I don’t know about you, but the boating season certainly never feels long enough. Even though I spend as many sunny days out on the water as I can, I always find myself wishing I had more time before the cold weather set in. You know what I mean? But even though we can’t stop the cold weather from coming, there is a way to upgrade your pontoon to help the boating season last a little longer: enclosures.
There are so many different kinds of pontoon enclosures that will help extend your boating time. You can get extended Bimini tops, rain shields, or even half enclosures to help with the wind. All of these help protect you from the elements, but a full enclosure can do even more.
“A full enclosure extends your boating season,” says Duane Krueger, Godfrey Pontoons Midwest Sales Rep. “They keep you warmer in the spring and fall and they act like a nice and cozy sunroom even when it’s cold out.”
But a full enclosure offers the same benefits that many partial enclosures can. “They work great if you want to go boating in the rain as well,” adds Krueger. “It helps for the sensitive-skin boaters who need to stay out of the sun, gives great protection as well as good ventilation with the screen up so you can stay cool even when it’s hot out.”
For a whole new experience, full enclosures also allow you to spend evenings camping on your pontoon. Plus they keep the mosquitoes out in the bewitching hour just before sunset and the hour or two afterwards.
Protection from both sun and mosquitoes is also a major benefit if you have young kids aboard your pontoon. Having an enclosure to shield little ones from sunburn or bug bites is a huge help! While a shade Bimini top helps some of the time, the full enclosure covers you from every angle.
Another advantage to having an enclosure is when you’re camping. If you haven’t tried camping on your pontoon yet, give it a try this summer. Rather than packing along a tent and some extra equipment to extend your boating trip, you can just turn your pontoon into a floating tent.
Dowco, who specializes in marine-grade boat covers, OEM enclosures and Bimini tops, has been pushing for onboard camping for years.
“It’s great to see trends like ‘glamping’ taking off,” says Dowco’s Angela Lettenberger. “We’re specifically seeing this trend within the millennial population; they have a great desire to get closer to the outdoors and nature, and a pontoon full-enclosure gets you there quickly. The pontoon enclosure is a non-traditional form of glamping. To those that place a high value in their on-water time, it’s perfect.”
The company also offers a variety of aftermarket enclosures for many existing pontoons and believes in giving customers a little more privacy by turning your pontoon into a mini-living quarters.
While the full enclosures are great, if you don’t want it all the time, that’s okay. There are a lot of different ways for you to use your enclosure. For example, SUN TRACKER offers full enclosures that work with other enclosures or tops. Travis Langevin, the director of design for the White River Marine Group says, “At White River Marine Group, we try to anticipate and meet our customers’ many needs on the water. That’s why we offer a number of enclosure options that pair with our standard Bimini tops.”
SUN TRACKER offers windbreak options that cover the helm area, double Biminis for full-boat coverage overhead and full enclosures that completely encapsulate the boat.
“We have seen steady increases in enclosure sales over the past few years, and hope to continue that trend by offering an option to fit every need,” adds Langevin. “Having the option to change up your enclosure is great because your boating trip should be catered to the exact experience you want to have.”
When winter finally comes around, it’s time for winterization. While partial enclosures need to be taken off, a full enclosure protects your pontoon just as well, if not more, than your cover will, and you can leave it on while in storage.
“For those who are looking to get more longevity each year out of their pontoon, making the investment in a full enclosure is an ideal way to spend chilly spring or fall nights on the water, comfortably,” adds Lettenberger. “It gives you a little more protection so your boating time can last as long as possible.”
With a pontoon enclosure, you may not be able to control the weather, but you can definitely keep it at bay!
For More Information
Dowco Marine
www.dowco-inc.com
SUN TRACKER
www.whiterivermg.com
Godfrey Pontoons - Sweetwater
www.godfreypontoonboats.com/sweetwater
