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Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from Used Pontoon Boats. The hypnotic lure of a sparkling open body of water in springtime is hard to ignore for boat lovers and fishermen even in a near recession economy.
Boat and Marine Equipment Sales
Although boat and marine equipment sales are not setting records, area marina owners said they are holding their own this spring, bucking a national trend that has some big-name power boat manufacturers and high-end yacht sellers struggling financially and laying off employees.
“People are thinking that buying a boat is a long-term investment,” said Robyn Ellis of Ellis Marine in Leominster. “They say, ‘I can make small payments over the longer term versus paying $4,000 for a vacation."
Ellis said she has sold seven new boats in the past five weeks. Tackle sales at the Route 12 marina are equally strong, according to Ellis.
Despite gasoline costs that are expected to hit $4 per gallon this season, nearly 60 percent of about 2,000 anglers surveyed across the country said they are planning a fishing trip outside their home state, according to Southwick Associates, a firm that regularly tracks industry trends.
Tracker Marine Center and Bass Pro Shops
Area boat sellers — and I’m including the Tracker Marine Center at the new Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro — seem to have the key ingredient that boating industry analysts have fingered as a good hedge against recessions — stem-to-stern service for their customers.
For example, you not only can buy a boat at Ellis Marine, they will register it for you; keep you advised about the best way to avoid problems with ethanol-laced gasoline; service your warranties; and sell you the tubes and wakeboards or tackle you want to enjoy it. Although on a much larger scale, Bass Pro Shops’ Tracker Center will do the same — you can walk in there, buy a boat and have the service team prepare it for launching by the end of the day. If you break down while in the area, the Foxboro retailer will free up a technician to fix the problem.
When I caught up with Doug Shogren of Hank’s Marine in Leicester, he had just returned from delivering a pontoon boat to a customer. Pontoon boats are selling well this spring, Shogren said, because, “It’s the kind of boat you can put in the middle of the lake and sit there on it; you can fish or swim or just enjoy the day.”
Shogren noted that although it takes about $80 to fill a tank of gas for that boat, “the customer said it will probably last all summer.”
Leicester Marina
Sales at the Leicester marina are about as good as last year, according to Shogren. Although pontoon boats — $11,000 and up — are selling well, this year’s market is softer for some of the flashier boats such as the Sea-Doo line, which ranges from $15,200 to $50,000.
“We are able to keep our pricing low,” Shogren said of his 29-year old business. “We invest our own money, we have no mortgages.”
Shogren said the marina is as busy as any other spring and people are not delaying taking their boats out of storage.
Tracker Marine Center at Bass Pro Shops
Drawing from a broader consumer pool, the Tracker Marine Center at Bass Pro Shops is moving at full speed with boat sales, parts and service, according to Jeff Lloyd, general manger of the center. The Charlton resident gave up a longtime association with Action Marine at Webster Lake to join Bass Pro Shops when it opened in November.
The Foxboro marine center sells everything from small aluminum fishing boats and high-end bass boats to fiberglass family run-abouts and larger offshore Mako fishing boats.
“Tracker is a brand that everyone is familiar with and pricing is aggressive. It’s become known as the best bang for the buck, your everyday guy’s boat,” Lloyd said.
Boat sales started the year well and pushed ahead during the heavy foot traffic generated by Bass Pro Shops March fishing classic — an event that includes sales and free clinics by popular fishing and hunting stars. Lloyd noted that 13 boats were sold during the first weekend of the event.
“Demand has been so high in some product areas we have actually struggled to keep some models in stock,” Lloyd said. “That speaks volumes considering the economic climate. I’m very optimistic about this season.”
Doug Russell Marine in Worcester
Although the 2008 sales started slow at Doug Russell Marine in Worcester, the warmer weather of the past weeks has generated more activity, according to sales manager Raul Gonzalez.
Fishing Trophy catches
Two young anglers have weighed in trophy fish in recent days and earned brass pins for their efforts from the state Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.
Joshua Watts of Sturbridge caught a 13-7/8-inch yellow perch at Little Alum Pond in his hometown that tipped the scales at 1-1/4 pounds at D&G Bait & Tackle in Leicester. The minimum weight in the youth category for a bronze pin is 1 pound.
Meanwhile, Zachary Lamontagne of Douglas hauled in a 5-pound largemouth bass to earn his bronze pin. The fish was caught Sunday at Meadow Pond in Whitinsville and weighed at Jerry’s Bait & Tackle in Milford. The fish measured 21 inches and had a girth of 15 inches.
It was Zachary’s second big bass from Meadow Pond. He caught one through the ice about the same size last year. Both bass took shiners while the young angler was fishing with his grandfather, Paul Lamontagne.
“His goal is to become the next Charlie Moore,” said Zachary’s dad, Dave Lamontagne.
Thanks to Worcester Telegram & Gazette for this.
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Showing posts with label marinas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marinas. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Floating Cabins Success on Patoka Lake
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Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats bringing you news and views from the boating industry. PATOKA LAKE, Ind. – Harvey Edwards and his partners declared the sea trial of their first floating cabin a surprising success.
A success because it stayed afloat, taking on no water. A surprise because it floated away from the dock and headed out toward the lake.
Seems no one had thought to tie it up.
Patoka Lake Marina - The first to rent floating cabins
In 2004, Edwards’ Patoka Lake Marina became the first in the state to rent floating cabins. On the water but docked at the marina, the cabins offer an alternative to houseboats for those who want to be on the water but don’t want the hassle of a houseboat. The concept is popular enough that the marina has increased its fleet of floating cabins every year and, this year, the cabins are for sale, too.
“A floating cabin is the next best thing to being able to build a home on the water, and it’s a great alternative to a houseboat,” said Edwards. “You get all the advantages of being right on the water, but you don’t have the responsibility of driving a houseboat.”
Floating Cabin Rentals - increases each year
The idea has grown in popularity, with marinas increasing their numbers of floating cabin rentals each year. But during the peak season, the demand is greater than the number, and vacationers go wanting. Some folks have taken to reserving a floating cabin a year in advance.
Thus the sales.
Rustic cabins these are not. These homes away from home offer the comforts of a most comfortable abode – full kitchens, dining areas, sitting areas, baths, two or three bedrooms. They’re snuggled up against a series of docks, which make for just-about-instant fishing. Guests can tie their vessels up to the docks and go immediately from bed to breakfast to boat. Rental boats are available for those who appear without. Or there’s fishing from the docks.
What the floating cabins don’t have is the rocking motion that might be expected of them because they’re on the water.
“And the floating cabins provide independence,” said Edwards. “People think, ‘I have a place to stay, and my boat’s right here.’”
Patoka Lake - Man made lake
Patoka Lake was created in the late 1970s as a flood control reservoir. The state’s second-largest reservoir, covering more than 8,800 acres, it is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. As such, it is destined to remain undeveloped, with no housing along its shores. The reservoir serves as the water supply for nine counties. The water is considered among the cleanest in three states, in part because the engineers constructed a sewerage system that encircles the reservoir.
“It is going to stay a clean, pristine lake,” said Edwards.
With no lodging permitted within 300 yards of the shoreline, no cabins or resorts will appear. The mandate makes the floating cabins, which fall under houseboat regulations even though they never leave the dock, especially appealing.
Floating cabins are available for rent at Hoosier Hills Marina, too.
And from both marinas, houseboats, pontoon boats, fishing boats and jet skis.
The Patoka Lake Reservoir Recreation Area has one of the largest campgrounds in the state with 10 launching ramps and facilities similar to those found at state parks – playgrounds, a beach, 10 miles of paved roads for hiking and biking. There are 455 electric, 45 primitive and seven backcountry camping sites.
Patoka Lake - Excellent Fishing
Fishermen here typically go after bass – striped, largemouth, smallmouth, white – but there are also crappie and bluegill.
And, said Edwards, there’s fantastic fall color from late September through the second week of October.
“Brown County has nothing on us. We could write the book for Brown County. Here you have God’s picture that he paints every year.”
Patoka Lake - close to new Indiana's casino
The entire area is experiencing tourism growth because Patoka Lake is close to French Lick and West Baden Springs, the site of Indiana’s newest casino.
“People are looking for getaways closer to home, and that’s helping boost tourism in southern Indiana,” Edwards said. “By offering the cabins for sale, people now have a chance to get away whenever they want and know that their little piece of paradise awaits them on Patoka Lake.”
Thanks to Elizabeth Granger http://www.county29.net/c for this.
Links:
http://www.exploresouthernindiana.com/
http://www.patokalakeindiana.com/
http://www.patokalakemarina.com/
http://www.hoosierhillsmarina.com/
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out the latest Patoka Lake Videos
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats bringing you news and views from the boating industry. PATOKA LAKE, Ind. – Harvey Edwards and his partners declared the sea trial of their first floating cabin a surprising success.
A success because it stayed afloat, taking on no water. A surprise because it floated away from the dock and headed out toward the lake.
Seems no one had thought to tie it up.
Patoka Lake Marina - The first to rent floating cabins
In 2004, Edwards’ Patoka Lake Marina became the first in the state to rent floating cabins. On the water but docked at the marina, the cabins offer an alternative to houseboats for those who want to be on the water but don’t want the hassle of a houseboat. The concept is popular enough that the marina has increased its fleet of floating cabins every year and, this year, the cabins are for sale, too.
“A floating cabin is the next best thing to being able to build a home on the water, and it’s a great alternative to a houseboat,” said Edwards. “You get all the advantages of being right on the water, but you don’t have the responsibility of driving a houseboat.”
Floating Cabin Rentals - increases each year
The idea has grown in popularity, with marinas increasing their numbers of floating cabin rentals each year. But during the peak season, the demand is greater than the number, and vacationers go wanting. Some folks have taken to reserving a floating cabin a year in advance.
Thus the sales.
Rustic cabins these are not. These homes away from home offer the comforts of a most comfortable abode – full kitchens, dining areas, sitting areas, baths, two or three bedrooms. They’re snuggled up against a series of docks, which make for just-about-instant fishing. Guests can tie their vessels up to the docks and go immediately from bed to breakfast to boat. Rental boats are available for those who appear without. Or there’s fishing from the docks.
What the floating cabins don’t have is the rocking motion that might be expected of them because they’re on the water.
“And the floating cabins provide independence,” said Edwards. “People think, ‘I have a place to stay, and my boat’s right here.’”
Patoka Lake - Man made lake
Patoka Lake was created in the late 1970s as a flood control reservoir. The state’s second-largest reservoir, covering more than 8,800 acres, it is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. As such, it is destined to remain undeveloped, with no housing along its shores. The reservoir serves as the water supply for nine counties. The water is considered among the cleanest in three states, in part because the engineers constructed a sewerage system that encircles the reservoir.
