News — Lakes

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.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PONTOON BOATS

By: yhwatersports.com

Picture a sleepy summer day, a warm sunshiny breeze and the smooth sheen of a clear blue lake. The only thing missing is you in this scene on a protective Pontoon boat. Pontoon boats have been a favorite way to enjoy the mixture of sun and water since the fifties. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, pontoon boat sales were up by 48% in 2016. Here are some more facts on this fun-in-the-sun sporting vessel that you should know.

A Little Bit of History

In 1951 the first commercially manufactured pontoon boat is credited to a farmer named Ambrose Weeres from Minnesota. He visioned a craft that was stable in the water and large enough for the whole family. By the late 1960s, pontoons, as we know them today, were a part of every lake across the country.

 Types of Pontoons

• Fiberglass – Used as a construction material for the hulls, it is a lightweight and fairly durable material. Fiberglass pontoons perform well on the water, not subject to rust, and many people prefer its visual appeal. However if damaged repairs can be quite expensive.
• Foam filled – Foam filled pontoons boats are not hollow so they can’t leak and typically cheaper to manufacture. They usually have a plastic exterior and don’t require a thick shell to protect a hollow interior. They typically need to be narrow because the wider they get the lower they sit in the water. This leads to more drag, slower speeds, and poor fuel economy.
• Steel – The main disadvantage of a steel pontoon boat is that steel is a corrosive material, and will rust over time when exposed to moisture and air. Without regular maintenance a steel pontoon can develop leaks and cracks, which may require extensive repairs.
• Aluminum – The most common type of pontoon boat on the market. Unlike steel, aluminum is non-corrosive and wont rust over time just from being exposed to moisture. It’s very durable and repairs are usually easy and relatively inexpensive. Aluminum pontoon boats may be more expensive than other pontoon boats but low maintenance, and knowing that it will last for many years, makes aluminum pontoon boats a top choice for buyers.

            2018 LOWE SF214 SPORT FISH

5 Ways to Use a Pontoon Boat Pontoon-Depot

By: 321 Boat Club

Pontoon boats are the most versatile boats available as they are a perfect for a wide variety of activities.  No matter what kind of activity you are interested in, a pontoon boat can most likely satisfy your needs. This is why these boats are so popular among groups and families. When going out on the water with multiple people, it is most likely that they are going to want to partake in a variety of activities. While other boats are limited in their functionality, pontoon boats allow you to take part in several different activities as if the boat was made for it. Here are five ways that you can use pontoon boats to have fun for your entire crew.

Have a Picnic for Lunch

One of the biggest advantages to being on a pontoon boat is the amount of space and storage available on the boat. There is more space and storage on a pontoon boat than just about any other boat on the market. This gives you plenty of storage space to store food and drinks while you enjoy your activities and plenty of space so that everyone has plenty of space to eat lunch. The Indian River Lagoon has 137 spoil islands that dot the stretch of water but you might rather relax on the padded seats of your pontoon boat rather than sit on the dirty ground. This boat gives you the opportunity.

Celebrate an Event with a Party

In addition to being a great boat to have a picnic on, the storage and space on a pontoon boat also makes it a great place to throw a party. Whether you are looking to celebrate a birthday or just get friends together for the day, you can store all the items you need on the boat and have plenty of room for up to 13 people, plenty for your gathering. The boat features enough room for all the celebratory items you will need, all the people in your party to fit comfortably on the boat, and offer a wide variety of activities that your guests can take part in.

A Pontoon Boat Has a Built-in Platform

If you have a young family, there may be certain activities that your children may not be old enough to take part in yet. Maybe they are not quite old enough to take part in water skiing or maybe they have yet to acquire the swimming skills necessary to venture off on their own in the water. But, especially with kids, they do want to take part in fun activities. The platform on the back of the boat will allow your kids to jump into the water safely where an adult can be waiting to safely get them back to the boat.

Another way to use the platform is for relaxed fishing. While a fishing boat may be better equipped for the activity, the pontoon boat’s platform allows you to dangle your feet in the water as you fish. Just like if you were fishing off a dock. So if you are not looking for a serious fishing expedition but just to relax, a pontoon boat may be perfect for you.

Take Part in Water Sports

One of the most popular ways to have fun on the water is through water sports. Whether you want to go water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, or some other activity, a pontoon boat has you covered. Water skiing and wakeboarding are extreme sports that are very popular. However, if you have younger kids or people that are not comfortable with the more extreme sports, tubing might be a better option. With tubing, people of any age and any level can take part and have fun.

If you are looking to take a boat out on the water, no boat offers more variety than a pontoon boat. No matter where your interest lies, a pontoon boat will allow you take part in those activities you enjoy most. Whether you are looking for a good picnic, a place to celebrate, or want to take part in a variety of activities, a pontoon boat features the storage, space, and amenities to accommodate. If a trip out on a pontoon boat seems right for you, join 321 Boat Club