Jerry Brookes

Author Archives: Jerry Brookes

Hi I'm Jerry, founder of PontoonHelper.com. I've been pontooning for over 30 years believe it or not and have learned a thing or two about pontoons. As my passion project Pontoon Helper is aimed at educating any reader on all the different things you need to know before pontooning. I consider myself somewhat of an expert in this industry as it has become my life since retirement. Feel free to submit a comment or question on the website and I'll try to get back to you.

How to Get a Pontoon Boat Loan Explained

If you’re not one of those lucky lads whose great-grand-aunt left them a small fortune when she passed away, you might not be able to afford a pontoon boat off the top of your head – or at least aren’t willing to spend all of your life savings on it at once. But when a […]

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5 Tips on Saving Gas In your Pontoon

Gone are the good ol’ days when you could get a gallon of gas for one dollar. With gas prices getting higher and higher by the year (predictions say  $2.47/gal in 2019 and $2.62/gal in 2020), it’s probably time to start saving fuel – not just in order to spend less, but also protect the environment. […]

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Pontoons in Winter: A Short Guide for Boaters

I’m gonna be honest with you – it’s super hard to find anything to write about boating in the dead of winter. We are all looking forward to better times – when the sun finally comes out and the weather heats up and the wind slows down so we can take our good ol’ toons […]

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Pets on Board? Tips for Animals on a Pontoon

I’ve already talked a lot about safety measures and fun activities for children and teenagers on board. But what if you’re thinking of taking Spot the golden retriever along? Or Snowball the cat? Here’s the few things I can tell you about bringing pets on board (I admit I do not have a lot of […]

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Food on Board: What to Take and How to Store

Unless you’re one of those enthusiastic fishermen who only got their boats for weekly fishing trips at ungodly hours in the morning, you’d probably agree with me that nothing makes a day out on the boat like a good barbecue and a few cold ones. I’ve already written about the best grills you can get […]

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How To Tow a Pontoon Boat Safely

Although most pontoon owners probably live fairly close to a river, lake, or bay where they can take the boat out easily, some of us aren’t that lucky and might have to tow their pontoon boat several hundred miles down the highway to that perfect sailing spot. Some people prefer keeping their boats in the […]

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Bimini Top Safety 101: Up or Down?

While having your Bimini top up is essential in 95% of the cases (aka hot sunny days out on the water), there are a couple of situations when it might be better to keep it collapsed. The most common three situations are when towing your pontoon, when not in use, and during lightning. Today, we’re […]

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Do Pontoon Boats Need Bathrooms?

If you are on the market looking for a pontoon boat, you might be wondering whether your new beauty has all the commodities you’re looking for. And since we are all humans, the first things we would need to have access to for a fully comfortable experience are 1) food, 2) a place to rest, […]

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Pontoon Flooring 101: Carpet vs Vinyl

We are finally here to tackle the age-old question of carpet versus vinyl when it comes to pontoon flooring. If you’ve been in the pontoon/boating community for at least 3 years, you might have witnessed the ‘ascend’ as a boat flooring material. Most of the boats made before 2010 have default marine carpet for flooring, […]

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Should I Buy A Used Pontoon Boat?

A pontoon is no small investment – and if you decided that you really want one, it’s crucial to choose a boat that will last you a long time, and one who has all the features you’re looking for in a boat. However, few people can splurge twenty grand on a brand new pontoon straight from […]

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How To Sell Your Pontoon in 4 Simple Steps

Whether you’re looking to upgrade to a better pontoon, a tritoon, or have decided that boating is just not the lifestyle for you (hard to believe, but that does happen), you might be thinking of selling your ‘toon. And, much like selling anything bigger than a bike, selling a boat is no easy job. In […]

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4 Steps to Choosing the Perfect Pontoon Boat

Still on the look for the perfect pontoon boat? Then this article is here to help. We know how hard it can be to decide on a boat – especially if it’s your first boat, and if you want to be 100% sure you made the right decision the moment you put your money down. […]

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Pontoons vs. Tritoons – Which is Better?

Every pontoon owner out there has probably wondered about the possibility of upgrading to a tritoon sometime in the future. And there’s nothing wrong with that – except the fact that tritoons cost at least twice as much as their two-tube counterparts. Granted, they are worth every penny, as they top pontoons in both horsepower and stability. […]

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Can Pontoons be used in the Ocean?

If you live anywhere near a coastal area, you’ve definitely wondered if you can take your pontoon boat for a cruise out in the ocean. And the short answer is yes, you can take the average pontoon out in the open – but probably not more than a couple miles from the shore. You might […]

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Are Pontoons Safe in Rough Waters?

Whether you’re still thinking of buying a pontoon or you already have one chilling in the local marina, you might be wondering whether your boat is safe to use in rough waters. Rough waters can be everything from still waters during a storm, or even the open sea during a sunny but rather windy day. […]

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Towable Tube Safety 101: All You Need To Know

Riding an inflatable towable tube is one of the most exciting and thrilling activities you can engage in when you’re out on the lake on your ‘toon. However, your family or guests’ safety is paramount – and you must make sure that each and every person about to ride behind your boat is equipped with […]

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3 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Grill for Your Pontoon

Going out on the lake on a sunny summer afternoon sounds like the textbook definition for a perfect day. So does spending the day in your backyard and flipping burgers for your friends and family. But what if you were to combine the too and throw a little BBQ party right there on your deck? […]

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4 Safety Measures for When You Have Kids on Board

Kids on your pontoon are always a challenge. While it can be fun for both you and the little ones, it’s a ton of stress for the adults on board – especially when it comes to making sure the kids are safe. We’ve already covered the best ways to keep your children entertained during those […]

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Top 5 Most Common Pontoon Boat Issues

Much like cars and trucks, pontoons are susceptible to a variety of problems. And most of the serious issues you’ll encounter during your life as a pontooner are engine-related, as there are few other things that could affect the boat’s well-being quite as much. Today, we’re taking a look at the most common of these […]

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