Accessories

Best Floating Mat for Boats to Have Fun on the Water in 2022

If you want to have a blast on your next pontoon boat trip, you can expand the party by getting some high-quality floating mats. Compare the best floating mats for boats and discover what features are important to look for when you are choosing a product for your next pontoon boat party.

By: Kye Cardinalis Editor

Heading out on the lake with family or friends or giving a water lover the ideal gift? While you can have a lot of fun on your pontoon boat, you may want to expand your deck space a bit. One easy way to do that is to shop for the best floating mat. You can tether the mat to your boat, and everyone will be able to enjoy some extra room.

In this guide, we are going to help you find a high-quality floating mat for boats. Let’s take a look at top products, followed by a brief buying guide that goes over important features and considerations when comparing products.

You might also be interested in: The 6 Best Inflatable Docks for Water & Boat Lovers

Top Floating Mat for Boats in 2022

Best Floating Mat Overall

1. Rubber Dockie Floating Mat

You will love the tremendous capacity of this mat.

1. Rubber Dockie Floating Mat

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What we like

  • Great quality materials.
  • Amazing Support.
  • Simple to transport.

What we don’t like

  • Over time, some users reported experiencing rips.

The Rubber Dockie Floating Mat is a 1.4-inch thick mat offering a surface area of 108 x 72 inches. It is also available in two other sizes: 18 x 6 and 9 x 6. If you are looking for a tough product to keep you afloat that is backed by a great customer support team, you will appreciate the value this mat offers.

Pros

  • This thick closed-cell foam mat features an inner matrix designed to prevent tears from spreading, preserving the life of your mat.
  • The orange and green design makes it easy to spot the mat in the water in an instant.
  • The support is impressive, and depending on the size you order, you can support a tremendous capacity with only minimal water on top of the mat.
  • A 12-foot elastic bungee tether comes with the mat for your convenience, as does a pair of custom loop and hook storage straps.
  • You will love how easy it is to roll this mat back up for storage.

Cons

  • This product is pretty durable, but some users have complained about rips over time. How you care for the mat is important—you should not let a destructive dog on it, for example.

Best Quality Floating Mat

2. Floating Oasis Lake Pad

A very reliable mat, safe and easy to clean.

2. Floating Oasis Lake Pad

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What we like

  • Wide variety of designs.
  • Great layer performance.
  • Made in the USA.

What we don’t like

  • Some negative customer service comments.

If you are looking for a really attractive floating mat for your next boat trip that also offers great performance, consider the Floating Oasis Lake Pad. This polyethylene product is 1.5 inches thick and measures 180 by 72 inches.

Pros

  • You can choose from a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors or designs for your mat. Some of these are quite clever, like one that resembles a football field.
  • You get a bungee cord, Velcro straps, and D-ring included with your purchase.
  • Thanks to the special process the company uses to laminate the layers together, the Floating Oasis Lake Pad can take quite a bit of wear and tear without actually tearing. And did we mention that these mats are made in the USA?

Cons

  • There are some complaints about customer service and returns—namely that sending back the pad if it doesn’t fit your needs can be prohibitively expensive.

Best Eco-Friendly Floating Mat

3. ECOTOUGE Floating Mat

ECOTOUGE offers you a strong elasticity and good floatability mat.

3. ECOTOUGE Floating Mat

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What we like

  • Non-toxic
  • Can be used as surfboard.

What we don’t like

  • Sometimes arrives without its tethers.

Here is a product to consider if you are concerned mainly with the health and safety of your mat’s materials. It is made out of a special type of polyethylene foam called XPE. This material contains no latex or toxins and is hypoallergenic. In fact, the medical industry uses XPE. So, you can feel confident that it is safe for adults, children, and pets.

Pros

  • XPE not only is non-toxic but also offers excellent durability and flexibility. You will find that it is easy to open these mats and roll them closed, but that while they are open, they generally retain their shapes nicely.
  • Your purchase comes with a pull rope and a cable tie.
  • Not every mat is designed for your boat to pull in motion, but this one is!

Cons

  • Occasionally one of these units will ship out without its tethers, so you are going to want to check carefully when yours arrives. The majority of the time, this does not happen, but it is worth watching out for.

