News — bad boating habits

PONTOON BOATING SAFETY GUIDELINES & REGULATIONS FROM STATE TO STATE

By: HarrisBoats

Recreational boats create wonderful opportunities for memorable family times, romantic cruising, or parties with friends. But owning a boat also carries certain responsibilities, and smart boat owners should know how to keep their guests safe on the water.

Adhering to marine laws is fairly simple, despite varying guidelines from state to state. The basic principals tend to be the same, so operating with common sense is the best place to start. Consulting the guidelines for the particular state you intend to boat in is step two.

See below for links to boating regulation guides for all 50 states.

THE RULES OF THE WATER

As with any form of transportation, boating carries its own set of rules and regulations for both boat operator and any guests onboard. Standard roadways are governed with state and federal laws, and waterways are protected and monitored in similar fashion. Guidelines that can vary from state to state include:

• Granting right-of-way and passing on a particular side given the situation
• Minimum operator age
• Mandatory life jackets for everyone onboard
• Illegality of operating a watercraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Towing restrictions
• Boating license and insurance

Good advice before hitting the lakes is to carefully study your state's requirements and adhere to them fully. Just as automobile drivers can be ticketed or arrested for irresponsible behavior on the road, boat operators can be fined or imprisoned for reckless behavior. Even worse are the prospects of injury or death.

If the full set of guidelines in your state is overwhelming, at the very least make sure to watch your speed, stay alert, lay off the alcohol and keep passengers from getting rammy. Too much fun can quickly turn into no fun.

Click on any state below to read its boating guidelines:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky

Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota

Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Tiki Bar Inspires Couple to Go Afloat on a Pontoon Houseboat

By: BetterBoat

Sitting lakeside at your own private tiki bar, sharing drinks and steaks with your loved ones.

How can life get any better?

Jeff and Julia Kloeckner of Laingsburg, Michigan asked themselves that exact question one afternoon, and Jeff decided what the tiki bar needed was a houseboat.

I sat down one sunny afternoon recently to talk to the Kloeckners, my friends and neighbors. We sat on their back deck and enjoyed the view of the lake and their pontoon.

Jeff proudly talked about his pontoon and the story behind it, while Julia grabbed her photo album and displayed all the pictures documenting her husband’s boat creation.

The Pontoon Houseboat Journey

The 1987 Manitou Pontoon was built at the original Delta Township factory, not far from Kloeckner’s home. It was sold to a family who took it up north to Gaylord, and they enjoyed it for many years, until the Kloeckners bought it from them in 2009.

When the Kloeckners purchased their pontoon, the recession was affecting gas prices so much that they soon found they used the boat less and less.

Their 18-foot, ’87 Manitou Pontoon had been sitting idle at the dock throughout the summer. The more it sat, the more Jeff pondered over what he could do with it.

He wanted to be able to use his pontoon for fishing and floating. Better yet, to turn it into a houseboat to enjoy at their location on Round Lake and take it to other lakes too.

Round Lake is known as Al Capone’s hideaway spot. The current Lakeview Banquet Center on the lake used to be a dance hall with big bands and bootleg booze.

Today Lakeview is a busy reception hall for weddings and other gatherings. Locals on the lake boat out near the hall to watch wedding ceremonies, listen to the music and take in the occasional evening firework displays.

Fireworks, beautiful sunsets and star-filled nights are just a few more good reasons a houseboat would be fitting on Round Lake.

Not only that, but Michigan has over 11,000 lakes to explore. There are so many different things to do in and around Michigan lakes. You can check out the “Lake Effect” at Pure Michigan.org and discover the endless opportunities of fun things to do and enjoy.

If you’re looking to camp on your pontoon or conversion pontoon, check out this pontoon camping guide.

The Kloeckner’s have known firsthand what lake life is all about and were ready to discover new adventures with their houseboat on Round Lake and other lakes up north. Thus, they began their own DIY pontoon houseboat project.

How to DIY Your Own Pontoon Houseboat

Luckily, Jeff had the capability to configure his own houseboat design and structure.

