The best lake days are the ones where everyone comes home safe!
We love hanging out with other boaters by the island — but as much as we love to have fun, safety always comes first. These are the items we purchased before we ever put our new pontoon boat in the water.
Not only is it smart — all boaters are required to carry certain safety equipment. You don’t want a great day ruined by getting stopped by the marine police and realizing you forgot a fire extinguisher or another important piece of gear. And with multiple ages out on the water, it’s our responsibility as boat owners to mitigate that risk as much as we can.
Have fun, but stay safe! Here’s everything on our boat, every single trip.
Heads up: Our Clever Finds uses affiliate links from Amazon. We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. We only share finds we genuinely love.
One quick note before the list: safety equipment requirements vary by state and waterway, so check your local regulations — this is what works for our lake and our crew.
Life Jackets & Flotation for the Whole Crew
The rule is simple: enough for everyone aboard, every time. Here’s what fits our crew from the grandkids on up.
Child USCG-Approved Life Vest
♥ What We Love
- Our grandson has worn this same vest for 3 years and it still fits.
- Snug but comfortable, and it doesn’t ride up on him.
USCG-Approved Life Vests for Men & Women
♥ What We Love
- Comfortable enough to actually wear — on the boat, swimming, or doing water sports.
- A vest you’ll keep on is worth ten stored under the seat.
Seachoice Type II Life Vests, 4-Pack
♥ What We Love
- We adults don’t always wear a vest, but we must have enough aboard for everyone — this pack fits that need.
- An affordable way to stay legal with 8–10 people on the pontoon.
USCG-Approved Type IV PFD Boat Cushion
♥ What We Love
- A throwable flotation device is required on board — and you never know when you may have to toss it to someone caught in a strong current.
- Doubles as an extra seat cushion in the meantime.
Don’t Get Stopped Without These
These are the items the marine police will ask about — keep them aboard and know exactly where they’re stored.
Marine Fire Extinguisher
♥ What We Love
- Required equipment — and make sure everyone knows exactly where it’s stored in case of emergency.
- Marine-rated and compact enough to mount within easy reach.
Air Horn
♥ What We Love
- Busy weekends get noisy — this cuts through to get another boater’s attention fast.
- Checks the sound-signal requirement box, too.
Be Prepared: The Gear You Hope You Never Need
We learned this one the hard way. A battery went bad on us out on the water, and luckily another boater had a jump starter aboard — that’s the only reason we made it back to the dock without a tow. We ordered our own the minute we got home.
Portable Lithium Jump Starter
♥ What We Love
- You only need to get stranded once to realize what a lifesaver these are.
- Works on the tow vehicle too — double duty on every lake trip.
Waterproof First Aid Kit
♥ What We Love
- Most lakes and rivers are a bit murky, and you never know what’s on the bottom.
- Handles the little mishaps before they can ruin the day.
Rechargeable Waterproof Handheld Spotlight
♥ What We Love
- For when a great day runs long and you get caught out after sunset.
- Super bright, rechargeable, and waterproof — exactly what you want in the dark.
Tow Rope
♥ What We Love
- One of those things you hope you never need — and are very glad to have when you do.
- Helping a stranded boater (or being one) goes a lot smoother with your own line aboard.
Protect Your Investment
A boat is a big investment — a couple of inexpensive items go a long way toward keeping it (and everything on it) in good shape.
Boat Fenders, 4-Pack
♥ What We Love
- Protects the pontoon at the dock and when rafting up with other boats at the island.
- Cheap insurance for a big investment.
Marine Storage Box
♥ What We Love
- Keeps registration, keys, and other important items safe and dry.
- Everything has a home — no more digging through bags at the dock.
Don’t Forget the Furriest Crew Member
Because of course Pepper wants to join in on the fun! Dogs need flotation on the water just like the rest of the crew — and the handle on top makes lifting her back aboard so much easier.
Dog Life Jacket
♥ What We Love
- Pepper gets to be part of every lake day, safely.
- The top handle doubles as the world’s easiest dog-overboard recovery system.
Safety gear stowed? Now for the fun stuff — see everything we pack for the perfect day on the water in 8 Lake Day Essentials We Always Pack on Our Pontoon Boat.
Pepper says: "They make me wear a vest with a handle like I’m luggage. Fine. But I’ve seen how they drive the boat, so I get it." 🐾
Leave a Reply