Pontooning is fun, but with it comes a whole lot of responsibility for not just your own safety and that of your passengers, but also for other people out on the water.
I have often been asked by beginner pontooners if there is a master-list of the basic and essential items that they should always carry on their pontoon boat to help with not just safety, but also for practical reasons you might encounter whilst boating.
On this page you will see a list of all the must have items on a pontoon boat – some required by law in your state, others just sensible must haves.
Important Note: These are not items intended to increase the amount of fun you have on your boat, as you can find recommendations for those elsewhere on Pontoonopedia, but instead essential items for safety and also those that are legally required.
List of Must Have Basic Items for a Pontoon Boat
Within my carefully curated list of 37 “must have” items for pontooning, there are some that are legally required and others that just make good sense.
Items Required by Law
- Anchor – With a 50 to a 100-foot line (see my recommended anchors)
- Boating License – Always have your license with you, just like you would your driver’s license in the car
- Distress Flag – Hopefully, you will never need one, but this one is good
- Dock Line and Rope – for transient slips
- Fire Extinguisher – Ideal for gas and oil fires, I recommend this on Amazon
- Flares
- Insurance Information – Hopefully, you won’t have to use it, but it’s important to have it with you
- Life Jackets – One for each person, and they must fit
- Life Preserver – To throw overboard or a throwable flotation device
- Registration – Always have your boat’s info ready
It’s important to understand that the legal requirements for items on your pontoon will vary depending on the state you live in. So it’s essential that you carefully read your state site to find out what you will need.
Items Highly Recommended But Not Required
- BoatUS or Sea Tow Membership
- Boat Hook – I recommend the Star Brite on Amazon
- Depth Finder
- First Aid Kit
- Jump Box and Tow Rope – In case you run out of gas
- Chart Plotter
Useful Items
- Aspirin – Could save someone’s life if they are having a heart attack
- Benadryl
- Bucket
- Cooler
- Extra Boat Key – Just in case you lose one onboard or in the water
- Extra Fuses
- Flash Light – This one on Amazon is waterproof and can be submerged up to 80 feet
- Floats on Your Keys – Just in case you drop them in the water, these ones are awesome
- Ibuprofen
- Long Arm Net – Helps you fish items out of the water and is found on Amazon
- Mirror
- Paddle
- Pair of Binoculars – Waterproof ones are recommended; click here
- Paper Towels
- Pocket Knife – Take a look at this Berger knife on Amazon
- Portable Battery Jumper – just in case you need it or to help out a stranded boater, I like this one on Amazon
- Radio – Or at least a fully charged cell phone
- Small Emergency Tool Kit – Small, portable, and always useful – see prices
- Sunscreen
- Tow Ropes
- Water – I always take 20% more than I actually need
- Weed Eater String
- Whistle–Fox is a great brand; view it here on Amazon
- Ziploc Bags – I have lost count of how handy they are
Other Essential Items to Consider
If possible, I also travel with a good first mate who can run the boat. This is just in case anything was ever to happen, which I hope it won’t! But, you always need someone to take the wheel once and a while.
The state that you live in also might require you to have taken a boater safety course and hold a boating license. Take a look at state laws and how they differ in this guide. Once you have done that, also check that you have everything required by law on your pontoon, in this checklist of legal required equipment.
Other items I like to take with me are throw rugs as I have carpet on my pontoon deck. Yes, they will get wet and damp, but I can wash them and hang them out to dry as it saves my carpets getting dirty. It’s far better than having mud stains.
And lastly, make sure that you have a jump box and a tow rope in case you run out of gas. The gas gauges in pontoon boats (or any boats for that matter) are notoriously inaccurate.
I have first-hand experience of this, as I once ran out of gas despite the gauge saying I had a quarter of a tank. Thankfully I had just enough for my trolling motor to get me to a marina. From that day on, I have always made sure I am prepared just in case it happens again and I am not so lucky.