His 30-plus years of construction experience and a jack-of-all-trades know-how gave him the confidence and skill to tackle this type of DIY project.
Less experienced DIY folks may want to use a kit to transform their pontoon. There are hundreds of ideas—some crazy!—that you can find online.

However, you really need to sit down and decide what you want for your houseboat, what will work for the size of your boat frame and the budget that you have to work with.

The possibilities can be endless!

What about adding a bathroom? Or a hot tub? Or even a second deck with a slide down into the water? The sky truly is the limit for just about anything you can imagine for your own houseboat.

Need some ideas? Go to Pinterest, type “conversion pontoons” in the search bar and you’ll discover an endless stream of pictures of the most amazing pontoon houseboats, and houseboats from around the world.

Once you choose your style, whether it’s simple or a floating Jimmy Buffet theme, build it with passion and keep safety in mind.

Some Takeaways: Consider Safety, Weight, Capacity and Insurance

Conversion projects like this bring up a number of questions on transforming a pontoon into a houseboat. One question for converting into a houseboat would be the framing structure and weight distribution.

The Manitou pontoon’s initial construction is ideal for strength and dependability. When you’re adding weight and height to the framework, you’ll just need some guidelines to keep it safe. The United States Coast Guard has a booklet to calculate your precise weight and capacity limits.

Manufacturers place a weight and capacity limit sticker on the boat at the factory. I called a Manitou dealer in Michigan and they recommended staying within the limitation that’s posted on the boat, for safety. Adding weight and height to a boat frame can make the boat unstable.

Another question would be insurance. Do you keep the same coverage for your boat as you would for a houseboat? I highly recommend contacting your own insurance agent to make sure you have the best coverage suited for your needs.

How to Expertly Use Recycled Material

Jeff created his houseboat using recycled material. Lansing’s Cooley Law Stadium, home of the minor league baseball team the Lugnuts, had just undergone major updates and Jeff was able to use the steel sides from the outfield storage unit.

The steel sheets were used as the sides of his 8′ x 10′ houseboat construction. He used steel studs for the framework to keep costs and weight down on the pontoon.

He also wanted the boat to be self sufficient, so he designed a way to use solar energy to power a Minn Kota Electric 55-lb thrust trolling motor. Jeff added a ceiling fan to the interior for cooling, installed sunglass material for the roof and placed house windows on the sides to also allow light and air flow.

A screen door in the front adds to the charm! And the inside has room for their queen-size air mattress (for when the fish aren’t biting) and storage for fishing equipment.

On the front of the boat, Jeff has two spots to insert fishing seats. He and his wife can comfortably sit, dangle their feet in the cool lake water and fish to their heart’s content!

What’s in a Name?

On the side of the boat Jeff added the boat’s name, Lily pad.

Fitting for floating on their small lake like… a lily pad! Jeff cut and designed lily pads from a steel metal sheet, painted the boat’s name on them and then attached them to the side of their houseboat.

When I asked them what they love best about the boat, they both replied that “it’s one of a kind!” Jeff loved working from his own ideas and how the solar unit helps keep their Lily pad self sufficient.

If you’re looking for recycled building material for your pontoon conversion, check out Habitat for Humanity. It’s a great place to look for recycled items for your project and help your community at the same time. Habitat stores are filled with building material, cabinets, furniture and so much more.

Think outside the box and find new treasures to go afloat!

11 Essential Items to Be Prepared When Boating

By: BetterBoat

There is nothing–not one thing–worse than marking a boat day on the calendar for a month, packing the car, launching the pontoon boat in the lake, and hearing the engine sputter and stop. Nobody wants boat trouble on the lake, but boats are finicky and can have many issues. The real question is how to be ready for problems that come up like this. I have had frustrating issues  out on the boat plenty of times. Often you just have to find a way to fix problems as soon as they come up. It is difficult knowing what you need to be ready for anything, but, after a while I learned that there are a few very basic items that can prevent about 90% of the problems you’ll encounter that could derail your boating trip.  Here they are…

#1 – A Portable Utility Battery

When you are out in the middle of a lake, you don’t have a wall outlet to plug your electronics into, such as a GPS or fishfinder. So, being able to charge it anywhere – like out on a toon – is invaluable. That is why I recommend a portable power bank. The one I recommend has two USB outlets, a DC power outlet, an LED light, and it can also jump car batteries. Click Here to see what it is selling for on Amazon.

