Sunday, June 21, 2009

Boating Vacation / Staycation

Like many folks this year, we are going (or should I say staying?) on a staycation. While we are moving our base of operations from the family home to a nearby campground our normal "Big Family Trip" has been set aside for something smaller, and more economical. Our intent is to maintain a high level of summer fun, and a lower cost.

Last year my family and I bought a project boat for $900 and we have been working on it ever since. The boat is a 1974 Signa Delta 18. For those of you who are not familiar with it, it is an 18' open bow tri-hull with an 87" beam.

This year, the boat is going to be the focal point of our staycation and a source of much fun. To date, most of the money invested in the boat has been to repair equipment that wasn't functioning (other than a boat that floats and a trailer that rolls, everything else needed or still needs repair).

After my first time out in the boat this year, I realized that I needed some FUN equipment. Here is the list of what we got:


A SeaChoice Tow Harness [SCP 86701]. This is a handy device that attaches to the transom and has a pulley on a float that will be out behind our outboard motor. This eliminates the single attachment point and left turning tendency of the boat while I tow someone on a tube.

Body Glove Signature Crk Prem. Molded [BGW 2506]

I really needed this. I am not a water skiier, but I do enjoy tubing and skimming accross the water. This will be a new experience for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Kwik-Tek Water Ski Rope 75Ft W/Handle [KWK AHSR5] We needed this for the new Kneeboard.









Sportsstuff Patriot Double [SPO 531547] The kids (I have 4), wanted something that was two up. Like all sportsstuff tubes, this should be a lot of fun.


We had tried to use Wal-Mart clothline and other inferior ropes without much success. We ended up using CZ (Competition Zone) tow rope.




AFI (Guest/Marinco) O/B Platform Kit 2 Step Ladder [AFI 67904] This was a special request by my wife and daughter who find it both frustrating and probably a bit humiliating to climb into the boat without it.
In the end, we'll probably spend less money that we would normally have spent on a vaction for six people, and we'll still have the equipment that we bought to keep the fun going for many seasons to come!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

First Boat Trip of the 2009 Season!

Today I took the Signa out for the first time since last year. It felt pretty good to pour on the throttle, and the kids and I really enjoyed tubing (though the water is still a bit chilly).

Make a Boat List
It is a good idea to create and maintain a "boat list". This year we took out the boat list that we created last year and things went very smoothly for the first trip of the season.

Maintain the Boat List
We found that since last year, we need a few more thing to make the boat list complete. The fact that our family is growing means more life jackets, more seats, and maybe even a bigger tube.

Fortunately, I can get everything I need at:
www.MassMarine.com !