Small Efforts Make Big Difference in Recreational Boating Safety
There are over 11 million registered boats in the United States. Most boating experiences are positive – the stuff memories are made of. But the most joyful times quickly can turn deadly if boaters are not vigilant about safety – at all times.
One of three things usually happens when a good day on the water turns tragic, according to the U.S. Coast Guard:
- A passenger falls overboard
- A boat capsizes
- A boat collides with another boat or object
In 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard counted 4,291 boating incidents that involved 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries and about $46 million of damage to property.
Perils of Falling in Frigid Water
Hypothermia can set in if a person is exposed to water less than 70 degrees for too long. The body cools 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air, according to the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association. In June 2015, a Utah doctor, his two daughters and one of their friends died in the frigid waters of Bear Lake, about 120 miles north of Salt Lake City, after their boat capsized. Lance Capener reportedly swam to shore with his wife, Kathryn, only to perish when he went back for the girls. Two other teenage girls survived by massaging cramps out of each other's arms and legs and praying while waiting for help to arrive. All were wearing life jackets, but their body temperatures plummeted in the 53-degree water and 70-mph winds.
Just Wear It
Life jackets are the lifeblood of safe boating. The U.S. Coast Guard reports 76% of boating deaths in 2017 were due to drowning, and 84.5% of the victims were not wearing a life jacket. The good news is, comfortable – and stylish – Coast Guard-approved life jackets are widely available. The Wear It campaign promotes boating safety by encouraging boaters to wear life jackets all the time. Before setting sail, review a pre-departure checklist to ensure you have everything you need in your boat, including a tool box and first-aid kit. Once on the water, use common sense. In a split second, a situation can arise or the weather can turn. If you notice storm clouds, a sudden temperature drop or wind speed increasing, the best advice is to play it safe. Get off the water.
Get Educated, Reduce Risks
The National Safe Boating Council promotes safer recreational boating through education, outreach and training. In 2017, Coast Guard data indicates 81% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had no boating safety instruction. By comparison, 14% of deaths occurred where the operator had received a nationally approved boating safety education certificate. To further reduce risk, the Coast Guard offers these tips:
- Don't drink: Alcohol affects judgment, vision, balance and coordination
- Take a safety course
- Get a free vessel safety check; contact a local volunteer here
- Know about carbon monoxide; this odorless, colorless poisonous gas is emitted by all combustion engines and onboard motor generators
The extra effort that goes into taking these kinds of precautions will help create fun-filled adventures for you and your family on the water.
For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.
- Amy Cabanas
- Tags: Boating Boating Safety Family pontoon boat Pontoon Boat Operating safe boating habits summer
Pontoon Boat Maintenance Tips & Tricks | Pontoon-Depot
By: Boat Life
All boats are alike—after all, they’re all designed to keep you above the water, right? Anyone who’s ever owned a pontoon boat, however, knows that there’s more to it than that. A pontoon boat can be a fun, relaxing way to enjoy the water. If you want to go on enjoying the water in your pontoon, here are some key pontoon boat maintenance tips to help keep your boat in top shape.
COVER YOUR BOAT WHEN NOT IN USE
Pontoon boats are just as susceptible to sun damage as any other boat. It’s important to cover the pontoon when it’s not in use or to keep it stored in a dry, sheltered place if possible. Why all the work? Simple: sun damage. While you can head indoors and get out of the sun, a pontoon can be exposed to a continuous blast of UV rays through the day—including the days you don’t use it. To keep its color and quality, it’s vital to add some sort of protection.
USE THE RIGHT ALUMINUM CLEANING PRODUCTS
Why a dedicated cleaner? Won’t soap and water do just fine? You’ll want this cleaner for your pontoon boat maintenance, because it has brightening and polishing properties that you can’t get from soap. The appearance of aluminum can be difficult to restore once you’ve lost it. But regularly using an anti-oxidant cleaner will help to maintain its “like new” appearance over time.When dealing with most boats, fiberglass maintenance is the name of the game. But it’s important to understand how vital aluminum is to your pontoon—and how to care for this light metal. We recommend a dedicated Aluminum Cleaner to deal with all that aluminum and make quick work of it.
SALT WATER IS DIFFERENT THAN FRESH WATER
Sure, you already knew that—but do you know how salt water affects a pontoon differently than fresh water? Some experts recommend flushing the engine after every use when you use a pontoon in salt water.
