Floating bar?

bowman316 · Jun 1, 2009

anyone ever seen a boat that serves drinks, like a floating bar? It seems that would be a good idea. To take a boat out to the party spot, and serve beer. Make a pontoon boat with sides that are a bar top, so people can swim up to it, and sit at the bar. Then just serve from inside the boat.

Kinda like a pool bar, but out on the water.

Do they have something like this down south?
I imagine you would have a hard time getting a liquor liscense for that, and paying might be hard, when you are all wet.

ShaneCarroll · Jun 1, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

I did see something like that on the Travel Channel. There is a large houseboat looking thing that they keep parked out in the water, and you can go buy beer and liquor on that. They have this surfboard with like 4 or 5 shot glasses built in, allowing that many people to take shots at the same time.

Also, down here in Tampa, there is one guy with an older pontoon that pulls up to the island. I don't think he sells any alcohol, but he does sell food, drinks, and small snacks. He must be doing pretty good, every time he pulls up there is a line waiting to board.

I am sure that the boat owner would not have a problem with wet bills, what else could he expect? He is in the water. .

bekosh · Jun 1, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

There was a floating bar/restaurant on Lake Winnebago for a couple of years called Captain Hooks. He closed shop when his Army unit got called up and he never reopened when got back.

As I recall he had problems with licensing. The boat was kept in one city but the local sandbar was in another, plus the county got in on it. I don't know if he ended up getting just one license or if he had to get multiple licenses.

He also had a problem getting insurance. Commercial insurance companies didn't want to touch it because it was a boat and Marine insurance didn't want it because it was a restaurant. Again, I don't know how he worked around that.

OldePharte · Jun 1, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

Yep, not only beer, but ice cream, pizzas, ice, hot dogs, etc. and souvenir T-shirts.

At one time, in the local party cove, a minister would hold services on Sunday from a pontoon.

mmccoy555 · Jun 3, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

I've wanted to do this for the longest time. There's a perfect spot for it where I boat. I don't think that's something you can even get a liquor license for. If there is a way someone let me know.

26aftcab454 · Jun 7, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

My Red Neck Dream would be to own a topless bar at a marina that has good food

I think most boaters will bring plenty of thier own alcohol anyways.

There are alot of floating restrants & bars at the marinas .

Many years ago at Lil' Pete's ( Sneaky Petes) on Lake Grapevine they were having a Miss Hawiian Tropic Bikini contest one night. I took my dad with me in the old Lonestar. We had plenty- o -beer

. they were throwing out prizes to the crowd and a pair of sunglasses landed at my dad's feet. A young punk was diving accross the dance floor for them so dad presses him flat on the floor and dad picks up the glasses and puts them on- all in good fun. wears them all night.
when it is time to go we climb in the boat- I ask dad to untie the stern line while I start up the motor.- I look back and see the soles of his shoes going over the side. I turn off the motor and run back to pull him in- cept he is not in sight. 3 cooks from the kitchen on a smoke break see him go over and we all wait for him to surface. and wait...

It was dark and he was disoriented and swimming toward the bottom before he realizes he is swimming down. Then he turns around and swims to the surface. -he had to catch his breath a couple minutes before we all pull him out. lucky. He still had the sunglasses on!
no joke I was scared sh*#less. he was ok.

coastalcruiser · Jun 8, 2009

The Dinghy Dock Pub

The Dinghy Dock Pub

in Nanaimo we have the "Dingy dock pub"

NYGiants · Jun 8, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

in the brittish virgin islands theres a 2 story bar/boat with music and all
big old boat too

bowman316 · Jun 8, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

Yea, I think a better idea may be to serve food, and just make money off the food.

jr1017 · Jun 12, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/aqua-dog-a-unique-treat-on-kentucky-lake/9183611

Here is a news story of a houseboat on Kentucky Lake, serving dogs and burgers. Not sure if they sell any liquor though. Looks like a cool kind of business to have. They call it the aqua dog. More than likely though, it's BYOB. Which is probably much cheeper than buying one from a business like that anyway. Sounds like he has been in business for years, If I ever get to Kentucky Lake this summer, will def check it out.

Billdc · Jun 12, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

They have something like the aquadog on the upper Delaware where people go tubing. there is a barge in the river that you can just float up to. Pricey as you can imagine. I think they use a flat bottom river boat with a jet ob to take supplies to it.

travaler18 · Jun 14, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

a couple years back i saw a pontoon boat painted like a black and whit cow selling ben and jerries ice cream on winnipesaukee. thought it was way cool but never saw it again to get a cone .one of those ideas that just looks good on paper i guess.

bman1bpm · Jun 14, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

I've always though a boat that sold beer to people out on the water who ran out would be useful....would have to have a huge markup to make any money though.

Sikiguya · Jun 15, 2009

Re: Floating bar?

Saw on the news about a pizza boat that delivered pizzas on a lake. Was a pontoon boat with a pizza oven on it. Did pretty well.

I heard on Fox Lake in IL...that there is a McDonald with a boat drive thru...I would love to see that..anyone with a picture of that???

The bar on the boat idea....insurance nightmare! Imagine one person in the water drowning while intoxicated....