News — Boating

5 Big Advantages to a Pontoon Boat

By: JetDock

When it’s time to choose the right kind of boat for your lifestyle, there are several things to consider. It’s important to understand the experience level that is required with certain watercrafts as well as affordability and ease of use.

Pontoon boats should always be part of the conversation when choosing what kind of boat to purchase. Among the different kinds of watercrafts on the market today, a pontoon boat can be the ideal choice for just about any boater. Here are 5 advantages of buying a pontoon boat compared to other watercrafts.

Ample Storage

Because pontoon boats are more spacious than a traditional watercraft, it makes storing important items much easier. If you choose to boat during the fall and into the colder months, it’s inevitable that passengers are going to bring jackets, blankets, and other bulky items. On top of these, you always need extra life vests, snacks, an extra pair clothes, an ice chest, and the rest of your safety equipment. Small power boats simply don’t have the square footage to store important equipment and accommodate more than two people without feeling like your stuck in a  sardine container. A pontoon boat on the other hand, gives you the space you need for extra people and and extra essentials, usually seating a minimum of 11 passengers.

Beginner and Family Friendly

Pontoon boats are the ultimate beginner friendly watercraft. Regardless of your experience, a pontoon is extremely easy to use and maintain. It features a stable platform and controls that are a cinch to master. Because of the sheer weight, pontoon boats are easy to drive and handle, making them unlikely to flip.

Pontoon boats are also great for families with small children. Because pontoons are so spacious, this gives small children the freedom to walk about the boat without “getting in the way.” Older kids can also invite their friends aboard, still leaving plenty of room for everyone’s gear and a make for a more enjoyable trip all around.

Cheaper to Insure

Typically, pontoon boats are less expensive than a power boat, making them cheaper to insure. Pontoon boats under $30,000, can be as little as $20-$30 a month for good insurance coverage. They can also be much cheaper to fix when an accident does occur, making them more appealing to insurance companies. Even a pontoon boat with a souped up engine can carry a cheaper insurance policy than that of a typical power boat when you’re using it for recreational use.

Easy to Dock

Trying to dock your boat can be a stressful experience but with a pontoon boat, it doesn’t hate to be. Because pontoons are easy to drive, they’re also easy to dock. The ideal boat lift is low profile, making it easy to drive onto without backing in and even easier to launch from. You’ll still need to practice docking, but a pontoon is the best way to master the art form.

Long Lifespan

Unlike ski boats, pontoons don’t change much, so there isn’t a need to always upgrade to the latest and best model. Pontoons have a timeless design and are often much more customizable after purchase, making them more appealing for long-term use. For this fact alone, pontoons can last well into the next generation of your family when taking care of properly.

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

When is the Best Time to Buy a Boat? | Pontoon-Depot

By: Boats.com

When the stars align and the price is right, this guidance can help you decide if it’s the right day to make your purchase.

Ask anyone in the retail boat business, “When is the best time to buy a boat?” and they’ll answer, “Today.” Probe a little further and you’ll find there’s more to consider, including where you live, whether you’re buying new or used, and the time of year and the time of the month.

Conventional wisdom says that boat sellers have monthly quotas, just as car sellers do, and that better prices can be negotiated near the end of the month. But that’s not necessarily true in the boat business.

“The volume is so different than in the auto industry,” says Chuck Cashman, chief revenue officer for MarineMax, “I haven’t met a brand with heavy incentives.” He adds that companies like his do, in fact, look at their business on a monthly basis, and more deals tend to be closed near the end of the month, but he believes people can get a good deal early in the month, too.

Even if prices sometimes shade lower toward the end of the month, if you’re looking to buy a boat and you’re not exactly sure what you want, avoiding the last week of the month may be a good idea. Take advantage of a quieter period when you will receive more thought and attention at an otherwise busy boat dealership.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO BUY A NEW BOAT?

The new model year begins each summer, and boats for sale in the spring may sell for a lower price as the date approaches for the new models to arrive. Simply waiting until late June or early July to buy the older model may backfire in a year such as 2018 when boats are selling quickly. The model you had your eye on may suddenly be gone and you’re boat-less for the season.

Even in a rising market, builders like to prime the pump for the new model year and will often offer dealers short-term incentive to sell their new 2019 model for the price of a 2018 model. But these models may also be sold out quickly. “As a result, August is often a very strong sales month,” says Barrett Canfield, who owns a high-volume Beneteau dealership, South Coast Yachts, in San Diego.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO BUY A USED BOAT?