Fresh water is generally easier on your pontoon, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be exempt from regular cleaning and maintenance. Experts also recommend that you wax your pontoon every season, depending on the quality of the wax—which leads us to our next pontoon boat maintenance tip.
REMEMBER TO PROTECT
Cleaning is vital to maintenance, but if you don’t leave a layer of protection on your pontoon, you’re just spinning your metaphorical wheels. As stated in the previous tip, it’s important to use the proper wax. We recommend Life Wax, because it contains superior UV filters for the ultimate in marine protection.
It’s important to cover your pontoon. It’s also important to regularly inspect your pontoon, especially after you bring it out of the water and have room to look at those hard-to-spot areas.
STAY VIGILANT
Your pontoon boat can be powerful and peaceful, relaxing and reinvigorating. But a pontoon is just like any other boat, which means it requires vigilance if you’re going to extend its life as long as possible. Keep it clean, inspect it regularly, and browse our full collection of boat cleaning products to help keep it
Your pontoon boat can be powerful and peaceful, relaxing and reinvigorating. But a pontoon is just like any other boat, which means it requires vigilance if you’re going to extend its life as long as possible. Keep it clean, inspect it regularly, and browse our full collection of boat cleaning products to help keep it protected.
For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.
- Amy Cabanas
- Tags: Boating pontoon boat tips
Excellence In Customer Satisfaction For Forest River Marine!
Forest River Marine is proud to be recognized by the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) for consecutive years as a recipient of the Marine Industry CSI Award.
Forest River Marine has achieved and maintained an independently measured standard of excellence in customer satisfaction.
This award demonstrates that Forest River Marine builds the highest quality products, and is focused on the needs and satisfaction of the customer by providing them with exceptional customer service and the best warranty in the industry.
For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.
- Amy Cabanas
- Tags: Boating Boating Safety Entertainment pontoon boat
Family-Owned & Operated Self Creek Lodge & Marina...
Pic By: Southern Fishing Boats
...on Lake Greeson is proud of its heritage of offering the most dedicated staff at one of the finest of Arkansas lake resorts. If you’re looking for a vacation in Arkansas, our Lodge & Resort is your answer.
Everything is in place for Self Creek Lodge and Marina to offer our guests a wonderful family vacation in Arkansas at Lake Greeson. We offer year-round events and activities to make your lakeside vacation memorable, fun, and carefree. Our marinastore offers over 2,400 square feet of display and retail area – there’s even a cozy dining area where guests can look out onto the lake and enjoy a plump juicy hot dog fresh off the grill, a delicious pizza, or other great lake snacks. Fishing supplies, lake necessities, sportswear, marine and boating supplies are offered as well as fuel, bait and ice. Friendly and helpful staff greet guests at the fueling tee or behind the spacious oak counter. Outside, a cool, shady patio beckons with comfortable, lake-side seating – the perfect perch for enjoying ice cream!
The resort offers a wide range of covered and uncovered slips for boat storage of every size in a clean, well-maintained marina basin. A full rental fleet includes late model party barges and ski boats.
From across the water, cozy, Arkansas lakeside cabins offer lakers a peek at casual, rustic luxury. The cabins feature spacious rooms, a stone fireplace, fully equipped kitchen and beautiful furnishings in an eclectic blend of antiques and comfortable, contemporary pieces. From the beautiful area rugs and unique accessories and artwork in each unit to the bubbling hot tubs on the back decks, these Arkansas lakeside cabins have been designed to offer every comfort and delight for visitors to the lake.
Jim and the Self Creek staff are eager to welcome you to their home on Lake Greeson! Jim, Lori and family live on the grounds to offer visitors the kind of warm, personal service that makes Self Creek one of the most popular of all Arkansas lake resorts, and one of the top choices by families across the South.
Self Creek Lodge and Marina is part of the Tri-Pennant Family of Resorts, spanning two other Arkansas wilderness lakes and offering more of the premier luxury that you’re used to at Self Creek. Visit Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina on nearby DeGray Lake, and don’t miss Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa on nearby Lake Ouachita. All three resorts within the Tri-Pennant Family offer the same excellent customer service and memorable destination vacation experience that you deserve in a vacation. The families of the Tri-Pennant Families love to serve yours – and treat you like their own.