Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/335825
www.pdbmagazine.com PDB Pontoon & Deck Boat JULY 2014 41 Lillipad Diving Boards Lillipad Diving Boards began as a fam- ily project for the Schaub family. The kids enjoyed jumping off the pontoon, but the rails aren't really designed for that kind of use, plus it violently shakes the boat when someone takes the plunge. So the family spent countless hours developing a perfect pontoon diving board. What they came up with is a compact design that allows the div- ing board to fit onto just about any pontoon boat. When you're done for the day, the diving board easily comes off with the quick release of a pin so it can be stored just about anywhere. While perfecting this design, Cory Schaub used a shock system to absorb the impact of the jumper. Each member of the family tested out every prototype, even when the weather was less than optimal, so you know the final product is worth investing in. (800-279-3419/ www.lillipaddivingboards.com) J's Upper Decks J's Upper Decks are an aftermarket top deck that can be added to virtually any pon- toon. Lightweight and built to last, these up- per decks can be put together and installed on your boat in less than two hours. This company was started by Jay Fender, who has been manufacturing marine parts, renting boats and just plain enjoying the marine industry for over 30 years. The idea for an aftermarket upper deck came to him after he saw how popular double-decker 'toons were in his own pontoon rental business. You can pick up one of these simple DIY projects for anywhere from $1,495 to $2,995, depending on the size of your boat. "I spent two years in the research and design phase to achieve maximum strength with the least amount of weight possible," says Jay. "Depend- ing on length, these structures weight 135 to 190 pounds." This low weight allows the company to effectively ship the product anywhere. (928-228-1655/ www.jsupperdecks.com) Pontoon Fire Pit When friends Rob Drake and James McBride got together to boat, they realized they could extend their boating hours if they could keep everyone on the pontoon warm. What they came up with is the Pontoon Fire Pit. This is a controlled fire, which burns clean due to a 20-pound propane tank. The flames can be killed im- mediately and it is surrounded by an 8-inch protective flange. When the Pontoon Fire Pit isn't in use, you put on the lid and you have a perfectly solid floor again. The owner's manual is very clear this is not for cooking under any circumstance, but rather just for recreational light and warmth to extend your evening on the lake. The Coast Guard has verified there are no federal regulations against having a controlled fire on your boat. You can install this device yourself in less than two hours and you don't even have to take your boat out of the water. (269-483-6711/ ww.pontoonfirepit.com)