Friday, June 29, 2007

What Options Are There For Pontoon Boat Accessories?

The pontoon boat, known by many as a party boat is the answer to many boaters perfect all-around boat! The boat became so popular because, one, its so versatile, allowing so many cool boat accessories and two, because they're now designed and built much more attractive than their predecessors.

Due to the roominess of a Pontoon boat, some accessories are just plain fun! One pontoon boat accessory that quickly comes to mind is a slide. Accessories range from near-necessities that make your boating experience possible, to those that make your boating experience like a luxurious excursion or adventure.

For instance, a pontoon boat ladder is a necessity for many pontoon boaters. Imagine this scenario. The family or maybe a group of good friends take anchor in the lake. A few cast their fishing line, while others enjoy floating in tubes, taking in the views, fresh air and the rays. Well, for those tubers, that pontoon ladder is every bit a necessity for getting back into your pontoon boat.

Another boat accessory that could also be classified as a necessity, is a bimini top or cover. These tops can be put on and taken off quickly and easily, just like a canopy. I think all boaters will agree, taking cover from the sun, on those hot blistering days, is nothing less than a necessity, especially for those with fairer skin.

Now, regarding those custom pontoon boat accessories that are going to make your boating experiences all the more memorable. Accessories like grills, custom lounge chairs, coolers etc.

Not many would argue a good barbecue is just what the doctor ordered. Now, add a spacious pontoon boat, a beautiful day in the middle of a lake with panoramic views, a group of friends or family, and a big enough grill to fire up enough tasty food for everyone in your party. You getting the picture? People relaxing because you have enough lounge chairs, coolers to keep your beverages cold, your special pontoon boat ladder to get in and out of the water, cover from the sun if desired, all the necessary accessories to make sure everyone has fun. The kind of fun that lasting memories are made of.

On the same token, take that same scenario, but imagine not having an adequate grill. Those fun filled memorize will quickly turn into memories of every one waiting just to get one stinking hamburger. Imagine not having enough coolers to keep the beverages cold. Warm beverages on a hot day, yum! Or maybe theirs not enough lounge chairs for people to sit if they want, not fun. I think you can see where I'm going with this.

You can see why whether your talking about grill accessories, lounge chairs, coolers, shelter from the sun, your pontoon boat accessories are paramount to having a good time.

Bottom line, pontoon boats are a blast, heck, their called party boats, and your selection of accessories goes hand in hand with how much fun you and your crowd are going to have. Like I mentioned earlier, some people have even added accessories such as slides to their pontoon boat so that children have an additional means to have fun. Add ski poles and wake board towers as accessories for more enjoyment.

So if your looking to add more fun to your pontoon boating experience, look into what pontoon boat accessories may do the trick for you. Don't limit your boat accessory search to your local boating store. Get online, at your convenience from the comfort of your home and check out some of the online pontoon boat accessory sites.

If you didn't know already, yes, there are online accessory sites that caters purely to pontoon boats and pontoon boat accessories. Your going to find a much larger selection than your local boating store.

Simply do a Google search for "pontoon boat accessories," making sure you put the words in quotes. You may be amazed at what you'll find to add to your fun!

You can even try going to E-bay and find some slightly used pontoon boat accessories. I certainly can't guarantee it but God knows I often time can't believe what I find available on E-bay.

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Boat Trailering - Extra Work Or Expensive Damage

Boat trailering – extra work or expensive damage

You have had an enjoyable day at the lake and now it is time to go home. No one wants to stop the fun by having an accident with their boat. Below are some tips on common problems that occur and ways to head them off in advance:

1. Burnt wheel bearings – you sometimes see the trailered boat along the side of the road with this one. A little maintenance and preparation can keep your trailer and boat hooked to your vehicle for an easy trip home.

Each year inspect and repack your bearings, if they are damaged or worn replace them before taking a trip. You might even consider carrying a spare bearing set for that just in case event.