Best Three-Layer Floating Mat

4. PEXMOR Water Mat

Designed with neck support.

4. PEXMOR Water Mat

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What we like

  • Three layers construction.
  • Comes with 11.8-foot bungee tether.
  • Neck support.

What we don’t like

  • Not easy to personalize.

Another floating mat for boats that is made out of XPE foam that is worth considering is the PEXMOR Water Mat. Available sizes include 18 x 6 feet or 9 x 6 feet. What stands out the most to us about this product is that it is designed with neck support in mind. You’ll find that rolling up one end of it to create that support is easy and comfortable.

Pros

  • Three layers of foam give you both the buoyancy and durability you need for regular use on the water. Not all products offer three layers, so this is another benefit over some competing mats.
  • The 11.8-foot bungee tether you need comes with your purchase.
  • While we would prefer more color options, at least this product is easy to see.

Cons

  • This product is only listed in a single color combination (blue, white, and pink), so it is not easy to personalize.

Best Floating Mat with Additional Features

5. SOWKT Newest Model 12 x 6 Feet Floating Water Pad

Ideal floating pad for both adults and children!

5. SOWKT Newest Model 12 x 6 Feet Floating Water Pad

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What we like

  • XPE- non-toxic foam
  • Great extra features.
  • Customer service

What we don’t like

  • Some complaints about durability

The SOWKT Floating Water Pad is a product that is very similar to the Rubber Dockie Floating Mat. In fact, at a glance, they look almost identical and come in similar bright color schemes.

The size we are looking at here is the 12 x 6 feet size, which is just marginally pricier and also slightly larger than the 108 x 72 inches size for the Rubber Dockie.

Pros

  • The XPE foam is non-toxic and durable. In fact, the company uses a heat sealing process together with a proprietary net inside the foam to make sure it will stand the test of time.
  • Fastener straps, a carabiner, and bungee tethers are included. Like the mat itself, all of these supplies are robust.
  • If you do have any issues, you’ll love how fast and responsive customer service is.

Cons

  • This mat is generally pretty sturdy, but there are some complaints about durability, especially for people with dogs.

What to Look for When Choosing a Floating Mat for a Boat

You got to check out some of the top products on the market above, but you might still not be sure what to look for when choosing a floating pad for boat. Let’s go over the top considerations.

1. Dimensions

Think about how many people and/or animals you expect to be using the floating mat for boat at any given time, and choose a mat that will be large enough for everyone to have the space they need.

2. Capacity

Also, consider the weight capacity for a floating mat for your pontoon boat. One common complaint that people make about floating mats is that they often do not support as much weight as the manufacturer suggests. So, you should err on the high side with respect to this consideration.

3. Thickness and durability

Look for a mat that features several layers of foam and has been manufactured in such a way that it will resist tears.

4. Color and design

Bright, vibrant colors are ideal for floating mats since they help you see where they are immediately in the water. You’ll find many different color options on the market, as well as some mats that feature more complex patterns or designs to add visual interest.

5. Tether

The majority of mats include tethers, but some do not. Always make sure you know what is included in the price before you purchase a product.

6. Portability

You should be able to roll up your floating mat for easy transport and storage. The keyword here is easy. You should not have to struggle to get your mat to roll up. Stuffing it into its carrying sack (if one is included) should be a simple matter.

7. Anti-Slip Surface

How slippery does the surface of a floating mat get when wet? It is unrealistic to expect a completely dry surface, so do some research into traction to make sure you are getting a safe product.

8. Check if you can tow it

You should be able to tether a floating boat mat to your vessel regardless of the product you buy—if the boat is not in transit. Not all floating mats are rugged enough to be pulled along behind a moving boat. So, check to see if a prospective mat is safe to tow if that is what you are looking for.

Get the Floating Mat You Need to Relax and Have Fun While Boating

The best floating mat for boats can offer children, adults, and even dogs room to stretch out and enjoy the water and sun. Relax, party, or play—it is all up to you. To get the boat floating mat that will bring extra fun and excitement to your next pontoon boat outing, click on any of the links in this post.