BOAT KIT: Make Your Next Family Outing Easier

Wondering what you should put in your family boating kit for your next outing on the pontoon? This list will help prepare you for a day of fun on the water!

We caught the pontoon bug during one fateful trip to Cabela’s.

“Let’s just walk past and take a look, it doesn’t hurt to dream…” We also live walking distance to a gorgeous lake. I spent the last 3 summers in agony as I ran past pontoon after pontoon wishing I could get out on the lake as well.

And then, fate smiled upon us. At the end of last summer we came across a pontoon for sale on Craigslist.

It was in gorgeous shape, in our price range, and the guy selling it seemed completely normal. You never know with Craigslist folk, right?

Unfortunately, this was the result of our first trip out…

We made it out on the “toon” a grand total of 4 times before summer was over and it was time to put it in storage.

I’m happy to say that the family boat is back home from being in the shop for a tune-up so she’s in tip top shape for a summer filled with time on the water! I can almost smell the fresh lake air…

I decided that for this boating season I should put together a kit to keep on the boat.

There always seems to be a couple key items that you constantly need, and some things would just plain come in handy and you wish you had on hand.

Essentials for Your Family Pontoon Boating Kit

FAMILY BOAT TRIP KIT

Extra towels and towel clips: for keeping your towel in place on a breezy lake, and extra towels are always a good idea. I like to pack one extra towel for every 3 people on board.
Plastic baggies: for keeping phones and other electronics safe from moisture.
Facial wipes: because my face starts to feel real dirty by the end of a trip on the pontoon, and these wipes make it easy to feel clean again. Just don’t forget to reapply sunscreen 😉
Baby powder: baby powder helps sand wipe off feet and other limbs quick and easy, try it!
Hand sanitizer: for getting your hands clean before a picnic on the boat. I’m kind of a germaphobe, so this is an essential in my opinion.
Extra sunscreen: when you’re on the boat for hours and hours, you’ve got to reapply! Especially if you’re in and out of the water and toweling off constantly.
First-aid kit: when you’re got an active kiddo, bumps and bruises are bound to happen.
Extra plates, napkins, eating utensils: for all of the on-board picnics that you’ll enjoy. We have a picnic on our boat every time we go out!
Cleaning wipes: because spills happen on a moving boat. Those darn cup holders seem to be the worst offenders for getting sticky and messy.
Wet wipes: for sticky fingers and messy hands that hand sanitizer just won’t fix.
Extra plastic shopping bags: we like to use extra plastic bags as our recycling and garbage receptacles while we’re out on the boat. When we get back to shore, they’re easy to dispose of.