News — DIY

Today’s Pontoons | Boatmate is Taking Trailers to a New Level.

By: Pontoon and Deck Boat

The evolution of pontoons over the past 10 or so years is actually quite impressive when you step back and admire the tremendous growth. Today’s boats are bigger, faster and loaded with amenities most would never have thought possible on a pontoon boat. As more focus is being placed on these high-end performance pontoons, can the same be said about the trailer? Or simply put: does your trailer below keep pace with your investment above? That’s a question we feel more consumers need to be asking when buying pontoon boats built today. 

In an attempt to learn more about the advancements in pontoon trailers specifically, we reached out to Boatmate Trailers, a Tennessee-based manufacturer, who is quickly gaining in market share by offering quality trailers built to match the next generation of pontoons.

At Boatmate Trailers, their mission is to exceed customers’ expectations with innovative, quality products and exceptional service to the marine industry, and that was clear to us as we took a closer look at one of its standard trailers. 

“Boatmate has been in business 30-plus years and has evolved into pontoon trailers over the past 10 years,” says Randy O’Malia, the regional sales and marketing manager. “We’re building trailers to match the new style of today’s pontoons. A lot of people are out there looking for more and we want to give them a trailer that mimics what they buy with their pontoon itself.” 

Package Deal? 
O’Malia’s advice to those considering buying a new boat today is to pay close attention when you’re shopping for your next pontoon trailer. While some manufacturers offer packages that include trailers, savvy buyers always consider the big picture and want to make sure the trailer offered is best for their needs. 

“Our company is strong in engineering and we’re always looking ahead,” adds O’Malia. “We like our product to look good, but safety is our highest priority." 

Another factor to Boatmate’s popularity is their willingness to listen to dealers as well as to customers. When the manufacturer first started building trailers the bunks were fixed, but after consulting with dealers they decided to make them adjustable for a more custom fit for each pontoon.

A Step For Your Step 
There are several key features that allow Boatmate trailers to stand out against others, including their exclusive built-in spiral stairway. 

“We’ve noticed with other trailers you need a step ladder just to get to the trailer ladder,” says O’Malia. “We have a built-in step below the trailer frame and then the staircase wraps around for easy access. This ladder has been very well-received by our dealers and customers and we’re proud of this design as well.”

The specific trailer we inspected included standard features like alloy wheels, LED lights and polyurethane paint. The only options were the vinyl bunk covers and the boat guide. The vinyl bunks are a new dealer-inspired option, but carpet is still available as a standard feature. Another nice added touch is the large transom step that provides easy access to get on the boat, as well as other user-friendly designs. 

Providing customers with superior products for the best value will continue to be the focus at Boatmate Trailers. Before you buy your next pontoon you should take into consideration what will be cradling it as you’re cruising down the road to your favorite body of water. 

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

Joining A Marina Community | In Boating Safety, Tips and Pontoons!

By: LoweBoats.com

Boating means many things to many people. For some, it means thrill-seeking hours of wakeboarding, water skiing and tubing, or perhaps it means peaceful daybreak and twilight hours with a rod and tackle. For others, it means relaxing cruises and warm summer afternoons of dropping the hook for swimming, sunbathing and dining al fresco.

But at its heart, boating is really about community. As you share your passion for the on-water lifestyle with your family and friends, you naturally will gravitate to other families, couples or groups who share the same interests. And when you become a community, your entire on-water experience goes to the next level. It just keeps getting better and better.

Yet, how can you find those like-minded people?

It’s easy. Find a marina near you or near your favorite cruising grounds that fits your personality and lifestyle. It’s guaranteed that most of the other boaters there will be your kind of boaters. In fact, the right marina will provide countless ready-made playdates.

How do you choose the right marina? It’s simple: Do a little homework, and talk to people — marina management and slip-holders alike.

