If you want to add a diving board to your pontoon boat this summer then there’s only product I recommend in this area, and it’s the Lillipad diving platform.
As far as I know, they are the only company that makes them, they invented it, and in fact I think they might have a patent for it.
So, if you do want a pontoon boat diving board then honestly look no further than Lillipad, unless of course you want to make your own, and I will come onto that later on this page.
But first up, let’s take a closer look at the Lillipad pontoon diving board to find out what makes it so special (view video below), and what other owners are already saying.
Where to Buy a Pontoon Diving Board?
Currently you can’t buy direct from Lillipad, but instead will need to visit a local dealer near to you who stock them or simply buy online from Amazon. Below are the product details:
Energy canceling design means you can play for hours without rocking the boat
Designed for kids and adults up to 250 lbs
Constructed out of heavy wall aluminum with stainless steel hardware
Quick Release pins allows for easy storage and docking
Stows away in two sections and fit in most seating storage when not in use
Lillipad Diving Board Reviews
But what do other people say about this awesome pontoon boat diving board?
I took a look on Facebook and sought out owners of the Lillipad diving board in various pontoon owner groups, and here’s a selection of the positive comments.
I genuinely didn’t have a single person come back with a negative review.
“We love it. Even the adults! It doesn’t even shake the boat when someone jumps off. It’s worth every penny and is the number 1 favorite toy on our boat. We don’t even tube anymore because everyone just wants to do this! It holds up to 250 pounds of weight.”
“We just spent a great weekend on the lake here at Oologah lake in Oklahoma! The kids love the Lillipad Diving board on our pontoon and it’s awesome fun! We are so happy for Summertime!”
“I don’t have one yet but know someone that does. They are awesome and will be the best $1,200 bucks you spent for your boat.”
“We love the fact that our family and friends have yet another outlet for fun on the water and it makes us so happy to see them use our diving board. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it”.
Installing the Lillipad Pontoon Diving Board
I don’t own the product myself, so instead asked a few other people I know who already own one to see what they say about the installation process, including how easy (or not) it is to set-up.
Before getting into the comment though, please note that the Lillipad pontoon diving board has two different mounting options.
You can either mount to the surface of your pontoon, or fit it using an under-floor method. For more information on each option, take a look at the installation videos available on the Lillipad website.
Here’s a selection of comments from existing owners in answer to any installation questions.
“I installed my Lillipad. It’s really easy if you have mechanical skills and takes about an hour. It comes with a template for the drill holes. We love it, the kids love it, and everyone always asks about it. It’s mounted on the rear deck of our boat.”
“It is well worth the money if you can afford the Lillipad diving board. It will keep your kids entertained all summer, but I would personally suggest mounting it by at the rear across from the ladder. It works better that way in my opinion.”
“It took us about 45 minutes. it would have been less, but we had to remove one of the pop riveted facia boards to get the one nut on the bolt. Once the plates are mounted it’s about a 2-minute install or uninstall. Simple really!”
“The initial install takes maybe 30 minutes. Then setting up for the day is as simple as taking it out of wherever you have it stored on your boat and screwing in 3 eye bolts. I use a screwdriver through the eye bolts for leverage. So maybe 5 minutes tops. This thing is built solid and the boat doesn’t rock when people are diving or jumping off it. The kids love it.”
Should You Install a Diving Board on the Front of a Pontoon?
One of the more common questions about this pontoon boat diving platform kit is where to mount and install it. In other words, to you place it at the rear, or does the diving board go on the front of your pontoon boat?
Here’s what the existing owners I spoke to are doing with theirs.
“We board our pontoon from the front and I’m considering a trolling motor up there. I’d place it and take a look. On the back is perfect for us and has served us very well since we bought the Lillipad.”
“The install was fairly easy once I got where I wanted it situated at the front of the pontoon. You have two options, a surface mount or the under-surface mount. I chose the under-surface mount. You can’t even tell it was there once you take it off. Carpet hides the holes nicely.”
“I was just thinking about this. The front for you might not be a bad idea depending on your boat. Mine has a sport arch and because of that, I can leave the Lillipad installed while we tube. If you have a ski pole you might have to store it every time you switch. Make sense?”
“We have been enjoying our Lillipad diving board for two seasons now and mounted ours on the rear platform on our 2012 Grand Mariner 230. It’s the best for us due to the design of our boat.”
Will the Lillipad Diving Board Rock Your Pontoon?
One of the major concerns that are raised when boat owners are considering buying this product is whether it will rock their pontoon boat when people start jumping from the board.
Here’s what I heard from real-life owners who already have a Lillipad installed.
“Very few people actually dive off ours. Usually a lot of jumps, flips, cannonball challenges. It holds up to 250 pounds. It has some spring, but it takes some getting used to. It’s heavy duty. Easy to disassemble for travel. It’s just like diving off a regular board, but the shock absorbers the spring so the boat don’t rock.”
“I like the suspension and shock system that it comes with. Does it reduce the vibration when the kids launch off it? Yes! We had a 200-pound jumper and barely a jiggle. Barely even moves the boat. I can’t say no rocking completely, but very little motion at all.”
Alternatives or Making Your Own
The Lillipad pontoon boat diving board is expensive. There’s no getting away from that, so are there any cheaper alternatives that you can try?
Here’s what some social media users have previously said about it, followed up with a few ideas you could try if you don’t want to invest this type of money.
“Looking for diving platform ideas and something I can remove with ease ideally. Can’t justify $1,300 for a Lillipad diving board.”
“We found a used one on Craigslist. Our boat is a trailer queen, so I needed mine to be able to trailer without taking the board off. I put effort into the mounting, so it didn’t hurt the cross members. I weigh 235 pounds and I go off this as hard as I can, and it hasn’t hurt a thing.”
If you did want to make your own DIY diving board for your pontoon boat then there are other web forums you might want to explore for ideas.
Alternatively, for a cheaper solution that doesn’t quite work as well as a diving board, but still provides somewhere to jump from, take a look at these recommended ladders.
Currently you can’t buy direct from Lillipad, but instead will need to visit a local dealer near to you who stock them or simply buy online from Amazon. Below are the product details:
