Trailering and Towing your Pontoon BoatWritten by Thomas Holley
Trailering and towering your pontoon boat doesn't have to be a dreaded chore. As a matter of fact, if you follow a few simple tips, not only will you expand opportunities you have to visit a wider variety of waterways, but you'll enjoy drive as well. Towing obviously begins with your tow vehicle. It is extremely important that you keep this vehicle in tip-top shape. Change oils and filters more often than you would under normal driving conditions. In must cases, it's a safe bet to do it twice as often as regular maintenance requires. Tire pressure is another thing to check on a regular basis. While it's not a good thing to have overflated tires, its even worse to drive a vehicle with low tires. Don't forget tune-ups, services or your cooling system. All brake lights need to be in working order.Once you're confident that your tow vehicle is in good working order, move on to trailer itself. To reduce possibility of swaying, manufacturers recommend that tongue weight of trailer (boat included) is 5-7 percent of total tow package. (Boat, motor, trailer and all your gear.) Make sure you have adequate tie downs on your boat and trailer. If you're traveling from one state to another you may run into different regulations regarding use of tie downs in different states. Make sure you know what they are in your state and any states that you may be traveling through. Again, when towing a boat, it's always smart to err to side of safety. Four straps will allow you to conform to regulartions almost everywhere. If you use one strap to tie down bow, two straps at transom and one strap on gunwale, you'll be in excellent shape. Remember to use straps that are weather resistant and as strong as you can buy. Straps with easy lock and release buckles allow you to tighten them and control slack with a minimal effort. If your boat didn't come with a cover, buy one. It'll not only keep dust and debris off your boat when you're driving but it'll serve to hold everything in place and protect if from sun. The last thing you want to see are your seat cushions floating down highway behind you. Covers will also reduce wind resistance and thereby increase your mileage. Once you've determined that your tow vehicle is ready to go, your boat is securely on trailer and your lights are in working order, it's time to hit road. When towing any vehicle, it's important to stay alert while driving. Although you may be very comfortable pulling trailer, other drivers have no idea what kind of an impact their actions can have on your safety. On interstate system, for example, semi-trucks can create enough of a wind to literally blow you off road. With added length and weight of your boat and trailer, it's a good idea to take things slower than you normally would without them. The added weight will decrease your stopping distances tremendously so brake early and give yourself plenty of room. The length will affect your turning ability as well as how much room you need to complete lane changes. Overcompensating in these cases is much better than cutting a turn too short or clipping front end of vehicle you just passed. When someone passes you, flashing your lights when they've cleared your vehicle is safe and polite way to go.
| | How to Create A Romantic Dinner for Two on a Pontoon BoatWritten by Thomas Holley
Before you pick up phone to make reservations for that romantic dinner for two...STOP. Instead of battling traffic, waiting in line for your table and being at mercy of other diners sitting at your elbow, why not jump on pontoon and head out to water? With a little imagination, foresight, and moonlight, you can create a romantic dinner for two that your date will never forget. The most important part of creating this memorable evening is in planning. You don't want to be in middle of dinner and realize that you've forgotten something important like silverware or a corkscrew. So, let's start at beginning and work through details. First of all, check weather. Nothing will ruin your dinner quicker than a storm or rough water. Secondly, dock your boat prior to picking up your date. Trailering and launching can often be stressful and it's important that you and your date are completely relaxed from moment you step on boat, until you step off. Make sure all of your supplies are loaded into boat prior to arriving with your date. Check for exact time sun is setting and plan to arrive at precisely that moment. Using easy to find outdoor light strings, ensconce your pontoon with dangling icicles of light, (Don't forget to plug them in before you arrive with your date.) a few well-positioned flower petals on deck wouldn't be a bad idea either. There is nothing more romantic than walking your significant other down pier to a softly glowing pontoon enveloped in pinks and blues of a setting sun. When planning your meal, you have several options. Although many boats are equipped with grills, nothing takes fire out of romance quicker than having to cook before you can sit down. For this reason, it's recommended that you consider cooking your meal at home first or picking it up from your favorite restaurant. Keeping it hot or cold is no problem with a thermoelectric cooler. This is a wonderfulproduct sold by Coleman that can not only keep your food at serving temperature but will hold ice and beverages as well. Food umbrellas are perfect way to keep pesky insects out of your meal and can be purchased inexpensively.
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