News — Boating Safety

How to Polish and Clean Your Pontoon

By: Pontoon Enthusiast

It’s natural that, after spending a good couple of thousands on your pontoon boat, you want it to look as beautiful and shiny after a few months or years in the water as it looked when you first launched it. As such, besides the furniture and accessories upgrades that are essential in order to preserve both beauty and functionality, it’s expected of you to do some polishing work every now and then.

This guide will show you the materials and techniques you need in order to polish your boat efficiently and apply coating properly. You could, of course, call for the help of a specialist, but any pontoon boat dealer will charge you around $400 for a mirror polish and application of Shark Hide aluminum cleaner. Honestly, unless you charge $200 an hour yourself, it’s not worth the money. For only a couple of dollars, you can get all the materials you want, and the entire work can be done in 3-4 hours (depending on the size of the boat, as well as your own experience and willingness).

All this being said, let’s get down to business:

1. PRELIMINARY CLEANING

Before cleaning your boat, you have to first clean your boat. Yes, it’s exactly how it sounds. Boats are known to accumulate a lot of dirt from the water, including algae and such, mineral buildup, and whatever dirt you see. While a pontoon boat that is towed back home after every use may have little to no dirt deposit, one that’s usually docked will definitely have plenty of things to clean. In particular, saltwater pontoons tend to have large amounts of salt and other minerals, as well as algae, in a thick layer on the below-water hull.

For a normal level of dirt, you’ll just have to use a power washer to remove everything in one go. If you don’t own a power washer, you can borrow one or use a wet rag (the latter option takes more time). If you haven’t cleaned your ‘toon since Reagan was still in office, you will need a gentle plastic scraper and a brush in addition to the power washer.

When it comes to power washers, there’s plenty of them to choose from on the market. For instance, you can check out the Sun Joe SPX3001 Electric Pressure Washer. You might be able to find cheaper alternatives on the market as well, but nothing will leave you quite as satisfied as this one. It comes with five different spray tips that ensure different angles for a thorough cleaning. The motor is also pretty powerful – it generates more than 2000 PSI water pressure while not consuming more than 1.67 gallons per minute. It also comes with a pretty long hose (20ft) so that you can clean any spot on your pontoon without carrying the whole unit around with you. A 2-year warranty is also included in the price. Find out more about it on Amazon here:

2. APPLYING CLEANER

Time to clean better! While cleaning solution plays no part in the actual polishing, it’s this very step that ensures a long-lasting polish. Otherwise, you’ll see your hull just as dirty as it was before polishing, within the span of a single trip.

Our recommendation, if you’re not delighted at the thought of spending money on acidic baths or whatever pontoon-specific product, is to use some plain old toilet cleaner. It’s a strong enough substance to remove dirt from every nook and cranny and it works exactly the same as any high-end product.

However, if you want to take it a step further and level up your cleaning game, we suggest you try the Meguiar’s M4916 Marine/RV Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover. Don’t be too scared of the “marine” label on it – it does a perfect job for any type of surface on your boat, pontoons included. It’s also fairly cheap and retails in convenient 16 oz. bottles. Although it will cut through any kind of dirt and/or grime, this product is non-toxic and easy to apply, either by hand or using a machine. To grab your own bottle, click the button below:

As applying the solution can really get pretty time-consuming, we recommend getting a plastic sprayer, kind of like the one you’re using to wash your windows or water your pansies. Dilute the solution to a 30% concentration (2 parts water, 1 part cleaner) and you’re good to go!

The best way to go is to apply the cleaner to a section, leave it to work for a bit, and then remove it before it dries. The reason for this is that if the solution gets dry, it will leave deposits that are super hard to clean. Hence, it’s better to take your time and work on one small area at a time. Use a wet rag to make sure every bit of cleaning solution has been removed.

3. BUFF

Finally, the actual polish. It’s not really necessary if you just want to clean your boat and applying Shark Hide can be done at this point as well. However, if you want that nice, glossy mirror finish, you better be sure your polisher is in good condition.

Speaking of which, if you don’t have a polisher, you should get one. It’s a really useful tool and it works for your boat, car, and bike, all the same, as well as for any other similar surface. You simply can’t do this kind of job manually and expect the same results. If you’re not sure what to buy, the Porter-Cable 7424XP is a very good choice, as it offers you ambidextrous handling and speed adjustment (2500-6800 RPM). You can, of course, buy anything you want, just make sure the speed isn’t too high or you may end up leaving marks that are simply impossible to erase.

