The warm weather's here! You're ready to rip the tarp off the pontoon boat, and hit the lake.
But wait! Your boat's been sitting for a few months -- maybe your boat cover's a little worse for year. You might need to grab a few things before you back that trailer up and into the water.
The Best Pontoon Boat Accessories
These key accessories will protect your boat's hull and onboard fabrics, vinyls, and leathers, and make your day on the water safer and more convenient.
Pontoon Boat Cover
Pictured: Stellex Boat Cover (17' - 20')
A good boat cover is the most important accessory you can buy for your pontoon boat. Leaving your boat uncovered between seasons is the quickest way to cause damage: Sun rays and the elements will damage your boat's vinyl, bleaching seats and potentially causing cracks in plastic trim.
It's also important to use a proper boat cover -- like the Stellex cover shown above. These covers are made with water- and UV-resistant, all-weather canvases that will stand up to the sun and seasonal weather for years. Using a generic tarp is simply inadequate.
Got a cover that just needs a small fix? Grab a Tear-Aid Repair Kit instead.
(Recommended: Boat Cover Support System)
Throwing a cover over your boat will provide some protection against the elements -- but it's important to make sure your cover doesn't trap and collect water.
A boat cover support system (like this support from Taylor Made) ensures your cover's raised high enough to let water and moisture roll off the sides.
Dock Bumpers
Pictured: Dock Edge DocKushion Endcaps
The most vulnerable part of your pontoon boat is, well, its pontoons. They're most likely to incur damage when docked, or stored over the cold season. Nothing can put a damper on your day on the water like a dented or punctured pontoon.
To eliminate the risk of damage, it's strongly recommended you protect your boat's pontoons with a set of dock bumpers.
These bumpers are made from polymer, rubber, and foam -- together providing a tough but safe damper between your pontoon boat and the dock itself.
Alternative: Pontoon Fenders
Pictured: Taylor Made Pontoon Fender
If you're traveling frequently with your pontoon boat, you might not have access to a dock that's set up with bumpers. That's OK -- you can bring your own bumper, in the form of a pontoon fender.
These are purpose-made boat fenders designed specifically to fit around the rounded hull of your pontoons.
Pontoon fenders are relatively small, lightweight, and easy to install and store away. They're also affordable -- most cost between $50 and $100 -- ensuring you're not stuck paying hundreds (or thousands) on repairs later.
Pontoon Boat Lights
Pictured: CIPA EVO Formance LED Boat Lights
The party doesn't need to stop just because the sun goes down. Installing a set of plug-and-play boat lights onboard your pontoon also provides a measure of safety.
Gone are the days of spending hundreds on custom wiring and drilling into your cabin. Lights like the CIPA EVO kit, shown above, run on direct-connect 12V power, with 16-feet strips of pre-wired lights that can be tucked around consoles and seats.
Get The Right Pontoon Anchor
Pontoon boats ride high in the water, and are generally more susceptible to currents and waves than other large watercraft. A Danforth anchor (also called a Fluke or Yachting Anchor) is best for a pontoon boat.
These anchors provide high holding power in soft bottoms and lakebeds, with capacity for hulls up to 38 feet, while weighing just 15 to 20 pounds. Make sure to pair it with a quality anchor rope and chain for the most holding power.
Read our full guide on picking the right boat anchor.
Always Have a Rearview Mirror
Pictured: PTM Edge Pro Pontoon Mirror
If you're towing wakeboarders or water skiers, it's critically important you have eyes on the riders while you're operating your boat. A wide-angle boat mirror provides clear vision while allowing you to also keep eyes on the water ahead.
Even if you're just cruising, you should always operate your pontoon boat with a rearview; having 360 degrees of awareness while on the water is a good safety practice.
