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Gearing Up for the Fourth | Pontoon-Depot

By: PDMagazine

8 Safety Tips for Boating’s Busiest Time of The Year

The nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), says July Fourth is shaping up to be the busiest time of the year on the water for the nation’s recreational boaters, with boating traffic potentially surpassing last year’s levels. This also means boaters will face additional safety concerns with waterway congestion and nighttime operation.

In a recent survey of more than a half million BoatUS members, 88 percent of respondents say they are “very-to-extremely likely” to go boating during the 2018 July Fourth holiday period (June 30 through July 9). That compares to 73 percent who went boating over the similar period last year.

The BoatUS member survey also shows that about one in three (36 percent) of respondents are “very-to-extremely likely” to operate a boat at night to view a July Fourth fireworks display from the water. Three percent said that fireworks displays are the only reason they will venture out after dark all year long.

“With nearly 12 million registered boats on the water, boaters will need to take special safety precautions during the holiday period,” said BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston. The Foundation is the nonprofit safety arm of BoatUS. “The mayhem of fireworks shows, overburdened launch ramps, crowded waterways and long days spent under the stressors of wind, waves and sun will require everyone to up their safety game and be courteous to fellow boaters.”

The BoatUS Foundation has these eight holiday boating tips:

1. Wait to celebrate with alcohol. It could be a long day on the water, but waiting until after you’ve returned to homeport for the night before celebrating with alcohol is a wise move. Added to the effects of sun, wind and waves, alcohol lowers situational awareness and increases reaction times.
2. The more lookouts at night, the better. Having extra sets of eyes – family members or guests – can help prevent accidents.
3. Go slow after the fireworks. After viewing fireworks from the water and pulling up anchor, you may have the urge to rush home. Don’t. Slow down. Be cautious, and the odds for a safe return increase.
4. Get kids’ life jackets for free. Everyone has extra guests this time of year, but they don’t always have properly-sized life jackets for everyone on board. The BoatUS Foundation’s free Kids Life Jacket Loaner program gives boaters a chance to borrow child-size life jackets for the day, afternoon, or weekend.
5. Don’t overload the boat. Everyone should have a seat inside the boat, and be careful about adding extra coolers and gear. It’s also a bad idea to allow to passengers to ride on the top of a boat with an enclosed bow while underway.
6. Be a safe paddler. Kayak, canoe or stand-up paddlers should understand all of the nautical rules of the road, practice defensive paddling and assume no one can see you. At night, paddlers are required to show a white light – colored glow sticks around the paddler’s neck don’t cut it. Avoid crowded anchorages and congested ramp areas.
7. Never swim near a dock with electricity or in a marina or yacht club.
8. Avoid the two biggest hassles. The nationwide TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet traditionally reports hundreds of battery jumps and anchor-line disentanglements over the holiday. To avoid having to contact BoatUS 24-hour dispatch (BoatUS.com/app) monitor your battery drain, go slow while hauling anchor line, and be super vigilant so you don’t run over someone else’s anchor line after the show ends.

BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT ON YOUR PONTOON BOAT

By: Bennington Marine

There's no better place to beat the summer heat than on your own pontoon boat. Why sweat through another dog day of summer when you can float instead? Here are some ways -- some fun, some relaxed, some elegant -- that a Bennington pontoon boat can help you beat the heat. 

Bench seat coolers. Available on some models, a bench seat cooler will keep your beverages cold and your ice frozen through the hottest day. They're self-draining, to keep cold foods cold without getting them soggy. Other cooler locations are available: options vary by model. 

Bars, galleys and dinettes. Depending on your Benny's model and outfitting, you'll have the facilities to prepare a delightful round of mixed drinks or a variety of cold appetizers for your guests from the built-in bar or galley, and to serve it in comfort around a dinette table. 

Drink holders galore. Keep your guests hydrated by making sure they have a beverage close to hand at all times. With fixed and movable drink holders for almost every seating position, Benny boaters never lack for a convenient spot to park a can or a glass. Special RGB lighting options for the drink holders enable your friends to able to find their drinks even at night. You can even order refrigerated cup holders, to keep drinks cold no matter how long your guests nurse them on a hot day. 

Cool in the shade. Any Bennington pontoon boat can be equipped with a retractable sunshade or bimini top. This is an especially important option for children, the elderly, and others with sensitive skin, but with what we know about the potentially harmful health effects of too much UV exposure, we recommend that all boaters take measures to protect themselves. A canvas top is therefore both a health and a comfort benefit. They retract quickly and easily, and they're strong and stable enough to handle cruising at comfortable speeds even when deployed. Top-quality fabrics retain their color and their strength through years and years of use. 

Swim platforms and ladders. Of course, swimming is one of the best ways to cool off in the summer, and a swim ladder is one of the most popular options, making entering and exiting from the water easy. Some Bennington pontoon boats additionally have large and comfortable swim platforms, which are a great place to don and remove swim fins and other gear, or to just sit with your feet in the cool water, a bit away from the conversation in the cockpit. 

So tow me! With ski tow options, your Benny pontoon can pull a water skier, wakeboarder, or a bunch of kids on an inflatable towable water toy -- and there are few ways in the world to cool off that are more fun than that. With the right power package and running equipment (such as our Elliptical Sport Package), you'll have the power and handling to satisfy even experienced towable-sports athletes.

Stay cool this summer and for summers to come with a Bennington pontoon boat. 

For all your vinyl flooring options or replacements visit our Pontoon-Depot flooring page, and/or for any accessories to add to your already awesome pontoon boat check out our unlimited accessories page. 