Whether you’re after a new or used boat, says Canfield, “The time to buy the boat you want in 2018 is whenever you can get your hands on it.” The used-boat market is hot right now because the economy is doing well and there is a scarcity of boats for sale. The latter is due largely to the effects of the recession, which dramatically reduced new-boat manufacturing from 2008-2013. Those 6 or 8 year old boats you might like to buy now simply don’t exist in adequate numbers. As Cashman puts it, “If you see that 2012 370 Sundancer you’ve been looking for, buy it now. If you wait until tomorrow, it may well be sold.”

This is not necessarily the case with unusual older boats such as trawlers or custom racing sailboats. And if you’re willing to fix up or repower an older boat, there may be plenty of low-priced boats out there at entry-level prices. But be forewarned that the time to buy an older or project boat depends on being patient enough to discover the right boat that isn’t too big a project for your time or your budget. At the same time, be sure to buy the boat soon enough that you can finish the project work and be on the water before the upcoming season—or the season after, depending on your time frame.

DOES PURCHASE TIMING DIFFER IN SEASONAL VS. YEAR-ROUND MARKETS?

In seasonal boating areas where boats come out of the water as the snow flies, spring and early summer are typically high season for boat sales, but that’s not necessarily the best time to buy. A good case can be made for buying a new boat in the fall. Often, dealers will cover the cost of winter storage and when spring rolls around, your boat will have priority to be launched and you’ll enjoy the first good boating weekends of the season. On the used-boat market, the same terms will often be negotiable; a seller facing another year of yard costs will often discount their offering price to encourage you to make the deal ahead of the winter.

Canfield points out that in year-round boating areas like San Diego, the best time to buy is often more a matter of when everything lines up—when business is good, your slip becomes available, and your spouse says yes.

Another dynamic that  comes into play in warm-weather states like Florida is transient populations. According to Cashman, the market for boats heats up in the late fall and winter when the snowbirds fly south to escape winter. While locals may be donning sweaters and jackets, the average boater from Michigan or Ontario thinks the boating season is just getting underway when they arrive in November, so it can become quite busy at dealer and broker offices.

If you’re following our contrarian arguments thus far, you’ll know where we’re going next; when spring comes, some of those same snowbirds will be looking at their boats and thinking it’s time to part ways rather than put the boat in mothballs for the next six months. As a result, you may find the best deal in April for the used boat of your dreams—even if you’re a fellow snowbird and won’t use the boat until the next fall.

SHOULD YOU BUY WHEN REASON OR EMOTION IS ASCENDANT?

To some extent, every boat-buying decision involves emotions, but if you’re rushing things, the reasoning part of your brain may get trampled by pent-up desires to take ownership. You need some of that desire or you may never buy a boat, but if you can hold out, give yourself a little time to put reason and emotion in balance.

“I encourage shoppers to do as much research as they can,” says Canfield. “Watch all the YouTube videos, and find a broker or salesperson you can relate to. Then let your emotions be involved too and make it fun. We want you to have a wonderful experience buying a boat.”

So make a plan (boats.com has some guidance if you’re a first time buyer), research the type of boat you want, meet potential sellers and learn about pricing, and then negotiate the purchase when the time is right. If good, new and used boats remain scarce, your planning will give you the confidence to sign on the dotted line when the right boat shows up. And all the while you are doing your homework, the anticipation of owning the boat and spending time connecting onboard it as a family can be an exciting part of the process. Plan a real party, too, for the day you take delivery, and that will be exactly the right time to buy your next boat.

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

FOUR GREAT AUTUMN PONTOON BOATING DESTINATIONS

By: Benningtonmarine

While summer might be the season that comes to mind as the prime time for your pontoon boat, autumn opens the door to endless possibilities for boating destinations. The crisp air makes you feel alive, as you are no longer battling the oppressive heat. The explosion of fall foliage will take your breath away, and the opportunity to escape on the water before winter arrives makes each journey irresistible. Seize the moment as you enjoy the gift of fall weather and enjoy some of the following boating destinations in autumn.

Experience the Adirondacks

The Adirondack Park in upstate New York offers you more than the mountains and forest. You have thousands of lakes at your disposal to give you prime boating opportunities. Load up your pontoon boat and get ready for an unforgettable, weekend getaway. Lake Placid, Blue Mountain Lake, and Lake George are only a few of the favorites that await you.

Head North to Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a favorite destination in Maine at any time of the year, but you'll see fall finery at its best when you venture out in your pontoon boat in the autumn. Experience Maine's rocky coastline and the Acadia National Park. When you're ready to come back to the dock, you can do some sightseeing on land or try some seafood to cap off the day.

