News — Boating Safety

The Boating Dog's Days of Summer | Pontoon-Depot

By: Outdoor Channel

Some dogs were born for the water, others less so. The key to boating with dogs, says Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), is taking it slow and making safety #1.

Here are eight tips to get you started:

Before you go:

• Get a good fitting life jacket and have the dog wear it a few times around the home before they get on a boat. Any pet life jacket should have a handle to easily lift the animal out of the water. Here’s a buying guide for dogs of all sizes: www.BoatUS.com/doglifejacket.

• Have a special ID tag with the name of the boat, marina, slip number and cellphone number on it just in case. If the dog gets lost, it’s a lot easier for the person who finds them to get them back to you quickly.

• If there is any chance you’ll be going to Canada and Mexico, make sure you have current rabies vaccine and other shot documentation with you as dog tags are not acceptable proof of immunizations. It is also a good idea to check with customs because the rules and requirements often change.

Getting started:

• Familiarize the dog with the boat slowly - don’t just get on the boat and leave the dock right away. Ideally, bring the dog to the boat for the first time without leaving the dock, and give them a chance to sniff around and get their sea legs. It may help to start the engine so they are used the sound.

• Plan for falls overboard, either from the boat or dock. If the dog falls overboard underway – or jumps in – you may be able to circle back and retrieve Fido just like a fallen water skiier, pulling up slowly, cutting the engine and luring the dog to the swim platform with a treat. If you don’t have swim platform, smaller dogs may be lifted over the side by their life jacket handle, but bigger dogs may require a different solution. If a dog falls off a dock, know that seawall bulkheads may prevent the animal from a self-rescue.

• Bring plenty of water and make sure there’s some place the dog can get out of the sun and stay as cool as possible. Know the symptoms of dog heat stroke. While seasick dogs may vomit, that’s also one sign of heat stroke. Rapid, loud or difficulty breathing, extreme thirst, thick saliva, disorientation and a bright red tongue and pale gums are a few of the others.

• If you’re going to be out on the boat for more than a few hours, plan on how your dog will relieve themselves, and pick up after your dog, no matter where they go. If you see where someone else didn’t pick up after their dog, pick it up for them. You don’t want to give any opportunity to show why dogs shouldn’t be allowed in your marina, and your boating friends will love you for it.
• Does your boat’s insurance policy cover pets? All BoatUS policies do. For more information go to BoatUS.com/insurance/pets.

About BoatUS:
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits that include marina and West Marine shopping discounts, and vital information that improves the boating, fishing and sailing lifestyle. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.

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BOATING WITH KIDS :-) | Pontoon-Depot

By: Bennington Marine

Start taking your children on your Bennington pontoon boat at an early age, and you will instill in them a lifelong love of boating. You will relax, laugh and play with them, and see all sorts of amazing sights and wonders from your boat's wide, stable deck. The experiences you share on the water are unmatched and are likely to become your family's most cherished memories.

As with all activities involving children, it is best to be prepared. That means being cautious and having the proper knowledge, plans, equipment, and supplies. We love family boating, and are happy to share these tips with you.

Safety First

Everyone small wears a US Coast-Guard certified life preserver, also known as a life vest, life jacket, or personal flotation device (PFD). That is a rule that never wavers. Children should be wearing their life vest before they step on board the boat. It should fit snugly, and should be equipped with a handle and a whistle for emergencies. Start teaching water safety to babies and toddlers; swimming, floating, and knowing how not to panic are invaluable skills. Show them that being safe and having fun are in no way mutually exclusive. You always want to model smart behavior on the water.

Pack Wisely

No amount of diapers are ever enough, especially on the water. Make sure you have diapers and wipes galore, lots of drinking water, sunscreen for face and body, a change of clothes or two, and snacks. Lots of snacks. What is it about being on the water that makes even the pickiest toddler suddenly ravenous? Pouches of yogurt freeze and thaw nicely. Frozen fruit is a good choice, as are cheese sticks and crackers. All parents know that kid snacks taste best while children are napping. Go ahead and have some animal crackers. We won't tell.

Designate a "Safe Spot" on Board Your Bennington

Have a place where you can safely stash the kids on your Benny. Make sure it is a shady and protected spot, so that way if you are otherwise occupied you won't worry about them wriggling overboard. Make sure they know the rules. When you tell them sternly but steadily that you need to focus, they must listen and know not to run or get in the way. Kids need to know that being out on the water is fun, but requires attention and awareness of one's surroundings. That's the best way to make a confident and capable boater.

Plan Activities

Most children are not great at sitting still and soaking up the wonder of nature. Make sure you have a few fun tricks up your sleeve, especially for older kids. It can be as simple as coloring books and crayons, or as creative as a scavenger hunt of things they can find on the water or on the boat. Keep them looking around and engaged so they don't start telling you that they are bored 10 minutes into your day of boating.

Set Out Early

So many things can happen to derail your day when you are out on the water. There are just so many variables, from weather, to naptime, to unexpected detours, to tantrums. Start early and see where the day takes you. If your kids are holding up well, you can enjoy more hours on your Benny. If the toddler starts an epic meltdown around lunchtime, you will still have logged some hours on your pontoon. If you need to head home early, so be it. You can spend the rest of the afternoon snuggling.

We love being on the water with our families; it is the best place to teach life lessons and enjoy being together. As long as you remember these simple tips, you will enjoy countless excursions and start making awesome memories!

