News — safe boating habits

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.

Today’s Pontoons | Boatmate is Taking Trailers to a New Level.

By: Pontoon and Deck Boat

The evolution of pontoons over the past 10 or so years is actually quite impressive when you step back and admire the tremendous growth. Today’s boats are bigger, faster and loaded with amenities most would never have thought possible on a pontoon boat. As more focus is being placed on these high-end performance pontoons, can the same be said about the trailer? Or simply put: does your trailer below keep pace with your investment above? That’s a question we feel more consumers need to be asking when buying pontoon boats built today. 

In an attempt to learn more about the advancements in pontoon trailers specifically, we reached out to Boatmate Trailers, a Tennessee-based manufacturer, who is quickly gaining in market share by offering quality trailers built to match the next generation of pontoons.

At Boatmate Trailers, their mission is to exceed customers’ expectations with innovative, quality products and exceptional service to the marine industry, and that was clear to us as we took a closer look at one of its standard trailers. 

“Boatmate has been in business 30-plus years and has evolved into pontoon trailers over the past 10 years,” says Randy O’Malia, the regional sales and marketing manager. “We’re building trailers to match the new style of today’s pontoons. A lot of people are out there looking for more and we want to give them a trailer that mimics what they buy with their pontoon itself.” 

Package Deal? 
O’Malia’s advice to those considering buying a new boat today is to pay close attention when you’re shopping for your next pontoon trailer. While some manufacturers offer packages that include trailers, savvy buyers always consider the big picture and want to make sure the trailer offered is best for their needs. 

“Our company is strong in engineering and we’re always looking ahead,” adds O’Malia. “We like our product to look good, but safety is our highest priority." 

Another factor to Boatmate’s popularity is their willingness to listen to dealers as well as to customers. When the manufacturer first started building trailers the bunks were fixed, but after consulting with dealers they decided to make them adjustable for a more custom fit for each pontoon.

A Step For Your Step 
There are several key features that allow Boatmate trailers to stand out against others, including their exclusive built-in spiral stairway. 

“We’ve noticed with other trailers you need a step ladder just to get to the trailer ladder,” says O’Malia. “We have a built-in step below the trailer frame and then the staircase wraps around for easy access. This ladder has been very well-received by our dealers and customers and we’re proud of this design as well.”

The specific trailer we inspected included standard features like alloy wheels, LED lights and polyurethane paint. The only options were the vinyl bunk covers and the boat guide. The vinyl bunks are a new dealer-inspired option, but carpet is still available as a standard feature. Another nice added touch is the large transom step that provides easy access to get on the boat, as well as other user-friendly designs. 

Providing customers with superior products for the best value will continue to be the focus at Boatmate Trailers. Before you buy your next pontoon you should take into consideration what will be cradling it as you’re cruising down the road to your favorite body of water. 

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

How To Launch A Pontoon Boat The Right Way | Pontoon-Depot

By: Manitou Pontoon Boats

Launching a boat is something every boater needs to do in order to enjoy a day on the water. As such, everyone owes it to everyone else to know how to do it right and do it quickly. Every second spent dawdling at the launching ramp not only cuts into your day, but into everyone else’s day as well.

Once you get to the launching ramp, it’s too late to cram for your real-life test. By preparing in advance and knowing what to do when, you’ll be able to efficiently launch your boat free of angry horns and shouts from other boaters.

BEFORE YOU REACH THE LAUNCHING RAMP

Prepare your boat before you approach the ramp. This ensures when it’s your turn, you’re ready to go without any delay.

• Load your safety equipment, mooring lines, and other gear into the boat.
• Unhook and stow the transom straps.
• Disconnect any incandescent light-bulb plugs.
• Gather your mooring line and fenders, making them ready to use.
• Make sure your drain plug, if your boat has one, is in place.

