Every year the number of injuries caused by boats increases. With the rising number, the majority of injuries caused by boats can be directly linked to lack of safety training. The total number of people on the water without any formal education in boaters' safety accounts for a large number of these injuries.
With that being said, there are so many resources to help educate people before they hit the water. As dangerous as boating can be, it doesn’t have to be that way. We won’t get into the details of boaters' safety courses in this article. Instead, we will focus on one issue that seems to come up over and over again.
That issue is, what are the safe places to relax in a pontoon and where is it unsafe to sit while underway? Now, this may seem like a simple question but when you start thinking about all the seating arrangements and positions, it gets a little confusing. I’m hoping to eliminate that confusion.
For ease of understanding, I will incorporate Barletta Pontoon models into this article to explain floorplans and the safety associated with them. Different floorplans may require different safety precautions and attention to keep everyone on board safe. Acknowledge these differences and make sure you understand the dos and don’ts of your own boat.
Sit Within Confined Rails
This may seem obvious but always sit within the confinement of the rails. Pontoons have rails that go around the exterior of the boat. The seats are found inside the constraints of the rails to keep people safe inside the boat.
This includes the captain's chair, lounges in the bow, sunbeds, co-captain's chairs, fishing seats, and others. The furniture on a pontoon is often found inside the exterior rails. Typically, the only exception to this is on some fishing boat models. Sometimes these will have fishing seats outside of the rails.
These seats are all meant to be comfortable for anyone sitting in them. There is no reason to sit in illegal or uncomfortable spots on the boat. Utilize comfortable furniture while on a pontoon.
For example, take a look at these floorplans and you’ll notice that all of the furniture sits inside of the rails. Although some of these are Barletta-specific, you will find similar options within other brands.
[Quad-Lounge] [Ultra-Lounge] [Cast - and -Cruise]
Find your favorite spot within the limits of the rails on your pontoon. Maybe you can claim it as “your spot” anytime you and your family head out for a cruise. This will ensure that you’re following safety guidelines while underway.
Rear-Facing Seats in Stern
These seats cause quite a bit of confusion. If we take a look at the Ultra-Lounge, you will notice that the rails don’t completely enclose the rear lounger. This is to keep the swim deck open and accessible when parked.
The big question is - is it safe to sit facing backward on this lounge? That is completely dependent on whether you have safety stanchions or not. This exact safety system is unique to the Barletta boats, however, other brands offer similar systems as well.
These safety stanchions act as an extension of the rails in the stern of the boat allowing guests to face backwards on the different loungers while the boat is in motion. With this safety system on your pontoon boat, you are able to utilize all of your seats while cruising on your boat.
[Safety Stanchions]
The “Never Safe” Seats
There are a number of spots on your pontoon that are always unsafe to sit in while your boat is in motion. These spots are extremely dangerous for passengers and typically illegal because of how dangerous they are.
Rear-Facing Loungers without Safety Stanchions
Now, everyone loves the comfort of the Ultra-Lounge, but these rear-facing seats are unsafe to lounge in if there are no safety stanchions on the boat as I just mentioned above.
Without the safety stanchions, there is nothing between the passengers on the rear lounge and the motor. Stanchions keep riders from sliding off the seats and potentially falling into the path of the propeller.
Rear-facing seats are always fun to relax in while sitting at the sandbar with your motor off. Though, if your motor is on, even if the boat is not moving, you should not lounge on rear-facing stern loungers without safety stanchions.
On Top of Seat Backs
Sitting on the top of the seatback is never a great idea. This should be common knowledge for any kind of furniture. When you sit on any kind of seat back is just asking for trouble. Whether it be a chair or a chaise lounge on a boat, it’s an accident waiting to happen.
It is too easy to fall back when sitting on top of a seat back as it provides very little balance. You could fall back into the water and get seriously injured while the boat is in motion.
It is especially important that the younger guests on your boat understand this. Kids might not realize the danger of sitting a little higher so make sure this is communicated thoroughly. One large wave and you’re tumbling down.
Always practice caution and avoid these scenarios. If you clearly understand the need for concern, you’ll likely be more cautious and diligent. Also it’s important to mention that sitting on top of a seat back isn’t conducive to the furniture itself.
The Bow
A large number of injuries that occur with a pontoon have to do with this scenario. Sitting in front of the rails on the bow of a pontoon boat is extremely dangerous no matter what age you are.
You may think that it’s perfect for dragging your feet in the water while cruising along. As lovely as that sounds, it’s far too easy to fall in front of the boat when sitting like this.
When someone falls in front of the boat, no matter how quickly the driver takes the boat out of gear, it’s going to be too late. The person who fell forward off the boat is directly in the path of the propeller.
This can result in serious injury or even death. For this reason, nobody should ever ride in the bow of the boat outside of the rails. It is incredibly important that everyone who rides on a pontoon knows of these dangers.
Sitting up front on a pontoon is often tempting for young children. However fun it may seem, it can turn dangerous very quickly. Children should be kept inside the rails of a pontoon at all times.
It is also worth acknowledging that riding on the bow of a pontoon is illegal. You will be stopped immediately by law enforcement on the water if seen doing this. There is no reason anyone should ever sit on the bow of a pontoon while the motor is on.
Stern Riding
Similar to sitting outside of the rails on the bow of a pontoon, you should never sit on the stern swim deck of a pontoon with the motor running. Sitting on the outside of the rails or safety stanchions puts you in danger of falling off the boat and directly into the spinning prop.
As you can imagine, a spinning prop is not something anyone wants to come in contact with. To avoid a dangerous situation like this, stay inside the boat and away from the stern swim deck while cruising around on your pontoon.
Sit in a Safe Seat
Safety should always be the most important rule while out on the water. Ensuring everyone on board knows the safe places to sit and lounge will reduce the chances of a serious accident. It should never be a question of where to safely sit when the boat is underway.
With how many accidents occur yearly because of lack of education, accidents, and injuries can be avoided. It is important to educate those around you of the dangers that can arise if certain precautions are not taken.
Boating is a fun activity for everyone. Lounging in a dangerous spot on your boat while it is in motion can ruin your day, or your life. It’s not worth the risk so make sure you are in a safe spot while on the pontoon. Enjoy boating while practicing safe boating measures.
To learn more about the laws on your body of water, check out the USCG for access to your area’s rules and regulations.