These are a few important questions to ask yourself as you start reviewing marina prospects:

• Does the marina easily accommodate boats like yours? A sailors’ marina might not be the best for a pontooner seeking other pontooners, and a marina catering to larger cruising boats might not be as appealing as one that serves vessels of all sizes, shapes and styles.
• Is the marina located in or near appropriate waters? A pontooner should dock his or her boat in a marina that offers access to relatively sheltered cruising grounds with lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore. A coastal marina that is a gateway to big, open and frequently rough waters wouldn’t be the best place for a pontoon.
• What amenities are important to you? Are you simply looking for a place to dock your boat and hang out with other boaters, or would you like to take advantage of shower facilities, laundry, picnic areas, special events and other attractions?
• Is there a good vibe on the docks? Do people look like they’re enjoying themselves? Ask them how they like the marina and if there have been any problems or concerns.
• How do you feel when you tour the facility and talk with the management? Do you feel ill at ease, or do you feel comfortable? In the end, you want to form a relationship with the marina owners and staff. If you feel that they’re your kind of people, you’re going to be happy keeping your pontoon there.

For extroverts, some of the main delights at a marina are hanging out on the boat at the end of a fun day on the water, visiting with the boaters next door and across the way, savoring an ice-cold beverage and listening to music.

At the nearby Skipper Bud’s Quarter Deck Marina, seasonal slip-holders could enhance their experience with outdoor grills, an outdoor fireplace, a covered pavilion and a plush boaters’ lounge with all the extras. On one occasion, I spotted a crowd of boaters enjoying an impromptu suppertime picnic in the pavilion — their laughter and good cheer were infectious.

Some marinas, like the Bay Harbor Lake Marina in Bay Harbor, Michigan, offer formal events such as in-water boat shows, classic boat shows and rendezvous cruise-ins. Others, like Marina Jack’s in Sarasota, Florida,  are part of large complexes that incorporate restaurants, retail outlets and watersports equipment rentals.

The best part is that you don’t need to be on the East or West coasts or in the Great Lakes. You can be an inland-lake boater and still enjoy the very best of marina life. Just look at operations such as the Ozark Yacht Club  in Missouri, the Holiday Marina on Georgia’s Lake Lanier and even the Frisco Bay Marina  and Dillon Marina, both located at 9,000 feet in the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

Marinas have embraced the idea that they, too, need to focus on community. To that end, they have added those aforementioned amenities — things like swimming pools, picnic areas, pavilions and gazebos — that encourage gathering. And they have created a formidable list of events, from Venetian parades, Fourth of July fireworks and Halloween trick-or-treating to regattas, cruising clubs, rendezvous events and dockside barbecues.

If you don’t currently belong to a marina community, what are you waiting for? Jump online and do a search for marinas in your chosen boating area. You might also want to do a more general search for exciting events and activities in that region… for example, in the Lake of the Ozarks, you won’t want to miss www.funlakelife.com and www.lakeozarknow.com.

Don’t be shy – your new and improved boating lifestyle is out there, waiting for you!

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

How To Launch A Pontoon Boat The Right Way | Pontoon-Depot

By: Manitou Pontoon Boats

Launching a boat is something every boater needs to do in order to enjoy a day on the water. As such, everyone owes it to everyone else to know how to do it right and do it quickly. Every second spent dawdling at the launching ramp not only cuts into your day, but into everyone else’s day as well.

Once you get to the launching ramp, it’s too late to cram for your real-life test. By preparing in advance and knowing what to do when, you’ll be able to efficiently launch your boat free of angry horns and shouts from other boaters.

BEFORE YOU REACH THE LAUNCHING RAMP

Prepare your boat before you approach the ramp. This ensures when it’s your turn, you’re ready to go without any delay.

• Load your safety equipment, mooring lines, and other gear into the boat.
• Unhook and stow the transom straps.
• Disconnect any incandescent light-bulb plugs.
• Gather your mooring line and fenders, making them ready to use.
• Make sure your drain plug, if your boat has one, is in place.

