What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

[scun10]

Hi, we just got a pontoon boat about three weeks ago.

I've found some great forum threads on snacks that keep well on pontoons, as well as safety equipment to keep on board.

I would like to know if you have recommendations for items that improve your guests' experience when they boat with you? Are there certain things that are fun, beneficial, or come in handy for being a good host/hostess with your pontoon?

This might include helpful supplies (not related to safety) or decor ideas. I'd love to hear from the veteran hosts/hostesses out there!

Thanks!

 

[Lazzerus]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

While I am new myself to pontoons, on the whole three times we have taken out the " new " 2004 21 Sun Tracker Fishin Barge, there are a few things I invested in for both my pleasure and those I am taking along.

I have an assortment of towels, like washcloths, hand towels and napkins.

Extra plastic utensils, and plates, cups. Not many, just a few in case one gets lost or broken.

BBQ! This has been a great hit. Nothing like a hot burger or Brat when your relaxing in the sun. I love to BBQ and being on the boat makes it all the better.

Not sure where you live, but I am really thinking about making a mister for mine. Sure you can just jump in the water, but if you have elderly or maybe the water is a bit cold to jump in and then have to dry off, I think it would be nice to just flip a switch, and instant relief.

Lighting. I installed some lights to just make the deck glow a bit so it is easier to get around. They look great at night, and we enjoy sitting in the boat at night and stargazing while it is docked.

Swimming noodles. With kids they jump off and play in the water while lunch is getting ready =)

That is what I have done so far. Each time I take it out I am sure I will think of something.

Hope to hear some other good ideas!

Lazz,

P.S. Hi Pontooners! Great community forum I must say.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Welcome to the forum. A bimini top or two. Almost anything that can be towed behind the barge. A good stereo & BBQ pit. Extra towels, and sunscreen. If you have carpet, keep some Resolve carpet cleaner or similar product handy, spills are inevitable. Friendly, positive attitude. Do not allow a sour puss or sloppy drunk aboard the boat. Keep an eye out for bad weather and try to avoid soaking your crew in 3' - 4' waves w/ white caps. We keep some of those cheap wally world ponchos aboard for those that don't like getting wet in a driving rain storm. Be the Captain, but let others get involved w/ the smaller things, ie: dock lines, anchoring, food prep. I'm sure others will chime in. Good luck !!!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Potty for the ladies- Hands down best!

 

[Johnny Knoxville]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Shade when it's sunny. Heavy oversized towels for drying or wrapping in on a cool day. Good music, snacks on board, various trail mix and granola bars keep well. A few extra bottles of water stored aboard just in case. A good first aid kit and particularly bee sting relief stuff and knowing how to treat stings. Aloe Vera in a tube. Aspirin for heart attacks.

Porta potty and a place to change is nice.

Spare hat, visor and sunglasses.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

battery powered blender works great on any boat.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Hands down, confidence is the clear winner for an enjoyable cruise in any watercraft. Know the waterway well and know your craft well. Your guests will be able to relax and enjoy themselves if they feel the captain knows what he/she is doing.

Keeping alcohol consumption under control is a must. Inisist on providing it yourself and then only carry enough so that everyone can have a good time but not over do it. If someone shows up with a 60 quart cooler of beer, you can politely tell them that the extra weight will cause an unsafe boating condition.

If your toon is trailered, get there plenty time ahead to launch so that all your guest need to do is walk down the dock and come aboard. When leaving, make an excuse to stay behind so that they are gone when it comes time to load up the toon and go home. If you don't do this, they will feel compeled to help and that's often a recipie for disaster.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Hands down, confidence is the clear winner for an enjoyable cruise in any watercraft. Know the waterway well and know your craft well. Your guests will be able to relax and enjoy themselves if they feel the captain knows what he/she is doing.

Keeping alcohol consumption under control is a must. Inisist on providing it yourself and then only carry enough so that everyone can have a good time but not over do it. If someone shows up with a 60 quart cooler of beer, you can politely tell them that the extra weight will cause an unsafe boating condition.

If your toon is trailered, get there plenty time ahead to launch so that all your guest need to do is walk down the dock and come aboard. When leaving, make an excuse to stay behind so that they are gone when it comes time to load up the toon and go home. If you don't do this, they will feel compeled to help and that's often a recipie for disaster.

I think that was VERY well said! I would also add to allow people to make themselves at home and enjoy.

Someone suggested misters. While I think they are a great idea, these things spread bacteria around like crazy. The smaller the size of the mist, the bigger the issues. Legionella is the concern with this. I hate to be a party pooper, but I know too much. I won't sideline an otherwise great discussion. If you have one of these, be sure to keep it clean and only use fresh, chlorinated tap water and you will have no issues.