Visit Lake Michigan and Saugatuck

Saugatuck is a quaint town situated on Lake Michigan that offers you an incredible view through October. Enjoy nature's finest and a lovely place to stay the night when your boating adventure is done. You'll find that any of the Great Lakes are ideal for autumn boating as you experience all that the region has to offer. 

Drift Away on Tennessee's Lake Tellico

Head further south and you'll find that the fall foliage hangs on longer, allowing you to enjoy more seasonable weather and autumn colors into November. Hold off winter a little longer and wait before you pack your pontoon away for the season. Lake Tellico offers you many opportunities to explore the waterways as it merges with the Tennessee River and Fort Loudon Lake. The Great Smoky Mountains will rise above you, giving you an unforgettable view while you take in your Tennessee surroundings.

Pick your pleasure. Fall has a bountiful assortment of boating destinations waiting for you.

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

Tackle Box: Fall Fishing Chores | Pontoon-Depot

By: Pdbmagazine 

Assuming your fishing season is coming to its annual autumnal break, one of the best ways to increase your odds at fishing success next spring starts with what you do to your boat and tackle now.

Take for instance your boat’s motor. Unless you enjoy wetting a line at the dock, you can’t go fishing from your boat if the motor won’t run. And if you live anywhere there’s a threat of sub-freezing air temperatures this winter, you need to make sure there’s no water in the engine’s crank case or lower unit. That means getting your engine vertical (ie: tilted all the way down) and keeping it that way over the storage period. That orientation will allow gravity to draw all the moisture down into the lower unit, through the lubricant (water is heavier than oil), where the water can be drained via the plug placed there for the purpose before it can freeze, expand and do their damage. Top off the lower unit with fresh lube or replace it entirely and you have one less task standing between you and the fishing grounds next spring.

While draining the lower unit, remove the engine’s propeller and check for any sign of fishing line that may have found its way and wound its way around the shaft. Fishing line, especially the new super-braids, left to spin and wear through a seal or score a shaft, creates one of the most common entry points for water to get into the motor in the first place. 

I replaced my pair of six-gallon metal fuel tanks with three-gallon plastic ones last year, primarily to force me to use fresh fuel during the fishing season. I found that, depending on how and when I used it, my 9.9hp Johnson outboard could take a month or more to consume six-gallons of ethanol-“enriched” gasoline that some experts say has a shelf life of nine weeks. I enjoyed flawless engine operation all season and found that when it did come time to refill the tanks, they were much easier to carry to and from the truck and filling station than the larger six gallon containers. Those small tanks pay off now as well, for when I have some left over at the end of the season, there’s a small enough amount that I can easily pour it into the tank of my SUV so that I can start with full tanks of fresh gas next fishing season.

Metal tanks, most advise, may be best left topped off with fuel that has been stabilized and treated to thwart the effects of ethanol.For those pontoon and deck boats with built-in tanks, if they are plastic, condensation isn’t nearly as big a problem as it is with metal fuel tanks. With fluctuating air temperatures, the walls of a partially filled metal tank will condense and weep moisture into the remaining gasoline that will cause problems when it comes time to use it as engine fuel. Many experts now say that it’s better to empty plastic internal tanks for storage over the off-season and fill them with fresh gasoline when it’s time to go boating again. 

If your boat has been docked all season and has a fish-finder, take time to clean the face of the transducer as soon as the boat is removed from the water and before the slime that accumulated on the unit has time to dry and harden. Make sure the transducer is secure to the hull and facing straight down to give the most accurate sonar readings. Check again for that face-down orientation next spring and before every launching. Check the mounting hardware on all rod holders and fish-finders now as well, and get them secure while you’re thinking about it; you don’t want that first good fish of the season ripping a rod holder out of the gunwale to remind you next spring.

Check your rods for lose guides or missing inserts and get them scheduled for repair or replacement over the off season—when tackle shops have more time to offer such services and you don’t have to suffer through any “down time” during the fishing season without your favorite rod or reel. Go through the tackle box and remove any leaking Gulp! containers, discard any rock-hard Powerbaits and tighten any stinky dip bait jars that threaten to permeate the box and foul the air over the winter. Separate rubber worms, grubs and skirts from lures with finishes that might be damaged by the reaction between their respective surfaces.Fishing tackle deserves some love come autumn too. I find that watching football games—at least those that I don’t have an emotional or monetary stake in—provide a great time to remove all the old fishing line from my reels and re-spool with new. Back off the drags on all your reels now as well, to keep the washers from assuming compressed postures full-time, and oil any moving, exterior parts of the reel.

Finally, look at your landing net and check for holes in the webbing. The little ones are supposed to be there; the big one on the side signals it’s time to replace the netting—or give yourself a reason to kick yourself when it comes time to land that first big fish next spring.

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