Cleaning & Warming Little Adventurers Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of Pontoon Boat Guide.

It’s part of parenthood: While kids are busy having fun, you’re keeping a weather eye on temperatures and the inevitable “grubby factor” that goes along with the younger set. For pontoon boat families, the adventuring is happening on, in and near the water, so cleaning up and, if necessary, warming up has to happen on the water as well. Here are a few suggestions to make that process as smooth as possible:

1. Bring a Kid Cleanup Kit every time you go pontoon boating. This kit should include soap, washcloths and extra towels. You might want to include an extra First Aid kit as well.
2. Pack a change of clothes for each child in case the first outfit gets wet.
3. You’ll also want to pack hats, jackets, long pants, sweatshirts and even blankets. Temperatures can drop rapidly at the end of the day, particularly if you’ve spent hours in the sun. And even if it’s still warm, you can feel too cool or even cold when the boat’s under way due to wind chills.

A note for families with older children:
Tweens and teens are going to be concerned about their privacy while on board. Most pontoon boats come with — or have as an available option — “pop-up” privacy enclosures, many of which provide standing headroom. Not only is this the spot for a portable toilet, it’s also a great place for cleaning up, changing clothes and, as teens are inclined to do, primping.