“It is going to stay a clean, pristine lake,” said Edwards.
With no lodging permitted within 300 yards of the shoreline, no cabins or resorts will appear. The mandate makes the floating cabins, which fall under houseboat regulations even though they never leave the dock, especially appealing.
Floating cabins are available for rent at Hoosier Hills Marina, too.
And from both marinas, houseboats, pontoon boats, fishing boats and jet skis.
The Patoka Lake Reservoir Recreation Area has one of the largest campgrounds in the state with 10 launching ramps and facilities similar to those found at state parks – playgrounds, a beach, 10 miles of paved roads for hiking and biking. There are 455 electric, 45 primitive and seven backcountry camping sites.
Patoka Lake - Excellent Fishing
Fishermen here typically go after bass – striped, largemouth, smallmouth, white – but there are also crappie and bluegill.
And, said Edwards, there’s fantastic fall color from late September through the second week of October.
“Brown County has nothing on us. We could write the book for Brown County. Here you have God’s picture that he paints every year.”
Patoka Lake - close to new Indiana's casino
The entire area is experiencing tourism growth because Patoka Lake is close to French Lick and West Baden Springs, the site of Indiana’s newest casino.
“People are looking for getaways closer to home, and that’s helping boost tourism in southern Indiana,” Edwards said. “By offering the cabins for sale, people now have a chance to get away whenever they want and know that their little piece of paradise awaits them on Patoka Lake.”
Thanks to Elizabeth Granger http://www.county29.net/c for this.
Links:
http://www.exploresouthernindiana.com/
http://www.patokalakeindiana.com/
http://www.patokalakemarina.com/
http://www.hoosierhillsmarina.com/
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out the latest Patoka Lake Videos
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Monday, May 5, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Finding the right cottage boat
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from Used Pontoon Boats. Cottage life usually implies shoreline, and shoreline implies boats, and boats are an automatic part of cottaging.
But what kind of boat? There are diverse decisions to make before choosing a new boat. For better or for worse, recreational boats have evolved to be more and more specialized as the years have gone by. It is not out of proportion to visualize a whole fleet of boats, each tailored to a different experience at the cottage. However, if you don’t realize this before you start to look for your first cottage boat, confusion can reign.
If you are fortunate to find a lovingly previously-used cottage, perhaps the deal includes a lovingly previously-used boat. If not, you are inevitably going to be looking with some urgency to fill the hole in the water next to your dock before the summer season arrives.
Approaching cottage boating with a relatively clean slate, choosing from two dozen or more options for the style of boat can be confusing, if not downright intimidating. So take two paces back, take a deep breath, and ask yourself and your family several key questions.
What are we going to use it for? How large must it be? How large would we like it to be? Are issues such as comfort, speed, range, handling in rough waters, instrumentation for navigation and operation, and storage or trailering important to us? Are we going to tow wakeboarders, tubes, or swim from the boat? Are we going fishing with the boat? Are any long trips planned with the boat? Will escorting visitors on tours of your lake rate high on our social agenda? If so, how many people will be on the guest list?
Next consider any special needs. For example, if your cottage is on an island, the boat, or at least one of your boats, must serve for serious heavy hauling some of the time.
All this develops a list of what you want the boat to do for you at the cottage.
If you need something small and fast or wind powered, consider a pedal boat, canoe, kayak, sailing dinghy, rowing skiff, or sailboard, among others. Add engines, and think runabout: water ski and wakeboard tow boat, dedicated fishing boat, pontoon are all among the choices. You may also need to decide between a bowrider and an enclosed bow.
For the engine itself, stern drive or outboard, or full inboard engine for a larger boat. Single or dual drive? Gasoline, diesel or possibly electric?
Look with an open mind, since both outboard and inboard engines are improving steadily to be more efficient and less polluting than even a few years ago.
Boat builders, dealers, and marinas serve markets which cover a wide spectrum of interests, not just cottagers. They might exhibit large long-distance cruisers, trawlers, live-aboard sailboats, and specialty boats such as offshore racers, all of which can distract you from your primary interest in choosing a cottage boat which matches your specific needs.
But with your short list of musts and wants in hand you can narrow down your choices to a few boats of the appropriate shape and size.
Operating any of these craft requires appropriate skill and experience. Remember to keep your training up to a level which matches the capability of your boat. Contact us at Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons for information about our wide selection of boating courses for both beginner and experienced boater.
Finding the ideal first boat or next boat for your cottage fleet is a journey of many steps, spanning everything from your personal insights to the big wide world of the boating market. Enjoy your trip.
Safe boating.
Thanks to Jack McIrvine, past commander of the Bracebridge Power Squadron and muskokan.com
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
But what kind of boat? There are diverse decisions to make before choosing a new boat. For better or for worse, recreational boats have evolved to be more and more specialized as the years have gone by. It is not out of proportion to visualize a whole fleet of boats, each tailored to a different experience at the cottage. However, if you don’t realize this before you start to look for your first cottage boat, confusion can reign.
If you are fortunate to find a lovingly previously-used cottage, perhaps the deal includes a lovingly previously-used boat. If not, you are inevitably going to be looking with some urgency to fill the hole in the water next to your dock before the summer season arrives.
Approaching cottage boating with a relatively clean slate, choosing from two dozen or more options for the style of boat can be confusing, if not downright intimidating. So take two paces back, take a deep breath, and ask yourself and your family several key questions.
What are we going to use it for? How large must it be? How large would we like it to be? Are issues such as comfort, speed, range, handling in rough waters, instrumentation for navigation and operation, and storage or trailering important to us? Are we going to tow wakeboarders, tubes, or swim from the boat? Are we going fishing with the boat? Are any long trips planned with the boat? Will escorting visitors on tours of your lake rate high on our social agenda? If so, how many people will be on the guest list?
Next consider any special needs. For example, if your cottage is on an island, the boat, or at least one of your boats, must serve for serious heavy hauling some of the time.
All this develops a list of what you want the boat to do for you at the cottage.
If you need something small and fast or wind powered, consider a pedal boat, canoe, kayak, sailing dinghy, rowing skiff, or sailboard, among others. Add engines, and think runabout: water ski and wakeboard tow boat, dedicated fishing boat, pontoon are all among the choices. You may also need to decide between a bowrider and an enclosed bow.
For the engine itself, stern drive or outboard, or full inboard engine for a larger boat. Single or dual drive? Gasoline, diesel or possibly electric?
Look with an open mind, since both outboard and inboard engines are improving steadily to be more efficient and less polluting than even a few years ago.
Boat builders, dealers, and marinas serve markets which cover a wide spectrum of interests, not just cottagers. They might exhibit large long-distance cruisers, trawlers, live-aboard sailboats, and specialty boats such as offshore racers, all of which can distract you from your primary interest in choosing a cottage boat which matches your specific needs.
But with your short list of musts and wants in hand you can narrow down your choices to a few boats of the appropriate shape and size.
Operating any of these craft requires appropriate skill and experience. Remember to keep your training up to a level which matches the capability of your boat. Contact us at Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons for information about our wide selection of boating courses for both beginner and experienced boater.
Finding the ideal first boat or next boat for your cottage fleet is a journey of many steps, spanning everything from your personal insights to the big wide world of the boating market. Enjoy your trip.
Safe boating.
Thanks to Jack McIrvine, past commander of the Bracebridge Power Squadron and muskokan.com
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Friday, April 25, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Lakeshore Clean-up on Banks Lake
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats. Thirty-four volunteers braved the cold Saturday morning to help with the annual shoreline cleanup effort organized by POWER, the local group headed by Carl Russell.
Driving by Banks Lake on SR 155, or plying its waters in a boat, you might only notice the cattails and rushes along the shore, where bass hide and blackbirds sing.
But there is trash, too. Flotsam blows in on the predominantly west winds after a cooler falls off a boat or an empty bait container is carelessly tossed. It builds up along the shores, but POWER (Promoters of Wildlife and Environmental Resources) has been working to clean it up, one area of the lake at a time. Saturday's was the fourth such annual event on the weekend before Earth Day. The group focused efforts on the bay between Steamboat Rock and the Devil's Punchbowl and along the shores of the islands along inter-island waterway called Lovers' Lane.
The group gathered at the Northrup boat launch, across the water from Steamboat Rock, where three pontoon boats waited to carry them to shorelines on Banks Lake. They gathered bag after bag of trash, enough to fill three large dumpsters, plus another trailer load for the local dump.
"Some of this doesn't decompose very easily and we need to pick it up," explained 11-year-old Ben Brougher, who used a mechanical picker to reach into the weeds and rocks between the shore and the highway.
Brougher was looking forward to the 1 p.m. barbecue lunch provided for volunteers.
Russell said the 34 volunteers, including eight who worked from pickups and four on four-wheel, all-terrain vehicles, logged 161 hours in the effort. He said they cleaned most of the Punchbowl Bay area between the highway and Steamboat Rock, also the Lovers' Lane to Devil's Lake area.
"We had a great crew with participants as young as 6 with their parents and as young as 84, so you see you are never too old or to young," Russell said.
The program is co- sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, the state Dept. of Parks and Recreation and Coulee Playland.
A grant from the state's Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account helped pay for garbage disposal, fuel for boats and other expenses.
The lunch was funded by the USBR through the Job Corps, Russell said.
Thanks to Scott Hunter, editor and publisher, Townnews.com for this
Be sure to check out This Weeks Bayliner Video Update Here......
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Rick Ostler, Bayliner Boats.
Driving by Banks Lake on SR 155, or plying its waters in a boat, you might only notice the cattails and rushes along the shore, where bass hide and blackbirds sing.
But there is trash, too. Flotsam blows in on the predominantly west winds after a cooler falls off a boat or an empty bait container is carelessly tossed. It builds up along the shores, but POWER (Promoters of Wildlife and Environmental Resources) has been working to clean it up, one area of the lake at a time. Saturday's was the fourth such annual event on the weekend before Earth Day. The group focused efforts on the bay between Steamboat Rock and the Devil's Punchbowl and along the shores of the islands along inter-island waterway called Lovers' Lane.
The group gathered at the Northrup boat launch, across the water from Steamboat Rock, where three pontoon boats waited to carry them to shorelines on Banks Lake. They gathered bag after bag of trash, enough to fill three large dumpsters, plus another trailer load for the local dump.
"Some of this doesn't decompose very easily and we need to pick it up," explained 11-year-old Ben Brougher, who used a mechanical picker to reach into the weeds and rocks between the shore and the highway.
Brougher was looking forward to the 1 p.m. barbecue lunch provided for volunteers.
