News — safe boating habits

Holiday boating danger | Pontoon-Depot

By: NBC News

Pic By: Lakeview Marina

Quick checklist to stay safe on the water! 

A deadly boat explosion in the Bahamas last week is drawing new attention to boating accidents, which see an upsurge during the summer season. TODAY national investigate correspondent Jeff Rossen gets on board with Greg Via from the U.S. Coast Guard to run down a checklist of steps to take before hitting the water — and what to do in the event of an emergency.

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

Let The MADNESS Sales Begin | Pontoon-Depot

Cyber Monday is around the corner and we are having an amazing sale. You get 10% off your entire purchase. Now how's that for awesome?!

As you may know, MariDeck is the industry leader when it comes to flooring for boats. Pontoon-Depot has many different types of MariDeck, for all the various types of applications that you may need for your project. We also have many cool boating accessories, so look around and make sure you take full advantage of this great deal. 

The 10% off your purchase is only good on 11/26/2018 [Cyber Monday]. 

Promo Code: CyberMondaySale

Be on the lookout for more great deals from Pontoon-Depot, so we can help make your time on the water even more enjoyable. 

We appreciate your business, as well as your support on social media. Thank you! 

Safe Boating My Friends!
Pontoon-Depot

Near-Tragedy Inspiration | Pontoon-Depot

By: pdbmagazine.com

Scott Smiles’ 42-foot boat sank in 50 seconds, leaving him, a friend, and their two PFD-clad young sons clinging to a cooler and EPIRB—the only items he had time to grab. The harrowing experience inspired Smiles to develop Life Cell, a completely new approach to safety equipment storage.

Life Cell from Life Cell Marine Safety is a self-contained buoyant device that holds user-supplied safety and survival equipment. Best of all, it provides flotation assistance for up to eight adults, depending on the model.

Life Cell is simple to use and easy to access. It can be thrown or, should the boat sink, will float off its included mounting bracket. The high visibility Life Cell doesn't rely on its watertight compartment for buoyancy; its flotation is built in. Life Cell models start at $299 with a two-year warranty and are available in orange or white.

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

TIPS FOR WINTERIZING AND STORING YOUR PONTOON

By: Harris Boats

At the end of summer it’s important to take steps to ensure any boat is protected from sun, moisture and freezing temperatures while it’s sitting still. Hiring a professional to winterize and/or store your boat is the easy way to go, but for do-it-yourselfers we’ve put together a checklist of tasks to complete before putting a pontoon away for the season.

Dry-docking is advised in regions where snow and ice are likely, because ice can crack the hull of the boat, but below are recommendations for all regions.

• Clean the boat inside and out. Apply mildew and rust protection, and ensure the boat is completely dry before it’s covered.
• Remove accessories, water equipment, and fishing equipment to prevent moisture build-up.
• Cover the boat whether it’s kept inside or outside. Shrink-wrap the boat before you cover it, to lock out moisture and keep the cover from sagging even when rain or snow accumulates. If your boat is stored outside, be sure the cover is supported enough to shed water in the worst conditions. This is an especially important part of the process for pontoon owners, because the protective fabric of a pontoon cover is spread over a wide area and must be able to support the weight of rain or snow that might accumulate into a pool and potentially damage the railings or other parts of the boat. If the pontoon cover collapses it can be worse than not having a cover, because the cover will trap moisture into the deck and furniture.
• Use insect/rodent repellent to prevent mice from chewing through the canvas cover.
• Prepare the engine by spraying fogging oil into the carburetor and into the spark plug holes.
• Fill the gas tank to at least the 3/4 mark.
• Change and replace oil filters.
• Remove the battery, fully charge it, and store it somewhere cool.
• Drain engine coolant and replace it with a non-toxic, propylene glycol-based antifreeze (ethylene glycol base will release toxins into the water).
• Those who boat year-round should use a good boat lift and a quality enclosure to protect against wind and rain.

Protecting boats from the worst of winter weather helps insure a hassle-free launch in the spring. More importantly, keeping a pontoon in top condition is an essential part of protecting your investment, saving money in repair costs over time, and adding years to its life on the water.

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