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Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from North American Waterway and Used Pontoon Boats bringing you news and views from boating industry. Boat makers say economy hasn’t had much of an impact on sales in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
Kosciusko County provides a quality of life that has been attracting people from across the country, particularly within the Midwest, for more than 100 years. At 3,400 acres, its Lake Wawasee is the largest natural lake in Indiana, and at 120 feet, its Lake Tippecanoe is the deepest in the state.
More than 100 lakes carved by ancient glaciers attract boating, fishing and water recreation enthusiasts to the county, and have helped it develop a business cluster that has become important to the area’s economic development.
The boat manufacturers, boat dealers and marinas pay taxes and provide good employment for permanent residents. And Joy McCarthy-Sessing, president of Kosciusko Development Inc., said the lakes attract a large influx of weekend visitors each summer to resorts and second homes on their shores.
In addition to the money they spend on upscale lakeside housing, the visitors have “a great impact on our economy because they buy food, they buy gas and they go to the restaurants here,” she said.
Syracuse is at the northwest corner of Lake Wawasee, and employees at Joe’s Ice Cream Supreme on South Huntington Road notice the impact of regulars who show up every year for the area’s lake life.
Joe’s has a coffee-shop business, which keeps it open year-round, but the pace picks up when the lakes get busy, said Haleigh McKee, who works there. “It gets a lot busier on weekends,” she said.
Not far from Joe’s on the same street is Pine Crest Marine, which is among the county’s larger new boat dealers. It recently began selling products made by Rinker Boat Co., which Kosciusko Development lists as the largest employer in Syracuse, with a work force of 525.
Chip Erwin, general manager for Pine Crest, said there are at least seven new boat dealers in the county, and “all the dealers are very good within their communities, as far as being active.”
Erwin said he has been very involved with the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and supports its efforts “to get new business here.”
Most marinas in the county don’t participate in boat shows beyond the one held each year at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, but Pine Crest has multiple locations and typically participates in at least four annual boat shows.
Sales at the shows haven’t been as good this year as they have been in the recent past, partly because the economy is slowing and gas prices are rising, Erwin said. This May was cooler than usual, which also has dampened spring sales.
“The extremely high-end stuff is still selling,” he said. “Boat people who have quite a bit of discretionary income are still buying. But folks who work at (area) factories … are saying, ‘It might be a little tough this year. We’d better wait and see.’”
Some customers who ordinarily would be trading in a boat for a new model “may keep their boats another year,” he said.
And in the entry-level market, “first-time boat buyers might be staying away this year,” he said.
“This business is cyclical, just like the car business, and this could be one of those years where things have to straighten themselves out a little bit.”
In another comparison with auto retailing, Erwin said dealers might become a little more aggressive and willing to hold the line on pricing, particularly on last year’s inventory.
“Some dealers may look at doing some things that may only have been done at boat shows in the past,” he said.
“I don’t want people to think they can come in and get a steal, but I would say there’s deals to be had this year that may not arise every year. It could be a good time to buy a boat.
Pine Crest saw the cyclical nature of the industry as an opportunity to start a boat detailing and reconditioning business this year, which Erwin said is doing well.
“We’re going to do some facility upgrades. We’re going to do some interior improvements in our showroom. We’re going to put some expenditures out there and possibly build a second building for storage. We’re not hunkering down. We’re not believing in all the doom and gloom,” he said.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports boating participation increased by 10 percent to include 59.1 million individuals in 2007, which the industry hopes will help make this summer a busy season on the water despite rising fuel prices.
A portion of the research, conducted by Michigan State University’s Recreational Marine Research Center, examined the boating habits of 2,400 boaters and found 1 percent of boat owners did not plan to use their boat in 2008 due to the high cost of fuel.
The study also found 3 percent of owners did not take their boat out in 2007 due to the high cost of fuel. In addition, the study showed boaters used their boats as often as ever, with the average usage in 2007 remaining steady with the past three years at about 33 days, or 16 weekends.
“Rising fuel costs have certainly shifted boater habits, causing them to take shorter trips or reduce their cruising speeds, but we expect boaters’ passion for the lifestyle to continue to lead them to the water this summer,” said Thom Dammrich, president of the NMMA, in a statement.
Additional findings from the group’s 2007 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract indicated more than $37.5 billion was generated in boating sales and services in 2007, a decrease of 5 percent from 2006.