Time to polish! For best results, use a 6-inch woolen pad. Also, in order to not leave polishing marks, it’s recommended that you use a circular or swirly pattern. Do you know how the kid from Karate Kid polished Miyagi-san’s car collection? Well, that’s the spirit.

This is the most time-consuming part of the operation, about 2 hours for a medium boat.

4. CLEAN AGAIN

Yes, we know, this is repetitive and annoying, but you absolutely have to make sure that no polishing compound remains on the hull before applying the Shark Hide. Otherwise, the residue will interfere with the Shark Hide and remain sealed there, resulting in a foggy and unappealing look.

At any rate, all you have to do is repeat the step nr.2 described above and remember to be as thorough as possible.

5. APPLY SHARK HIDE

It’s the job of every pontooner to make sure their boat looks good and nearly all of them use Shark Hide for that. It’s nothing complicated: an aluminum cleaning solution that you apply pretty much like a normal cleaning solution. Unlike the toilet cleaner, however, Shark Hide will take care of any oxidized surface as well, leaving everything nice and shiny.

Applying Shark Hide is similar to applying the cleaner on steps 2 and 4. A 2:1 or 3:1 mixture of water and Shark Hide should do for the average use, but more or less concentrated solution can be used according to your particular situation. Use a plastic spray bottle to pulverize the hull from the bottom up. Light foam will appear. Make sure there is no aluminum exposed (i.e. the foam must get everywhere) in order to not leave vertical streaks.

Rinse the foam with plenty of water after 4-5 minutes, as it absolutely must not dry. In order to not leave any marks whatsoever, work thoroughly on small sections.

That’s it! Well, polish is not known for being particularly resistant, and you may very well need to redo all that work after a couple of trips. However, Karate Kid became so not as a result of long years of training, but thanks to a couple of days spent polishing cars! As such, putting a bit of elbow grease and a couple of hours every other month can’t be that hard and, who knows, it may actually help you discover your inner karate fighter.

PONTOON PARTY IDEAS: MUCH MORE THAN JUST FISHING AND TUBING

Traditional pontoon boating pastimes like fishing, swimming, skiing, and tubing are always good for hours of summer fun. And the merits of just plain relaxing cannot be overstated. But seasoned boaters at times find themselves asking, “How can I shake things up and break from the norm?”

Because of their size and large decks (in some cases double-decks) pontoon boats are vessels meant for festive gatherings. Whether it’s an adults-only party or camping with the kids, pontoons provide a venue for a wide variety of good times on the water. Below are just a few creative ideas.

Floating Pontoon Dinner Party

Pontoons can be equipped with all kinds of grilling and food-storage artillery, so it’s easy to host a dinner party on the water. The possible themes are endless. You can choose an ethnic or regional theme like Japanese or Midwestern, or go nautical and serve “Flank Speed Flank Steak” and “Buntline Bunt Cake,” or just take an old standard like the simple fondue party and modify its traditions — anyone who loses bread in the pot buys a round of drinks at the dockside bar. There’s no shortage of ways to get creative.

You could also reduce your prep time with a potluck dinner party. Or, get everyone into the on-deck cooking with a floating competition à la Iron Chef.

Get Your Game On, Pontoon Tournament Style

Breaking out the cribbage board or chess set on the pontoon is often a spontaneous thing, but such games are also perfect for tournaments, which can serve as the focus of the gathering and keep conversations flowing and seats shuffling. The games help fill in conversation gaps and maximize the mingling.

Also, a simple invite to “spend the afternoon on the boat” can be aggrandized into the “Seventh Annual Lake George Pinochle Tournament,” for example. It becomes an event traditions can be formed around.

If you have a friend with a pontoon on the same lake, more extravagant tournaments are possible, such as bean-bag toss with cornhole boards placed on separate, anchored boats. (If you miss the pontoon with your toss you have to dive in and get it, of course.) For other games you can have winner- and loser-bracket boats.

(picture by Harrisboats)

Birthday Party On A Pontoon

In addition to being a respite for parents, pontoon boats make terrific kid-party venues. Don’t limit yourself when throwing a birthday bash on the water. Deck your pontoon in a fun theme like tiki Hawaii or pirate shipwreck to make your child’s birthday party a fantasy adventure. Kids having too much fun can slide down “the plank” if your boat has a slide.

Pontoon Club Gatherings

Any kind of club can convene on a pontoon boat, making the meeting all the more entertaining and memorable. Cruise the open waters as your book club discusses the most recent read. Or, get a beer and wine club together and sample cocktails under the setting sun. Where better for an environmental studies or bird-watching club to gather?

