News — Family

Get Your Pontoon Boat Ready for the Season: Springtime is Upon Us!

By: Pontoon-Depot, Amy Cabanas

Pic By: PontoonPedia

Spring is 10 days away!

What could be better than starting off the FIRST DAY OF SPRING with Pontoon-Depots’ favorite season …. Fishing! 

Pontoon boats are great for fishing, family get togethers and of course having a party with friends. Though, bear in mind, you’ll need to make sure you have everything you need before the season starts or the party begins. First, you want to ask yourself a few questions before getting out on the water. What do we need to have fun, yet be safe. Additionally, you want to be ready for the season in general with any new items to make your life easier on the water or more fun. Either way make sure you check everything off your list so that you can have as much fun as possible.

Considering making a new pontoon boat purchase, be sure you understand that the size does matter. Sixteen to nineteen-foot boats are best for small bodies of water. Twenty to twenty-two-foot boats are best for lakes & rivers, and twenty-three to twenty-seven-foot pontoons are the best for rough water and they can accommodate up to fifteen people. This is great news if you are close to the ocean and you have a big family or a large circle of friends.

Whether you enjoy fishing, sunbathing, or water sports, all of these are awesome options when you own a pontoon boat. But it’s also key to make sure everyone is safe and having fun. For lounging & sunbathing you may want to consider a larger deck and a super cool sound system, these are all accessories Pontoon-Depot can help you with. For those of you with big families and large parties, don’t forget that storage should be top on your list for food and drinks. Also, make sure your pontoon is equipped with lots of seating. And lastly, for those of you who enjoy water sports, make sure you have easy access for your pontoon boat into & out of the water.

With all this being said, durability of your accessories, seating and flooring will be important. If you have a pontoon boat already but it’s in need of some upgrading, consider the newest woven vinyl flooring over the old school traditional boat carpeting. I promise you that you will be much happier with it, when it comes to mold, general cleaning, and mildew, oh, and it’s also slip resistant!!

Above all things, make sure to look for a warranty that covers most parts and labor for everything on your boat, including the electronic components, that are most prone to weather-related failures. 

If you check all these boxes, you’re sure to have a great boating experience with your pontoon! 

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

Full Duplex Wireless Headsets, Truly Marriage Savers!

By: Panbo

I’ve often heard wireless headsets referred to as marriage savers but before cruising full time I didn’t realize the accuracy of the nickname.  Now after several years of regular use, I wouldn’t want to cruise without them.  But there are multiple brands and types of headsets, and two we’ve used extensively each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Before getting into the details, I’ll explain when the headsets became important to us. Early on, it was fairly easy to tie up at our home slip in Chicago with dock lines preset and a well-understood plan, and unfamiliar docks were definitely the exception. But when we began cruising, nearly every docking was at a new slip and frequently prone to last minute changes. Chaos sometimes ensued.

Have Another Day has a stern docking camera with a good view of the swim platform and a microphone in the camera.  That microphone allows me to hear my wife, Laura, when she’s standing in our cockpit and frequently a dockhand standing near the stern.  This could lead to dialogs that went something like this:

• Dockhand to Laura:  Do you want this line cleated off?
• Laura (looking at the camera): Do you want the line cleated?
• Me (in a fairly normal voice):  Yes
• Laura: Ben, do you want this line cleated off?
• Me (in a louder but still not shouting voice):  Yes
• Laura (in a more insistent tone): BEN, do you want this line cleated off?
• Me (in a full shout):  YES
• Laura (in an annoyed tone):  Okay, but you don’t have to yell…

After a few of those exchanges, the need for better communications was clear.  With a little research, I determined that there are two companies with strong products to suit our needs.

Eartec UltraLITE

The Eartec UltraLITE headsets use DECT 6.0 — the standard developed for cordless phones that finally made them work reliably, if you remember those — in the 1900mhz frequency range.  The UltraLITE headset is available in single and dual earcup designs depending on the user’s preference and up to five headsets can be connected to each other for full-duplex communications between all headsets. Full-duplex is the ability to both talk and hear the other person at the same time, unlike some alternatives like VHF handhelds.

Each UltraLITE system consists of one master headset and up to four remote headsets, and the master must be powered up for any headsets to be able to converse.   Eartec offers their headsets in bundles with varrying configurations of single and dual ear-cup ranging from $385 for a two person, single ear-cup system to $1,020 for a five person, dual ear-cup system.  All configurations include batteries, charger and a carrying bag.  If more than five headsets are needed an Eartec Hub can be used which allows up to 9 headsets to converse.