“The soft economy and weakening housing market have clearly had an impact on our industry in terms of new boat sales, but we’re seeing manufacturers adapt to changes in the economic landscape to help position the industry for growth by creating some of the most innovative products we’ve seen in decades,” Dammrich said.
“Hybrid boats, more efficient engines and technology such as joystick docking, which drastically improves the ease of maneuvering a boat, are bringing new and exciting options for boat buyers who will be ready to make a purchase once the economy improves.”
At Kosciusko County’s Lake Tippecanoe, George Paton said higher fuel prices haven’t slowed down boating in the area very much when the weather has been good.
Paton is manager and co-owner of Patona Bay, which owns Patona Bay Boat Sales & Service and Patona Bay Marina & Resort.
For visitors who have rented a cottage or parked a recreational vehicle at the lake and intend to go boating, “the price of gas is going to be a little bit of an obstacle, but it’s not going to stop you from enjoying yourself,” he said.
“People aren’t going to just go park their boats because the fuel is $4 a gallon.”
The company has an RV park and campgrounds on the lake, and rents cottages and slips there.
“Our reservations for cottages and so on in the main part of summer is about he same as always,” Paton said.
Paton expects to see some business impact from the economic slowdown, but not much. He reports the marina’s new and used boat sales have been holding up pretty well, and business has been good for its service department.
He said Kosciusko County is a good place to shop for a boat because “it’s no news that in this area there’s lot of marine dealers. It’s not uncommon to visit two or three or four of them when looking for a boat.”
He expects marinas to use fuel efficiency as a selling point for new boats this year.
“The industry in general has been moving to more fuel-efficient engines,” said Larry Baumgardt, national sales manager for JC Manufacturing, which employs about 60 at its North Webster plant that makes pontoon boats.
“The outboard engines we offer today are much more fuel efficient than they were five years ago, mostly due to the four-stroke technology in most of the engines,” he said.
About 10 to 15 years ago, it was more common to find boat engines using the kind of two-stroke technology typical of engines in lawnmowers and chain saws, he said.
The marine industry moved to the four-stroke technology found in automotive engines because it was quieter, more reliable and more fuel efficient.
The marine industry has model years like the auto industry, and its manufacturers like to continually upgrade their products, he said.
Last year, JC Manufacturing completely redid its midpriced boats. This year’s models feature new interiors and a powder coating for the rail pack, which is durable and gives the rails a clean, distinctive look.
The company also more than doubled the size of its fuel tanks, which previously had a 25-gallon capacity.
Partly because it serves a high-end market with more discretionary income, “we’re still in full production, working five days a week and a lot of times we’re working on Saturdays, so we’re doing just fine,” Baumgardt said.
“We’re going to have an all-right year, but it’s not going to be a record-breaking year,” he said, adding, “I think it will be a challenging year for the industry.”
Splendor Boats near Silver Lake expects its sales to be down substantially this year, partly because it bucked industry trends and saw record sales last year, said Cameron Steiner, sales manager. The company employs a dozen workers who custom build catamaran deck boats.
Last year, “we had new ownership and had very innovative product. And our catamarans were just really picking up steam,” he said.
“This year, because of the gas and housing crisis, it could go on the books as one of our toughest years.”
But Steiner said he expects to see sales improving for the company next year, partly as a result of a product the company is developing, which it expects to attract newcomers to boating.
“There’s a whole different segment of boaters other than pleasure boaters and fisherman, and (reaching them with the new product) will be neat,” he said. “It could be out later this year or early next year.”
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Please visit our sponsors, they help make this possible. Thanks............Rick
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Showing posts with label pontoon boats for sale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pontoon boats for sale. Show all posts
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Table Rock Lake Pontoon Shuttle
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Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats with news and views from the boating industry. Ed Wilson went from career Army retiree to water taxi in one weekend at the Harbor on Table Rock Lake.
Chris Cooper, 15, was reassigned from gas dock duty at Indian Point Marina to parking attendant.
They were among the busiest people at Table Rock over Memorial Day weekend, as marinas enlisted staff and friends to direct traffic and taxi customers from shore to their boats. Marinas have been gearing up for weeks.
With the lake still some 12 feet over normal for this time of year, parking lots at marinas and public campgrounds are flooded and walkways to boat docks are submerged. Only Port of Kimberling had walkway access to all 46 docks, but parking was limited.
"It's an all-hands-on-deck scenario," said Harbor marina manager Tim Schuller.