Russell said the 34 volunteers, including eight who worked from pickups and four on four-wheel, all-terrain vehicles, logged 161 hours in the effort. He said they cleaned most of the Punchbowl Bay area between the highway and Steamboat Rock, also the Lovers' Lane to Devil's Lake area.
"We had a great crew with participants as young as 6 with their parents and as young as 84, so you see you are never too old or to young," Russell said.
The program is co- sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, the state Dept. of Parks and Recreation and Coulee Playland.
A grant from the state's Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account helped pay for garbage disposal, fuel for boats and other expenses.
The lunch was funded by the USBR through the Job Corps, Russell said.
Thanks to Scott Hunter, editor and publisher, Townnews.com for this
Be sure to check out This Weeks Bayliner Video Update Here......
Find out more information on Bayliner boat canvas, Do-it-Yourself bayliner cover kits and subscribe to our FREE newsletter.
Another great video website for viewing Bayliner Boat Videos Here:
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thank you.
Rick Ostler, Bayliner Boats.
Used Pontoon Boats - Owning or Renting a Pontoon Boat
Renting a pontoon boat is a good way for large groups to enjoy a day out on a Michigan waterway.Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from Used Pontoon Boats. TRAVERSE CITY -- Boating always has been part of summer fun in Michigan. Owning a boat -- or renting one -- can give a family access to four of the five Great Lakes, thousands of miles of rivers and 11,000 inland lakes.
These days, it's easy to get out on the water, even without owning a boat.
Marinas on many large lakes rent pontoons or fishing and ski boats. Jet Skis and other personal watercraft are available by the hour, day or week. And canoe liveries on Northern Michigan rivers are as much a tradition as fudge on Mackinac Island.
One of the centers of Michigan's boat-rental business is the Traverse City area, where rentals are available from as many as a dozen companies, including several that will deliver boats to inland lakes in the surrounding counties.
That region of the Northwest Lower Peninsula has some of the state's most popular inland lakes -- Torch Lake, Crystal Lake, Elk Lake, Lake Leelanau, the Glen Lakes -- along with dozens of smaller bodies of water that attract their share of boaters.
Rental prices, restrictions and boat types vary widely among companies. Renters are advised to call around -- and as far ahead as possible -- to ensure they can get what they want, when they want it.
Break'n Waves of Traverse City (breaknwaves.com, 231-929-3303) offers a two-hour rental of a pontoon boat on Grand Traverse Bay for a base price of $120. The per-hour price goes down significantly for longer rentals, which can be for a week or more, owner Eric Harding said.
"We're catering to the hotel business, or the people who want to spend a little time enjoying the lake," he said.
The company has a rental location adjacent to Traverse City State Park, on East Grand Traverse Bay, and also delivers to inland lakes.
Harding said the business in past years was weighted toward personal watercraft or Jet Skis. Those speedy vessels remain popular, but a growing number of customers want larger boats, he said.
"People used to get one Jet Ski and take turns using it," he said. "Now, they get a pontoon or a ski boat so everyone can have fun together."
"(Interest in rentals) does appear to be getting stronger," agreed Brett Campbell, owner of Sunset Water Sports in Traverse City (sunsetwatersports.com, 231-932-1800). "We had a very strong year in 2007. Like a record year."
Campbell's company has 60 watercraft to rent out, including Jet Skis, pontoon boats and boats outfitted for skiing, tubing and wake-boarding.
Many of his customers reserve boats to go with rented lakefront cabins. Others are simply vacationing at area resorts and want one day on the water.
"A lot of our customers are fairly wealthy and could buy a boat," Campbell said. "They deem it financially prudent to rent."
Early in the summer, he often recommends placing boats on smaller lakes, where the water tends to warm up earlier. As the season progresses, the protected waters of Grand Traverse Bay become more popular.
While Northwest Michigan offers the most choices, vacationers can find a boat for rent just about everywhere in the state. A number of lakeside marinas may have one or more vessels for rent, though they don't widely advertise the option.
Old Point Comfort Marine in Higgins Lake (opcm.com, 989-821-5692) is mainly a sales and service business, but owner Jerry Venn has one pontoon boat available for rental by the day.
His customers may be staying at a state park or renting a lakefront cabin, or simply visiting Higgins Lake for a day.
Occasionally he rents to fishermen, but more often the renters are families who use the pontoon as a platform for swimming or for exploring the lake.
"Mostly, they just want to go out and cruise and enjoy the day on the water," Venn said.
Boat ownership in Michigan has dropped in recent years, with the number of registered boats falling 17 percent from 2001 to 2006. California has the largest number of boats, according to Coast Guard statistics. With more than 800,000 registered boats, Michigan is No. 4.
Especially for those who get on the water only a few times a year, renting may cost less than owning. And, for those concerned about high fuel prices, it may be more efficient to drive a small, fuel-efficient car to the lake, and then rent a boat.
None of this means Michigan will stop buying boats.
Van Snider, president of the Michigan Boating Industries Association, said the drop in boat registrations is due mainly to Michigan's economic troubles. He's confident boat sales will bounce back when the economy rights itself.
Owners of waterfront property always want a boat at the dock. And those who fish or ski regularly throughout the season are unlikely to give up their boats and trailers.
But for everyone else, it's good to know we have options to get out to enjoy the water. Thanks to Edward Hoogterp, Booth News Service for this.
Be sure to check out This Weeks Bayliner Video Update Here......
Find out more information on Bayliner boat canvas, Do-it-Yourself bayliner cover kits and subscribe to our FREE newsletter.
Another great video website for viewing Bayliner Boat Videos Here:
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thank you.
Rick Ostler, Bayliner Boats.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - BoatMax Opens In Port Carling
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here with Used Pontoon Boats on news from BoatMax. As Canada's largest full line Doral and Seaswirl dealer, also offering Bennington Pontoon Boats, BoatMax is excited to announce the opening of its third location in the heart of Muskoka, Port Carling.
Recognized formerly as Proline Marine, General Manager Tom Fulton shared the news with Boating Industry Canada that the negotiations were just completed to re-open under the BoatMax name what was once Doral's top Sport Boat dealer for many years.
"Without question, this will extend our share of the marketplace, as well as provide a service outlet for all our current and future customers who do their boating in the Muskoka area," said Fulton.
Sales and Rentals will be offered as of April 1st, the anticipated grand opening.
Thanks to Boat Industry Canada for this.
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - LAKE OF THE OZARKS Shoreline volunteer Honored
The Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for AmerenUE's Adopt-the-Shoreline program was presented to Louis DeVries, who has helped haul more than 35 tons of trash and debris from the lake since 1996. Photo courtesy AmerenUE
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with news from the boating industry.
LAKE OF THE OZARKS - Louis DeVries has hauled 35 tons of trash and debris from a 13-mile stretch of shoreline between Linn Creek and Race Track coves since 1996.
DeVries was honored this week as AmerenUE's Adopt-the-Shoreline Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.
The award is highly coveted among the die-hards who get out every spring, and sometimes in the fall, to keep the lake's shoreline pristine. They haul out pontoon boats, barges and shovels to do their part for the lake. Nothing deters these hardy souls.
Over the years, he's recruited neighbors to volunteer and when he had to, paid helpers out of his own pocket. These days, he has a pretty good crew to help out.
Ask him how long he's been doing the shoreline cleanup and his response is a quick, 'as long as I can remember.' And at 78, he says he has no intention of slowing down. At least not yet. He plans to have his crew ready by April 19 to tackle their 13 miles of shoreline.
DeVries and his wife Janet have owned and operated the Creel Resort at the 28.5-mile marker since 1982. Today, the family-style resort is still open for seasonal rentals. The resort has eight cabins and slips for more than 20 boats. Although there's plenty to keep DeVries busy around the resort, he always seems to find time to help out.
According to his neighbors, Ron and Lanell Hagar, he was able to recruit them in 1999. For several years the three of them did the work of cleaning more than 13 miles of shoreline.
'Most years we completely filled two large dumpsters with foam and debris,' they said. 'The last two years Louis was able to recruit more helpers and last year Doc Pushers provided a boat and barge, which was a great addition to the cleanup efforts. With a dozen volunteers we completed our cleanup in record time. This came at a good time as Louis's old pontoon work boat finally had too many holes in the tanks and had to be retired.'
He's hauled a lot of old, soggy dock foam and trash off the lake and has stumbled across some unusual junk along the way. The most unusual was an old safe that he found lying on the bank.
'Someone had beat us to it,' he joked. 'There was a hole cut in the back of it.'
This year's theme for the annual dinner to recognize volunteers and kick start the shoreline cleanup was a play on the popular Survivor games with the theme 'out work, out clean and out haul.'
DeVries and his team will definitely be some tough competition for other crews when the spring cleanup officially gets underway April 1.
Thanks to Joyce L. Miller at lakesunleader.com
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Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Used Pontoon Boats - North Carolina’s Lake Monster
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with a MONSTER of an article. Scotland is home to the world-famous Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie. But could nearby Lake Norman have a monster named Normie?
Residents say something strange is lurking in the waters of Lake Norman
Some people living along the shores of North Carolina’s biggest lake suspect that some kind of strange, large creature exists beneath the surface. For years, they have told strange stories about a monster in the lake.
And an entire Web site is devoted to the weird phenonemon. If you go to LakeNormanMonster.com, you can read all kinds of strange and sometimes funny stories about the purported creature. You can also submit your own report if you have seen something unexplained at the lake. The many rumors and tales prompted Mooresville resident Matt Myers to create the site.
“People in Lake Norman have seen strange things in the waters,” read a news release from the Web site. “Many dismissed these sightings and the resulting speculation as flights of fancy. In 2000, locals began spreading disturbing sightings of alligators sunning on docks and sand bars. No one believed these sightings, either, until video footage of one of the alligators was delivered to a Charlotte news station.”
Bobby of Huntersville submitted his tale to the site, dated Aug. 21, 2006. “I’ve lived in North Carolina all my life and while I was growing up I’ve always heard the story of the Lake Norman monster also known as ‘Normie’ and I never really believed it until last week when I was fishing off my boat with my dad,” reads Bobby’s tale. “I had a bass on my fishing line and while I was reeling it in I saw a big creature in the lake with huge eyes about the size of a basketball and a striped squirmy tail. At this time I couldn’t believe what I had seen and I told my dad and all he said was ‘Bobby, your seeing stuff,’ but when I pulled in my line something pulled it and then out of nowhere my bass was gone and the creature I saw was gone too. I was in total shock and now I believe there is something in that lake and I am scared to swim in it.”
The site also offers a history of Lake Norman, facts about the man-made lake, a list of the most recent sightings, a form for users to submit their own sighting and a tongue-in-cheek introduction by world famous Swedish cryptozoologist Jan Sundberg, best known from documentaries on The Learning Channel, including “Loch Ness: The Search for The Truth.”