Ultralite self-contained headsets can also be paired with the ULP1000 beltpack which supports a number of corded headsets.  UltraLITE and beltpack headsets have an advertised range of 400 meters in open areas.

The headsets and beltpacks all use a common lithium-ion rechargeable battery back.  Eartec includes either a 2 or 8 battery charger based on the number of headsets in the bundle ordered.  Additional chargers are available to charge either two ($50) or eight ($80) batteries at a time.  Eartec says each battery lasts 6 hours on a charge.

Sena Headsets

Sena’s line of headsets use Bluetooth to connect to each other and also to mobile devices.  So, in addition to being used as an intercom, the Sena headsets can be used as a Bluetooth headset for phone conversations and as stereo wireless headphones to listen to music.  Sena’s headsets can support up to four parties in an intercom session.  

Sena has four different models two lightweight models and two more rugged and water resistant models.  The $150 Expand with a short fixed microphone is the lowest priced model, the $180 SPH10-10  adds a flexible boom microphone, a jog wheel to control it and a wired auxiliary input.  The more rugged Tufftalk series has sound deadening capabilities for high noise environments and also have FM radios built in.  The $250 Tufftalk Lite is the entry model, while the $400 Tufftalk is the most rugged and heavily built of the lineup.

Sena says their headsets have a range of up to 800 meters in open areas.

How do they compare?

Whichever headset brand you choose you won’t go wrong, but the two companies’  products have quite a few differences and you may find one brand fits your needs better than the other.   Overall, I’ve found the audio quality to be higher on Eartec’s headsets.  The Sena’s audio quality is perfectly acceptable (I would equate it as similar to telephone call quality), but the Eartec’s quality is really good.   But then again, Sena’s ability to make or take phone calls –like maybe with the marina office– or listen to some soothing music in the background may be more valuable to you.

All of Eartec’s self-contained units (those without a separate belt pack and headset) are over the head style and come in a single headband size.  I have an abnormally large head and hence have had no troubles with UltraLITE staying on my head, but my more normal wife has found that if she leans forward too far the headset slips off.  The Sena’s Expand and SPH10-10 are both behind the neck style which seems to better fit smaller heads.

The Eartec units are a little simpler to get connected for conversations between more than two headsets.  UltraLITE headsets ship be paired to a master unit and can all be used together as soon as they’re powered up.  The Sena headsets will automatically establish a two-party conference On power up, but each additional headset has to call one of the active pair to join the conversation.  This isn’t hard to do — it’s initiated with a simple button press — but it’s another step that must be completed before everyone is talking together.

The Sena units are only available in dual-ear designs with both ears covered.  In docking situations, I would prefer to have one ear uncovered to be able to hear what’s happening around the boat as well as what my crew is saying.  Eartec has models with both single and dual ear cups.

Although the Sena headsets have a longer stated range, in my testing I found the Eartecs to work over greater distances.  The Eartecs both went further before audio began to break up and worked a greater distance before the audio became so garbled it couldn’t be understood.  Both headsets provide real-world range of several hundred feet with good quality and working through multiple decks into the engine room has never been a problem, so I don’t think range will be a major factor for either company’s headsets.

This summer while navigating a challenging area Laura used our dinghy to lead Have Another Day through the shallows.  We’ve done this before with two-way radios but with headsets we were able to comfortably converse without breaking concentration or taking hands off the vessel controls for the radio.  We also frequently use the headsets in a lock and while performing maintenance tasks in the engine room that requires someone at the helm.

We have been thrilled with the difference full-duplex headsets make while docking.  Instead of minimal communication at a yell, we are able to carry on conversations in a normal speaking voice and calm tone.  Docking can be stressful and nothing gets my stress up faster than having someone who can see part of the boat I can’t yelling something I can’t make out.  I’m left to wonder: Should I stop?  Should I throw the boat in reverse?  Should I keep going?   With headsets, I know the difference between “someone fell in so stop everything“ and “oh look, a dolphin.”

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.

The Pontoon Boat Bar: How to Make Your Boat Party Dreams Come True!

By: BetterBoat

Who doesn’t love being the life of the party?

Well, when you’re hosting a party on your pontoon, the ‘toon itself might steal the stage.

Especially if it’s a got a built-in wet bar.

Sure, you can install one later, but if you’re considering a new pontoon purchase, you might as well look for a ‘toon with this popular feature included.