Ed Wilson began at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, and shuttles were expected to run until 6 p.m. After that, each dock appointed a "captain" to be responsible for running the shuttle overnight.
"It's been a pretty crazy three to four days," Wilson said, "but it's been a lot of fun."
And, "No," he added, "we don't get very many tips. The best tip I've gotten is 'Don't you forget me out here.'"
The Harbor took six pontoon boats out of its rental fleet to taxi boat owners, said owner Bob Cox. His brother Pat Cox at State Park Marina also took six pontoons to shuttle guests.
The fleet reduction hurt rental revenue over the holiday weekend, Bob Cox said. It also cost more to keep extra staff on hand, but that's part of business, he said.
"We look at it as an opportunity to deliver on what we promise," he said.
The system worked for dock renters like Brenda Henry, of Monett, and her family. When they needed a ride from their houseboat to shore, they used cell phones to call for a taxi. Ed Wilson might show up at their dock, another time it might have been Jim Howe -- former Harbor owner who came out of retirement to pitch in over the weekend.
"What are you going to do?" asked St. Robert resident Tom Bright, before he and his wife, Linda, boarded a water taxi at the shore. "You cope and roll with the punches, or have a sour puss on you."
Some found it inconvenient.
"I would much rather get to my dock on foot," said Lindsay Bauer, of Springfield.
People who were cleaning and supplying their boats for the first time this season had extra cargo to lug on the pontoon taxis, she said.
"We have dock neighbors with dogs who can't walk their dogs on shore without getting a shuttle," she said. "And if you run out of ice, you have to go get a shuttle..."
Chris Cooper at Indian Point, meanwhile, baked in the hot Sunday sun and directed traffic around the flooded lot.
Indian Point Marina, which leases the property from the Corps of Engineers, will come out ahead on parking once the lake recedes, said co-owner Brett Stump.
He's been lobbying lakeshore managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 10 years to allow him more than the six parking spots at the Indian Point boat launch, Stump said.
A week before Memorial Day, the Corps expanded the marina's lease line to include two small sections of trees between the marina and Indian Point campgrounds.
Within two days of the Corps' approval, friends with backhoes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment cut down the trees, graded the property, spread gravel and produced enough parking space for 45 cars on one side, about 20 on the other. Someone else has volunteered to donate landscaping blocks.
By July 4, Stump plans to have the new lot paved and striped for parking.
"This was woods two days ago," Stump said, admiring the lot. "Out of disaster came some positive. The public can be assured of being taken care of."
Thanks to Kathleen O'Dell, News-Leader for this. http://www.news-leader.com
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Please visit our sponsors, they help make this possible. Thanks............Rick
Sponsored by Safe Boating Contest - Win 50,000.00 in prizes
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats with news and views from the boating industry. Ed Wilson went from career Army retiree to water taxi in one weekend at the Harbor on Table Rock Lake.
Chris Cooper, 15, was reassigned from gas dock duty at Indian Point Marina to parking attendant.
They were among the busiest people at Table Rock over Memorial Day weekend, as marinas enlisted staff and friends to direct traffic and taxi customers from shore to their boats. Marinas have been gearing up for weeks.
With the lake still some 12 feet over normal for this time of year, parking lots at marinas and public campgrounds are flooded and walkways to boat docks are submerged. Only Port of Kimberling had walkway access to all 46 docks, but parking was limited.
"It's an all-hands-on-deck scenario," said Harbor marina manager Tim Schuller.
Ed Wilson began at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, and shuttles were expected to run until 6 p.m. After that, each dock appointed a "captain" to be responsible for running the shuttle overnight.
"It's been a pretty crazy three to four days," Wilson said, "but it's been a lot of fun."
And, "No," he added, "we don't get very many tips. The best tip I've gotten is 'Don't you forget me out here.'"
The Harbor took six pontoon boats out of its rental fleet to taxi boat owners, said owner Bob Cox. His brother Pat Cox at State Park Marina also took six pontoons to shuttle guests.
The fleet reduction hurt rental revenue over the holiday weekend, Bob Cox said. It also cost more to keep extra staff on hand, but that's part of business, he said.
"We look at it as an opportunity to deliver on what we promise," he said.
The system worked for dock renters like Brenda Henry, of Monett, and her family. When they needed a ride from their houseboat to shore, they used cell phones to call for a taxi. Ed Wilson might show up at their dock, another time it might have been Jim Howe -- former Harbor owner who came out of retirement to pitch in over the weekend.
