seating system in the industry, iKon introduces the all-new E-Seat system to complement a world-class helm and controls configuration. Our automotive designs incorporate intelligent features with an embedded in-house 6-spring suspension system. The intuitive configuration removed interference structure to look around to any sort of the boat underway, does not require a muscle-up getting in and out of the driver’s seat and cradles the body with comfort for long days on the water, with all the boat operating controls at the helm.
Heritage grows from innovation and people of excellence enable us to take on today’s challenges—and win! With youth fishing on the rise and the changes in the world in technology and wildlife, this new brand will connect the dots of legacy and tradition to grow our future.
Now with the right product, iKon is positioned to take the bass boat industry market head on—our goal is to deliver superior product solutions with personality, that keep up with the times to grow fishing, protect fish and make our customers win!
L2 livewell system
The insulated lid and cavity shape designs, united with the integration controls mechanisms and a right-fit chiller plate, produce a healthy environment with ant-sloshing for fish to survive with only care at the click of the helm controls.
Save your time and money with ice and manually adding fish additives throughout the day so you can focus on fishing. And if that’s not enough, you don’t even hav to get out of the cockpit to fill your bag for weigh-ins with our quick-connect fill system.
HSS system
This vessel has been surgically developed to manage any body of water you may encounter, eliminate fishing disruptions from hard chops and the proof is in the ride.
No more chine walking, it’s optimized for stability in rough water both while running and fishing, you can drive it with confidence wide-open knowing the HSS hull won’t misbehave and turns are smooth and non-impactful.
E-Seat system
Ergonomically capable of getting in and out of the driver’s seat with ease, no structural interference while looking around in the helm seat, in-house custom 6-spring suspension system integrated into the seat, two large coolers embedded with 1.5 inches of insulation, automotive cradle comfort design with self-breathing materials to accommodate UV intense colors and heated seat upgrades are available.
Helm/cockpit
Single-piece polished fiberglass helm with an integrated glove box that screams personality with a decorative racing stripe, custom IP67 7-inch LCD touchscreen control system for boat operations such as livewell, audio, digital switching, engine data, etc., customer engagement, high-frequency redundant toggle switches, JL Audio system with two 5-inch speakers, electric single-push button to power the cranking and trolling motor.
Trailer/storage
The LX fleet can be trailed with a tandem 12- or 18-inch wheel trailer with custom styling and every coponent has been beefed up for durability. Building a reliable trailer and mooring covr doesn’t allow for cutting any corners.
Our boat stairway options allow for a saf and convenient way to enter and exit the boat without any physical stress to the body. The bunks are custom-fit for each boat model and the trailer is outfitted with an elite shield coating to protect the trailer and an option to upgrade to automated sensor runway lights that illuminate in the water unloading.
Our unique mooring cover leads the industry with the first APS anti-puddling pole system. Using marine grade weatherproof canvas material, crafted with anti-chafe padding for awkward locations around the boat, our mooring cover is completely secured with a simple ratchet system. The patented vacu-hold strapless trailering system eliminates billowing and buffeting to conform to the boat shape during trailering.
With compartment zip access, you can quickly access the cockpit helm if you forgot any personal belongings and it is equipped with a fuel door cover. There is an expandable pocket to upgrade for different graph options.
Additional features
To give it personality, for the first time of its kind, there is an infused polished fiberglass seatback for customization flavor with high-quality cool breeze upholstery materials that breathe on their own to offer any cool options you can dream of.
The most powerful cooler on the market, our fully insulated cooler accommodates a case of water and proven to deliver “Yeti-like” cold on a hot day and transforms a third seat. There is a convertible fourth seat integrated into our additional insulated cooler for larger crews.
The two-piece flexible architecture used in our IT stinger and deck designes were optimized to yield more fishing real estate than any other product in the game. If someone says size doesn’t matter, take a look at our fishing storage. Our forward fishing locker is fitted with over 21.5 cubic fet and sets the record to be outrigged with over 50 Plano boxes while leaving ample room for spare clothing. It’s so big, it can be used as a personal storm shelter if empty.
These boats feature the most storage in the industry, waterproof, lightweight powder-coated hatches, the largest front deck in the game, the bow can outfit three 12-inch screens and a fully gel-coated liner bow to stern.