2. Blown trailer tires – When it comes to problems, this one is the easiest to prevent. Before going on an extended trip to your favorite water hole, be sure to check your tire pressure with a pressure gauge. You should check your tire pressure before leaving the house and after finishing at the lake and coming home. In addition, you should look at your tires for extensive wear, dry rot, radial wire sticking out of the rubber, slices, nicks or cracks. Any one of these items may become a problem before you get home. Every so often you should pull the boat trailer around the block to see if any problem exists.

3. Boats falling off of the trailers – The most embarrassing (and possibly the most expensive) thing that can happen is for your boat to fall off of the trailer due to improper strapping or cabling. This kind of problem is completely preventable and should never occur if care is taken during the binding of the boat to the trailer.

Take a critical eye to the straps or cables and make sure that they are properly installed and that there is no loose connections that need to be tightened.

4. Trailer connections – Take extra precautions to be sure that your trailer is properly connected to the hitch. This can be a very dangerous problem once you get on the road. Also, be sure that your safety chains are in use and that your trailer lights are plugged in and working properly. If they are not, it is an accident waiting to happen.

5. Trailering your boat- When you are backing your trailer into the water to recover your boat, turn off your radio and any other item that will distract your attention or make it impossible to hear as problems might be occurring. Check your trailers connection to the hitch or you may have to send in divers to recover the trailer before you can recover the boat. Also, roll down your windows so you can hear what is happening. You need to hear if your prop is scraping the ground and needs to be raised and you need to know if your trailer is far enough into the water to retrieve your boat without damaging the hull.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Choosing The Right Water Ski Tube

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Boat Trailers Are Not One Size Fits All

Buying a boat is a dream come true for many. They provide a great outlet for getting away from it all, kicking back and relaxing. Buying the boat, however, isn't where the shopping ends. Boat trailers are necessary purchases for anyone that wants to transport their new purchase from lake to lake or sea to sea. These handy devices aren't one size fits all though.

Buying boat trailers isn't at all unlike buying a boat itself. The options on the trailer market are pretty plentiful and some research will be necessary to make sure the trailer purchased is the right one for the boat in question. A trailer than handles a John boat, for example, likely won't be the best for hauling a cabin cruiser. Trailers can run the gamut, too, from those with every imaginable bell and whistle to more simplistic versions. What works and what doesn't for a particular boat and budget will be the biggest questions to address in advance.

Some things to consider when looking at boat trailers include:

* Size of the boat. This is a paramount concern when looking at trailers. It's important to make sure the boat you've purchased will fit snuggly on the trailer. Look at manufacturer recommendations on size and weight before choosing a particular trailer over another.

* Safety features. Good trailers offer their buyers a number of safety features to ensure the boat, its owners and other people on the road are safe during transport. This can range from special locking mechanisms to break and turn lights. The lights, however, will likely be required by law, so it's not a good idea to consider a trailer with this necessary feature.

* Ease features. There are manual boat trailers and then there are those that come with special devices to make loading and unloading a bit easier on their users. Adjustable trailers are chosen by many simply because it makes hauling a snap.

* Pricing. Boat trailers can cost a lot of money or they can be fairly inexpensive. It's a good idea to decide on a budget before going out and shopping. A trailer with every bell and whistle might not fit a budget, but one that's safe and secure very likely will be.

* Performance reports. There will be a lot riding on a trailer, so it's a good idea to check the reputations of different makes and models before deciding to buy a particular brand. Check with consumer reporting agencies and even look up past reports from owners to see how trailers fare.

* Hauling vehicle. Some trailers are meant to work with any type of hauling vehicle, but others are designed more specifically to work with trucks. Make sure the trailer you're looking at fits the vehicle in question.

Buying a boat can be a great way to get away from it all. There's just something about hitting the open water to kick back and relax that helps make a week of workaday grind melt away. Whether it's for sailing, cruising, skiing or fishing, however, all boats that will be transported need good boat trailers. Do some research in advance, and this purchase should be a snap.

Labels: ,