"What are you going to do?" asked St. Robert resident Tom Bright, before he and his wife, Linda, boarded a water taxi at the shore. "You cope and roll with the punches, or have a sour puss on you."
Some found it inconvenient.
"I would much rather get to my dock on foot," said Lindsay Bauer, of Springfield.
People who were cleaning and supplying their boats for the first time this season had extra cargo to lug on the pontoon taxis, she said.
"We have dock neighbors with dogs who can't walk their dogs on shore without getting a shuttle," she said. "And if you run out of ice, you have to go get a shuttle..."
Chris Cooper at Indian Point, meanwhile, baked in the hot Sunday sun and directed traffic around the flooded lot.
Indian Point Marina, which leases the property from the Corps of Engineers, will come out ahead on parking once the lake recedes, said co-owner Brett Stump.
He's been lobbying lakeshore managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 10 years to allow him more than the six parking spots at the Indian Point boat launch, Stump said.
A week before Memorial Day, the Corps expanded the marina's lease line to include two small sections of trees between the marina and Indian Point campgrounds.
Within two days of the Corps' approval, friends with backhoes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment cut down the trees, graded the property, spread gravel and produced enough parking space for 45 cars on one side, about 20 on the other. Someone else has volunteered to donate landscaping blocks.
By July 4, Stump plans to have the new lot paved and striped for parking.
"This was woods two days ago," Stump said, admiring the lot. "Out of disaster came some positive. The public can be assured of being taken care of."
Thanks to Kathleen O'Dell, News-Leader for this. http://www.news-leader.com
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
Be sure to check out this weeks latest Pontoon Boat Videos
Please visit our sponsors, they help make this possible. Thanks............Rick
Sponsored by Safe Boating Contest - Win 50,000.00 in prizes
Monday, May 19, 2008
Used Pontoon Boats - Dining on Your Pontoon Boat
Sponsored by Latitudes & Attitudes - The Boating Lifestyle
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats. Before you pick up the phone to make reservations for that romantic dinner for two...STOP. Instead of battling traffic, waiting in line for your table and being at the mercy of the other diners sitting at your elbow, why not jump on the pontoon and head out to the water? With a little imagination, foresight, and moonlight, you can create a romantic dinner for two that your date will never forget. The most important part of creating this memorable evening is in the planning. You don't want to be in the middle of dinner and realize that you've forgotten something important like silverware or a corkscrew.
So, let's start at the beginning and work through the details. First of all, check the weather. Nothing will ruin your dinner quicker than a storm or rough water. Secondly, dock your boat prior to picking up your date. Trailering and launching can often be stressful and it's important that you and your date are completely relaxed from the moment you step on the boat, until you step off. Make sure all of your supplies are loaded into the boat prior to arriving with your date. Check for the exact time the sun is setting and plan to arrive at precisely that moment.
Using easy to find outdoor light strings, ensconce your pontoon with dangling icicles of light, (Don't forget to plug them in before you arrive with your date.) a few well-positioned flower petals on the deck wouldn't be a bad idea either. There is nothing more romantic than walking your significant other down the pier to a softly glowing pontoon enveloped in the pinks and blues of a setting sun.
When planning your meal, you have several options. Although many boats are equipped with grills, nothing takes the fire out of romance quicker than having to cook before you can sit down. For this reason, it's recommended that you consider cooking your meal at home first or picking it up from your favorite restaurant. Keeping it hot or cold is no problem with a thermoelectric cooler. This is a wonderfulproduct sold by Coleman that can not only keep your food at serving temperature but will hold ice and beverages as well. Food umbrellas are the perfect way to keep pesky insects out of your meal and can be purchased inexpensively.
Setting the table is important and if your boat is docked, this can be done prior to the start of your date. If you're planning on heading out to the middle of the lake, however, you may have to wait until you've chosen your spot to complete this task. There are several picnic sets available that will keep all of your dining items in one place or for a little more class, pack it all up in a beautiful wicker basket. Your date will be pleasantly suprised as you pull your table settings, candles, and champagne from the basket with a little flourish. Don't forget the tablecloth!
When you've finished your meal, simply pack it right back up in the basket. Clean up's a breeze. Follow dinner with an amazing dessert from the local bakery and a delightful cup of fresh brewed coffee and then sit back and enjoy the romantic music you have softly playing in the background. If you follow these easy tips and throw in a few special touches of your own, the next time you suggest dinner, don't be suprised if it has to be on the boat.