 

[Lazzerus]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Ooo good to know about the mister! I think I will stick with the live well pump and just add a small hose to it and a hose end that will allow people to cool off.

I agree with the letting people go home before you take the boat out of the water. Too many times I have seen a crowd of people with all their stuff on the dock not knowing or able to help. They end up being in the way, and end up making it harder for the other boaters coming and going.

Just one more thing, ( pretty common sense, but can never be mentioned enough )when you pull the boat out of the water, make sure you pull away so other can use the launch! Strap it down and unload it away from the launch.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

We have a HUGE cooler where the live well would go if we fished. I've got a sign on the helm that says "I'm a Tea Totaler, but you don't have to be" We installed a 2nd battery and I have 2 high volume air pumps for blowing up rafts and floats. A ton of towels, and lots of 'munchies'. My 2012 Sun Tracker doesn't have carpet, so to put everyone at ease I usually toss a handful of sand on the floor so everyone doesn't kill themselves trying to wash off their feet before going in. I also have a 45psi, 5gpm water pump and hose if it gets too sandy, or a water fight breaks out. Never thought a boat this slow could be a giant floating party!!!

 

[The Rooster]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Can never have enough JELLO SHOTS !!!

 

[treker]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Not ripping you motor off the pontoon----sorry couldn't resist

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

This:

 

[Junkshow]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

I keep the home necessities bin in the back of the barg. Jackets, towels, paper towels, coozies, trash bags, silver wear, big things of sunscreen, extra hats.
The live well gets used as the food pantry, chips, cups, bucket of fried chicken.
A bucket that gets filled for the dogs to get a drink, also good for washing the floor down if sandy or water fights.
Plenty of life vests for different ages.
Agree with JLawson on confidence in your boat handling, docking and knowing the water. Take the time to learn your boat with out the crowd around. It makes it a lot more fun when everyone is there.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

+1 for grilling.

I have a grill for my pontoon and my guests seem to be disappointed if I bring something for lunch other than stuff to grill. I think it just seems like a cool concept to them. Spray on sunblock is good too. It's easy and not messy.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Should have mentioned the grill too. Bought a cheapo ($23) at WalMart and a couple of propane canisters. Food grilled on the patio tastes good, something grilled in the middle of the lake on this grill is OUTSTANDING. Don't know if it is the extra salt (sweat) or the blown sand that enhances the flavor. Some day I may put a hook on my fishin pole and cook what we catch.

All the 'go fast' boats we had in the past were fun, but this slo ole barge is really a major kick in the pants. Guess getting old can be fun!!

 

[duke1012]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

some good green lol

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Try a collection plate for feeding the motor. LOL!

I can tell you the best thing you can ever do on your boat--prohibit smokers.

I flipped out when my daughter let a bunch of friends smoke, and a chunk of ashes will ALWAYS end up on the floor burning a 1/4" hole in the carpet. The holes never go away, and new carpet is a major expenditure and a multi day job replacement. I get sick every time I look down at the carpet.

 

[FlipFlops365]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

The first thing I did when I got my new pontoon this past spring was to go on Amazon.com and pick out a new headunit, amplifier and new speakers. Most pontoons only come with 2 speakers and have a very crappy headunit. For $600 I was able to get a Kenwood headunit with MP3 hookups, 600watt Sony Marine amplifier and four Polk Audio Marine 6.5 speakers.

Stereos are incredibly easy to install on a pontoon boat so there's no reason to pay someone. My pontoon is a floating dancefloor and I wouldn't have my wife's cute friends begging to come back on the 'toon if it weren't for the stereo.

The MP3 hookups allow me to plug in anyones phone/mp3 player and stream the Margaritaville station on Pandora Radio

 

[Jonezy Hick]

Re: What items improve your guests' experience on your pontoon?

Don't for get some of these....



+1 for BBQ
+1 for double biminni tops
+1 for air pump (for floaty stuff)

I would also add a small generator. I use a Honda 1000 watt generator just to keep the batteries topped off when running that radio for long periods of time. Just make sure its quiet! Having a noisy 6500 watt Home Depot special ruins the lake for you and everyone else not to mention they weight like 300lbs.

You don't need all this stuff for a quick sunday afternoon cruise but might need everything for a long week excursion

One last thing is know your crowd and be prepared for anything. After a few trips with a friend of mine I found out that my first aid kit (now called the Whitney box) was not enough.

Above all have fun and be the captain

-Jones