Visitors to the site can also sign up for a free monthly newsletter and purchase souvenir T-shirts, mugs, hats and more.
In addition, Asheville author Joshua P. Warren and his team of paranormal investigators called LEMUR have looked into what is underneath the waters of Lake Norman. LEMUR stands for League of Energy Materialization and Unexplained Phenomena Research. The group has previously investigated the Brown Mountain Lights, the Pink Lady ghost at the Grove Park Inn and UFO sightings.
In April 2003, the LEMUR team got on a pontoon boat and went out on Lake Norman, armed with video and digital cameras. “It was a wonderful way to spend a beautiful day,” reads LEMUR’s Web site. “However, we never witnessed anything out of the usual.
Of course, if Normie was out there, it would literally have been easier to find a needle in a haystack. At least a needle doesn’t move around!”
Unlike Loch Ness, Lake Norman is a manmade body of water. It was created from 1959 to 1964 when Duke Power built the Cowans Ford Dam across the Catawba River to generate electrical energy.
Lake Norman has more than 500 miles of shoreline and some parts of it are more than 110 feet deep.
In addition to Normie, other folks have reported seeing huge catfish in the lake. Some people have said they are as big as a car with mouths large enough to swallow a human.
So how could such weird creatures live in a manmade lake?
Some folks speculate that the Lake Norman Monster and the huge catfish could be mutations caused by the nearby nuclear power plant.
Others think that Normie swam up the river from the ocean and got trapped there before the lake was formed in the 1960s. Thanks to
Thanks to Mike Conley, ourstrangeworld.net for this.Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Used Pontoon Boats - Oakridge, Oregon Project Manager is Felon
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with inforamtion out of Oakridge, Oregon about a project manager being felon. The project manager of a multimillion-dollar “manufacturing and office operation” proposed in the city’s industrial park is a convicted felon, City Administrator Gordon Zimmerman and Community Development Director Kevin Urban have confirmed.
The two officials identified the man they know as Atherton Properties LLC Oakridge representative Ted Thomas from a 1998 jail booking photo of Ted Combis, 62.
According to court records, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Hogan sentenced Combis then to 57 months in prison after a plea bargain in which Combis pleaded guilty to payroll tax evasion and mail and bankruptcy fraud. He was sentenced to an additional 24 months in prison in January 2005, when Hogan found he had violated conditions of his probation by consuming alcohol, unlawfully receiving Social Security and distributing controlled substances by selling drugs prescribed for him.
The Register-Guard obtained the prison photo on Friday after being directed to old Modoc Record newspaper accounts of Combis’ criminal activity by an anonymous telephone caller who said he is an Oakridge business owner. The newspaper then showed the photo to Oakridge officials, who confirmed he is the man they know as Thomas.
Thomas called The Register-Guard on Friday afternoon to say that he legally changed his name last year in order to make a fresh start after satisfying his prison term. He also said that because of the disclosure he was now resigning from the company and that his past should not reflect on its partners, whom he identified as “Keith, Joe and Rich.”
Atherton, which is incorporated in Nevada and not registered to do business in Oregon, has been secretive about the identity of its owners and its plans for 18 acres of industrial land it optioned a year ago in a $628,000 conditional purchase agreement with the city. The only publicly identified partner is Eugene attorney Keith Boyd, who did not return phone calls and an e-mail inviting him to comment on the matter.
Court records show Boyd represented Combis in a 1995 bankruptcy proceeding that followed a federal raid of Combis’ former company, Thena Inc., during an investigation of alleged fraud.
Combis was the company’s president. Details of the criminal and bankruptcy cases are archived in Seattle and not immediately available.
But Oregon and California newspapers reported that a July 1996 federal grand jury indicted Combis on 48 counts of mail fraud, interstate transportation of stolen goods, money laundering, failure to pay payroll taxes, obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness.
The indictment charged that Klamath Falls-based Thena sent letters to thousands of Northern California landowners, offering to remove dead and dying timber at no cost. When its loggers did so, they also removed 25 million board feet of healthy timber, the government charged, selling it for $15 million. The alleged fraud loss was reduced to less than $1.5 million as a part of Combis’ plea deal.
“This is news to us,” Zimmerman said Friday soon after he and Urban viewed the booking photo of Combis.
Washington County records show that Combis indeed changed his name to Thomas in May 2007, four months after completing his prison term and post-release supervision. According to city records, however, he was identifying himself to Oakridge officials as Ted Thomas as early as September 2006.
According to court records and news accounts, Thena owed $3.4 million to some 500 creditors at the time of its 1995 bankruptcy filing.
Even though federal authorities seized more than $1.75 million in Combis-owned real estate, airplanes, boats and other assets, the reports said, hundreds of creditors never received full payment.
Zimmerman said he did not expect the revelations about Thomas to affect the land deal, which has not yet closed despite an initial deadline of Jan. 1.
The city twice has extended the timeline as it continues to work with Atherton on details of the proposal.
“All I can tell you is that (the criminal activity) happened before he was an employee, he served his time for what he did, and he was a real champion for Oakridge by helping convince these five principals (Atherton partners) to move their business here,” Zimmerman said.
He credited Thomas with persuading the partners to build their project in Oakridge rather than Harrisburg, the other site they reportedly considered for a development they projected eventually could include 800,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space and create up to 545 jobs in enterprises as diverse as printing, logging and racing.
Oakridge has been trying for more than a decade to attract new employers to the industrial park, site of the former Bald Knob mill that once employed hundreds of area residents.
“We vetted the five principals and didn’t find anything in their backgrounds — we didn’t vet Ted because he was an employee,” Zimmerman said. “I am sorry that this has come out now, because it appears to be his personal life and unrelated to this project.
“I’m sure the council will want to have the five principals answer some questions about this, but I don’t think it changes the economic nature of their proposal.”
Zimmerman said the revelations did not cause him to question the judgment of the company’s partners.
“In fact, I think we ought to applaud a company that employs someone who’s been convicted of wrongdoing and paid the price for it,” he said.
Mayor Don Hampton declined comment on the matter, saying he wants more information first.
In an e-mail to the City Council last week, Zimmerman revealed details of Atherton’s first planned business on the site.
He said Record Boats, a manufacturing plant and showroom, is expected to employ up to 100 workers building fiberglass and pontoon boats “under the Oakridge brand by the end of the year.”
He declined to provide further information, citing a confidentiality clause in the purchase agreement.
He said he was able to speak about the boat businesses because Atherton had made that information public in a press release to Oakridge’s weekly newspaper, the Dead Mountain Echo.
Boyd did not respond to The Register-Guard’s request for the same press release.
He said in December that Atherton would no longer provide The Register-Guard any information about the company because it had refused his request that it withdraw a request for Oakridge’s public records pertaining to the development.
“Other than curiosity, I see no public interest or need to know in connection with our dealings with the city of Oakridge,” he said then.
Thomas said Boyd “convinced me to work for the company.”
“My original capacity was to try to find a location that was suitable,” he said. “I wanted to prove that I was a good and honest person.”
Thomas said other enterprises that he previously owned and were listed in bankruptcy records — including Oregon Racing Products and Diversified Fiber Corp. — are “past companies not remotely connected to Oakridge.”
He expressed concern that publicity about his past would unfairly hurt the owners of the company. “I don’t own the company. Please don’t hurt Keith, Joe and Rich. I don’t want the owners of the company to be hurt because of me. Keith (Boyd) is an honorable man, an honest attorney. They don’t belong in a bad light.”
Thomas said he was in Klamath Falls while his former partner conducted the salvage operation that included the alleged theft of healthy trees.
Thanks to Karen McCowan, The Register-Guard for this.
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
The two officials identified the man they know as Atherton Properties LLC Oakridge representative Ted Thomas from a 1998 jail booking photo of Ted Combis, 62.
According to court records, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Hogan sentenced Combis then to 57 months in prison after a plea bargain in which Combis pleaded guilty to payroll tax evasion and mail and bankruptcy fraud. He was sentenced to an additional 24 months in prison in January 2005, when Hogan found he had violated conditions of his probation by consuming alcohol, unlawfully receiving Social Security and distributing controlled substances by selling drugs prescribed for him.
The Register-Guard obtained the prison photo on Friday after being directed to old Modoc Record newspaper accounts of Combis’ criminal activity by an anonymous telephone caller who said he is an Oakridge business owner. The newspaper then showed the photo to Oakridge officials, who confirmed he is the man they know as Thomas.
Thomas called The Register-Guard on Friday afternoon to say that he legally changed his name last year in order to make a fresh start after satisfying his prison term. He also said that because of the disclosure he was now resigning from the company and that his past should not reflect on its partners, whom he identified as “Keith, Joe and Rich.”
Atherton, which is incorporated in Nevada and not registered to do business in Oregon, has been secretive about the identity of its owners and its plans for 18 acres of industrial land it optioned a year ago in a $628,000 conditional purchase agreement with the city. The only publicly identified partner is Eugene attorney Keith Boyd, who did not return phone calls and an e-mail inviting him to comment on the matter.
Court records show Boyd represented Combis in a 1995 bankruptcy proceeding that followed a federal raid of Combis’ former company, Thena Inc., during an investigation of alleged fraud.
Combis was the company’s president. Details of the criminal and bankruptcy cases are archived in Seattle and not immediately available.
But Oregon and California newspapers reported that a July 1996 federal grand jury indicted Combis on 48 counts of mail fraud, interstate transportation of stolen goods, money laundering, failure to pay payroll taxes, obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness.
The indictment charged that Klamath Falls-based Thena sent letters to thousands of Northern California landowners, offering to remove dead and dying timber at no cost. When its loggers did so, they also removed 25 million board feet of healthy timber, the government charged, selling it for $15 million. The alleged fraud loss was reduced to less than $1.5 million as a part of Combis’ plea deal.
“This is news to us,” Zimmerman said Friday soon after he and Urban viewed the booking photo of Combis.
Washington County records show that Combis indeed changed his name to Thomas in May 2007, four months after completing his prison term and post-release supervision. According to city records, however, he was identifying himself to Oakridge officials as Ted Thomas as early as September 2006.
According to court records and news accounts, Thena owed $3.4 million to some 500 creditors at the time of its 1995 bankruptcy filing.
Even though federal authorities seized more than $1.75 million in Combis-owned real estate, airplanes, boats and other assets, the reports said, hundreds of creditors never received full payment.
Zimmerman said he did not expect the revelations about Thomas to affect the land deal, which has not yet closed despite an initial deadline of Jan. 1.
The city twice has extended the timeline as it continues to work with Atherton on details of the proposal.