Thanks to Thomas Holley, owner of http://www.Pontoon-Boat-Products.com 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
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here again from Used Pontoon Boats. Before you pick up the phone to make reservations for that romantic dinner for two...STOP. Instead of battling traffic, waiting in line for your table and being at the mercy of the other diners sitting at your elbow, why not jump on the pontoon and head out to the water? With a little imagination, foresight, and moonlight, you can create a romantic dinner for two that your date will never forget. The most important part of creating this memorable evening is in the planning. You don't want to be in the middle of dinner and realize that you've forgotten something important like silverware or a corkscrew.
So, let's start at the beginning and work through the details. First of all, check the weather. Nothing will ruin your dinner quicker than a storm or rough water. Secondly, dock your boat prior to picking up your date. Trailering and launching can often be stressful and it's important that you and your date are completely relaxed from the moment you step on the boat, until you step off. Make sure all of your supplies are loaded into the boat prior to arriving with your date. Check for the exact time the sun is setting and plan to arrive at precisely that moment.
Using easy to find outdoor light strings, ensconce your pontoon with dangling icicles of light, (Don't forget to plug them in before you arrive with your date.) a few well-positioned flower petals on the deck wouldn't be a bad idea either. There is nothing more romantic than walking your significant other down the pier to a softly glowing pontoon enveloped in the pinks and blues of a setting sun.
When planning your meal, you have several options. Although many boats are equipped with grills, nothing takes the fire out of romance quicker than having to cook before you can sit down. For this reason, it's recommended that you consider cooking your meal at home first or picking it up from your favorite restaurant. Keeping it hot or cold is no problem with a thermoelectric cooler. This is a wonderfulproduct sold by Coleman that can not only keep your food at serving temperature but will hold ice and beverages as well. Food umbrellas are the perfect way to keep pesky insects out of your meal and can be purchased inexpensively.
Setting the table is important and if your boat is docked, this can be done prior to the start of your date. If you're planning on heading out to the middle of the lake, however, you may have to wait until you've chosen your spot to complete this task. There are several picnic sets available that will keep all of your dining items in one place or for a little more class, pack it all up in a beautiful wicker basket. Your date will be pleasantly suprised as you pull your table settings, candles, and champagne from the basket with a little flourish. Don't forget the tablecloth!
When you've finished your meal, simply pack it right back up in the basket. Clean up's a breeze. Follow dinner with an amazing dessert from the local bakery and a delightful cup of fresh brewed coffee and then sit back and enjoy the romantic music you have softly playing in the background. If you follow these easy tips and throw in a few special touches of your own, the next time you suggest dinner, don't be suprised if it has to be on the boat.
Thanks to Thomas Holley, owner of http://www.Pontoon-Boat-Products.com 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
Used Pontoon Boats - U.S. Soldiers go Fishing on Jordan Lake
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from Used Pontoon Boats. While the sun was still sleeping at Jordan Lake, 174 bass boats, each decorated with a yellow ribbon and an American flag and arranged in flights of red, white, and blue, held fast as their occupants eagerly awaited the 7:30 a.m. take-off from the New Hope Landing to begin the third Warriors on the Water event, a bass tournament celebrating the efforts of the men and women who have served our country.
Each boat carried a volunteer boater who was taking a soldier fishing for the day. Some boaters came from as far away as Texas, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania to participate in the military appreciation event conceived four years ago by three Desert Storm veterans, Hal Abshire, Greg Lahr and Bob Cunningham.
At 6:45 a.m., a JROTC Color Guard marched along the elongated walkway to the dock. An invocation followed and then the singing of the National Anthem by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Charles King.
About 7 a.m., some raucous music and the cry of "Let's get ready to rumble!" thundered over the loudspeakers as three female members of the Golden Knights, a demonstration and competition parachute team of 90 men and women stationed at Fort Bragg, dropped out of the sky from an airplane. Each member slowly descended in a banana-colored parachute and landing safely at the back of a designated bass boat to the amazement of onlookers.
Soon, the first flight of boats took off, followed by subsequent flights. On their way out of the landing, the high-powered machines roared by a pontoon boat where media members scrambled to take photos of the passing boats, some shrink-wrapped in bright colors by fishing sponsors. Several occupants waved their caps at the cameras.
