Top Tips for Entertaining on a Pontoon Boat

Your pontoon is the perfect setting to host a memorable party. We've rounded up our favorite tips for entertaining below. If you have any questions or want to look at models for sale, visit Nisswa Marine. We proudly serve those in Nisswa, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Duluth, and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

1. Pick a Party Theme

The most memorable parties center around a fun theme. Themes tie together all the aspects of food, decor, and more, which helps your evening stand out more in people's memories. They also give guests permission to dress up in theme-related attire, if they wish. Common tritoon party themes include fiesta, casino night, and tropical excursion. Take your theme to the next level by finding napkins, coasters, streamers, and more that match your vibe.

2. Plan a Memorable (But Easy) Meal

The luxurious space found on a pontoon deck lends itself well for a comfortable and enjoyable dinner party. Guests will love being able to dine with the stunning backdrop of the water and the horizon, plus the soothing sounds of waves lapping at your tritoon boat.

Finger Foods

One easy way to serve food is to focus on finger foods. These are easy to prepare, serve, and enjoy on your tritoon. Crackers and cheese, hummus and pita bread, and fruit and veggie trays are some of the more common options.

Potluck

Another great option is to host a potluck. This allows you to share the responsibility of feeding everyone with your guests — and allows them to showcase their cooking skills, too! You'll be able to enjoy a wider range of food and enjoy less prep time in the kitchen since you'll focus on only cooking one dish, rather than the entire meal.

3. Serve the Food Hassle-Free

When you host a dinner party on a pontoon boat, you'll face some unique challenges that you don't have to deal with in your typical dining room.

First, you'll need to keep bugs and lake water out of the food. Make sure each dish you serve has some sort of covering to keep it secure when guests aren't refilling their plates from it. Easy solutions are saran wrap, aluminum foil, or a plastic cover.

Second, you'll want a secure way for guests to hold their dishes. Between wind picking up or waves coming by, it's easy for guests to lose their balance and end up dropping their food. One creative solution is to serve food in disposable champagne flutes or margarita glasses. The stem allows them to be easily held. Plus, it's a unique serving style that will help your party stand out!

Third, you'll want to avoid glass. It's too easy for it to break on your pontoon and cause a safety hazard for all on board. Look for recyclable paper or plastic versions of all serving bowls and dishware.

4. Entertain Your Guests

Many guests will be quite content simply eating and relaxing on your pontoon. But you can take the party up a notch with a few different approaches.

Host a Game Night

Sure, you don't want to attempt a board game on a tritoon and watch all the pieces get caught up in the wind and flutter into the ocean. But there are many games that don't require pieces, such as charades.

Host a Movie Night

All you need is a portable movie projector, your laptop, and a white sheet. Wait until it's fully dark so that the sunlight won't produce a glare on the screen, then enjoy your movie!

For all your pontoon and tritoon needs, visit Nisswa Marine. Whether you want to look at models for sale or need a service appointment, we can help! We proudly serve those in Nisswa, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Duluth, and Grand Rapids, Minnesota.