“All I can tell you is that (the criminal activity) happened before he was an employee, he served his time for what he did, and he was a real champion for Oakridge by helping convince these five principals (Atherton partners) to move their business here,” Zimmerman said.
He credited Thomas with persuading the partners to build their project in Oakridge rather than Harrisburg, the other site they reportedly considered for a development they projected eventually could include 800,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space and create up to 545 jobs in enterprises as diverse as printing, logging and racing.
Oakridge has been trying for more than a decade to attract new employers to the industrial park, site of the former Bald Knob mill that once employed hundreds of area residents.
“We vetted the five principals and didn’t find anything in their backgrounds — we didn’t vet Ted because he was an employee,” Zimmerman said. “I am sorry that this has come out now, because it appears to be his personal life and unrelated to this project.
“I’m sure the council will want to have the five principals answer some questions about this, but I don’t think it changes the economic nature of their proposal.”
Zimmerman said the revelations did not cause him to question the judgment of the company’s partners.
“In fact, I think we ought to applaud a company that employs someone who’s been convicted of wrongdoing and paid the price for it,” he said.
Mayor Don Hampton declined comment on the matter, saying he wants more information first.
In an e-mail to the City Council last week, Zimmerman revealed details of Atherton’s first planned business on the site.
He said Record Boats, a manufacturing plant and showroom, is expected to employ up to 100 workers building fiberglass and pontoon boats “under the Oakridge brand by the end of the year.”
He declined to provide further information, citing a confidentiality clause in the purchase agreement.
He said he was able to speak about the boat businesses because Atherton had made that information public in a press release to Oakridge’s weekly newspaper, the Dead Mountain Echo.
Boyd did not respond to The Register-Guard’s request for the same press release.
He said in December that Atherton would no longer provide The Register-Guard any information about the company because it had refused his request that it withdraw a request for Oakridge’s public records pertaining to the development.
“Other than curiosity, I see no public interest or need to know in connection with our dealings with the city of Oakridge,” he said then.
Thomas said Boyd “convinced me to work for the company.”
“My original capacity was to try to find a location that was suitable,” he said. “I wanted to prove that I was a good and honest person.”
Thomas said other enterprises that he previously owned and were listed in bankruptcy records — including Oregon Racing Products and Diversified Fiber Corp. — are “past companies not remotely connected to Oakridge.”
He expressed concern that publicity about his past would unfairly hurt the owners of the company. “I don’t own the company. Please don’t hurt Keith, Joe and Rich. I don’t want the owners of the company to be hurt because of me. Keith (Boyd) is an honorable man, an honest attorney. They don’t belong in a bad light.”
Thomas said he was in Klamath Falls while his former partner conducted the salvage operation that included the alleged theft of healthy trees.
Thanks to Karen McCowan, The Register-Guard for this.
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Used Pontoon Boats - Fined for Deeding Dolphin
Hi gang, Rick here again from Used Pontoon Boats with interesting from BREVARD COUNTY, Florida about a man cited for feeding a Dolphin. A captain of a Merritt Island pontoon boat tour got a $321 ticket for allegedly feeding a dolphin in the Banana River.
Officers cited Donald Quinn, 51, of Brevard County, captain of the vessel, Fish Tales, at about 1 p.m., at the Barge Canal locks, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
An undercover officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission filmed Quinn and a passenger on the 24-foot-long boat feeding menhaden baitfish to the dolphin, said Lenny Salberg, an officer with the commission.
Quinn's ticket was for interfering with a dolphin’s normal activity, a second-degree misdemeanor.
The passenger who also fed the dolphin was not cited.
"They didn’t know. They were tourists from Pennsylvania," Salberg said.
Quinn declined to comment.
“He’s brand-new,” said Peter Wallace of Rockledge, owner of Fish Tales.
“He didn’t know what the rules were, which isn’t any excuse,” Wallace said. “It was his third trip. He’s from Utah. He’d never seen a dolphin before.”
Officers could have charged Quinn under a federal law that also bans feeding wild dolphin, which carries much stiffer penalties.
“That could go up to $5,000,” Salberg said. “It could be as high as seizing the boat.” Thanks to local6.com/news for this.
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Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Officers cited Donald Quinn, 51, of Brevard County, captain of the vessel, Fish Tales, at about 1 p.m., at the Barge Canal locks, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
An undercover officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission filmed Quinn and a passenger on the 24-foot-long boat feeding menhaden baitfish to the dolphin, said Lenny Salberg, an officer with the commission.
Quinn's ticket was for interfering with a dolphin’s normal activity, a second-degree misdemeanor.
The passenger who also fed the dolphin was not cited.
"They didn’t know. They were tourists from Pennsylvania," Salberg said.
Quinn declined to comment.
“He’s brand-new,” said Peter Wallace of Rockledge, owner of Fish Tales.
“He didn’t know what the rules were, which isn’t any excuse,” Wallace said. “It was his third trip. He’s from Utah. He’d never seen a dolphin before.”
Officers could have charged Quinn under a federal law that also bans feeding wild dolphin, which carries much stiffer penalties.
“That could go up to $5,000,” Salberg said. “It could be as high as seizing the boat.” Thanks to local6.com/news for this.
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Used Pontoon Boats - Keego Harbor Sandbar Parties
Hi gang, Rick here again from Used Pontoon Boats with an article about Keego Harbor aiming to rein in sandbar parties. On almost any given summer weekend, more than 100 boats anchor on Cass Lake's popular sandbar, a shallow stretch almost a mile long off the lake's eastern shore.
That's when the sandbar sometimes turns rowdy, with public urination, drunken behavior, obscene language, and occasionally, indecent exposure.
Some say as many as 500 boats anchor there, but Oakland County sheriffs who patrol the lake put the number closer to 200.
Keego Harbor and the Department of Natural Resources are taking a hard look at the complaints and may soon come up with a plan to regulate the sandbar -- the first such plan in the state, and one that other communities may consider.
"It could very well be a test case for other lakes," said City Attorney Thomas Ryan. "We're not trying to stop people from using the lake. But we can't just have wall-to-wall boats anchored out there."
Although there already are ordinances that prohibit drunken boating and other bad behavior, such as urinating off boats and taking a bikini top off, there are no rules that restrict the number of boats anchoring, or the number that "raft," a local term for tying several boats together so that people can hop from pontoon to pontoon.
Among the considerations, creating navigational lanes using buoys every 50 feet that would make it easier to cross the sandbar and to break up the large crowds. Keego Harbor also is considering limiting the number of boats that can tie up together.
The rafting and sheer number of boats make it impossible to cross the sandbar on some days, residents said. Some citizens worry that law enforcement would have trouble responding to reports of people needing help. A St. Clair Shores woman testified at a DNR hearing in January that she lost a finger in a clasp on a pontoon last summer and that medical help was delayed because of the crowded sandbar.
"If you took this exact problem and put it on a street, it would not be tolerated," said Paula Reeves, who lives a block off the lake. Reeves, a Keego Harbor council member, said she has grown disgusted by the antics on the sandbar. "It's clearly out of control." The DNR, which held a public hearing on the matter in January, solicited written opinions from residents in February and is expected to make a recommendation to Keego Harbor in April and May. The city can then consider adopting ordinances that the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and DNR officers could enforce.
But some residents say they would object to restrictions or navigational lanes.
"It's gotten a bit more crowded in the last few years and more people go out" on "pontoon boats, but I think all you need is a police presence when you get a crowd of people," said David Osborn, who has lived on a canal leading into the lake for 12 years. "I don't think you need more regulation."
Should Cass Lake become more regulated, other lakes might follow suit. The Macomb County sheriff's marine division routinely responds to complaints about parties on Gull Island in Lake St. Clair. On Torch Lake in Antrim County, hundreds of boaters tend to congregate on a sandbar there.
"Almost any lake that has a sandbar has this situation," said Sgt. Al Bavarskas, an enforcement officer with the DNR. "It's not a situation unique to Cass Lake."
Thanks to BY L.L. BRASIER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER for this.
PS: Go to their website and read the comment responds from boaters.......
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Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Used Pontoon Boats - Old Barney at Lake Havasu
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with an article about Old Barney. Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club recently installed their latest lighthouse replica at Mohave Point, Barnegat Light. Old Barney, as it’s affectionately known in New Jersey, joins the thirteen others already acting as navigational aids around the Arizona lake. This wasn’t like the other installations, though.
As the sites get more remote, the replicas are being built offsite and hauled by pontoon boat to their destination. This particular feat of engineering involved hauling the twelve foot fiberglass body up a thirty foot bluff to set it on its concrete footing. Previously, they were built on site of wood and stucco.
As soon as the volunteers finish the final work on the solar powered, LED light from Canada (which only needs five hours of sunlight a month, by the way, easy to get in Arizona), they’ll be busy installing the next one. Berwick Light from Louisiana is next, along with three others expected to be installed this year.
All the replicas are based on the original lighthouse plans, just scaled down to around fifteen feet or so. It costs $4,000 to sponsor a light, and Barney was sponsored by Ruth Naven and her family, in honor of her father, who grew up near Barnegat in New Jersey. The West Coast lights are on the California ( west) side of the lake, the East Coast lights are on the Arizona (east) side of the lake, and Great Lakes lights are placed around Parker Dam.
The “East” coast lights also include one Canadian light, East Quoddy Head, pictured below, in honor of our nation’s longstanding friendship and good relations. The Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club was previously featured in a story when their floating lighthouse won a sweepstakes last December. Thanks to Sue Clark, at Lighthouse News for this.
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Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Used Pontoon Boats - A Turtle Tale
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with an interesting turtle tale. When we were kids we spent more than a few hours catching turtles. We had a really nice restaurant, about 1 mile from our house, that specialized in seafood. A couple of their great fares were fried turtle, and turtle soup.
It was my dad’s favorite place to go, whenever he could afford to take his gang of 8 out for dinner. The name of the place was Drouillard’s, and it sat right on the banks of Otter Creek, just a 1/2 mile or so from Lake Erie. Sometimes dad would “sneak” off by himself, just to enjoy a bowl of turtle soup, and chat with Don Drouillard the owner. Don’s turtle was always fresh, and sometimes we would even sell him ours, when we caught some large enough to make it worth while.
Back then you could bring your boat, in from the lake, and dock right out the back door of the restaurant. The atmosphere was one of always being on vacation, even when you weren’t. Don’s perch and walleye dinners were also well know among those locals, who liked seafood, and the atmosphere of this water side eatery.
The huge snapper in the picture was intended for the frying pan. I had visions of those great Drouillards turtle dishes, and figured I could get about 15 pounds of great meat from this “old buzzard!” I caught him by leaning out from a pontoon boat, and when I grabbed his tail, he almost pulled me in the water!