The bass fishing at Jordan may not have been as tough as the soldiers' military training, but it certainly was challenging as the fish were bedding and not biting. The participants tried to entice strikes with jigs, spinnerbaits and plastic baits by pitching and casting them at shallow-water shrubbery.
For some soldiers who hadn't wet a hook since childhood or who had never fished at all, their on-the-water experience resembled a boot camp in bass fishing as they discovered that flipping baits required as much manual dexterity as some military maneuvers.
At 2:30 p.m., the march to the weigh-in stand began with many contestants displaying more smiles than fish.
Sanford's Cory Williams, attired in a red, white and blue shirt, and his military partner, George Frank of Fayetteville, took top honors with 23 pounds, 6 ounces. They each received a trophy with the replica of an eagle mounted upon it. They also won a trip to the FLW Championship where they will be given VIP treatment.
Completing the top five teams were boater Richard Szczerbala of New Hope and Bobby Mathis of Claxton, Ga., second, with 15-09; boater Steve Gardner of Pinehurst and Kacey Peoples, third, with 13-06; boater James Wade of Fayetteville and Robert Drakes, fourth, with 13-00; and boater Kelby Waldrip of Bloomington, Ind., and Abey Torrez, fifth, with 11-08.
The second- through fifth-place teams received merchandise and/or free tickets to car racing events.
Boater Jerry Clay of Asheboro and Roger Adkins of Fort Bragg took the big-fish award of $300 with an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass. Boater Ronald Barker of Carthage and Ralph Sanchez of Fort Bragg claimed the second-biggest fish prize of $200 with a 7-pound, 13-ounce bass.
At the weigh-in, Rodolfo "Rudy" Hernandez, a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Korean War, was recognized.
After the event, many boaters and soldiers were ready to sign up for next year's tournament. Wow!
Steve Sink of Winston-Salem and Jack Pendergrass of Kernersville won Saturday's National Bass Circuit Tour event at High Rock Lake with 20.57 pounds and shared $1,500. They edged out the Salisbury team of Rodney Bell and Tommy Jones who had 20.45 pounds and earned $775.
The Lexington team of Orlando Giles and Tony Waterhouse took the big-fish prize of $70 with a 6.81-pound bass.
Lexington's Terry Wien won the co-angler big-fish award of $420 with a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass at the April 12 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division tournament at Kerr Lake. Tony Garitta is the fishing columnist for the-dispatch.com
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
Each boat carried a volunteer boater who was taking a soldier fishing for the day. Some boaters came from as far away as Texas, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania to participate in the military appreciation event conceived four years ago by three Desert Storm veterans, Hal Abshire, Greg Lahr and Bob Cunningham.
At 6:45 a.m., a JROTC Color Guard marched along the elongated walkway to the dock. An invocation followed and then the singing of the National Anthem by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Charles King.
About 7 a.m., some raucous music and the cry of "Let's get ready to rumble!" thundered over the loudspeakers as three female members of the Golden Knights, a demonstration and competition parachute team of 90 men and women stationed at Fort Bragg, dropped out of the sky from an airplane. Each member slowly descended in a banana-colored parachute and landing safely at the back of a designated bass boat to the amazement of onlookers.
Soon, the first flight of boats took off, followed by subsequent flights. On their way out of the landing, the high-powered machines roared by a pontoon boat where media members scrambled to take photos of the passing boats, some shrink-wrapped in bright colors by fishing sponsors. Several occupants waved their caps at the cameras.
The bass fishing at Jordan may not have been as tough as the soldiers' military training, but it certainly was challenging as the fish were bedding and not biting. The participants tried to entice strikes with jigs, spinnerbaits and plastic baits by pitching and casting them at shallow-water shrubbery.
For some soldiers who hadn't wet a hook since childhood or who had never fished at all, their on-the-water experience resembled a boot camp in bass fishing as they discovered that flipping baits required as much manual dexterity as some military maneuvers.
At 2:30 p.m., the march to the weigh-in stand began with many contestants displaying more smiles than fish.
Sanford's Cory Williams, attired in a red, white and blue shirt, and his military partner, George Frank of Fayetteville, took top honors with 23 pounds, 6 ounces. They each received a trophy with the replica of an eagle mounted upon it. They also won a trip to the FLW Championship where they will be given VIP treatment.
