Floating Mats

[Wayloncle]

Just be carefull stowing these. Ouch!

That's the video I was trying to find yesterday!

 

[TheGreekTitan]

The guy on the bike had plenty of time to avoid that imo. On my bike I never follow a vehicle towing anything, or has anything strapped down. That was a double whammie.

I hope he's ok, and sticks to 4 wheels in the future.

 

[BobJohnson]

So, those with the Costco version: can a 200 lb adult stand on it? More than 1 adult?

 

[M_JB]

Waiting on water temp, son and daughters plus grandchildren to try out.

Here is link
https://www.costco.com/Neptune's-Island-Floating-Foam-Mat-17'-x-6'-by-Aqua-Lily.product.100341027.html

 

[Mrbruin2k]

Just ordered the Costco mat. We bought the Sam's club one last year and returned to after one use. It was very thick and did not lay flat in the water. Also didn't seem like it would last as it seemed like a much more easily torn/punctured material than the real versions. I'm sure we will love this one and will report back once we receive and use it. Also thanks for the great storage idea!

 

[mpbassett44]

@BobJohnson...Just used it this weekend!!! The kids had a blast on it! I'm over 200lbs and It held me fine, but i didn't try to stand or walk on it. It is BIG!! But with 2 people it was easy to roll up and I was able to tie it down by myself. It's worth the money for the kids...It's not the best picture, but you can see that it fits perfectly in the back.

 

[MattFX4]

Just bought an 18'x6' Rubber Dockie mat from a 70 year old guy who used it one time and then realized it was too much for him to handle. Paid $300 so seems like a good deal.

 

[Peelz]

we have a 17' lilypad(our boat is only 17.5' LOL!) we LOVE every minute of it. awesome for coving up. kids play on it, or then me an the mrs hang out on it... or both. actually paid 600+ at scheels. then stopped at costco, and found it for 349. felt kinda bad, but returned it to scheels and bought at costco, which gave up 1ft of mat, dont notice it.

honestly, there were difficulties rolling back up while floating, but my son and I have gotten pretty good at it now.

2nd favorite boating purchase, second only to extended boarding ladder! felt like shamu beaching for the photo op at seaworld sometimes with the single step.

 

[Peelz]

So, those with the Costco version: can a 200 lb adult stand on it? More than 1 adult?

yo must be athletic, but yes. it isnt easy though. I am about 190 now. it takes a sec. but I can stand. though you look like a baby giraffe on ice til you get the hang of it HAHA.

one of our games is to jam as many people as we can into one spot, and see how low we can get it to sink. and make a "cesspool" we call it.

 

[jfkraus]

We have the Rubber Dockie and it's fun, but hard to manage.

 

[MattFX4]

We have the Rubber Dockie and it's fun, but hard to manage.

View attachment 59493 View attachment 59494

Cool can't wait to try mine out. I do worry about rolling it back up while out on the water.

 

[jfkraus]

Cool can't wait to try mine out. I do worry about rolling it back up while out on the water.

Yes, rolling it up while on the water is the toughest part. It' takes 2 people. Last time out, we didn't have far to go to the launch so we just pulled it mostly in the boat, then rolled it up in the parking lot. Had to keep the speed down though.

 

[Mrbruin2k]

I've had good success standing on the upper swim deck and having it layed out on the water and pulling it up while rolling onto the lower swim deck. Gives a stable surface to roll up against and did it successfully 4 days in a row

 

[captainhook]

For those who are cheap like me (and/or worried about stowing a non-inflating mat), Dick's has the WOW Water Walkway that seems to be popular for 25% off in the 6 and 10' lengths. Discount applies in cart and free shipping.

https://m.dickssportinggoods.com/p/wow-walkway-water-mat-16wowuwwwtrwlkwyxwsr/16wowuwwwtrwlkwyxwsr

I went with the 10' for $135 plus tax. I know some have said one of them is $89 at Sam's (not sure if that is 6 or 10') but I don't have a membership and it seems to be hit or miss if your local store carries it.

 

[jetboater4life]

Amazon sometimes has this or air head gang plank for $99. I use camelcamelcamel.com to monitor it and have purchased two of them for $99.

 

[captainhook]

Thanks. Looks like the graph shows those prices in the early or late fall. I figured I could save some money by waiting but we still have another two months or so of season here so I figured that extra usage justified it.

I've been looking on and off for a few months now and haven't seen it much lower.

 

[Buckeye Boater]

we have the original aqua lillypad, it's like the worlds best babysitter. The kids flock to it, even from other boats! While the adults can kick back and enjoy the boat.

It is somewhat fragile, there's chucks taken out of ours here and there so you have to be careful with them.

 

[Peelz]

we have the original aqua lillypad, it's like the worlds best babysitter. The kids flock to it, even from other boats! While the adults can kick back and enjoy the boat.

It is somewhat fragile, there's chucks taken out of ours here and there so you have to be careful with them.

yup.

and when they come back to the boat, us old folks can sun our old bodies on it. LOL

 

[Peelz]

Just be carefull stowing these. Ouch!

holy crap. the biker in me just fainted lol

For towing, we store ours inside the boat, squished between the captains chairs and strapped in. On the water, it is strapped on the engine cover/sunpad. Which works but I hate. #smallboatproblems

Now, reason for posting...I actually got back to this by googling. I'm curious how a Yamaha owner stores the lily pads on the 240's swim decks, with the curved edges. does it fit between the two cupholders? any of you have a photo of it strapped there?! My hop[e is to have it on the lower deck, leaving the upper for dock loading and unloading.

thinking ahead here, if/when we do go the jet route. may just get one of those zip together inflatables....or many of them. that would be cool. How well do those store for you?

 

[Ilmmct]

In transport, I place mine standing in the isle such that I have still have easy access to the bow. When rolled up it is simple to secure the top of the pad to the ski tower, so that the pad stays in place, while you are motoring to your swim spot. It’s big and cumbersome but I’d rather have somewhat restricted movement inside the boat (secured standing up in the isle), than dealing with something tied horizontally to the swim-platform and restricting access to the stern. I don’t travel that far to my favorite swim spots, so this works fine for me.

In the garage, I’ve made a simple hoist to raise and store the pad out of the way of my cars. It’s light enough that some simple pulleys do the trick.