Last updated: August 2026

What do you need to host a lake day cookout that works on both the patio and the dock?

A lake day cookout usually happens in two zones at once: the patio where people are eating, and the dock where people are swimming, fishing, or just watching the boats go by. Keeping both zones running smoothly comes down to a short list of essentials, mainly something to hold drinks steady on furniture that doesn't have built in cup holders, something to keep glasses and cans off the dock boards where they can tip or end up in the water, and a stable spot to set food and drinks wherever the group gathers. None of this requires a full furniture overhaul. A handful of purpose built accessories cover most of what a cookout day actually needs, and everything below installs mostly without tools.

Setting Up the Patio Zone

The patio zone mainly needs drink holders that attach onto furniture you already own, since most outdoor chairs and loungers don't come with a built in place to set a beverage down.

• Patio Furniture Beverage and Wine Glass Holder, a stainless steel cup holder with a dedicated wine glass slot, secures to most outdoor furniture with included stainless steel mounting hardware.
• Patio Furniture Cup Holder, a low profile design that adds a stable spot for drinks alongside lawn and landscaping furniture without getting in the way.
• Patio Furniture Mug, Cup and Wine Glass Holder, sized for larger mugs and beverage containers in addition to wine glasses, a good pick for guests who prefer coffee, tea, or a taller drink.

All three are built from marine grade HDPE that will not crack, fade, or split, so they hold up to a full season of sun exposure on the patio.

Setting Up the Dock Zone

The dock zone needs the same drink security as the patio, plus a stable surface, since dock boards and railings don't give you anywhere flat to set things down.

• Boat and Pontoon Table, a marine grade table with four removable stainless steel cup holders, wine glass slots, and an open storage compartment. It's built primarily for boats and pontoons, but the same support post mount works dockside or on the patio, so it can move wherever the cookout is happening that day.
• 4 Place Cup and Wine Glass Holder for Table Posts, a compact add on that mounts to a table post and clears extra beverage space off the tabletop itself.
• Dock Post Double Rod and Cup Holder, built for rods but just as useful for drinks when the group is fishing and hosting at the same time, it clamps to most round or square dock posts up to 2.625 inches with no tools required.
• Entertainer Series Table with Add On Options, a full size table built for hosting, available as the table alone, with a support post, or as a complete setup with the 4 place cup holder add on. Currently available to order and shipped made to order.
• Servall Tray Table, a multi purpose serving surface that fits directly on top of the Boat and Pontoon Table for extra workspace, or stands on its own with the optional support post and freestanding base. Works as a grilling station, drink station, or dockside serving tray. Currently available to order and shipped made to order.

Why Purpose Built Beats Improvised

A lot of dock and patio setups still rely on whatever is on hand, a cooler lid doubling as a table, a drink balanced on a railing. The tradeoff shows up the first time a wake rolls through or a gust of wind hits the patio.

• Stainless steel cup holder inserts with drain holes keep drinks upright and prevent standing water and grime buildup, something a cooler lid or loose surface can't do.
• No tool clamping systems mean the setup can move between the patio, the dock, and the boat in the same afternoon instead of staying fixed in one spot.
• Marine grade materials are built to handle full sun and water exposure for a season, not just a single afternoon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to drill into my dock or patio furniture to install these? Yes & No. Every accessory mounts differently, scroll down in the product page to product specifications to learn what style mounting is used. Most tables fit directly onto existing table posts. However if your purchasing a support post drilling will be required unless your buying the cypress series table post with radix base. 

Will the patio cup holders work on plastic or resin furniture, not just wood or metal? Yes. The mounting style is designed to secure to most outdoor furniture types, including plastic and resin frames.

Can the Boat and Pontoon Table really be used off the boat? Yes, with the support post option. While it's designed and marketed primarily for pontoons, the same post mounting system works on a dock or patio wherever there's a stable base to anchor the post.

What's the easiest single item to start with if I only want one thing for this summer? The Patio Furniture Beverage and Wine Glass Holder is the simplest entry point, it installs in minutes and solves the most common problem, which is nowhere stable to set a drink.

The Entertainer Series Table and Servall Tray Table show as made to order, does that mean a longer wait? Yes. Both are built to order rather than shipped from existing stock, so plan to order them a little further ahead of your cookout date than the ready to ship items on this list.

Bring the Whole Setup Together

A lake day cookout doesn't need a full outdoor furniture overhaul, just a few purpose built pieces in the right spots. Start with the patio drink holders, add a table or post mounted cup holder for the dock, and the whole afternoon runs smoother from the first guest to the last one still out on the water.

Shop Dock and Patio Accessories →