Check your gates

[OK Toon]

I saw this last week and couldn't believe it when I read the article and watched the video.

http://www.americanownews.com/story/156 ... erous-flaw

I looked at our gates this past weekend and we don't have anything -- not even the ball (that apparently doesn't work anyways).

So we will be getting a set of these from Pontoon Stuff

http://www.pontoonstuff.com/collections ... nch-guards

I would hate for someone to get hurt when it could easily have been avoided.

[shoundog]

Have those from PS on my Triton wondered what they were for. PO may have put on since he has small kids. Good report, thanks
Doug

[Capt Sully]

Dang, I've got those ball guards on mine. But I didn't know what they were for till now. Thanks for posting.

[ToonGuy]

The ball works when installed properly. Just like any safety device you need to install them correctly and they are only designed to work with the gate in the CLOSED position.

[CRF8]

the ball only works when the gate is closed ?? Who is going to be jumping out with the gate closed? I will have to check my boat for this !! The ball is not sufficient.

[greghvac]

Thanks for posting I will be checking mine when I go out next.

[rockhound]

got the ones from PS on mine. they work

[NonHyphenAmerican]

My new G3 Sun Catcher has the newer style.

[teecro]

My new G3 Sun Catcher has the newer style.

Hadn't figured out the reason for them on our new Sun Tracker but now I knows.... I was still kinda thinking they kept the gate from rattling....

[Bryden24shp]

I know some manufacturers sent out kits to customers to install to prevent this. Those that did, were a step ahead of this problem before pontoon boat popularity popped in the late 2000's. Some manufacturers started pushing the fences away further to reduce the catch point, but then those with bigger fingers could get caught. Ugly situation. I'm glad this topic got brought up, now that I have several grandchildren, I need to take a look at my Premier, to make sure this is not an issue.
Thanks!!!

[jrolin1]

I changed out my ball guards for the new style a few years ago. In my case the ones I got needed only ONE per side of the gate in spite of the way they are pictured on the site. If you read the description it say 3 pairs per kit, enough to do all three doors on your toon. 3 pairs would only work if you were using one on each side of the door. I could not get the angles to work trying to put two on each side of the door. One per side works perfectly.

[ToonGuy]

So many toons vary, there really is not a "one size fit's all" solution. If you have the lift n lock style gate, you really only need them on the hinge side. You might want them on both sides. Some have enough room for a pair, some don't. Some times they work fine with the gate open, some times they don't. Just remember pinch guards in any style are a great addition, but they are by no means fool proof. Always use common sense.

[teecro]

.... Some times they work fine with the gate open, some times they don't. Just remember pinch guards in any style are a great addition, but they are by no means fool proof. Always use common sense.

While it's great to have an unknown danger brought to our attention what I find today is that the term "common sense" is really not all that common and the first thing many people do today after suffering an accident from their lack of common sense is contact an attorney so that they are compensated for their lack of common sense...

New to the pontoon world I will admit that I'd not figured out what the little wedge guards were for but I'd already noted to myself and wife to be wary of the pinch point that the gates present...

Makes me giggle and sad in the same sentence when you realize that there is a reason why they print "DO NOT EAT" on the bar soap wrapper.....

[margaritaman]

Makes me giggle and sad in the same sentence when you realize that there is a reason why they print "DO NOT EAT" on the bar soap wrapper.....

My parents must not have read that warning when I was growing up and said a bad word.

[teecro]

Makes me giggle and sad in the same sentence when you realize that there is a reason why they print "DO NOT EAT" on the bar soap wrapper.....

My parents must not have read that warning when I was growing up and said a bad word.

My Mother read the warning just fine... She just did not give a $h!t when she was pissed at us... Rightfully so!