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Best water mat/lily Pad/Reef, etc?


gregtay

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Decided to pick up an inflatable water pad as a Christmas gift to the family.  Thinking the Mission Reef... but wanted to toss this out there to see if other people had an opinion on the best one to get, etc.   We will be hulling it around in the boat so I want something that deflates and rolls up small enough to be manageable. thx

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I had an inflatable water matt that I got from Costco.  That thing was fine to keep out by my dock.  There is no way that is getting blown up and deflated on the boat.  That thing is kind of heavy.
It is the same as this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Bestways-15-Inflatable-Sun-Deck/dp/B07DF6KK6T
I am looking to get something new for the summer to replace this one.  Too much of a PITA to inflate/deflate and take in and out so I just leave it in the water.  I take it out a couple times a year to clean it, but it is pretty worn out.

Edited by Hemmy
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We have the HO Play Pad 5x10, kids play twister, isn’t too heavy, packs up, we make the kids do the manual pump so they value the use.  When the kids are done, adults take it over as a swim up bar.

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Anyone here from around Angola IN?  I still have 2 4ft Blue foam squares from the early to mid 80s that are favored to our lily pad.   These were everywhere around the lakes near Angola when I was a kid.  I believe they were packaging for the original IBM computers.  They were about couple bucks a piece.  :-)

Edited by goodmatt78
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We have the Mission Reef 4x8 and love it. We originally bought a large blue one form Walmart. It worked great and served its purpose, but it was hard to put away and get all the air out. The Reef folds up great and is really stiff when blown up. Totally worth the money. 

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5 hours ago, gregtay said:

what size do you have?

We have the 6.5’ x 13’ one.  They also have great customer service.  Our mat was misplaced in transit, and they quickly put a second one in transit.  When the original showed, sent me a label and went right back to them.

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I have the Paradise Pad 6x13 and it's a huge hit with kids and adults alike.  It take a bit of time to get "the science" of inflating / deflating on the boat down, but it's not that big a hassle.  Just make sure you leave 10 minutes extra to get it done.  We hook it to the boat with an Airhead bungee and the kids play for hours and hours.  I also bought a little 12 v air pump from Amazon that plugs into the outlet.  Makes life a little easier.  You still have to hook up the included pump to get to firmness, but I basically sit on the stern seat for the majority of the inflation.  Another handy thing to have, strap a handles.  https://www.amazon.com/ft-Strap-Handle-System-Carry/dp/B01N4F779Y/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=strap+a+handle&qid=1607554471&sr=8-3.  I put two of these around the thing to make lifting it out of in boat storage much easier, it's not light.

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On 12/8/2020 at 9:33 AM, gregtay said:

Decided to pick up an inflatable water pad as a Christmas gift to the family.  Thinking the Mission Reef... but wanted to toss this out there to see if other people had an opinion on the best one to get, etc.   We will be hulling it around in the boat so I want something that deflates and rolls up small enough to be manageable. thx

Getting a Mission Reef Mat was best and most popular accessory we have ever purchased for our boat and family.  The kids and their friends spend hours on that thing.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 2 months later...

Not sure if it's the 'best', but it sure was the 'best deal'.  We bought the Aqua Lily Pad from Costco.  It's obviously a seasonal item, but I recall finding in the store and paying $350 or so.  It's over $100 cheaper if you go into Costco to pick up vs. shipping.  It's also big at 17'x6'.  A similar size on Aqua Lily Pad's own website is almost $600.  IMO, it's too big to take on boat, so we just keep it off the dock.  However, Aqua Lily Pad sells smaller versions on their website.

https://www.costco.com/the-pad-17'-x-6'-floating-foam-mat-by-aqua-lily-products.product.100394704.html

For inflatables, Bote is making some high quality floats.  I have the Hangout Bar product and it's well made.

https://www.boteboard.com/

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  • 2 months later...
On 12/4/2022 at 9:45 AM, The19thHole said:

Not sure if it's the 'best', but it sure was the 'best deal'.  We bought the Aqua Lily Pad from Costco.  It's obviously a seasonal item, but I recall finding in the store and paying $350 or so.  It's over $100 cheaper if you go into Costco to pick up vs. shipping.  It's also big at 17'x6'.  A similar size on Aqua Lily Pad's own website is almost $600.  IMO, it's too big to take on boat, so we just keep it off the dock.  However, Aqua Lily Pad sells smaller versions on their website.

https://www.costco.com/the-pad-17'-x-6'-floating-foam-mat-by-aqua-lily-products.product.100394704.html

For inflatables, Bote is making some high quality floats.  I have the Hangout Bar product and it's well made.

https://www.boteboard.com/

Was scrolling to see if someone mentioned the bote products. I have been eyeing them for some time now. May have to pull the trigger this season. 

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We have the Lilly Pad from Costco.  Works great, kids love it, price was right, but it definitely takes up some room and doesn't store easily. A bit of a PITA to roll up and cruise across the lake with it too.  On a side note we store ours with the tubes and etc using a net on the boat lift.  I highly recommend this for boat lifts.  https://stowzall.com/

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18 minutes ago, Sixer said:

We have the Lilly Pad from Costco.  Works great, kids love it, price was right, but it definitely takes up some room and doesn't store easily. A bit of a PITA to roll up and cruise across the lake with it too.  On a side note we store ours with the tubes and etc using a net on the boat lift.  I highly recommend this for boat lifts.  https://stowzall.com/

Any issues with birds nesting on that Stow-Zall?  I put the plastic grocery bags in the corners of my lift and that keeps the birds from nesting in the corners.

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ahopkins22LSV
1 hour ago, Sixer said:

We have the Lilly Pad from Costco.  Works great, kids love it, price was right, but it definitely takes up some room and doesn't store easily. A bit of a PITA to roll up and cruise across the lake with it too.  On a side note we store ours with the tubes and etc using a net on the boat lift.  I highly recommend this for boat lifts.  https://stowzall.com/

We have it too. Can’t beat the sale price in the spring at $250. We store ours on the transom pad or on top of the bimini. Works good.

 

Best picture I have. I use a dock line to secure it to the tower frame. Still able to tow off the tow point as well. 
 

And yes, that is a pontoon Peterbuilt. 

1B9868ED-CC64-4716-9B9F-A67071106DC3.jpeg

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1 hour ago, Hemmy said:

Any issues with birds nesting on that Stow-Zall?  I put the plastic grocery bags in the corners of my lift and that keeps the birds from nesting in the corners.

Not on the netting.  I've had them in corners of the lift as well, but never on the stowz-all.  Plus it's made of a strong mesh and straps, so there's not really a great solid foundation for birds.

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I purchased the Misson 6.5' *13' last summer. Comes in a large dufflebag that is storable. Quick to inflate with the pump that is included. Very stable with 5 adult on it. Nice to chill out on. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

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