Required Pontoon Accessories

[Lurch77]

I apologize if this is a subject that has been beaten to death here. I am new and did not see anything in a brief search. My wife and I are new 'toon owners, and now we need to outfit the boat. Before we start buying the "nice to have" items, we want to get the must have items first.

I started my list, and so far it includes an anchor and rope, boat fenders, solar battery maintainer (no electric where the boat will be parked), and chemical toilet for long days on the water. I already have a boat cover and GPS. What other items are the bare necessities, in your opinion. Again, I am looking for the items that people would not consider optional, but required accessories. We'll start buying the luxury and fun accessories after we get the basics.

[badmoonrising]

Beads and beer.

[curtiscapk]

BOAT HOOK!

[rsmith]

rolling cooler, and more beer.

These might be obvious, but you didn't list them, at least 3 fenders (I keep 6 on by boat and have other attached to the slip), multiple dock lines (at least a couple of them longer than you think you need).

Sunscreen, spare hats, a couple extra PFDs, towels, etc.

[BobG]

Make sure you have the US Coast Guard required items, like PFD's (Life Vests) for everybody aboard, at least one class IV pfd (this is a throwable - and don't let anybody use it as a seat cushion!), signaling devices...

...and apparently wenches are required, but I'm not sure of the appropriate use and deployment - the Admiral doesn't let me play with the wenches.

[OK Toon]

Check with your state boating laws for specifics.

But here are a few things that I can think of that we were asked for by lake patrol after we got our "new to us" boat last year.
- life jackets for everybody on the boat (sized appropriately)
- a whistle or air horn
- a throwable cusion
- a fire extinguisher (if this is an older boat, make sure the extinguisher is still fully charged)

And make sure you have a copy of the registration on board -- keep it in a ziplock baggie to keep it from getting wet. This was the only thing we didn't have since we had just gotten the boat and I hadn't received the registration papers back yet from the tag office. We were given a written warning. I'm supposed to go back and get another inspection to show we have the documents now -- we'll have to do that over a holiday weekend because otherwise it is rather difficult to find a lake patrol (I'm sure they would come find me if I were doing something wrong though).

[Bamaman]

I've been fortunate to have a pontoon boat for 27 years. Addressing your add on's:

anchor and rope--I've never had an anchor. We just float around, as our lake's too deep to use one.
boat fenders--Good idea.
solar battery maintainer--That's a very good idea. I have power in my boathouse, and sometimes use a Battery Tender.
chemical toilet--People on here say they're not worth the hassle. We just use the lake--or go to the marina. Or, just drop by our lake house.
boat cover--mandatory if boat not kept inside or under a roof. I just use one from November to March.
GPS--Nice to have. I don't have one in a car, however. I know where I'm going on our lake.

What other items are the bare necessities?
Beer--mandatory
Designated driver--sober with a boat driver's license if required by law.
A bunch of cheap orange life preservers--for passengers
Nice ski vests--for the family. I like the neoprene ones covered with the same cloth as wetsuits.
One throwing apparatus (square or ring buoy)--required by law
set of four 10' ropes for each corner of the boat. I also like to carry a couple of 25' ropes at a minimum.
75' heavy rope (1") to use for towing or to be towed. And I also use it to tie off trees when using my chain saw.
Cleaning supplies--303 protectant (for vinyl), Mean Green (to clean seats), Paper towels, rags.
ScotchBrite pads--if you keep boat in water. Assign each passenger one, and ask them to scrub anything that's green on the waterline.
Cell phone--I've had to call neighbors to tow me in from time to time.
Boat paddles--You don't want to get caught "up the creek."
Zip tie bags--when you want to keep certain items dry.
Battery box with built in 12 volt air compressor--to inflate floaties and help start your boat when you run the sound system too long listening to tunes.
4 or 5 15" or 16" truck inner tubes--the ultimate floaties
valve stem wrench--to quickly deflate floaties.

[HandymanHerb]

Tie that throwable with 30 feet of small line on it to you helm seat base, then tell everyone about it,it might be you they have to throw it too, if needed you just throw and can then pull them to the boat, or if you miss the throw you can pull it back and throw again.

I have used it when we are floating on a lake swimming around it, if a gust come by the toon will leave the swimmers quick, that's why someone has to be on the boat or attached to it, I have thrown it to the kids to pull them back so I don't have to get everyone out of the water to start the engine to go get them.

[redbeard]

First aid kit

[Cycleman07]

First aid kit

First aid kit

All good ideas but especially the First Aid Kit. Make sure it has alcohol or peroxide wipes as well. Infections are prevalent on cuts obtained while in the lake.

[BobG]

First aid kit

First aid kit

All good ideas but especially the First Aid Kit. Make sure it has alcohol or peroxide wipes as well. Infections are prevalent on cuts obtained while in the lake.

First aid kit

First aid kit

All good ideas but especially the First Aid Kit. Make sure it has alcohol or peroxide wipes as well. Infections are prevalent on cuts obtained while in the lake.

First aid kit

First aid kit

All good ideas but especially the First Aid Kit. Make sure it has alcohol or peroxide wipes as well. Infections are prevalent on cuts obtained while in the lake.

First aid kit

First aid kit

All good ideas but especially the First Aid Kit. Make sure it has alcohol or peroxide wipes as well. Infections are prevalent on cuts obtained while in the lake.

First aid kit

First aid kit

All good ideas but especially the First Aid Kit. Make sure it has alcohol or peroxide wipes as well. Infections are prevalent on cuts obtained while in the lake.

Hey, a first aid kit may be a good idea!

[OK Toon]

Make sure you have a good sharp knife to cut the limes for your boat drinks

[Lurch77]

That's a good idea, fruit for the ladies drinks. And ladies are required accessories.

[Capt Sully]

Beads and beer.

You forgot the Camera, if you know what I mean, mister pic man.

[bassn386]

If there is a USCG Auxiliary squadron in your area they will do a free courtesy inspection to make sure you have all the required safety items aboard. In Missouri, the Water Patrol (now Highway Patrol, marine division) will also do them as time allows.