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Wakeboarding Accessories: Get Your Boat Ready For Labor Day

By: Wake-Worx

Surfing is probably the most fun you can have in the water: the buildup of choosing the right wave, catching it, and using every muscle in your body to balance out, stand up, and ultimately ride it is an extremely satisfying experience. Unfortunately, access to actual waves can limit the amount of surfing you can do in your life, usually only benefiting those living near tropical coastlines with decent wind speeds which produce surf-able waves. Luckily, thanks to the invention of wakeboarding and wakesurfing, now you can go surfing anywhere boats are allowed!

Wakeboarding is done when a rope (usually between 52 and 78 feet long) is attached to the back of a boat, allowing someone who’s standing on a wakeboard to hold on and ride the wake that the boat produces as it picks up speed. Wakesurfing is similar but involves a shorter rope (usually around 20 feet), or sometimes no rope at all. These water sports allow people who live near lakes to enjoy the thrill of surfing without needing to relocate.

So, with Labor Day being the last holiday of the summer, you’re going to want to make sure your boat is equipped with the best boat accessories to help you get up on that wake wave and see what everyone’s been raving about. At the very least, you’re going to need a ballast system to help your boat balance and create bigger, more ride-able waves. If you’re already an experienced wakeboarder or surfer, look into purchasing an aftermarket surf system which gives you complete control over the size and direction of your wake while also ensuring that your boat is safely balanced. Once your boat is decked out with these essential boat accessories, try to find some American themed wakeboards or wakesurf boards — Labor Day will be upon us soon, after all.

Spend this coming Labor Day living the American dream — go out on your boat for some soothing relaxation, good company, and great fun. Find the right wakeboarding or wakesurfing boat accessories for you today and have a holiday you and your friends will be sure to remember!

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring options visit Pontoon-Depot's shop site. 

It’s not always sunny at the boat sometimes you just have to deal...

By: MyBoatLife

..with a rainy boat day… here are a few ideas to stay entertained on rainy boat days.

The pitter patter of rain falling down on a boat can be a total bummer. Most people don’t like to be stuck on their boat when it is raining, but sometimes it is inevitable. Whether you plan a trip on the boat not knowing rain is coming, or you are such a boating die-hard (like us) that you go to the boat regardless of the weather forecast, it’s best to have some ideas for rainy day boating activities on-hand.

Most rainy days we spend on the boat tend to be periods of on and off rain. It’s enough to ruin a boat trip, swim in the river or dip in the pool… but you can still find some activities to make the best of foul weather. In fact, sometimes a break from the sun is actually a good thing!

Here are some rainy day boating activities and ideas to get you through your next cloudy boat day.

Watch a movie

This is often our number one rainy day boating activity. We always keep movies on board to keep the kids busy when there is downtime anyway, but it is especially important to have a selection of movies on the boat for rainy afternoons.

Take a nap

Yes, an unexpected rain fall on a boat is the perfect opportunity to take a nap! Let’s face it, we don’t nap enough. Take in the gentle sound of rain falling on the top deck, relax and Curl up in your berth and take a nice long nap.

Do a crossword puzzle

We always keep extra crossword puzzles and word games on board for when we have downtime on our boat. It’s a great independent activity to do when you are sitting under the canvas in the rain. If you don’t have the old fashioned printed kind, you can probably even access a word game with your smartphone.

Play a board game

A few simple board games are also great to have on board for down time or rainy days. Make it a simple game that is age appropriate for the entire family to get involved in the fun.

Tap into your technology

Chances are you have at least a few high-tech gadgets on board to keep you and the kids entertained on the boat when it is raining. Whether it is your laptop to surf the internet (that is if you can get a good internet connection at your marina), game apps on your smartphone or electronic kid’s games, everyone can keep busy while they are waiting for the rain to pass.

Watch the radar

Most captains we know love to watch the radar on their boat to see the weather moving in over their area. Make it fun by teaching your kids how the radar works (not an easy thing to do on sunny days!), or keep an eye on it to check for breaks in the rainy weather to plan activities later in the day.

Go fishing in the rain

Many anglers know that fishing is always good in the rain. Cloudy days and less boating activity in the water always seem to attract more fish. Of course if it’s raining too hard it may not be fun, but a light drizzle shouldn’t stop you from grabbing your tackle box and fishing from the dock or back of the boat.

Explore your local town

Many boaters keep their boats in an area that is close to waterfront towns. And you usually spend more time on the water swimming, tubing or going on cruises than you do checking out your local towns. A rainy day is the perfect time to take a short drive into town to go shopping, check out local attractions or have lunch at a local restaurant. We have some outlets that are a short drive from our boat – its great way to get off the boat and kill time while it’s raining!

Tidy up the boat

This is definitely not the most fun rainy day activity, but unexpected rain on a boat is a good chance to get things a little more organized. Clean the cockpit and interior cabin and do all the other chores you don’t normally have time to do when you are enjoying the boat on sunny days. You may even have enough time to get a little project/repair done.

Plan a boat cruise

Pull out your waterway guide or jump online to plan your next cruising destination. Take the time to think about where you want to go next with your boat. Marinas are often less busy on rainy days so it may be a good time to make some calls for transient reservations.

Socialize on the dock

Well this is one idea that should be a no-brainer! If you keep your boat docked at a marina then you know how much fun the social scene can be on the dock. Take a visit to your slip neighbors when it’s raining. It’s always more fun to sit in the cockpit under the canvas with others socializing and complaining about the weather together. Of course don’t forget to ask the customary “Permission to board?” before climbing on board with your travel cooler of beer for an afternoon of rainy day boat cocktails. 

You will no doubt have some rainy days on the boat. So always be prepared with a few ideas to pass the time while it’s raining. In fact, I wrote this entire blog post one rainy afternoon on our boat!