Pontoon Boat Block Party

Pontoon boaters tend to have several like-minded friends who frequent the same waterways or docking areas. A pontoon boat block party operates just like a regular block party, with the added fun of boat hopping to chat with the “neighbors.”

Kick the pontoon boat party up a peg by making it a progressive dinner party where boaters start on one boat for appetizers and aperitifs, then move on for the first course, then to another boat for the main course, and then to another boat for dessert.

A riff off that idea is to have each boat feature different cuisine from different regions of the country or the world, or for each boat to prepare a different seafood dish. The possibilities are endless.

Pontoon Camping Adventures

Pontoon boat covers provide plenty of protection for sleeping under the stars on the water. Grab a group of friends, a bag of marshmallows to toast over the grill, and some flashlights and spend the night sitting on the deck telling stories about what lurks beneath the surface. This is also a fun thing to do with the family or with children’s parties or scouting groups.

Personalize It

With limitless options for fun on the water, the most important thing is to make your pontoon party suit your style. Take these ideas and make them your own with twists that match your personality. Or, let this be the guide that sparks your imagination to develop your own uniquely branded pontoon extravaganza.

Post your pontoon event pictures to our Facebook or on your Instagram with hashtag #MariDeck. We would love to see your photos and will even share if they catch our eye.

By: HarrisBoats

Play it safe when boating at night | Pontoon-Depot

An evening cruise to watch the sunset or do a little stargazing can be an unforgettable experience. But navigating home can be challenging. Everything looks different in the dark, and it can be easy to lose your way or hit an obstacle you just can’t see.

To make it home safely, follow these guidelines:

Slow Down

Before you head out, find out what the nighttime speed limit is in your area. Once you’re underway, if you feel you need to go slower than the limit, that’s certainly OK. Going slower at night just makes sense. After all, you can’t easily see the landmarks you need to navigate, and underwater or floating debris can be next to invisible. Safety first!

Learn the Language of the Lights

If you don’t know what the combinations of red, green and white lights mean, you shouldn’t be driving a boat at night. These lights help you know if a boat is coming toward you, moving away, or crossing your course - and which direction it’s going. Access your state or US Coast Guard resources to learn more, but a good rule of thumb is that if you see a red light, stop. That boat has the right-of-way.

Avoid Distractions

It’s easy for your pontoon to be a party on the water. And most of the time, that’s OK. But when you’re piloting your boat at night, it’s important you’re able to concentrate. So make sure any lights on the boat (NOT your navigation lights) are dimmed, look over the windshield so you can reduce glare, and turn down the stereo.

Consider Using a Compass or a GPS

Your first trip on a waterway should never be at night. If you’re at a new place, go out during the day first and take a compass with you. Make note of the direction you travel. Or, go high-tech and use a GPS system to drop a pin at your dock or boat launch. That will make it much easier to find your way back after dark, when everything looks the same.

By following these simple steps, you can enjoy fun on the water any time of day.

Water Safety on the Lake | Pontoon-Depot

May is National Water Safety Month which typically applies to backyards: swimming pools, swim spas and hot tubs. But in our line of business, water safety month means being safe out on the lake. And here are some of our best tips:

Water Depth

One of the first things to remember about swimming at the lake is that the murky water keeps you from seeing how deep it really is. Oftentimes, when you stop to swim it's hard to judge the water’s depth unless you're on a beach, in which case you know that the further you get from shore the deeper the water will be.

Swimming Distance

Additionally, the glare from the sun on the water can cause you to misjudge distances and think you can easily swim from point A to point B when, in fact, it's too far. As such, it is highly recommended that you always wear a life jacket when swimming in a lake, since there are so many unpredictable factors involved.

Life Jacket Required

Speaking of life jackets, we highly recommend that while the boat is in motion everyone wear a life jacket, especially children under 12 or anyone who does not possess strong swimming skills. This is an important precaution while the boat is in motion, in case of a boating accident or someone falling overboard. And remember, boats should only be driven by licensed drivers and never be driven by someone under the influence of alcohol for optimal safety of all of those on board.

Caution of Currents

Understand that swimming in a lake is not the same as swimming in the more controlled environment of a pool. There are currents, even in a large lake. As well as waves caused by other boats passing by. For everyone’s safety, it is highly recommended that you swim only in designated swimming areas or just off of a shore, where most boats won’t be passing. And be sure to anchor the boat and turn off the motor completely before anyone exits to swim.

This summer, keep your friends and family safe by taking these precautions during lake boating excursions. And remember, every month is water safety month!