It seems like an added luxury that you don’t really need, but entertaining friends and family are what days on the water are all about. And what better space to gather around than a built-in wet bar on your pontoon deck?

Whether you’d prefer to perch on a stool or lean back on a bench, pontoon boat bars can create a social atmosphere for cocktail-mixing adults, as well as contained areas for children to eat.

The Pontoon Boat Bar: How to Make Your Boat Party Dreams Come True

There are several varieties of pontoon bar types available.

I mean, if you’ve ever attended a boat show, you’ll notice the sheer variety in pontoon boat bar styles.

Some have a simple galley where you can store a few liters, whereas others might be full-blown, high-top counters with sinks and stools.

Add-on Bars

Okay, let’s say you already own your own pontoon and are looking to upgrade it a bit with a new bar.

Luckily, there are always attachable Docktail bars and accessories if you just need something smaller-scale or temporary.

For example, they’ve got a handy utility table (check price on Amazon) if you need to add counter space.

And, from Boat Outfitters, here’s another add-on bar option (check price on Amazon) that can be installed right on your boat’s deck.

Then, you can look for the additional appliances that complete the whole pontoon boat bar, like a mini-fridge and portable ice maker.

If you’re looking to buy a new (or just new-to-you) boat, then you can seek out a model with all of the good integrated.

We’ll help you with that now. Before giving you a list of boat models that carry bars, here’s a list of common styles you might come across while you’re checking out the market.

Bar Tops

You can find a variety of boats with basic, bar-height seating arrangements without putting out much for optional upgrades.

A lot of boats will have this as part of the entire package, just without the sink.

I find bar tops are useful for everyone, even if you’re more of a quiet boater and not an entertainer. They give you a nice place to sit and eat lunch. Don’t need all the appliances of a home kitchen and only want to pack a cooler? Not problem.

Built-in Wet Bars

A wet bar is a bar with a sink (at least). You may also come across wet bars with fridges and occasionally grills. Of course, a grill is easy enough to add yourself.

On some pontoons, you may find both a built-in wet bar on one side and a galley on the other. This combination can be quite nice, as it provides maximum counter space and cabinet storage space.

With a setup like this, you don’t have to get creative with your boat storage ideas.

Galleys

Galley kitchens inside our homes are designed as maybe one or two walls where all the cabinets and appliances are hooked up.

Since a pontoon has minimal space for these kitchen accessories, you’ll typically see galleys lined up along either the port or starboard railing.

You can find pontoon bar galleys with many amenities including mounted stoves. On the other hand, you can also find them very minimal with only counter space and a bit of cabinetry to store items. In the latter case, the galley is paired with another standing bar feature.

One thing to mention: Keep in mind that none of these bar tops are adequate for preparing fish. If that’s something anglers are looking for, many pontoon manufacturers carry pontoon models offering an optional fish station.

6 Pontoon Boats with Enviable Bars for Entertaining

Whether it’s cocktails or appetizers you’re after, here are a few boat models with bars in the layout.

To find out what type of pontoon bar is suitable for you and your family, think about how you entertain in your own home.

Do you typically sit gathered around a table? Or are you too active and prefer to stand to eat and run?

1. Bennington

• Bar Type: Portside Bar (Optional Starboard Galley)

• Seating: Standard Height Chairs

Bennington’s G22 Bar and Galley Pontoon Boats have very nice touches like under lighting at the bar and cup holders for those moonlight cruises. Although you won’t find the sink at the galley side, you’ll find it in front of the bar.

The bar does not have stools, per se. Instead, it has reclining swivel chairs, which to me is much more luxurious.

The starboard galley is optional. With the sink in front of the bar, if you feel you need the counter space and storage beneath to hide away all the plastic tumblers and plates your heart desires, I’d suggest adding the galley. Again, Bennington adds nice touches like stainless railings.

2. Veranda

• Bar Type: Bar Top
• Seating: 2 Club Chairs

Also called the Vertex Bar Series, standard features of this series include lighted drink holder, a tilt-out trash can and a fiberglass bar with deluxe seating.

It only consists of a bar top, not the whole shebang wet bar or even a galley area. But if you never intend to mix cocktails and need a prep station for snacks, this might be just all that you need.

Keeping it simple by preparing lunch ahead of time is how most ‘tooners think. And the more counters you have, the more you’ll need to clean up at the end of the day. For some of us, this is plenty of space for entertaining.