WHILE ON THE LAUNCHING RAMP 

You’ve waited your turn, and ideally everyone in front of you followed all the same steps you’re following, continuing a friendly and efficient day of boat launching. Now, prepare yourself to get your boat into the water.

• Get a spotter. Move all kids and onlookers from the ramp area and put a spotter out there. Launching is easier with one person driving and another directing.
• Situate your vehicle and boat. Line up your vehicle and trailer as straight as possible, about the length of a trailer away from the water.
• Back into the water. Slowly back your trailer down the ramp, only making small, fine-tuned steers. If you need to straighten the trailer, driving forward a bit can be a big help. When the stern begins floating in the water, stop.
• Secure your vehicle. Set the parking brake. If you have an excessively large boat, chock the wheels on your vehicle.

GETTING IN THE WATER

At this point, you’re ready to get your boat off the trailer and into the water.

• Unhook the boat. Disconnect the winch strap and safety chain from the trailer. Next, back the boat away from the trailer. When the water is just above the wheels of the trailer, you’re ready for the next step.

• Launch the boat. Start your boat’s engine. Important: make sure the engine is in the water before you crank it. Shift into reverse and gently back up. All Manitou boats have to be powered with the engine into the water off the trailer—you can’t float it back by hand. If, after applying gentle power, your boat doesn’t move, you probably need to back up farther.

SECURING THE BOAT

Now that you’re in the water, tie your mooring lines to the dock. Make sure all your passengers and supplies are nearby and ready to board. By getting everyone and everything on the boat quickly, you show courtesy to other boaters and help keep the launching ramp free of holdups.

While your other passengers are boarding, park your vehicle nearby and make your way back to the boat without delay. Join your family and friends on the boat, untie the mooring lines and off you go.

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

How to Enjoy A Pontoon Boat Experience | Pontoon-Depot

By: Amy Cabanas - Pontoon-Depot

Pic By: TurboSwing

What we’ve learned this past year! 

Welcome to the intersection of imagination and inspiration! Boaters with discriminating taste and a penchant for performance love pontoons. There is a certain sense of serenity that comes with a trip out on the water on a pontoon boat. It can be any body of water and does not necessarily have to be an actual tropical paradise. The smooth ride will have you sitting back and enjoying the day. That kind of experience can make any body of water a welcomed sanctuary. 

The setup of a pontoon boat allows guests to sit back and have a cocktail while enjoying some pleasant conversation. There is no need to speak over the buzzing hum of an engine and no need to worry about choppy seas. The stability of a pontoon boat can give all passengers their very own pair of sea legs. 

There is always the option to throw a line in the water and catch an afternoon meal. Fishing can be done while you kick back and relax underneath the sun. Pontoon boats also offer plenty of shade, which allows passengers to stay cool on a hot summer day. 

But cool is a constant theme when it comes to pontoon boats. Style combined with comfort makes for a truly unique boating experience. There is even plenty of room on a pontoon boat to do some grilling. That kind of functionality provides everything that is needed for a day of leisure. 

Pontoons, as well as tri-toons use cylindrical, metal flotation devices or tubes that keep afloat a broad platform. Pontoons uses 2 tubes and Tri-toons use 3 tubes, this allows a shallow draft and good stability on the water. This type of boat is used primarily used for fishing and cruising inland lakes as well as water sports and as a water borne camper. Pontoons are powered by an outboard engine, stern drive, or an electric motor. 

Pontoon boats have evolved beyond just a form of recreation and transportation. They have evolved into representing a lifestyle, one that provides relaxing days on the water, free of worry and stress. The soft feel of woven vinyl on your feet sold by Pontoon Depot offers top notch quality and will go perfectly with your wrap around comfortable teardrop bench seats, recessed cup holders, and smart design. Let Pontoon-Depot not only show you the way to a better flooring option for your boat but add all the cool accessories that will not disappoint once you and your family get out on the water. 

Let’s enjoy life on a Pontoon Boat, everyone else is doing it!

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