Camping on a Pontoon Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

Camping on the water beats a campground every time. Just pick a sheltered anchorage, drop the hook and make sure you’ve set the anchor properly and that it’s holding; or, since pontoon boats are easy to beach for the night without damaging the bottom, choose your favorite spot and tuck in to shore. Camping versatility doesn’t end there if you need to spend a night on the road while trailering: You can actually use your pontoon boat as an RV! Simply pull into a campground, put the camper enclosure in place, and use the aft ladder as your entry. Since it’s off the ground, you’ll find that the pontoon boat provides much better shelter if it rains, and you’ll stay warmer. Just think: You can have a combo boat and RV. (RVs are not known for their on-the-water performance, so RV owners will never be able to say the same!)

A pontoon’s wide-open layout and broad, flat deck ensure that you’ll have plenty of room for air mattresses, and a gas or charcoal grill can be attached to the railing for cooking savory entrees at every mealtime. The camper enclosure provides full, reliable weather protection and, with a convenient portable toilet on board, the privacy and comfort your family will appreciate. You’ll also discover that your pontoon boat camper has more than enough storage under the seats to stow all the camping gear during the day while you enjoy more on-water fun.

So spread out your sleeping bags, tell ghost stories and let the water rock you to sleep. And in the morning, as you hear the water gently purl against the beach and watch a silvery mist hovering over the lake surface like a mirage, you’ll find that your coffee never tasted better.

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