Completing the top five teams were boater Richard Szczerbala of New Hope and Bobby Mathis of Claxton, Ga., second, with 15-09; boater Steve Gardner of Pinehurst and Kacey Peoples, third, with 13-06; boater James Wade of Fayetteville and Robert Drakes, fourth, with 13-00; and boater Kelby Waldrip of Bloomington, Ind., and Abey Torrez, fifth, with 11-08.
The second- through fifth-place teams received merchandise and/or free tickets to car racing events.
Boater Jerry Clay of Asheboro and Roger Adkins of Fort Bragg took the big-fish award of $300 with an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass. Boater Ronald Barker of Carthage and Ralph Sanchez of Fort Bragg claimed the second-biggest fish prize of $200 with a 7-pound, 13-ounce bass.
At the weigh-in, Rodolfo "Rudy" Hernandez, a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Korean War, was recognized.
After the event, many boaters and soldiers were ready to sign up for next year's tournament. Wow!
Steve Sink of Winston-Salem and Jack Pendergrass of Kernersville won Saturday's National Bass Circuit Tour event at High Rock Lake with 20.57 pounds and shared $1,500. They edged out the Salisbury team of Rodney Bell and Tommy Jones who had 20.45 pounds and earned $775.
The Lexington team of Orlando Giles and Tony Waterhouse took the big-fish prize of $70 with a 6.81-pound bass.
Lexington's Terry Wien won the co-angler big-fish award of $420 with a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass at the April 12 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division tournament at Kerr Lake. Tony Garitta is the fishing columnist for the-dispatch.com
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Used Pontoon Boats - Minnesota Boat Auction
Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from Used Pontoon Boats. Minnesota's love affair with boats is alive and well, and it's coming at a lower price these days thanks to the tepid economy, the weak dollar and the price of gas.
Minnesota Used Boat Auction
Crystal-Pierz Marine held its first-ever used-boat auction a few weeks ago at Minneapolis Auto Auction in Maple Grove. Luke Kujawa, president and chief operating officer of Crystal-Pierz, said he organized the auction in part to scare up some enthusiasm for boating in a soft economy and to loosen up a tight market for used boats.
These days, many of the used boats from Minnesota are being sold to Canadians because of the weak dollar, he said. Still, "there's lots of people looking for used boats," he said.
In 2005, Minnesota had the fourth-highest number of pleasure-boat registrations of any state. But after increasing by 10,000 to 20,000 annually since the mid-1990s, the number -- 853,500 in 2005 -- has remained flat in recent years, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
"The market's been soft," Kujawa said. "We track the housing industry pretty closely."
He said he wanted to create an event that would bring some of the old boats floating around Minnesota under the same roof with the people who might want them. Folks could eat a hot dog and unload their old or seldom-used boats for a little cash, and boat dealers could clean out their inventory. Crystal-Pierz earned a 10 percent fee on each boat sold, or $250 for boats that were not sold because they didn't get the minimum bids set by the owners.
All of that was on display Sunday morning as the first of about 150 boats rolled through as an auctioneer either sang their praises or poked fun at their unique charms to a crowd of about 300 people.
"What color are you calling that?" auctioneer Gary Dehler asked about an old yellow fishing boat that had seen better days. "Mustard? Is that what that is?"
The first to go was an old aluminum Crestliner fishing boat. "I have no doubt you can catch crappies out of that," said Dehler. "I'll take anything."
Sold -- for $500.
Bennington pontoon boat sold for $11,250.
A 2005 Bennington pontoon boat had been used as a rental. The market value, Kujawa told the crowd of stone-faced Minnesotans looking for deals, was $18,500.
Sold -- for $11,250.
George Kiffmeyer's old Alumacraft fishing boat with a Johnson engine sold for $2,800.
"That was right on the money," said Kiffmeyer, 45, of Clear Lake. He decided to sell it because the price of gas in Canada, where he goes fishing four times a year, was killing him, he said. Last year Canadian marinas were selling gas for $6 a gallon, and he expects it to be twice that this year. He'll switch to a couple of smaller boats he keeps on his property in Canada.
A brand-new 2001 Fisher with Mercury 175 motor was worth $19,000, Kujawa told the crowd.
"This is a smokin' deal," Dehler said to encourage hands to go up. "Sold for $12,000."
"Whew, my hand is shaking," said the boat's new owner, Scott Miller, 41, as he signed paperwork after the bidding. He bought it to go fishing with his 13-year-old son, Tony, adding: "It's a steal. I saved a lot on it."
