News — summer snacks

Summer Boating Snacks | Pontoon-Depot

There’s something about being on the lake all day in a boat that’s relaxing, fun… and makes you famished! Everyone loves to snack on lake day. Skip the traditional bag of chips and bring some awesome summer snacks on your next boating excursion that will not only satisfy your hunger, but your palette too!

Fiesta Pinwheels – This easy wrap may need to stay in the cooler, but it’s well worth it and that’s easily done in a plastic container. You may want to double the recipe because these bite-sized snacks will go fast! Also try these Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels or your own twist on the idea.

Mini Snack Buffet – No recipe needed for this one, just compile a bunch of your healthy favorites to keep everyone satisfied! How about some grapes, berries, cheese cubes, mini sweet peppers, nuts and olives for starters!

Speaking of Grapes – Freeze them ahead of time for a cool, refreshing and healthy morning snack! Even if they thaw a little, they still taste great!

Chopped Salad in a Cup – Chop your favorite salad ingredients in a plastic cup with a lid ahead of time and bring prepackaged dressing (bottle or bag). When you’re ready to eat, just pour the dressing on, replace the lid and shake to stir and enjoy!

Fresh Kabobs – The antipasto skewers pictured have pepperoni, salami, olives, artichokes, tomatoes and cheese, but you could do anything you like or a variety of flavors (such as fruit!).

You’ll also find some great snack ideas here and even more snacks here. Be sure to bring something refreshing to drink too. And remember, spills are easy to clean on MariDeck Flooring, offered by Pontoon Depot! Whether you’re looking for quick and easy or healthy and fun, you’ve got unlimited options. Enjoy your boating day!
 

Grilling and Boating. Eating in Pontoon Heaven.

If you've got a pontoon boat, you own the floating embodiment of fun, relaxation and unbridled partying. If you own a grill, you have a fire-breathing, char-broiling pinnacle of summertime cuisine.

When you combine the two, it's too good for this side of heaven.

Grilling on a boat is a pleasure that most people will sadly never experience. But you're not most people. You're a pontoon boat owner.

So, let's start with the hardware. Before you buy your boat grill, research, research, research. This is not a time in your life where you want to feel buyer's remorse.

Owners of the Cuisinart Grill with Arnall’s Brackets, for example, talk about the machine like it's a twin sibling they were reunited with 20 years after being separated at birth. Do your research , some reviewers talk about purchasing a grill model with a lot of remorse.  Take the time to shop around, read reviews and compare features.

Second, if you choose a charcoal boat grill, which most people do, keep your charcoal in a Ziploc-style plastic bag. Wet charcoal doesn't light, and a lack of fire makes for a pretty busted grilling experience.

Next, use ready-to-light charcoal. Spraying lighter fluid out of a squeeze bottle on a rocking boat is a bad idea for several reasons. Mostly, it could lead to you accidentally setting stuff on fire that you didn't mean to.

Finally, follow common sense safety rules. This isn't dry land. On a boat, you can't walk away from a lit grill even for a second. Never grill while you're underway unless you want hot flaming coal missiles to jump out of your grill and hurtle toward you and your children, which we're presuming you don't.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk recipes. Once you pick your grill and learn how to operate it safely, you can, you must, you will start with these choice selections:

Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Garlic & Lemon

Tabasco-Grilled Veggie Skewers

Grilled Bone-In Bison Steaks with Crisped Potatoes

*photo credit to countryliving.com

Pontoon Boat: Your Floating Stay-Cation

You don't have to go too far to get away.

You, after all, are among the elite. You have the hardware required to bring the party wherever you go. You invested in a floating memory-making machine.

You're a pontoon boat owner.

Leave the "all-inclusive" cruises to the schmos who are willing to settle for cramped cabins, crowded dinners and hack entertainment. Let the landlubbers scour Travelocity for the can't-miss, can't-wait deal of the century that comes along every four days. Let the masses pack their SUVs and head to their secret, pristine vacation hideaway that's a secret to everyone except for all the people who have Facebook.

You're a pontoon boat owner. For you, the vacation starts as soon as you shove off from the dock.

On regular boats, kids get bored quickly because they can't move around. Your floating living room, however, gives them all the stay-cation space they need to spread out and have some fun.

What would you do on vacation? Go fishing? Go water skiing?

Check and double check.

Unlike most boats, with their rigid seating structures, pontoon boats are comfy and cozy. Cuddle up and watch the sunset — or sunrise, depending on your stay-cation itinerary. Grab a pair of binoculars and see what kind of birds or other wildlife you can spy from your maritime sanctuary. Explore a channel or tributary you've never cruised before, or cut the engine and just relax, talk and enjoy each other's company — cell phone and iPad free.

The point is, spring is here. The kids will be out of school soon and a vacation doesn't sound like a bad idea. But you don't need to go very far to get away. When you invested in your pontoon boat, you entered an elite fraternity of adventurers and enthusiasts who don't need to travel to find excitement, adventure and relaxation.

You've got a pontoon boat. All of that goes wherever you go.