Once I got him back to the cabin I started thinking “man This is a really old turtle!” The more I thought about “doing him in” the less I liked the idea. He was probably older than I was, and I was always told to “respect your elders”, so I put him back in the lake. He’d made it this long, and I didn’t want to be the one to stop his monopoly on 16 Mile Lake. Besides it made my wife and grandkids happy!
Thanks to Mike at blogsmonroe.com for this.
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Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Friday, March 14, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Quinte Sportsman Boat & RV Show
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with a report from the Quinte Sportsman Boat & RV Show this weekend. Jeff Cox says a great winter escape is just a short drive away to the Quinte Sports Centre this weekend.
The 10th annual Quinte Sportsman Boat & RV Show will help get people's minds off the brutal and snowy winter, said Cox, the event's organizer.
"Escape the winter and see everything to do with spring and summer. It's the easiest way to get rid of the winter blahs."
The show opens its doors today at 10 a.m. with a record number of exhibitors displaying everything from boats, park and travel trailers, motor homes and travel vans to tent trailers, fishing equipment, ATVs and campgrounds.
"We are the largest sportsman show between Montreal and Toronto and this year is our biggest yet," said Cox, who owns Carl Cox RV Sales and Service on Old Highway 2 East.
There are more than 60 exhibitors displaying their wares on every inch of available space both in the Wally Dever Arena, Yardmen Arena, an upper mezzanine level and the paved parking lot around the Quinte Sports Centre.
"I've even had to turn away American vendors because of the lack of space. That shows the growing interest in this show," he said.
Mike Redcliffe of Sault Ste. Marie was attending his second show on behalf of Chapleau Air Services Ltd. located almost three hours north of Sudbury.
The 24-year-old former Madoc resident is the chief pilot for the fly-in fishing charter firm.
"The owner of the company is attending the Toronto Sportsmen Show this weekend and I'm here. This is the only show I do to promote the business," he said "I like this show because I'm the only fly-in fishing company here."
Redcliffe will be manning an information booth throughout the show and he's expecting to be busy talking to prospective customers.
"Last year, I had a lot of interest and had two bookings. This time, I'm hoping for even more bookings," he said.
Redcliffe's company is also giving away a major door prize of a trip for two to a remote northern lake for a fishing getaway.
Wes Bristow has been to every one of the local shows on behalf of his family's business, Bay Marine on Old Highway 2 West.
"It's a local show and we do really good business out of this show," he said. "It's an opportunity for us to show what we carry in boats and promote any new products."
Bay Marine has more than a dozen boats in the show, including bowriders, fishing boats, Seadoos, pontoon boats and its new line of Starcraft deck and pontoon boats and bowriders.
Bristow said this weekend's show is an ideal time to buy a boat.
"We have very aggressive pricing at this show," he said. "The price of boats is down 15 per cent over last year because of the strong Canadian dollar so now is a good time to buy."
This weekend's show features about a half-dozen new RV vendors, said organizer Cox.
"This year, we even have a 45-foot long park model complete with a loft and two bedrooms. It's quite a machine and a great way to spend the summer," he said.
"There are towable, parkable, driveable and, of course, buyable trailers right here at the show."
Participating for the first time is Castle Resort Park of Woodview, Ont. that operates numerous trailer parks throughout the province.
"Anyone looking for a trailer park should consider seeing them at the show," Cox said.
"That way you can find a suitable trailer park without even having to leave Belleville."
Other new vendors will be selling everything from sunglasses and fishing nets with built-in scales to deer feed and deer plots (where homeowners can grow their own deer feed in their backyards in order to attract deer).
"We have something for everyone in the family at this show," he said.
Representatives of the Bay of Quinte Power Squadron will also be on hand to conduct testing for the pleasure craft operator's card.
There will be plenty of door prizes given out throughout the three-day show.
The show continues Friday until 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors while children under 12 get in free.
Thanks to Henry Bury at intelligencer.ca for this.
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
The 10th annual Quinte Sportsman Boat & RV Show will help get people's minds off the brutal and snowy winter, said Cox, the event's organizer.
"Escape the winter and see everything to do with spring and summer. It's the easiest way to get rid of the winter blahs."
The show opens its doors today at 10 a.m. with a record number of exhibitors displaying everything from boats, park and travel trailers, motor homes and travel vans to tent trailers, fishing equipment, ATVs and campgrounds.
"We are the largest sportsman show between Montreal and Toronto and this year is our biggest yet," said Cox, who owns Carl Cox RV Sales and Service on Old Highway 2 East.
There are more than 60 exhibitors displaying their wares on every inch of available space both in the Wally Dever Arena, Yardmen Arena, an upper mezzanine level and the paved parking lot around the Quinte Sports Centre.
"I've even had to turn away American vendors because of the lack of space. That shows the growing interest in this show," he said.
Mike Redcliffe of Sault Ste. Marie was attending his second show on behalf of Chapleau Air Services Ltd. located almost three hours north of Sudbury.
The 24-year-old former Madoc resident is the chief pilot for the fly-in fishing charter firm.
"The owner of the company is attending the Toronto Sportsmen Show this weekend and I'm here. This is the only show I do to promote the business," he said "I like this show because I'm the only fly-in fishing company here."
Redcliffe will be manning an information booth throughout the show and he's expecting to be busy talking to prospective customers.
"Last year, I had a lot of interest and had two bookings. This time, I'm hoping for even more bookings," he said.
Redcliffe's company is also giving away a major door prize of a trip for two to a remote northern lake for a fishing getaway.
Wes Bristow has been to every one of the local shows on behalf of his family's business, Bay Marine on Old Highway 2 West.
"It's a local show and we do really good business out of this show," he said. "It's an opportunity for us to show what we carry in boats and promote any new products."
Bay Marine has more than a dozen boats in the show, including bowriders, fishing boats, Seadoos, pontoon boats and its new line of Starcraft deck and pontoon boats and bowriders.
Bristow said this weekend's show is an ideal time to buy a boat.
"We have very aggressive pricing at this show," he said. "The price of boats is down 15 per cent over last year because of the strong Canadian dollar so now is a good time to buy."
This weekend's show features about a half-dozen new RV vendors, said organizer Cox.
"This year, we even have a 45-foot long park model complete with a loft and two bedrooms. It's quite a machine and a great way to spend the summer," he said.
"There are towable, parkable, driveable and, of course, buyable trailers right here at the show."
Participating for the first time is Castle Resort Park of Woodview, Ont. that operates numerous trailer parks throughout the province.
"Anyone looking for a trailer park should consider seeing them at the show," Cox said.
"That way you can find a suitable trailer park without even having to leave Belleville."
Other new vendors will be selling everything from sunglasses and fishing nets with built-in scales to deer feed and deer plots (where homeowners can grow their own deer feed in their backyards in order to attract deer).
"We have something for everyone in the family at this show," he said.
Representatives of the Bay of Quinte Power Squadron will also be on hand to conduct testing for the pleasure craft operator's card.
There will be plenty of door prizes given out throughout the three-day show.
The show continues Friday until 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors while children under 12 get in free.
Thanks to Henry Bury at intelligencer.ca for this.
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - St. Patrick's Day Ozarks Style
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with a different twist to St. Patrick's Day festivities.
LAKE OF THE OZARKS ' Get ready to wear green to avoid being pinched- it's almost time for St. Patrick's Day festivities. The lake area is filled with St. Patty Day events.
St. Patrick is believed to have driven snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely known figures.
Today the modern secular holiday honors the patron saint by folks wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades.
The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Lake Ozark, sponsored by Bagnell Dam Board of Realtors, begins at 1 p.m. Saturday March 15. The parade will start in front of Elam Real Estate. Bagnell Dam Boulevard will be closed to traffic for the parade by Lake Ozark police at about 12:45 and will reopen at about 2:30 p.m., parade coordinator Cindy Vaught said.
This is the 24th year of the parade. The Bagnell Dam Board of Realtors has organized the event for the past dozen years, Vaught said.
Last year, there were more than a 100 participants in the parade. Only 60 participants have signed up this year but Vaught anticipates about 50 more will register in the next week.
Plaques will be awarded for first, second and third places for both business and civic categories. A trophy also will be awarded to the best from both categories, Vaught said.
Parade participants throw beads and candy to the crowd lining the street.
'Some of the participants have some real unique ideas on what to hand out,' Vaught said.
Vaught recommends getting to the Bagnell Strip early because the street fills up quickly.
'This is an event the whole family can enjoy,' Vaught said.
It costs $20 to enter the parade and all proceeds will be donated to the Dogwood Animal Shelter. For more information or to register, call 348-4288.
Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie plans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 17 with a parade. Participants will meet at Shrine of St. Patrick's parking lot at noon where balloons will be provided to help decorate the vehicles. The parade stops at the Laurie Care Center, Shrine of St. Patrick secretary Renee Magelky said.
'Everyone really enjoys it and the people at the nursing home always look forward to it,' she said.
Celebrate St. Patty's Day Lake of the Ozarks style by getting out on the water during the St. Patrick's Parade on the Water sponsored by the Lake West Chamber Saturday, March 15.
'It's referred to as the unofficial start of the season. It's a good, fun day out on the Lake of the Ozarks,' Lake West Chamber of Commerce executive director Mike Kenagy said.
The event starts at Ozark Bar-B-Que located at TT-75 by land or 10.5 mile marker by water. An all-you-can-eat breakfast will be served beginning at 9 a.m. Captains will meet for instructions at 11 a.m. and the parade will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Those without a boat can jump onboard the Tropic Island Cruise Boat. Tickets are $20 per person. Last year, 139 people took advantage of the cruise, Kenagy said.
The decorated boats will travel up the Gravois Arm of the lake. Stops will be made at Jolly Rogers, Three Pigs on the Water and Richard Knoggin's Pub and Grill.
Prizes will be awarded for a variety of categories, including best-land-lubber costume, pontoon boats, boats more than 24 feet, boats less than 24 feet, personal watercraft and run-abouts of all lengths.
There is not an entry fee, but interested participants are asked to contact Kenagy to confirm their entry. Tickets for the all-you-can-eat breakfast are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To purchase breakfast tickets, make cruise reservations or to buy souvenir hoodies and long sleeve T-shirts call the chamber at 374-5500.
On the west side of the lake, four water-side pubs are participating in the 4th Annual St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl. Last year, more than 50 boats joined in the fun, event coordinator Jessica Howell said.
Hooligan Bay will kick off the festivities with breakfast at 10 a.m. For the remainder of the day, corned beef and cabbage will be available. Live music will be performed through out the day by Big John and the 39th Street Blues band and Johnny I and The Receivers. The Pub Crawl schedule is from 10 a.m. to noon.