However, seeing as some toons do not have an outlet to charge your phone, you may be simply wanting to charge your phone while you are spending the day on the lake. In this case, you may not a battery so powerful or big, you can also get smaller portable chargers that just charge via USB. These are almost always just used to charge cell phones or small devices, but the small size and much cheaper price makes them very versatile and easy to keep with you. Click Here to see our recommended single USB portable charger on Amazon, or Click Here for a double USB port charger on Amazon.

#2 – An Extra Prop and Prop Wrench

You never know what could happen when you are out boating, this includes damaging a prop. It can be extremely difficult if a prop gives out mid-trip. So it could be very handy to have an extra prop stowed away for such situations. It is also helpful as you will always have your spare right with your boat. You won’t need to store it in the garage and have to find it again later. When dealing with a malfunctioning prop, you are definitely going to want to be able to be able to get something done. You may have to readjust, tighten, or remove the prop. In a crunch, you aren’t going to want to have to cancel your day due to a lack of tools. A Prop Wrench can also help you untangle grass, reeds, or other plants that tangle up on your boat.

#3 – Toiletries

It is always a good idea to be ready for personal emergencies. Guys and ladies alike. While you should always be personalizing your preparations, it is good to have items such as bandages, a good first aid kit, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and other such items.

#4 – Duct Tape or Electrical Tape

If you can’t fix something with duct tape, you aren’t using enough duct tape. Duct tape can be extremely helpful when in a pinch. Duct Tape was originally invented by Johnson & Johnson’s Permacel division during WWII. The US Military wanted a strong, WATERPROOF tape that could keep moisture out of ammunition boxes. This is exactly the kind of resource you are going to want at your disposal on a pontoon. Such a versatile and effective tool can be more helpful than most realize. If an item breaks, duct tape can usually keep it working long enough that you can have time to get it repaired. It is also helpful for repairing wear and tear on life jackets or your vinyl seats, a small rip can be disastrous if no taken care of.

#5 – Assorted Tools

Aside from a prop wrench, you may need a few more tools every now and then. Such tools might include a few screwdrivers or a wrench. While these obviously won’t fix major boat repairs, they could fix a few small tune-ups needed on board. If you find a loose screw or bolt somewhere, you will want to tighten it quickly. If it falls out, it can be a pain to find or replace.

#6 – Power Snacks

Despite assuming that you will bring snacks with you when you go boating each time, we are still human, and we still forget. Having a few granola bars or nonperishable snacks stowed away might come in handy if you don’t bring enough food or end up staying longer than you planned. Just remember that sugary snacks will give you energy for a while, but you will also have an energy crash soon after that can leave you sleepy, hungry, cranky, and unable to concentrate. Healthier snacks will give you more energy throughout the day.

#7 – Water, Water, Water

Even if you are out of the sun, dehydration can be a serious danger. Also, if you are swimming around and playing in the water, your body is exerting energy and is perspiring. You won’t feel it as easily because most water you go boating on is much colder than our body temperature. This means that while you are cooling off in the water, your body is trying to keep up the internal body temperature so that you don’t get hypothermia. Because you feel cool in the water, you are tricked into thinking that you don’t need to drink. The wind will also evaporate sweat off of your body, which also dulls your sense of water loss. In all actuality, you need water more than usual. Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you are thirsty, you actually are already dehydrated. Bring water with you when you go boating. Just in case you finish of that water, keep a few gallons of fresh water on board. Try to cycle the water out for fresh water every few weeks though.