WHILE ON THE LAUNCHING RAMP 

You’ve waited your turn, and ideally everyone in front of you followed all the same steps you’re following, continuing a friendly and efficient day of boat launching. Now, prepare yourself to get your boat into the water.

• Get a spotter. Move all kids and onlookers from the ramp area and put a spotter out there. Launching is easier with one person driving and another directing.
• Situate your vehicle and boat. Line up your vehicle and trailer as straight as possible, about the length of a trailer away from the water.
• Back into the water. Slowly back your trailer down the ramp, only making small, fine-tuned steers. If you need to straighten the trailer, driving forward a bit can be a big help. When the stern begins floating in the water, stop.
• Secure your vehicle. Set the parking brake. If you have an excessively large boat, chock the wheels on your vehicle.

GETTING IN THE WATER

At this point, you’re ready to get your boat off the trailer and into the water.

• Unhook the boat. Disconnect the winch strap and safety chain from the trailer. Next, back the boat away from the trailer. When the water is just above the wheels of the trailer, you’re ready for the next step.

• Launch the boat. Start your boat’s engine. Important: make sure the engine is in the water before you crank it. Shift into reverse and gently back up. All Manitou boats have to be powered with the engine into the water off the trailer—you can’t float it back by hand. If, after applying gentle power, your boat doesn’t move, you probably need to back up farther.

SECURING THE BOAT

Now that you’re in the water, tie your mooring lines to the dock. Make sure all your passengers and supplies are nearby and ready to board. By getting everyone and everything on the boat quickly, you show courtesy to other boaters and help keep the launching ramp free of holdups.

While your other passengers are boarding, park your vehicle nearby and make your way back to the boat without delay. Join your family and friends on the boat, untie the mooring lines and off you go.

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

How to Enjoy A Pontoon Boat Experience | Pontoon-Depot

By: Amy Cabanas - Pontoon-Depot

Pic By: TurboSwing

What we’ve learned this past year! 

Welcome to the intersection of imagination and inspiration! Boaters with discriminating taste and a penchant for performance love pontoons. There is a certain sense of serenity that comes with a trip out on the water on a pontoon boat. It can be any body of water and does not necessarily have to be an actual tropical paradise. The smooth ride will have you sitting back and enjoying the day. That kind of experience can make any body of water a welcomed sanctuary. 

The setup of a pontoon boat allows guests to sit back and have a cocktail while enjoying some pleasant conversation. There is no need to speak over the buzzing hum of an engine and no need to worry about choppy seas. The stability of a pontoon boat can give all passengers their very own pair of sea legs. 

There is always the option to throw a line in the water and catch an afternoon meal. Fishing can be done while you kick back and relax underneath the sun. Pontoon boats also offer plenty of shade, which allows passengers to stay cool on a hot summer day. 

But cool is a constant theme when it comes to pontoon boats. Style combined with comfort makes for a truly unique boating experience. There is even plenty of room on a pontoon boat to do some grilling. That kind of functionality provides everything that is needed for a day of leisure. 

Pontoons, as well as tri-toons use cylindrical, metal flotation devices or tubes that keep afloat a broad platform. Pontoons uses 2 tubes and Tri-toons use 3 tubes, this allows a shallow draft and good stability on the water. This type of boat is used primarily used for fishing and cruising inland lakes as well as water sports and as a water borne camper. Pontoons are powered by an outboard engine, stern drive, or an electric motor. 

Pontoon boats have evolved beyond just a form of recreation and transportation. They have evolved into representing a lifestyle, one that provides relaxing days on the water, free of worry and stress. The soft feel of woven vinyl on your feet sold by Pontoon Depot offers top notch quality and will go perfectly with your wrap around comfortable teardrop bench seats, recessed cup holders, and smart design. Let Pontoon-Depot not only show you the way to a better flooring option for your boat but add all the cool accessories that will not disappoint once you and your family get out on the water. 

Let’s enjoy life on a Pontoon Boat, everyone else is doing it!

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