Month: August 2013
Fall Fests
Marked by a pleasant change of color and climate, fall offers boaters in the Midwest a chance to enjoy their favorite pastime from a whole new perspective. What’s more, a variety of annual festivals spread throughout the region add to the seasonal opportunities with their autumn-inspired flavor and attractions. No, it’s not too late […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Reading a River Current
Boaters frequently overestimate river currents, especially during times of high water. People sometimes mention mile-per-hour (mph) speeds with two digits, but actual measurements are far from that. Part of the problem is that agencies that monitor rivers, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) […] Read More
Review: Sea Ray 240 Sundeck Outboard
Of the four boats I recently had the pleasure of putting through their paces at the Sea Ray facility in Vonore, Tenn., my pick for “flat-out most fun to drive” was the new 240 Sundeck Outboard. Rigged with an upgraded Mercury 300XL Verado, this powerhouse went from zero to 30 miles per hour in […] Read More
Review: Carolina Skiff Fun Chaser FPG 2100
When the nation’s top-selling brand of outboard-powered fiberglass boats under 24 feet decides to offer a pontoon model, it’s worth a look even if you aren’t a pontoon enthusiast — which I am. Learning that one of Carolina Skiff’s new Fun Chaser fiberglass pontoon models would be on hand “sold’ me on accepting an […] Read More
Profile: RiverPark Marina
Louisville’s Waterside at RiverPark Place luxury apartment community, a $25 million development with 167 units, just completed in early 2013, was recently 100-percent leased. According to Nicki Sibley, marketing manager for Poe Companies LLC, which developed it, “it was one of the fastest lease-ups in our company’s history.” Its success means another building will […] Read More
Weather Woes
Not even one year after a near-historic drought baked the area, a cold and rainy spring caused the boating season to start late in many places around the Heartland. The impact has seriously curtailed boating plans and slashed profits for marine businesses, bringing comments from “it’s been a lousy year so far” to “ […] Read More
Pontoon & Deck Boat Roundup
It’s hard to beat a pontoon or deckboat for versatility, stability and elbow room while enjoying Heartland waters. Pontoons are a great choice for protected waters and family fun, while their hybrid deckboat kin combine the performance and handling attributes of runabouts with the roominess of a broad deck and forward seating. Here are […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Naturally Indiana
Think Indiana is all cornfields and flatlands? Well, it’s got water, too. Lots of it. In fact, the Hoosier State is surrounded by water on all four sides: Lake Michigan with its magnificent sand dunes in the northwest, the Ohio River edging parts of the east as well as the entire southern border, and […] Read More