The next stop is the Red Fox, where the corned beef and cabbage are free. DJ Jammin' Jerry will be spinning tunes and will provide karaoke. Around 1 p.m., the pub does a mini parade around the parking lot. The pub crawl scheduled stop is 1-3 p.m.
Big Dicks is the third stop. It will have food and drink specials all day. The pub crawl scheduled stop is 3:30-5 p.m.
Captain Ron's is the last stop on the pub crawl. The restaurant has recently undergone renovations, so green construction hats will be given away. The Fbombs will perform all day starting at 2 p.m. The pub crawl scheduled stop is 6-8 p.m.
Raffles will be held and a prize will be awarded to the best dressed person at all four St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl scheduled stops, Howell said.
Swing into St. Patty's Day at the Camden County Museum in Linn Creek on Saturday, March 15. The Lake of the Ozarks Swing Dance Club is conducting its monthly dance with a twist. Everyone is encouraged to wear green, board member Jeanne Laminger said.
A beginner and intermediate swing lesson will be taught at 7 p.m. with the dance following from 8-11 p.m. The lesson cost $3 for members and $5 for non-members. The dance cost $5 per person for members and $8 for non-members.
The club consists of about 60 members, all from a broad age group.
'Come ready to have a good time. It's real casual and real fun. Everyone is willing to help or teach,' Laminger said. 'It's a real popular style of dance and you can dance to just about any music.'
A DJ will be spinning tunes at the dance. Laminger plans to play some traditional Irish music to prove you can swing to anything.
Club members also will be swinging down the Strip during the Lake Ozark Parade.
For more information, contact Laminger at 365 6155.
Hit the links to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Osage National Golf Resort on Sunday, March 16. A brunch will be served at 9:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., a shotgun start launches the three-person scramble. It cost $210 per three-person team. This will include 18 holes, a tee gift and brunch, assistant golf pro Bobby Belton said.
For more information, call Osage National Golf Resort at 365-1950.
Many of the bars and restaurants in the lake area will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Saturday, March 15 and Monday, March 17 with corned beef and cabbage, green beer and/or drink specials.
Maloney's Tavern in Camdenton located on Route 5 plans to celebrate in traditional St. Patrick's fashion with corned beef and cabbage on Saturday, March 15 and again on Monday, March 17. Green beer and bucket specials will be available, Maloney's owner Tom Walston said.
If weather permits, an outdoor beer garden will be open for patrons to enjoy, Walston said.
The band Complimentary Nuts is scheduled to perform from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Roland Allen Band will play from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Last year, Maloney's served more than 500 people.
'Everyone had a great time. Kids, moms, dads, old people and young people,' Walston said.
For more than a decade, Rock Island Line on the Bagnell Dam Strip has been serving corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. That tradition continues Saturday, March 15.
The festive bar begins to fill about an hour before the Lake Ozark Parade, Rock Island Line owner Dean Nelson said.
Nelson has been participating in the Lake Ozark Parade for the past decade. Each year a customized vehicle is entered. This year Nelson hopes to enter a customized Jeep.
Beads and candy will be tossed to the crowd during the parade, Nelson said.
Dempsey's Restaurant and Irish Pub in Linn Creek on Route Y will serve traditional corned beef and cabbage.
Woody's in Osage Beach on Highway 54 is serving corned beef and cabbage and will have green beer to wash it down with on March 15 and 17. Happy hour prices will be available throughout both days, Woody's owner Mark Kelly said.
Kelly plans to participate in the Lake Ozark Parade again this year. Last year his establishment won first place in the parade.
Pickled Pete's in Osage Beach on Highway 54 will be serving free corned beef and cabbage while supplies last on Saturday, March 15 and Monday, March 17. Food and drink specials will be offered on both days including green beer, Irish coffee and green Jello shots, Pickled Pete's owner Jeff Carroll said.
Karaoke is scheduled for Saturday night from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
'It's just fantastic. After the parade, the party lasts all night,' Carroll said.
Thanks to Brian Fleagle/Lake Sun for this.
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Used Pontoon Boats - Oooooooh to have Money!
Hi gang, Rick here again from Used Pontoon Boats. Anyone have a spare $495,000 kicking around? Here is where you can spend it.
Gorgeous Riverfront Condominium with Water View from Every Room!
Welcome to St. Tropez, a breathtaking residence overlooking the intracoastal waters of Ft. Myers. This development is the ultimate in waterfront privacy, just steps away from shops, dining, entertainment and more. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath A West unit features gorgeous upgrades in fixtures and cabinetry, and includes the finest amenities, including heated pool and spa, tennis, fitness area, billiards room, home theatre, pontoon boats, sunset cruises and concierge services. This floor plan boasts waterview from every room! Developer has approved permits for 45 boat slips, available for purchase! Call today!
Property Details:
* Property: Condominium
* Year built: 2007
* Area in sq. meters: 153.85
* Price in USD: 494,900
* Bedrooms: 3
* Baths: 2
* Parking spaces: 2
* Price is negotiable
* Financing available
Features & Amenities:
* Washing Machine / Washer
* Stove/Cook top
* Lift / Elevator
* Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
* Gym/Spa
* Drying Machine / Dryer
* Dish Washer
* Concierge Service
* Concierge
Property Highlights:
* Heated Swimming Pool
* Private Club
* Media room
* Boat slip purchase
* Marina
* riverfront with Gulf Access
This property is offered by Susan J. Ball/Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
For more information on this property, or to inquiry about it, please visit the following URL:
http://www.fusedworld.com/Real_Estate/North_America/USA/Florida/Fort_...
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
I'm off to the Bank. I wish.....(:
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Gorgeous Riverfront Condominium with Water View from Every Room!
Welcome to St. Tropez, a breathtaking residence overlooking the intracoastal waters of Ft. Myers. This development is the ultimate in waterfront privacy, just steps away from shops, dining, entertainment and more. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath A West unit features gorgeous upgrades in fixtures and cabinetry, and includes the finest amenities, including heated pool and spa, tennis, fitness area, billiards room, home theatre, pontoon boats, sunset cruises and concierge services. This floor plan boasts waterview from every room! Developer has approved permits for 45 boat slips, available for purchase! Call today!
Property Details:
* Property: Condominium
* Year built: 2007
* Area in sq. meters: 153.85
* Price in USD: 494,900
* Bedrooms: 3
* Baths: 2
* Parking spaces: 2
* Price is negotiable
* Financing available
Features & Amenities:
* Washing Machine / Washer
* Stove/Cook top
* Lift / Elevator
* Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
* Gym/Spa
* Drying Machine / Dryer
* Dish Washer
* Concierge Service
* Concierge
Property Highlights:
* Heated Swimming Pool
* Private Club
* Media room
* Boat slip purchase
* Marina
* riverfront with Gulf Access
This property is offered by Susan J. Ball/Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
For more information on this property, or to inquiry about it, please visit the following URL:
http://www.fusedworld.com/Real_Estate/North_America/USA/Florida/Fort_...
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
I'm off to the Bank. I wish.....(:
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Used Pontoon Boats - Never get to Drive the Pontoon
Hi gang, Rick here again with Used Pontoon Boats with a cute article from Jody "The Hunter's Wife". Be sure to read the comments left too.
I’m sure you are all wondering why I never get to drive the fishing boat or pontoon boat so I thought I would share my reasons…
* Mark likes to be the manly man at the wheel.
* Mark can’t sit and just enjoy the view.
* Mark is afraid I will hit a rock and he will fly out of the boat. (Me too.)
* I might hit a sandbar and again he fly's out of the boat.
* Mark is afraid the other guys on the lake will see me driving and not him.
* My dog would need to sit on my lap.
* Mark loves driving the boat.
* If I had to park the boat, me and the boat would end up on the pier.
I have always been perfectly content with Mark driving, Mark fixing my fishing reel, Mark putting my line on my rod, Mark putting my lure on my rod, Mark getting my rod unstuck from the brush, and Mark taking the fish off the hook. When going out fishing with Mark I feel very uncoordinated. Even though I am the girly girl, I am very competitive when it comes to sports.
So this year I plan to learn all of that myself for our spring fishing trip. Although, the thought of taking the fish off the hook is giving me hives right now.
It's payback time!
11 Responses to “ Why I Don’t Drive The Fishing Boat or Pontoon ”
1. # 1 Blessed Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Driving a boat is easy - unless of course the guys are snagging and they hook a fish or a limb or a car in the bottom of the river and you have to instantly throw the boat into reverse and work with them and against the current to get the fish in or get their line freed - now the really fun time to drive a boat is in summer when the hunter is out back on a tube and you get to try to throw them off the tube into the lake - that’s fun summer, it’s too hot to fish, entertainment! We’ve got a 19′ flat bottomed jon boat with a jet motor so it turns really fast - makes the tube runs a lot of fun - you just have to make sure that anytime you get on the tube, you have a kid with you… otherwise it’s payback time :)
2. # 2 Jeff Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Jody,
There is only one way to learn… and that is to jump right in. Hand Mark a beer and tell him to get out of the way!
Oh yeah, and tell him to put on his seatbelt and life preserver - then hang on. LOL
3. # 3 kristine shreve Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I don’t take my fish off the hook either, or change my own hooks for that matter. I usually go fishing with my Dad or my Uncle and they always do it for me.
I probably should learn to do it myself, but I figure if they’re willing to do it, I’ll let them.
4. # 4 Kris Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I can see why Mark likes to drive the boat…his fishing time has to be cut down with helping you get all that done…besides, its a man thing…i rarely even let my wife drive the car when we are going somewhere.
I’m betting if you learn to do all the other stuff while fishing, Mark will be so impressed he will let you drive the boat!
btw, you will enjoy the fishing even more when you do all that other stuff for your self!
good luck on getting to drive the boat
5. # 5 Arthur Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Do what my wife does Jody. Pull your shirt sleeve down over your hand and then take the fish off. Works very well for her and provides more fishing time for me:):):)
6. # 6 Lisa365 Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
aww, all the best! I hope you can learn it all really fast :D
7. # 7 adam Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Tell him if you catch a bigger fish than him you want to drive the boat. Then catch a whopper and tell him you are driving, don’t even ask!
8. # 8 Jody Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Blessed, you sound like an experienced driver.
Jeff, he would need a life preserver.
Kristine, sometimes I’m o.k. with “that’s what guys are for”.
Kris, Mark spends a lot of time messing with me and all my fishing issues.
Arthur, I don’t think I can handle a fish that close to me.
Lisa, thanks. I hope so too.
Adam, I normally catch the biggest fish. :)
9. # 9 Bill Dodson Says:
March 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Great blog, and you did good work on the guest blogging gig. By the way, these are the same reasons my wife doesn’t drive the Jeep when we’re out tooling around forest roads. I don’t want to end up rolling down the mountain side, and neither does she!