HOW TO PLAN A FAMILY FUN DAY ON A PONTOON BOAT

by Manitou Pontoon Boats

There is nothing better than spending a day on your pontoon boat. But as you may know, it can be very stressful if you don’t properly plan your excursion. Imagine a day on a pontoon boat where you visit the same area and do the same activities as the time before, more for lack of imagination than because of the fun quotient. Not to mention the chaos that can ensue if there isn’t enough food, water, or sunscreen for everyone in the party.

Aside from the “dos” and “do nots” for planning a day on the pontoon, there are numerous fun ideas you and your family should try:

• Explore: Instead of visiting the same place every time, mix it up and boldly go where you haven’t been before.
• BBQ: If your pontoon boat has a BBQ on it, why not enjoy a beach BBQ?
• Scavenger Hunt: Invent a scavenger hunt where you stop at various places and solve clues. Will there be buried treasure at the end?
• Mega Raft: If your friends all have pontoon boats and families, tie up all the boats together and make a mega raft.
• Waterproof Camera: There is no better way to capture the day and take some memorable underwater photos.

Remember proper and creative planning, and you are sure to have an exciting day on the water.

Download our infographic for more tips for family fun on the water.

9 Best Memorial Day Weekend Getaways in Arkansas

It’s time to shake off the winter cold and welcome the unofficial start of summer with a  Memorial Day weekend getaway. From major cities to scenic lakes, Arkansas has something exciting for everyone. Head to downtown Fort Smith to try fantastic local eateries, or visit the zoo in Little Rock. From lakefront family homes to trendy lofts, there are plenty of Arkansas vacation rentals to choose from. Take a look at Memorial Day weekend getaway spots in Arkansas.

1. Little Rock

Source: Flickr/Dustin Holmes

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2. Hot Springs

Source: Facebook/HotSpringsNPS

Thrills and chills await you in the town of Hot Springs. Spend your weekend riding the roller coasters at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls. This amusement park offers all your favorite rides along with a water park with slides and a wave pool. Take a tour of the old bathhouses in the Hot Springs National Park and feel the heat of these natural springs on a guided hike. Learn more about local and notorious bad guys at the Gangster Museum of America.

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3. Jacksonville

Source: Flickr/janeLLoyd Nichols

Spend your weekend splashing in the water in Jacksonville. The Splash Zone water park offers slides, a wave pool, and kiddie area with water fountains and dew drop showers. Dry off and put on your hiking boots for a day at the Holland Bottoms State Wildlife Management Area. Remember America’s fallen military members with a tour of the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. This small museum offers some nice exhibits and artifacts. Dupree Park is a great place to let the kids play on the playground while you relax and read your book on a bench.

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4. Fort Smith

Source: Flickr/aquiamigo

Excitement awaits your family in Fort Smith over this holiday weekend. Attend the Old Fort Days Rodeo and Parade. Find good seats to watch the parade go by and then cheer as cowboys rope cows and ride bulls. On Monday, honor Arkansas’s fallen at the Memorial Day Service at Fort Smith National Cemetery. Take advantage of the sunshine at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum. It’s an outdoor museum with trolleys to see and even one to catch a ride on. Cool off at the Parrot Island Water Park with its slides, kiddie pool, wave pool, and lazy river.

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5. Fayetteville

Enjoy some time in the outdoors with a vacation rental in Fayetteville. Make the most of the weekend by hiking the Mount Sequoyah Woods Trails. The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks features native and non-native plants, flowers, and shrubs in full bloom at this time of year. Before leaving, stop by the butterfly house and sit still to get a butterfly to land on you. Learn more about military aviation and history at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum.

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6. Eureka Springs

Source: Flickr/janeLLoyd Nichols

Unwind and enjoy small-town life in Eureka Springs. Cool off in the oldest show cave in the state, Onyx Cave. Your tour guide takes you around the cave and points out all the interesting geology. Visit the Blue Spring Heritage Center to see the towering hardwood trees and native plants. Walk past the Bluff Shelter and the Blue Springs. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a local rescue organization that cares for neglected and abandoned large cats. See these fierce creatures and sign up for an up-close visit with a cub.

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7. Bella Vista 

Source: Flickr/Shawn Taylor

Founded as a summer resort town, Bella Vista is a great place to kick off the summer season. One of the most popular places for hiking in the area is the Tanyard Creek Trail. When you need to cool off, simply take off your shoes and splash around in the water. Bring your boat and put in the water from one of the public launches at Lake Windsor. Invert Sports offers boat rentals and jet ski rentals to play on the lake or spend a day fishing.

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8. Mammoth Spring

Source: Flickr/Roland Klose

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Mammoth Spring is a town that’s home to the largest hot springs in the state. Mammoth Spring State Park is the protected area of the hot springs just outside of town. More than nine million gallons of water flow each hour and form a lake. You can enjoy the hiking paths in the park or just enjoy walking by the springs. Learn more about how trains and rail service shaped the state at the Depot Museum.

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9. Ozarks

Source: Flickr/twi$tbarbie

Ozarks shares its name with a large lake that Arkansas shares with Missouri. Mike Fink’s Marina Boat and Wave Runner Rentals Lake of the Ozarks can set your family up with a pontoon boat for a lazy day of fishing and soaking up the sun, or a powerboat for a day of water skiing. Learn more about the history of the lake and surrounding towns at the Ozark Area Museum. After a long day on the water, grab some ribs or sandwiches from Rivertowne BBQ to enjoy back at your vacation rental.

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Ready to go?  Check out these amazing Arkansas vacation rentals on Tripping.com.