Pritesh Ubad, 31, bought his first boat -- a 1994 turquoise-and-white SeaRay inboard runabout worth about $13,000 -- for only $7,500. He had some help. Wes Schreiber, who works as a salesman for Crystal-Pierz, coached him on which boat to buy and on the bidding.
Ubad, who is from Nepal, said he had been looking for a used boat for about three weeks. A huge smile split his face as he walked around his new toy in the cold sunshine. He said he plans to take his wife and daughter boating on Lake Minnetonka.
"She wanted a boat more than I did," he said of his wife.
The auction wrapped up late in the afternoon.
"It went great," Kujawa said. "I would say, 100 boats sold. A little warmer weather would have helped, but everybody was happy."
Thanks to JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune for this
Josephine Marcotty• 612-673-7394
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Pontoon Enclosures-North American Waterway
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Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
Minnesota Used Boat Auction
Crystal-Pierz Marine held its first-ever used-boat auction a few weeks ago at Minneapolis Auto Auction in Maple Grove. Luke Kujawa, president and chief operating officer of Crystal-Pierz, said he organized the auction in part to scare up some enthusiasm for boating in a soft economy and to loosen up a tight market for used boats.
These days, many of the used boats from Minnesota are being sold to Canadians because of the weak dollar, he said. Still, "there's lots of people looking for used boats," he said.
In 2005, Minnesota had the fourth-highest number of pleasure-boat registrations of any state. But after increasing by 10,000 to 20,000 annually since the mid-1990s, the number -- 853,500 in 2005 -- has remained flat in recent years, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
"The market's been soft," Kujawa said. "We track the housing industry pretty closely."
He said he wanted to create an event that would bring some of the old boats floating around Minnesota under the same roof with the people who might want them. Folks could eat a hot dog and unload their old or seldom-used boats for a little cash, and boat dealers could clean out their inventory. Crystal-Pierz earned a 10 percent fee on each boat sold, or $250 for boats that were not sold because they didn't get the minimum bids set by the owners.
All of that was on display Sunday morning as the first of about 150 boats rolled through as an auctioneer either sang their praises or poked fun at their unique charms to a crowd of about 300 people.
"What color are you calling that?" auctioneer Gary Dehler asked about an old yellow fishing boat that had seen better days. "Mustard? Is that what that is?"
The first to go was an old aluminum Crestliner fishing boat. "I have no doubt you can catch crappies out of that," said Dehler. "I'll take anything."
Sold -- for $500.
Bennington pontoon boat sold for $11,250.
A 2005 Bennington pontoon boat had been used as a rental. The market value, Kujawa told the crowd of stone-faced Minnesotans looking for deals, was $18,500.
Sold -- for $11,250.
George Kiffmeyer's old Alumacraft fishing boat with a Johnson engine sold for $2,800.
"That was right on the money," said Kiffmeyer, 45, of Clear Lake. He decided to sell it because the price of gas in Canada, where he goes fishing four times a year, was killing him, he said. Last year Canadian marinas were selling gas for $6 a gallon, and he expects it to be twice that this year. He'll switch to a couple of smaller boats he keeps on his property in Canada.
A brand-new 2001 Fisher with Mercury 175 motor was worth $19,000, Kujawa told the crowd.
"This is a smokin' deal," Dehler said to encourage hands to go up. "Sold for $12,000."
"Whew, my hand is shaking," said the boat's new owner, Scott Miller, 41, as he signed paperwork after the bidding. He bought it to go fishing with his 13-year-old son, Tony, adding: "It's a steal. I saved a lot on it."
Pritesh Ubad, 31, bought his first boat -- a 1994 turquoise-and-white SeaRay inboard runabout worth about $13,000 -- for only $7,500. He had some help. Wes Schreiber, who works as a salesman for Crystal-Pierz, coached him on which boat to buy and on the bidding.
Ubad, who is from Nepal, said he had been looking for a used boat for about three weeks. A huge smile split his face as he walked around his new toy in the cold sunshine. He said he plans to take his wife and daughter boating on Lake Minnetonka.
"She wanted a boat more than I did," he said of his wife.
The auction wrapped up late in the afternoon.
"It went great," Kujawa said. "I would say, 100 boats sold. A little warmer weather would have helped, but everybody was happy."
Thanks to JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune for this
Josephine Marcotty• 612-673-7394
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
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
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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......
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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.
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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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Also we value your comments, if you can add more info in regards to this article please do so. Thanks............Rick
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
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 - 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
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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.
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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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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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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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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 - 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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