Driving a pontoon boat requires taking a few safety precautions and following a few basic steps. Before departing, make sure everyone on the boat is wearing a properly fitted and zipped life jacket. It is also essential to check the weather and make sure the waters are safe. When driving, pay attention to the bow position, watch your speed and keep the boat’s thrust directed away from docks and other boats.
Before starting the engine, make sure all your passengers are safely onboard and seated. Before beginning, align the pontoon boat’s bow in the direction your plan to move. Once the bow is lined up, turn the key and power up the engine.
When throttling up the engine, starting slowly before shifting the gear into forward. When driving the pontoon, watch the speed and keep an eye on the objects around you. Remember to steer to the right when passing oncoming boats and keep an eye on the wake you’re creating.
When you’re ready to stop, shift the gear into neutral, reduce the throttle to idle, and use your foot to press down the kill switch. This step is important because it reduces the risk of an accident. If you have anchoring rope available, tie it to an anchor and moor the boat.
Finally, check the engine and make sure you have enough fuel and fuel filters. Following these steps will help ensure that your time spent driving a pontoon boat is safe and enjoyable.