Is there any type of boat that lends itself to customization more than pontoon boats? By nature, every pontoon is a blank slate — a rectangular platform that can be outfitted with whatever best suits your boating style and location.
Of course, modern pontoons generally come fully equipped with luxurious furniture, shade tops, storage and other accessories, but there’s always more you can do to upgrade your pontoon. With summer upon us, here are five of our most popular pontoon boat upgrades to consider.
1. Folding Pontoon Boat Tables
Tables on boats are great when you need them but tend to get in the way a lot when you don’t. Even with a removable pedestal and table top, you still have to figure out where to store the parts when not in use.
That makes Boat Outfitters’ innovative folding tables a perfect solution. When you need a table, you have one; when you don’t; it folds completely out of the way. Think of it as an on-demand entertainment space.
The ideal location for mounting a folding table on a pontoon boat is recessed into the back of a couch or chaise lounge, where it occupies space that would otherwise go to waste.
Boat Outfitters’ folding tables are made from durable King Starboard in a variety of colors and designed for a custom-quality fit in the lounge backs of many popular pontoon brands, including AquaPatio, Avalon/Tahoe, Bennington, Coach, Crest, Godfrey, Grand Mariner, Harris, JC, Lowe, Manitou, Monaco, Sanpan, SmokerCraft, Solstice, Sweetwater, Veranda and Xcurion.
Pontoon folding table/drawer combinations are designed to mount easily into lounge backs and to work as drop-in replacements for popup changing rooms.
Folding tables are great not just for the obvious use — prepping and serving food and drinks — but also for rigging fishing tackle, preparing bait and chum and cleaning smaller fish. For even more functionality, add a serving tray topper to hold mixers, bottles, cups, stemmed glasses, plates, knives and other prep tools. Toppers lock securely into place through the handle on the table.
Accessory table-toppers clamp securely in place and hold platters, cups, bottles, stemware, knives and other serving tools.
2. Folding Tables with Drawers
Need some extra storage in addition to a table? Boat Outfitters also offers combination units that pair a folding table above with a large drawer below. The drawer can accommodate miscellaneous gear or can be fitted with a dog bowl insert, which securely holds a pair of standard dog bowls, keeping them out of the way when not in use.
Combination units are also custom-fit for a wide variety of pontoon makes and models and available in several colors to coordinate with each brand’s interiors. All latches, drawer slides, hinges and other hardware are stainless steel for corrosion resistance, while Starboard surfaces are virtually impervious to moisture, UV, mold and mildew.
Combo units add a drawer below the folding table for bulk storage. Add a dog bowl insert to keep dog food and water from sliding around or getting in the way.
Pontoon folding table/drawer combinations are designed to mount easily into lounge backs and to work as drop-in replacements for popup changing rooms and are also compatible with Boat Outfitters table toppers.
3. Pontoon-Specific Rod Holders
Most pontoon boat builders now offer highly functional fishing configurations, but if you don’t want to go all-in on fishing, another option is simply to add the fishing features you need to your pontoon. Rod holders should be some of the first fishing accessories you consider. When fishing rods are leaned against furniture or rails, they’re all too easy to step on or trip over, resulting in broken gear or, worse, injuries from hooks. Instead, rods should be kept upright in dedicated storage.
Among the simplest solutions is a vertical 2-rod or 4-rod rack that can be mounted to the inside or outside of your railings. Made of King Starboard, these racks keep rods safely out of the way but also easy to grab when you’re ready to wet a line. They can be permanently mounted with screws or bolts, or attached to rails with removable clamps.
Vertical rod storage racks install easily and keep fishing rods safely out of the way when not in use.
Of course, it’s also helpful to have a place to put your fishing rod while waiting for a bite, whether you’re bait fishing or trolling. For this, you’ll want a rod holder that mounts to the railing and holds your rod upward at an angle. Clamp-on stainless steel pontoon rod holders are durable and can be easily adjusted. For greater versatility, consider a Railblaza mount, which attaches to your rail and can accommodate not just a rod holder but also a range of other accessories like phone holders, lights, camera mounts and even cleats — ideal for hanging fenders.
For the ultimate fishing functionality, you can also consider Boat Outfitters’ full-featured Pontoon Tackle Storage Unit, with four locking drawers, seven Plano-style trays, four rod holders, storage cubbies, a 30” ruler and a cutting board top
Boat Outfitters’ freestanding pontoon tackle center offers the ultimate in fishing functionality for your pontoon boat.
4. Pontoon Trash Solutions
Admittedly, there’s nothing sexy or exciting about trash cans. On the other hand, adding a practical trash solution to a boat — especially a pontoon — can significantly improve your boating quality of life index. The fact is that most boats don’t come with trash containers, so crew and guests tend to “stash” their trash in nooks, crannies, hatches, coolers, etc. to keep it from blowing around when underway. And that means hunting around the boat at the end of the day to gather cans, bottles, wrappers and more from half a dozen different places.
Having an on-board trash can that’s centrally located and easy-to-access but tucked out sight is a difference-maker. Boat Outfitters offers several tilt-out trash can holders that mount into the back of loungers just like our folding tables. Available in a range of colors and configured to fit a variety of pontoon brands, these trash can units also feature convenient lockable storage areas to maximize space.
Tilt-out trash can units mount into a cutout on the back of a lounger and also provide convenient lockable storage for phones, wallets, keys and other small items.
For a lower-cost solution, consider a rail-mount trash can unit or one of several innovative, soft-sided boat trash containers like those made by CaddyCan and Mangrove Products.
5. Pontoon Boat Grills
The ultimate sandbar/beach/cove accessory, a propane boat grill instantly ups your game for summer. There’s actually no such thing as a pontoon-specific grill; in fact, boat grills — like those made by Magma — are fairly universal. Rather, it’s the mounting method that has to be compatible with your boat.
On most pontoon boats, your grill needs to be able to attach to a typical square pontoon boat railing. The simplest method is using a purpose-built square rail grill mount.
The mount clamps semi-permanently to a pontoon rail but allows the mounting arm to be easily removed when not in use.
The same mount can also be screwed or bolted to any vertical surface strong enough to support the weight of your grill.
Another option is to add a rod holder that clamps to the rail (see above), since many marine grill mounts — such as the Magma Levelock Rod Holder Mount — are designed to drop into rod holders. One advantage of the rod holder approach is that you can also use the rod holder for other accessories, such as cutting boards, or serving trays.