Thinking about getting a splash pad, any suggestions?

[AboveTheBest]

The lake house we rented last year had a splash pad that we used all week, and the kids (and I) had a blast using it.

The wife is pretty set on getting one to take on the boat when the kids and friends come, and I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion on the best place to get one. Overtons has one on sale for $450 in their latest catalog that says it holds 6 adults (link below). I'm thinking that will be fine for the littles with an occasional bigger kid or adult.

Does any have experience with this or a similar model?



https://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Overtons-Splash-Island-18L-x-6W-x-1-25-thick&i=109522&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlebase&s_kwcid=googlepla&cvsfa=2587&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=313039353232&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI896In5fU2gIVFndeCh2jHgC0EAQYAiABEgL84_D_BwE

 

[F.M.]

I have a buddy that has one. He actually hauls it around strapped to his swimdeck, then rolls it out when we get to where we're going. It seems to be pretty good quality. But with 4 or 5 kids wrestling on it, when they get piled up in the center it will fold like a taco on them. It's quite funny actually.

I have a HO Sports Play Pad 10 and we love it. It's pretty stout with adults on it, no taco fold. And when deflated it will fold and fit under a seat or in the ski locker.

 

[AboveTheBest]

@F.M.,

I’ve looked at the inflatables, but wasn’t sure how well they worked. Is yours 10’?

BTW, the taco fold is hilarious, and honestly I thought that was possibly the best part of the whole setup, as it makes scrambling to keep their footing more difficult/tiring

 

[F.M.]

Yes, 10'.

The taco is very entertaining.

 

[RiverRat]

@buckbuck has a really nice inflatable one. I bet it cost a pretty penny but it seems to be as good as if not better than most of the foam ones I've seen.

I don't remember which one he has, but I think it's similar to one of these:
https://www.wakemakers.com/mission-boat-gear-reef-mat.html



I got a kick out of this pic from Wakemakers

 

[Beachbummer]

I have a rollup I got on sale at Ski and Sports. It's 18ftx6ft. Anyone under 150lbs can stand on it. but above that it's much more difficult. It does roll up and store in the swim platform, so accessing the clean out plugs is a pain while it's there, as you need to stand it up, move it to the lower step, do what you need to do, and then you put it back.

It spite of that, the kids enjoy it so much that it's totally worth it. We have had it two years, I'm hoping we can get 3 or 4 more years out of it, but it looks very good for its age, considering it's just a glorified foam mat.

The large one that we have is bulky and takes some effort to roll up, but we tried the smaller and it was not as cool, so we switched it back to the big one. Once you figure out the rolling, it takes 2 minutes for 2 people to roll it up. The mat is wet after playing, so you will get wet when rolling it up. (If someone is fully clothed, and dried off, and not wishing to get a little wet, they are not a good candidate to help roll it up)

This was $369 or so and the end of the season, and what we got.
https://www.sunandski.com/p/0855059481605/liquid-force-magic-floating-carpet-x-foam-platform

 

[AboveTheBest]

@Beachbummer By smaller do you mean length/width or are you talking about the thickness?

I just found this 18x6 on Sierra Trading post for $250.

https://www.sierratradingpost.com/splash-island-water-mat-18x6’~p~258rn/?utm_source=GooglePLAs&utm_medium=PaidShopping&utm_term=Splash_Island_Water_Mat_-_18x6&utm_campaign=PCGOOGLES7&currency=USD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo4Oc0K_V2gIVibrACh0VrAEIEAQYBSABEgLey_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&codes-processed=true

 

[Beachbummer]

I meant not as long. This is the one we tried and swapped back.
https://www.sunandski.com/p/0855059481705/liquid-force-magic-carpet-sun-and-ski-float-6-x-9

18ft is plenty long in my humble opinion... That one you found looks pretty good. Mine states Max 600# , your find says 1000# so it should be at least in theory better.

 

[AboveTheBest]

Outstanding!

I think I’ll order one this afternoon. When I initially looked at the end of last summer I was seeing these things for $800-$1200....

At that price they may be better, but I can’t imagine they’re 3-5 times better.

 

[spatty99]

I have a couple Airhead Gang Planks and they are awesome. They are inflatables, so easy to move and stow, and they still hold plenty of weight. You can also zip them together (go from 6'x10' to 12x10, 18x10, 24x10, infinityx10). Probably not as supportive as the massive foam or inflatable paddleboard types, but I can stand on one (200 lbs), and kids absolutely love them. Prices range from a little over $100 each down to only $50 during a crazy Amazon discount this past winter.

 

[Peelz]

yup get one. We got ours from costco. 17x6ft Love it so much, as we shop for a boat...the swim platform area is part of our consideration for boat choices for ease of USE/storage.

effectively doubles our boat size in a cove. roll it out, kick kids out, kick back make lunch....

good stuff.

not sure costco still sells them, but we only paid 400.

 

[Peelz]

et voila....

buy this. 100% review from me. Aside from, the fiddliness of storage.... but any troubles are worth it.

https://www.costco.com/The-Pad-17'-x-6'-Floating-Foam-Mat-By-Aqua-Lily-Products.product.100394704.html

 

[swatski]

@Beachbummer By smaller do you mean length/width or are you talking about the thickness?

I just found this 18x6 on Sierra Trading post for $250.

https://www.sierratradingpost.com/splash-island-water-mat-18x6’~p~258rn/?utm_source=GooglePLAs&utm_medium=PaidShopping&utm_term=Splash_Island_Water_Mat_-_18x6&utm_campaign=PCGOOGLES7&currency=USD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo4Oc0K_V2gIVibrACh0VrAEIEAQYBSABEgLey_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&codes-processed=true

Thank you!
(done)

--

 

[AboveTheBest]

I just ordered the one from Sierra Trading Post.

For $100 less than I’ve seen one anywhere else I have to give it a try.

 

[Pwabbott]

For those with a Sam's club membership, they have a 6'x 17' floating oasis water pad said to hold 1500 lbs for $249.98 with free shipping. I have also seen them in the store.

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/floating-oasis-online-dsv/prod22131958.ip?xid=cat1857-toys:grid-water-sports-equipment:7

 

[AboveTheBest]

I checked out the link and at the bottom of the page it suggested this:

https://m.samsclub.com/ip/party-bird-island-peacock/prod22044746?xid=pdp_carousel_people-who-viewed-this-item-also-viewed_1

The unicorn is calling my name...

 

[Beachbummer]

What size valve on it? Probably a 40 minute job to deflate!! Hope you like it, that thing will be painful to refit in the original box for returns....Looks YUGE!!!

 

[AboveTheBest]

What size valve on it? Probably a 40 minute job to deflate!! Hope you like it, that thing will be painful to refit in the original box for returns....Looks YUGE!!!

I would probably use my magic

 

[F.M.]

The unicorn is calling my name...

If that was towable I'd buy it.

 

[jcyamaharider]

The taco is very entertaining.

Not the first time I have heard that.