Is your birthday coming up and you want to throw a party on a pontoon boat? Well, you’re in the right place! Whether you have your own pontoon boat or will be renting one, here’s what you need to know to get started without planning a pontoon-errific birthday extravaganza.
Acquire a Pontoon
Unless you have your own pontoon, you’ll want to check out some rental companies to see how much of your birthday budget will go to renting the boat. To find rental companies near you, or where you’ll be celebrating, is only a google search away. For example, if you live near Miami, type “Miami pontoon boat rentals” into the search bar.
If you can drive the boat yourself or have a friend who can, you’ll probably save some money on the total rental price. However, if everyone wants to have a good time, for safety, it’s probably worth it to rent a pontoon boat that comes with a captain. For those with pontoons already, you can look into options to hire a captain also.
Pontoon Size and Amenities
Consider the size of the pontoon you’ll be using when you determine who you’ll invite aboard. You don’t want to over-invite and risk having an overcrowded pontoon. There’s likely a maximum capacity for the boat, so don’t invite more than it can hold.
Also, think about the amenities on board for things like decorations, food storage/cooking, and seating. If you’re cooking on the boat, you’ll need a place to store food until it’s time to begin. You’ll need to think about storage that’s included or where you can place coolers with food and beverages. If you’d rather not cook, make your birthday party a potluck so everything is prepared ahead of time and ready to eat.
For some additional fun, look for boats with a slide that can fold off the back to slip into the water easier or a tube to pull adrenaline seeking partygoers along the waves. Above all, definitely make sure there are life jackets available in multiple sizes, especially if there are children on the boat. Sunscreen is another item to keep on board for day parties to protect everyone’s skin from the sun’s rays.
Pick a Theme
Give your birthday party a twist with a fun theme. There are some classic water-based themes you have to pick from like a pirate or beach theme. For kids’ parties, you can decorate the pontoon boat like a mermaid’s paradise or with Finding Nemo adornments. Your theme can be anything, so don’t feel restricted to having a nautical theme.
For adult parties, if there if you live in an area where your boat can dock easily in several places, consider hosting a Pontoon Pub Crawl for your birthday. Plan out the stops and timeline ahead of time to let bars know you’ll be stopping by and maybe score some drink specials for your party. This is where you’ll want to invest in a captain and definitely make sure that you have those life jackets on board.
Bring Your Own Entertainment
You might have some attendants that aren’t fans of swimming or maybe you don’t want to plan formal party games for your birthday. What better to bring on board than some classic board games. Create a tournament to get partygoers interested in playing the games, and have some prizes, like a snorkel mask, for winners.
Inquire about how you can get some tunes playing on your pontoon boat, so you can have some background music or turn your party into a dance craze. No party is really complete without some hits playing, right? Depending on where you’ll be, make a playlist that’s saved to a phone or other device so you won’t have to worry about losing data or Wi-Fi connections. Music services, like Spotify, give you the ability to download playlists and song to your device if you’re a premium member.
Eco-Friendly
As much as you can, try to make anything you bring eco-friendly items on board. This is most pertinent for items that will be thrown away. Give back to the planet by not contributing to the waste that’s already in large bodies of water. Look for biodegradable plates, cups, and flatware. If the wind accidentally carries it away or it gets knocked overboard, it won’t leave a lasting impact on the environment. The same goes for decorations and food containers.
Have some designated trash bags available, so you don’t leave traces of your party behind you. This can also keep down on any cleaning fees associated with renting a pontoon boat.
