What To Pack For A Day On The Water
Here are a few good tips for your boating trip to keep the kids protected and everyone safe while spending time on the water.
Life Jackets
Pontoon boating should always be done with safety in mind. Personal flotation devices are required anytime you or your family venture out onto the water. Boating safety regulations vary from state to state, but you should ensure that every passenger wears an approved PFD. The last thing you want to do is risk someone falling overboard and not being able to stay afloat. (Rental companies are required to provide lifejackets for every rider, and you should insist that everyone is protected before pulling away.
Water/Cold Beverages
Many families need help staying hydrated while on the water. Even if you don’t feel fatigued, the effects of the sun and the drain of constant play can dehydrate passengers. A cooler filled with a cold beverage or a bottle of water can help satiate thirsty kids and keep you from having to pull back into the dock just because someone wants a soda pop.
Cans of soda do nothing to hydrate the body (even though they taste great). Cold juice packs or bottled water can store easily in a cooler and make an excellent item. (Remember to dispose of all cans, bottles, or juice packs appropriately).
Sunscreen
Just as if you were going to protect your kids from sun exposure with a day on the beach, you need to do the same in a boat. Water tends to reflect the sunshine and intensify the harmful effects of UV rays more intense. You will want plenty of SPF 50 or higher to apply sunscreen several times a day. Don’t forget to wear a shirt, cap or swim shirt for added protection.
Snacks or Lunch Items
Just because you are on the water doesn’t mean your family won’t get hungry for a snack. Instead of pulling back into the dock, finding a restaurant to eat at, and wasting precious time, why not just take your food items with you? Snacks like string cheese, energy or granola bars, fruits, or simple lunch foods stored in a cooler are ideal. Pre-prepared Items that are also useful. Many modern pontoons have small galley areas and mini-fridges to help keep items cool and ready to go.
Beach Towels/Other Protective Gear
Since you will be on the pontoon boating for most of the day, the kids will probably want to stop for a swim. Take extra beach towels or even a blanket with you. Not only are they suitable for drying off, but they can cover riders from the chill of the water spray that often comes flying up while traveling on the lake.
Pontooning is wet work. Everyone who rides is going to get wet. Small rain ponchos are also welcome to keep your crew dry and not ruin a fun day in the sun.
A good pair of deck shoes with non-slip soles are some of the most protective items you can wear. Since pontoon boat decks are often wet and slippery, you will want to keep your balance with a good pair of shoes that stick.
Extra Toiletries
Most pontoon boats do not have toilets on board (although some large vessels have restroom facilities. Chances are that everyone riding on your pontoon boat will have to go when nature calls. When this event happens (and it will), you don’t want to spoil a fun day on the water by having to navigate to the nearest marina.
Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, hand soap, and paper towels are essential items you should bring in a dry bag.
Another great idea is to purchase a portable potty. A privacy screen can help boaters find relief by separating them from other riders. Many manufacturers make drop-down privacy rooms that can double as changing rooms for swimmers.
Sunglasses
Since the sun’s rays can reflect off of the water, you will need sunglasses to see everything on the water. It is vital for the driver of the boat to be wearing them. Sunglasses reduce glare and make things more visible, like other boats or swimmers who happen to be in the water.
Head Gear
Caps, hats, and scarves can help keep hair in place while cruising across the lake. The speed of a pontoon may be slower than a v-shaped boat, but it can still get your hair blowing everywhere you don’t want. Riders with long hair will do well to tie their hair into a ponytail, so they don’t have to keep brushing locks out of their face.
If you plan on waterskiing, wakeboarding, or even tubing, it is generally a good idea to have soft watersport helmets available. These safety helmets can keep heads from knocking into each other or prevent a head from impacting the water’s surface if they go flying.
First Aid Kit/Fire Extinguisher
Unfortunately, accidents happen, even while on the water. A good box of bandages and other simple medical supplies can help someone who gets a nick or cut. Remember that it will take several minutes to reach the shore and emergency personnel should something happens while you are on the water.
If your family is renting a pontoon, you should always check before pulling away from the dock that there is an active, fresh fire extinguisher on board. The rental company should always provide the necessary safety equipment, and you should always insist on it as part of the lease agreement.
Music
With the advent of smartphones and Bluetooth, a good waterproof, battery-operated speaker can help keep the tunes rolling. Since a pontoon has a larger deck, passengers can get their groove on while listening to their favorite tunes. Be sure your smartphone has plenty of battery life if you intend to use your own personal playlist. (Also, if you are near residential areas or in a crowded spot with other boats, be courteous and keep the sound down).
Fully Charged CellPhone
Not all pontoon boats have radios, so it is always a great idea to have a lifeline to reach emergency personnel. While no one wants anything bad to happen, you will be happy to have the working cell should something occur.
Boat Bag
A boat bag will help keep items like shoes and dry clothes together as kids play in the water. With a bit of preparation, each bag can hold essential items like extra clothes, a personal towel, or swim trunks, just in case they are needed.
Fishing Rods/Gear
One of the best things to do from a pontoon boat is fishing. A pontoon’s flat deck surface makes it ideal for throwing a line into the water. If you plan to fish, bring along any tackle or bait you need and other equipment. (Be sure everyone who wants to fish has a valid license).
Lights
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While every pontoon boat has navigational lights, a powerful portable spotlight can be a big help when navigating up to the pier. Manufacturers make safety spotlights and high-beam flashlights to help with night driving and docking maneuvers.
Most states require any watercraft over 16 feet to be equipped with visual distress signals such as flares. Never leave the shore without knowing that the vessel you are operating is equipped with these essential items. (Remember that even though you might not be the boater with issues, a spotlight could help you guide another boater to safety).
Extra Gas
Extra fuel will come in handy if your engine conks out because you’ve run the tank dry. Many boaters carry a spare canister of gasoline onboard to ensure they have enough fuel to return to the marina. Pontoon boats are designed for freshwater applications generally, although some pontoons are built for saltwater. If you are cruising coastal areas, you should stay within a mile of the shoreline. (The distance should be shorter in rough water).
Portable Trash Containers
Most pontoon owners hate a messy boat and despise anyone who tosses their trash into the water. With the easy availability of plastics and styrofoam containers, more and more nonbiodegradables are finding their way into the environment. Prepare to have a receptacle for everyone to place their trash in and help keep the boat as clean as it was when everyone first came on board.