#8 – A Blanket and/or An Extra Jacket

This one isn’t so much a necessity as it is convenient. If you are out fishing early, it could get brisk. You may want to toss on that extra layer to keep warm. Remember to check what the blanket is made of. Cotton will soak through quickly and will just be cold. Wool will still soak, but will keep you warm even if wet. A fleece blanket would do fine, but can get heavy when wet. If you get a lot of spray while boating, you may want to use a waterproofing spray like Scotchgard on your jacket, blanket, or even your shoes. Click Here to see what Scotchgard is going for on Amazon.

#9 – A Trash Bag

If you are eating granola bars or other packaged snacks, you don’t want to drop them on the ground in your boat. They could fly out and end up polluting the wonderful environment you are enjoying. Keep a bag on the boat to put trash in. Remember to have no trace left behind when you leave – this keeps nature clean for everyone else and for you when you go next. Trash Bags are also helpful for putting items in that you would like to keep dry. Extra changes of clothes, or an extra jacket could easily be stored in one.

#10 – A Map

No matter how much of a man you are, you may still need a map. Being able to see and know where you are at is a good way to be safe. Maps of the water you are boating on also help you know where there may be no wake zones or speed limit zones. Not to mention that looking at a map could help you know where the fish might be if you are fishing. While a paper map can always be helpful, there are many other options. You can also use other methods such as a GPS you put on your dash or even something as simple as your phone.

#11 – A Spotlight

Were you to find yourself still out on the water when it begins to get dark, you can find yourself blinded and lost. In the event that you do end up getting caught in that situation, you will want to have a good spotlight to get you back to the shore safely. While there are some spotlights you can attach to your boat, you can also get a large handheld one that can also work well.

Now obviously, there are more things that could be added to this list, based on where you live, what kind of boat you have, what you are boating for, and when you are out. You will have to modify this list. Feel free to add, remove, or change things on the list to suit what you need. If I missed something major, or if you have another helpful suggestion, comment about it. Everyone can benefit from more ideas.

Pontoon Boat Prep: Before the Season Starts…

By: Misty Harbor Boats

If you’re like most pontoon boat owners, you’re itching to get back on the water once the season starts. If you don’t live somewhere with year round warmth, you may have stored the boat away for winter—but that doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing for the spring and summer season now!

Read on to see a few things you can do to get your pontoon boat ready for fun once the warmer weather rolls around.

 Make improvements

As boat owners, we’re always looking for ways to make our next trip even better than the last. This might mean making improvements to your pontoon boat that make it more enjoyable for everyone on board. If you’ve been thinking about adding features such as a ladder, slide or tent cover to your boat, now is a great time to do it. By the time the season starts up again, your pontoon boat will be decked out and ready to go!

 Clean up your pontoon boat and make necessary repairs

There are, of course, practical issues you may need to take care of during your offseason time. If there are any repairs you need to make on your pontoon boat, now would be a good time to check those out and pick up the necessary parts you may need. If all your boat needs is a bit of freshening up, devote an afternoon to cleaning it up and getting it back to looking like new.

 Plan your next adventure

A fantastic way to keep yourself and your family occupied during the winter months is to plan your next adventure. Whether this is to a local spot or a bona fide vacation destination, everyone will enjoy having a say in the planning process. It’s also a great way to keep your mind focused on the water fun you’ll be having—without actually being on the water.

 Give it a name

If you have not yet given your pontoon boat a name, do it this winter! Every boat needs a good name, both for practical reasons—so help on the water can find you easily, should you ever need it—and fun ones. Every pontoon boat has its own unique personality, just like the people who use it, so be sure to give yours a name that sticks.

 Purchase your new pontoon boat

Like many boaters in search of a fun alternative to traditional powerboats, you may be considering purchasing a brand new pontoon boat this year. Why wait until the season’s already underway to do it? The winter months are the perfect time to think about the style and design you want and get your new boat ready for fun on the water in 2018.

If you fit into this category, get in touch with us today! We can make your pontoon boat wishes a reality in time for the season ahead.

Can’t wait to get back on the water? Try these ideas and hold on just a little longer—you’ll be seeing fellow boaters on your favorite waterways in no time at all.