10. # 10 haleyhughes Says:
March 6th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Sometimes it’s good to shake things up and bit and try scary things. And, definitely, the thought of baiting my own hook, and then taking the fish off the hook is a little scary.
Do you catch and release? Or do you have to gut the fish yourself, too? Yuck.
11. # 11 Jody Says:
March 6th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Bill, thanks for reading my guest blogging and I sure wouldn’t want to drive around a mountain side either.
Haley, we keep what is allowed for the fish. As far as gutting them, I am no where around.
Thanks to the TheHuntersWife.net for this.
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
I’m sure you are all wondering why I never get to drive the fishing boat or pontoon boat so I thought I would share my reasons…
* Mark likes to be the manly man at the wheel.
* Mark can’t sit and just enjoy the view.
* Mark is afraid I will hit a rock and he will fly out of the boat. (Me too.)
* I might hit a sandbar and again he fly's out of the boat.
* Mark is afraid the other guys on the lake will see me driving and not him.
* My dog would need to sit on my lap.
* Mark loves driving the boat.
* If I had to park the boat, me and the boat would end up on the pier.
I have always been perfectly content with Mark driving, Mark fixing my fishing reel, Mark putting my line on my rod, Mark putting my lure on my rod, Mark getting my rod unstuck from the brush, and Mark taking the fish off the hook. When going out fishing with Mark I feel very uncoordinated. Even though I am the girly girl, I am very competitive when it comes to sports.
So this year I plan to learn all of that myself for our spring fishing trip. Although, the thought of taking the fish off the hook is giving me hives right now.
It's payback time!
11 Responses to “ Why I Don’t Drive The Fishing Boat or Pontoon ”
1. # 1 Blessed Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Driving a boat is easy - unless of course the guys are snagging and they hook a fish or a limb or a car in the bottom of the river and you have to instantly throw the boat into reverse and work with them and against the current to get the fish in or get their line freed - now the really fun time to drive a boat is in summer when the hunter is out back on a tube and you get to try to throw them off the tube into the lake - that’s fun summer, it’s too hot to fish, entertainment! We’ve got a 19′ flat bottomed jon boat with a jet motor so it turns really fast - makes the tube runs a lot of fun - you just have to make sure that anytime you get on the tube, you have a kid with you… otherwise it’s payback time :)
2. # 2 Jeff Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Jody,
There is only one way to learn… and that is to jump right in. Hand Mark a beer and tell him to get out of the way!
Oh yeah, and tell him to put on his seatbelt and life preserver - then hang on. LOL
3. # 3 kristine shreve Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I don’t take my fish off the hook either, or change my own hooks for that matter. I usually go fishing with my Dad or my Uncle and they always do it for me.
I probably should learn to do it myself, but I figure if they’re willing to do it, I’ll let them.
4. # 4 Kris Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I can see why Mark likes to drive the boat…his fishing time has to be cut down with helping you get all that done…besides, its a man thing…i rarely even let my wife drive the car when we are going somewhere.
I’m betting if you learn to do all the other stuff while fishing, Mark will be so impressed he will let you drive the boat!
btw, you will enjoy the fishing even more when you do all that other stuff for your self!
good luck on getting to drive the boat
5. # 5 Arthur Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Do what my wife does Jody. Pull your shirt sleeve down over your hand and then take the fish off. Works very well for her and provides more fishing time for me:):):)
6. # 6 Lisa365 Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
aww, all the best! I hope you can learn it all really fast :D
7. # 7 adam Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Tell him if you catch a bigger fish than him you want to drive the boat. Then catch a whopper and tell him you are driving, don’t even ask!
8. # 8 Jody Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Blessed, you sound like an experienced driver.
Jeff, he would need a life preserver.
Kristine, sometimes I’m o.k. with “that’s what guys are for”.
Kris, Mark spends a lot of time messing with me and all my fishing issues.
Arthur, I don’t think I can handle a fish that close to me.
Lisa, thanks. I hope so too.
Adam, I normally catch the biggest fish. :)
9. # 9 Bill Dodson Says:
March 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Great blog, and you did good work on the guest blogging gig. By the way, these are the same reasons my wife doesn’t drive the Jeep when we’re out tooling around forest roads. I don’t want to end up rolling down the mountain side, and neither does she!
10. # 10 haleyhughes Says:
March 6th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Sometimes it’s good to shake things up and bit and try scary things. And, definitely, the thought of baiting my own hook, and then taking the fish off the hook is a little scary.
Do you catch and release? Or do you have to gut the fish yourself, too? Yuck.
11. # 11 Jody Says:
March 6th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Bill, thanks for reading my guest blogging and I sure wouldn’t want to drive around a mountain side either.
Haley, we keep what is allowed for the fish. As far as gutting them, I am no where around.
Thanks to the TheHuntersWife.net for this.
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Used Pontoon Boats - Best Boat Exhibit
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with a Whitefish company wining a prestigious marketing award. Duhamel & Dewar Inc., (located on Regional Road 55 in Whitefish) was recently awarded the Best of Show Award for Best Boat Exhibit for Legend Boats at the Toronto International Boat Show’s 50th Anniversary.
This is Canada’s largest and most important event for the industry, and one of the world’s leading boat shows. Each year the event brings the entire recreational boating industry together – manufacturers, dealers and boating consumers.
With more than 90 thousand people attending, this is the premiere show in Canada.
The award winning Duhamel & Dewar booth was comprised of two sections totalling more than 4,200 sq. feet that showcased 27 Legend boats. The display included 14-20 foot aluminum family cruising and fishing boats and 16-24 foot pontoon boats, as well as the launch of their innovative new product, the award winning Legend Luxura pontoon boat.
“We acquired the display booth from Las Vegas, which is known for the incredible shows that are put on for the auto industry. Although we have our own transports to haul boats to and from the shows, we used a third party carrier to get the new display to the Direct Energy Centre,” said Jamie Dewar.
“Each component breaks down and stores in its own place in one of the numerous crates. Then, we assembled all of the pieces at the show. We have a team of about 10 people that spent close to a week putting everything together and getting the boats set up, cleaned and ready for display,” he adds.
The Legend story began in 1968 when Carl Dewar and Vic Duhamel teamed up to open a small company selling tires. Soon they moved on to sell John Deer lawn equipment, RV’s and boats.
In 1986, after realizing that there was no boat designed specifically for the Canadian climate they decided to create their own brand of boats – LEGEND. These new boats were designed with unique features and all of the equipment a boater could want or need to enjoy their boating experience.
Duhamel & Dewar soon became the first in Canada to offer complete boat, motor and trailer packages to offer a one-stop shopping experience. Designed, manufactured and retailed from Whitefish, Legend has become one of the best selling aluminum boats with dealers across Canada. Today, the legend continues with the second generation in this Sudbury family owned and operated business.
Thanks to Judi Koski at northernlife.ca/News for this.
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Friday, February 29, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Blue Ribbon Recipes Free Cookbook
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with a great cookbook free giveaway for all our readers. Blue Ribbon Recipes Free Cookbook, 490 Award Winning Recipes is the very best of recipes from state fairs around the country.
From cakes and cookies and breads to jellys and main dishes this one cookbook has it all and you can't go wrong with a recipe that has been a winner in a state fair competition.
Inside you will find recipes from the past as well as some of the newest creations that will surely please your family and friends. Take a look at just some of the recipes you will find in this jam-packed eBook:
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Gingerbread Bears
Apple Pie Grand Champion
Swedish Spice Cookies
Joan's Little Joys
A To Z Veggie Casserole
Alaskan Snow Pie
Almond Wow!! Pound Cake
Aloha Cake
Angel Pie
Annette's Chocolate Bars
Apple Bread
Apple Harvest Blondies
Apple Strudel
Apricot Pie
Artichoke Crab Paella
Autumn Glory Pie
Baby Artichokes And Sausage Rigatoni
Baby Cradles
Baby Nathan Bars
Baked Chicken With Banana Stuffing
Baklava
Banana A La Creole
Banana And Bacon Skewer
Banana Au Gratin
Banana Bisque
Banana Bread
Banana Cream Pie
Banana En Casserole
This is just a sample of the great recipes you will find in Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes. Don't waste your time on recipes you aren't sure about. Get Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes today for only 14.97!
We managed to obtain this e-book free for our readers for a limited time. Grab a copy now. Tell your family and friends to grab a copy as well.......Enjoy!
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Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Detroit Boat Show Celebrates 50 Years!
Over 1,000 Boats on display at 50th Annual Detroit Boat Show.
Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with an update report from the Detroit Boat Show. The Detroit Boat Show celebrated its 50th anniversary this week at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit. The event showcased more than 1,000 boats from 10 feet to 48 feet in length. There were boats for fishing, skiing, cruising, sailing and many other types at the exhibit.
Event goers ranged from savvy boat owners checking out what's new and hot, to newlyweds looking to indulge on a boat. For those who knew little about the boating community, it can be quite intimidating standing amongst these massive vessels.
But there are plenty of representatives from different dealerships to go through all the details.
Jeff Dzubia, of the Club Royale Marina dealership, has worked at the boat show for 10 years. According to him, the sluggish economy and winter weather has not slowed down attendance of this year's show.
Dzubia suggested that the Outback V model by Moomba Watersports would be ideal for someone who wants a moderately priced boat to just cruise and have fun on the waters.
Conversely, he suggested the higher priced, South Bay XBS by Crownline, for someone who was looking for a larger sized boat to accommodate more people.
One of the representatives at Wilson Marina dealership is Randy Wilson. Wilson has a lot of history with the company. His father was actually one of the founders of the business.
The fishing boats were a new addition Wilson Marina this year. The 2902 Trophy model was very popular among fishing enthusiasts.
Wilson recommended the GT 185 model for those on a budget but still looking to have a good time. It's reasonably priced but it still offers the same amenities as some of the other highly priced boats.
For those who want a boat for family outings of fun and relaxation, he showed us the Bayliner 175. The features are adapted to accommodate a family setting.
The show had something for everyone including entertainment for the children. Throughout the show room there were pirates giving kids tips on boater safety and magicians making balloons. The show also provided a designated area for kids only, where they could play while their parents looked at some of the luxury items that the boat show had to offer.
For those boaters who were willing to spend a $100,000 and up or just want to look Meriden Yachts brought all of their 2008 models to the show this year. All of the models had amenities that were equivalent to some small apartments including bedrooms, Bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas.
However, the 441 sedan is luxury at its best the boat offered the perfect combination of living space with out door space to appeal to most people.
To learn more about boats check out,www.wilsonboats.com
www.clubroyale.net
Thanks to Cymone Allwood and Jennifer Vuong, americajr.com/news for this. as8538@wayne.edu / jennifer.vuong@hotmail.com
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Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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