WATER MATS

If you’re a boater, you’ve seen them laid out behind an anchored boat, or rolled up neatly or stacked on the bow or stern of a boat. They’re easy to attach to your dock as well.

RUBBER DOCKIE

6x18 1,400 pounds

They’re known as lily pads, water mats or water pads. It seems they’re everywhere, now one of the most popular and functional water toys on the Lake.

Yes, they can be cumbersome and can take up a lot of valuable space on your pontoon, runabout or cruiser. But they’re here to stay. Not only boating and sporting goods stores carry them – even supermarkets have added them to their inventory.

Most often, the lily pads are aquatic playgrounds for the kids – and sometimes the dogs. Kids leap from the boat onto the water pads and then often roll into the Lake. Though certainly not certified as a protective flotation device (PFD) they do serve as a security blanket of sorts for youngsters (wearing their life jackets, of course) who want to frolic in the Lake but not necessarily in the water itself.

Dogs and kids love them. They’re easily accessible from either the water or the boat.

Adults seem to take a little different approach. It’s not uncommon to see an adult lounging or playing on a lily pad, but most adults use them as a place to rest their arms and beverages will hanging in the cooling water. Regardless, lily pads/water mats extend the play area of your boat.

THE PARTICULARS

Be warned, though. These aquatic toys can be expensive. The smaller, less quality pads can be $300. But the larger, high-quality mats can be upwards of $600. Remember the economic adage: You get what you pay for.

The larger, good ones can accommodate up to 1,500 pounds. That’s 8-10 adults or a couple dozen children and dogs, which we don’t recommend in a space that’s 6 feet wide and 18 feet long. But we’re sure it’s been tried. If you exceed the weight capacity of your mat, it will sink below the surface instead of floating on top of the water.

Most popular brands are roll up, but some are stackable.

According to the website www.lifejacketadvisor.com, investing in the right one will provide your family and friends with a fantastic place to relax and play on the water for several seasons. A floating water mat is big enough to allow your entire group to stand, walk, play, or lounge on your own private island.

If you’re looking for a floating water mat that will last season after season, choose a high-quality foam mat that won’t rip, tear, or puncture even with rough use. The price of inflatable water mats may be attractive but the experience will never be as good as a nice thick foam mat.

The nicer models have metal grommets for tying to you boat or other mats.

FLOATING OASIS LAKE PAD

6x15 1,500 pounds

WOW SPORTS WATER

WALKWAY

6x10 Six adults

SOWKT LILY PAD

6x18 1,320 pounds

LEARN MORE

Multiple websites are full of information about quality and comfort and how and where to buy a mat. While the information provided here is a good starting point, we encourage you to do your own research; or talk to your neighbor who has one.

Better yet: Get to know the neighbor who has one really, really well.

INTEX GIANT FLOATING MAT

7x9 600 pounds

MAUI MAT

6x20 1,300 pounds

Here’s some additional information that should help you make an informed decision:

Q. Why are floating water mats so expensive?

A. Closed cell foam floating pads are more expensive than some of the inflatable types. That’s because the material, though simple, is extremely durable and buoyant. They tend to be thicker than inflatables, and the thicker the mat, the more weight it will support.

Q. Are water mats safe?

A. If you’re in a natural body of water, it helps if watercraft can easily see your floating water mat. That’s why manufacturers make water mats in bright and vivid colors that stand out on the surface of the water. You’ll find most mats come in green, orange, and yellows so a boater can spot you from afar. Mats are also extremely buoyant and some conform to your shape to gently cup you while you’re relaxing, so you don’t have to worry about falling off while sleeping.

Q. Is it easy to climb onto a water mat?

A. There are no ladders attached to a water mat, which means you do have to climb on. Because you can pull down the edge or side a bit to help you get a leg up, it’s easier than you might think to hop (or sometimes roll) onto one. You can also hop onto the surface of the mat from a boat or dock if the mat is anchored or tethered close by. A number of mature users report that they’ve had no trouble climbing onto a floating water mat.

MENDAGILBERT.com Selling the Lake for over 21 years

Menda Gilbert

BROKER, TEAM LEADER, ABR, RSPS, MRP, CLHMS

573-434-0355

MendaGilbert@hotmail.com

LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Each O ce Independently Owned and Operated

LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Each O ce Independently Owned and Operated

LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Each O ce Independently Owned and Operated