A Day on a Pontoon on Long Lake

Some days at the lake don't need a plan. You want a flat deck, a few chairs, a cooler and nobody in a hurry. That's what a pontoon is for. The Pioneer on Long Lake rents two of them, and renting one is one of the easiest ways to turn a week at a cottage into a proper vacation. This guide covers what's available, what it costs, and how to make a day of it.

The two pontoons

• TMC Pontoon with a 40HP motor, built for up to 10 people.
• South Bay Pontoon with a 60HP motor, built for up to 7 people.

Both are $220 a day or $800 a week, according to the resort's boat rental page. The difference is capacity and power. The TMC is the group boat: if you're hauling extended family, a couple of kids' friends or two cabins' worth of people, it carries up to 10. The South Bay is the smaller crew's boat, with a stronger 60HP motor and room for 7. Pick based on how many people are actually coming aboard, not how many you hope will fit.

A weekly rental at $800 is worth a look if you're already staying a week. Think about it as a floating porch. Break it into mornings of coffee on the water, afternoons of swimming off the back and evenings of slow trips along the shoreline, and the weekly rate starts to make sense compared to paying by the day. Call (715) 354-3500 to check availability for your dates, because rental pricing and availability are subject to change.

Sketching the day

A good pontoon day has a shape. Start in the morning, when the lake is typically at its calmest, and take a slow lap around the bays. Long Lake has 99 miles of shoreline with numerous bays and inlets, so there's no shortage of corners to poke into. Pick one that looks quiet, cut the engine and let the kids swim. Eat something. Go find the next corner.

Around midday, point the boat back toward the Pioneer. The menu describes it as coming by land or by sea, and that's not a figure of speech. You can tie up at the dock and walk up to the bar and grill for lunch. Burgers are hand pattied in house with Certified Hereford Beef, the wings are smoked in house, and the pizzas are homemade. Order, eat on the patio looking at the water you just left, and get back on the boat when everyone's ready.

What to pack

• Life jackets for every passenger, in the right sizes for children.
• Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses, because open water has no shade.
• A cooler with water and drinks, plus snacks for kids who get hungry before lunch.
• Towels, since the cottages don't supply them and you will need them after swimming.
• A light jacket or sweatshirt in case the wind picks up or the day cools off.
• A waterproof bag for phones, keys and wallets.
• A deck of cards or a speaker for the quiet stretches.

Pontoon etiquette and common sense

Pontoons are forgiving boats, which is why people sometimes forget they're still boats. Have a designated driver who stays alert, and keep everyone seated while the boat is moving. Don't let anyone ride on the front rails or hang off the sides. Keep an eye on the weather: a bright morning can turn into a stormy afternoon, and the right call is to head in at the first sign of trouble.

Check the Wisconsin boating rules before you go, including anything that applies to who can operate a boat and what safety gear you're required to carry. Rules like that are set by the state and they change, so confirm them with the state or the resort before you head out.

Ending the day

Bring the boat back to the dock with some daylight left. It's easier to tie up and unload when you can see what you're doing, and the evening light on the water is part of the point of the trip. Rinse the towels, put the cooler away, and head up for dinner if nobody has the energy to cook. The bar and grill is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily per its Google listing, which gives you room to stay late.

A pontoon day on Long Lake doesn't need much. A boat, a group of people you like, a lake with shoreline to spare and a dock that leads straight to lunch. If you're staying at the Pioneer, the pontoon is one of those add-ons that people end up describing as the best part of the week. Call (715) 354-3500 and ask about your dates.