When you’re spending a cold winter night on your pontoon boat, wearing multiple layers to help keep yourself warm, it feels like a fireplace is the one thing missing to make this a perfect night.
Pontoon fire pits have gained a lot of popularity in the boating community as of late and created some controversy along the way. Some thought it was a great idea and a luxurious, comforting addition to their boats, while others were furious at the thought of an ongoing flame powered by a propane tank on their pontoon.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about pontoon fire pits, from their design and mounting options to their benefits and safety, so stick around.
The Design of the Fire Pit
Pontoon fire pits usually come in the form of tables. These tables are mostly designed with a lid on top that has a lock; this is where your fire will be. The surface of the table may also have some cup holders.
The tank is located inside the body of the table with a safety latch on the side. The tank’s capacity is typically around 20 pounds of propane.
Lighting the Fire Pit
When lighting the pit, you must first make sure that the shut-off valve on the control panel is off. You also want to make sure the lid is sealed because you’ll lift the entire surface of the table to access the propane tank.
Once you lift the surface, you need to turn the propane tank on and make sure it’s secured using the safety latch.
Next, you can unlock the lid and remove it to access the pit itself to access the decorative fire-proof glass beads. You’ll usually find some useful lighting instructions on the bottom of the lid.
Thereafter, you’ll find an electrode in the center of the pit that is connected to an igniter button on the side of the fire pit table. Make sure no glass beads are blocking the electrode and test your ignition button by making sure a clicking sound is produced when you press it.
Now, you need to turn on the shut-off valve on your control panel for the gas to start flowing through the body of the pit. Simultaneously, click the ignition button and you’ll have your fire going!
Putting Off the Fire Pit
When you’re done with your night and you want to put off the fire, simply turn the control knob off and the fire will stop. Make sure to warn everyone not to touch the beads or the surface of the pit for at least 15 minutes so that it cools off.
After 15 minutes have passed, put your lid back on and secure it. Then use the safety latch to open the pit’s surface and turn off the propane gas tank.
The great thing about this fire pit is that it’s not for cooking! So when you turn it off you don’t have to worry about having to clean any remains or debris.
Mounting the Fire Pit
Depending on the version you purchase, the mounting method will vary. However, in most cases, you will need to drill holes in your floor to make sure the pit is well secured to the boat.
We recommend that you carefully read the user’s manual on how to mount the pit and follow it closely as it is detrimental to your safety.
Benefits of Pontoon Fire Pits
Why would anyone want a fire on their deck? It does seem a bit unorthodox, but it has multiple benefits, including:
1. Emitting Warmth
As a pontoon user, you may want to spend time on your pontoon even after midnight. This is usually when temperatures reach their lowest. With a fire pit onboard, you can continue your night with just a t-shirt on as their heating power will effectively keep you and your friends warm.
2. Emitting Light
You may be in a place with very low light on a moonless night. Again, the fire pit will be of great use then. The light emitted will help you continue your board games, pouring your drinks, or navigating through the area surrounding the fire pit.
3. Soothing Effects
Light from a flame is scientifically proven to help humans relax. The gentleness and color of the emitted light are much better for our psychology than regular electrical light bulbs.
People have actually found it more natural and easy to relax or meditate with candles or fire pits around them.
How Safe Is It?
Of course, an ongoing fire on your boat can never be perfectly safe. If you have children around, you need to make sure they keep away from it. You have to take the same safety measures you would take with a grill on your boat.
The propane tank has a safety valve, the surface has a safety latch, and the lid has a lock. Clearly, pontoon fire pits are as safe as a fire pit can be.
We recommend you stay away from the DIY versions as they mostly aren’t safe. Below are two cases where you need to be extra careful when dealing with a pontoon fire pit.
During Ignition
While you’re igniting the pit, you’re required to turn the knob on the control unit to allow the flow of propane through the glass beads and into the area above them. Once you press the ignition button, the gas will immediately ignite.
If you keep the knob on for a long time before igniting, you may risk a fire hazard as the ignition could be larger than usual.
Further, forgetting the knob can be a fatal mistake, so make sure you only turn it during ignition, and that you turn off the tank’s safety valve after using the fire pit.
After Turning the Fire Off
After you’re done using the fire pit, you need to turn the control knob off. You need to make sure you wait 15 minutes for the pit to cool off before lifting the pit’s surface to reach the propane tank and close it.
Conclusion
A fire pit can be a great addition to your pontoon boat if done correctly. It adds luxury and enjoyment to the boat, as well as warmth and light so you can have extended nights of relaxation and chatter
The fire pit is safe as long as you take the required safety measures that ensure the safety of everyone on the boat, like the correct mounting, and correctly using the safety latches and locks.