Veranda 2016 Relax Bar Series

• Bar Type: Bar Top

• Seating: 2 Swivel Seats

Veranda’s Relax Series Bar differs from the Vertex Bar in one major way. It has a non-skid vinyl bar top instead of fiberglass. But that’s just the bar feature.

The Veranda Relax Series is an entirely different model entirely. Their floor plans are very similar, but the Relax series has more optional upgrades.

3. Sylvan Mandalay 8525 Bar

• Bar Type: Aft Bar and Port Galley
• Seating: 2 Stools

Sylvan’s bar is located in the aft, which is a bit unusual placement by pontoon bar standards.

The most impressive part, in my opinion, is the pop-up glass and plate holder, located on the back of the bar’s top. It was a smartly-planned use of what could have been wasted space behind the bar.

Other features include a faux granite countertop, a sink (which I find to be larger than average for these bars) and a pull-out drawer where a cooler is stored beneath.

The portside galley adds a bit more counter space for preparing drinks. With this galley, you have the option of adding a small fridge. In addition to the bar, located on the starboard side are two bucket seats with a built-in insulated cooler between them.

4. Godfrey SanSpan 2500 WetBar

• Bar Type: Wet Bar
• Seating: 2 Barstools

If you love to entertain guests and prepare fresh meals right from your pontoon, this bar area feels more like your own personal kitchen space.

Visually separated by the bar and optional flooring change, if you’re looking for a lot of counter space to spread out for a burger-building station—this is your pontoon!

Aside from the overall space, it has most bells and whistles other pontoon bars incorporate like cup holder lighting and stainless steel rails (to keep that drink from sliding off).

5. Avalon Pontoons 2018 Ambassador Entertainer

• Bar Type: Wet Bar and Port and Starboard Galley
• Seating: Booth Benches

Avalon’s Ambassador Entertainer Bar will make your jaw drop. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing but nothing was spared in this fully-equipped galley and wet bar combo.

Corian-like counter surface with an electric refrigerator, a built-in sink with stainless faucet. There are even hidden cold-storage compartments. Avalon really utilized every square inch of volume in this bar. Not much empty space to speak of.

You can cook your meals at the aft prep center and take your plate to an illuminated bistro table. On the bistro table is a curved stainless double wine bottle holder, but the coolest thing—a hidden wine rack beneath them that raises with only the push of a button.

6. Manitou SES Series

SES Bar

•  Bar Type: Bar Top
• Seating: 4 Bar Stools

Manitou’s SES Bar has no galley sink or extra counter space. It only comes with the bar top and four adjustable height bar stools.

The main difference the SES Bar has from the Entertainer is a lounge bench placed starboard where the galley or wet bar would normally go. If you plan to store your food and drinks in a personal cooler, no big deal. But something to consider.

SES Galley

• Bar Type: Galley

• Seating: Booth Benches

This galley is pretty decked out. A built-in grill for flipping burgers, a refrigerator to keep your drinks cool and a sink to wash up.

The only difference the SES Galley has—compared to the SES Entertainer and SES Bar—is bench seating.

Without a bar top, it will feel like the equivalent of taking your drinks into the living room, except there’s not even a cocktail table. If you feel the need for some sort of flat surface to eat on, this may not be the bar boat for you.

However, I do like the open space it provides without the table. And bench seating is more family friendly, allowing children to cozy up without having to be lifted up to a bar stool. If you allow pets on seats, they can jump up freely too.

SES Entertainer

• Bar Type: Bar Top and Galley

• Seating: 2 Bar Stools and 1 Bench Lounger

The Entertainer is the most bar space you can get from Manitou Pontoons. Like the SES Bar and SES Galley, it has both a bar table and extra counter space.

The SES Bar’s lounger is replaced with the wet bar including a sink, mountable grill and refrigerator below.

The seating consists of a pair of height-adjustable stools on one side of the bar top, and a bench on the other. One nice feature I absolutely love it is that the bench converts into a sun lounger.

This list is by no means the entire world of pontoon boat bars on the market. And of course, there are more pontoon models designed every year.

If you don’t see exactly what you like, talk to your favorite manufacturer about having it custom made. It’s important to find a pontoon fitting your particular needs.

Once you’re set up, entertaining on the lake can be a lot of fun.

Of course, with a bar on board, just remember that it’s important to drink responsibly (yes, even if you’re not the captain).

Heavy drinking to the point of getting plastered can result in falling overboard and creating an emergency situation. Being alert when on the water can mean life or death.

Have fun entertaining, but be safe on the water!

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