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If you are having a pontoon boat and struggling to find a perfect pontoon boat enclosure this article will help you. Most people, I mean anglers have pontoons because they are great when it comes to fishing and also you can use pontoons for boat camping trips too (not for overnight camping trips unless the boat is enclosed).
But every pontoon owner is facing problems such as high UV rays while boating or fishing and can’t sleep overnight because the boat is not enclosed.
Is it a good idea to spend money on a pontoon boat enclosure?
This depends on person to person, but as a pontoon owner I can say according to my personal experience, it is a good idea. There are many reasons for you to buy one. Here are some of them.
It will increase the resale value of the pontoon
Sometimes it is not easy to find a perfect enclosure for a pontoon. But when you are going to sell your pontoon with the tent, people will give their potential more to buy it than the other normal ones.
It will provide you with more comfort
Think that you are boating or fishing for hours in the daytime and you are getting tired. If you have an enclosure, you can relax a bit there and do your work again. This applies to nighttime also when it comes to boat camping. Especially if you are going fishing in the early morning times.
It will provide you with more protection
A perfect enclosure can help you with high UV rays, wind, insects like mosquitoes, bugs, rain, etc.
Best Pontoon boat enclosures
1. Gazebo Shade Top
This is perfect when you need to relax and take a look around the area. Especially when you are going on a trip with your family. It comes with mounting hardware so you don’t need to worry about it. But make sure not to lose the mounting hardware because I think they don’t sell those separately. Otherwise, you will have to make a one or buy a new one instead.
Also, keep in mind that it won’t be easy to set up alone. You can use this even for inflatable boats if you have at least an 8×8 area and 4 tie-down locations
The frame material is fiberglass and the tent material is polyester.
2. Pontoon Easy-up Enclosure
It is not easy to find a great enclosure that you can order online. Here is one of them that I found on the internet. the special feature that I see on this enclosure Is it has a very eye-catching look. It comes with pacific blue color and it is made out of polyester.
If you are going to buy this one make sure about its size fits our boat. The measurements of this one are 6×6 ft. Also, there are two windows on both front and back.
3. Pontoon Playpen Shade
How to get a Luxury pontoon boat enclosure? – Custom pontoon boat enclosure makers
Image Source : https://www.toontimesc.com/canvas-work
Toon Time, LLC
Toon Time, LLC is founded in 2015. I heard about this company from my fellow youtuber who uploads content about pontoon boats. He recommended this company because they made him a full custom enclosure with matching seat covers that look really amazing.
This company is specializing in pontoon boats. So you can not only make a custom enclosure for your boat. You also get services like restoring the full boat, wiring, boat transporting services, and more.
You can check their website for more information and to contact them.
Vision Marine Products, LLC
Vision marine products company is quite unique compared to other custom enclosure makers. The reason is they make automatic pontoon covers. For me, it is a great time saver because I personally know how long and how much effort that takes to set up some pontoon covers (not all of them). But this automatic cover only takes about 45 seconds for it.
If you like to own one, you can contact them or you can order from it their website. They require some details about your boat such as boat model, boat year, etc.
Having a Custom pontoon boat enclosure vs Ordering online – Which option is better?
Custom Enclosure
The perfect one – Every pontoon owner likes to have an enclosure that fits perfectly for their boat. So having a custom enclosure will do it for you.
The quality – you are having professionals to make your enclosure with the materials that you prefer to add.
Customizing – you can customize the enclosure by discussing it with the enclosure makers
Ordering Online
Cost – If you don’t have enough money to spend on a custom enclosure you can order a cheaper one online because there is too much competition with online products.
Quick availability – after ordering the selected product online, you can have it within after a week or two. So if you are in a hurry, ordering online is useful.
Which option is better?
If you are a person who wants to have an enclosure soon as possible with low cost order it online. If you are looking for a unique and perfect-looking enclosure go with the custom one.
Maintaining
Many boat owners forget about maintaining their boat enclosure which is very important to do to use for a long time.
- Clean it Regularly
Clean it every time you have used it. You could either use a brush or sponge with clear water or soap to clean the dirt.
- Store it properly
After using your enclosure make sure to store it properly because otherwise, it will be a reason for it to get mold or for mildew growth. So make sure to store it with these steps
- Remove the enclosure from your boat
- Fold it neatly or roll it
- Then store it in a dry, ventilated area
- Winterize
If you are living in a harsh winter season or area you have to winterize the enclosure. To do that you should clean it and store it in a climate-controlled area. Also, you can provide extra protection using a storage bag.
- Look for damaged areas
You can do this by checking the enclosure regularly. Focus on things like broken zippers, loosen stitches, tears, etc. If you have noticed any signs like that contact a professional to repair it or repair them by yourself.
Conclusion
Finding a perfect pontoon boat enclosure tent is not easy as it looks. There are a lot of things you need to consider before you buy one. Also, it is very important to maintain it regularly to use it longer.