We get a variety of questions when folks call inquiring about the boats and often it’s to ask if it is big enough to fit a pet. I say pet because, although it is mostly dogs, we do have a few folks ask about other 4 legged friends as well. In this month’s narrative, read Curt’s version of “Chelsea’s Pedal Boat Adventure” from Summer 2011.
Nauticraft often gets asked about what is “needed” as far as options go, and we’ll be taking a look at those over the next few months.
Relating to the Christmas gifts which are being offered, customers ask if they need a Storage Cradle to store the boats on while out of the water. The Storage Cradle was designed specifically for the Escapade pedal boat to accommodate the deep narrow keel of the boat. The Escapade can’t sit on its keel as many flat bottom boats do, so when taken out of the water it lays on its side which may over time affect the shape of the hull. The storage cradle is designed to fit the keel and also to hold the “belly” of the boat while keeping the boat upright. It is also very useful during shipping, as supports are needed to keep the boat upright during the shipping process. The Encore models do not need any sort of a storage cradle as it will set on the double keels and the bow of the boat without issues.
One thing about using a storage cradle is the challenge of getting the boat onto it. The Escapade weights about 325 lbs, and is awkward to lift even with 4 people doing so. Using a pulley system is a good bet when lifting the boat up onto the cradle. For more specific instructions or for questions you may have contact Nauticraft directly at the factory.
Dynamic Conveyor, Nauticraft’s sister company and building neighbor, is a business which grew out of Curtis Chambers’ entrepreneurial spirit. As noted in this video, Curt needed a conveyor system to accommodate the small injection molded parts made by his prior company, Pliant Plastics. It is this creative and engineering nature which Curt has brought to Nauticraft Corporation with the design of many aspects of the boats. The latest of these include the drop in drive unit, Tribute sailboat and Super Sprite pedal boat.
The Waterbug by Hoyt Harken is included in this narrative on the “Most amazing pedal boats” and we found it was not quite as accurate as it probably should be. The Waterbug is no longer in production as it’s original design and hasn’t been since the late 1980’s. The mold and tooling are safely tucked away as they have been since that time. The Waterbug hull was made of fiberglass and not the rotationally molded plastic as noted in this article. Production of the Mallard, which was the ’sister’ of the Waterbug, was also discontinued prior to 1995, but the license for it was purchased by Curt Chambers owner of Nauticraft. It was redesigned to be produced using polyethylene in a rotational molding process instead of using fiberglass, and renamed the Escapade. The Escapade has been produced by Nauticraft since it’s inception in 1996 and is still in production yet today.
As Michiganders, we are used to cold and ice…brrrr…feeling it already! The coldness won’t harm the hull, it’s made of durable polyethylene so it won’t become brittle like other materials exposed to the elements. Even so, there are things to do to ensure your boat is protected. The first thing is to take it out of the water if you know it will freeze. There are all sorts of reasons to do this including damage ice can do the pedal drive system, protecting the seats and other manufactured parts from snow, ice, sleet, etc. and stopping the hull from becoming misshapen by moving ice flows. These are also good reasons to keep it covered. If you leave it outdoors, use a support to keep the cover well above the windshield to protect it from the weight of snow accumulation.
Contact Nauticraft by email or phone at (888) 709-7097 with any specific questions you may have concerning this subject.
With summer officially here, Nauticraft invites you to Michigan for a visit. In looking at a US map you can’t miss it, it’s the state that looks like a mitten with all the water surrounding it. There’s tons of stuff to do here, including fishing, boating, and watching the sunset over Lake Michigan. There is golf courses that are nationally recognized, campgounds on the beach and fine dining. Michigan hosts music festivals and county fairs, NASCAR and Broadway shows. We have our share of big cities and small towns, and some big cities with a small town feel.
Go to Michigan.org to see all the great things going on in Michigan this summer! And then take a look at Nauticraft Boats!
The Encore Electric fishing model needs a name, any suggestions?
I am asking once again for input in what options would be best used on the fishing boat. Rod holders, electrical options, tackle organizers, bait holders just to name a few. What would you recommend to include in the standard package as well as options most used and required for fishing on small inland lakes. Thank you for participating!
Dear Laurie and everyone there at Nauticraft:
After 3 yrs, we still are still enjoying our pedal boat, thanks to you all! The following pictures show some more additions John has built for the boat. There is the cedar console with storage and the cedar platform he built to go over the back seat for the dog to still fit in the boat. It is built around the extra battery we have in the back, and I sewed up a foam waterproof cushion for the animals. We can also use it to sunbathe on if the animals don’t go with us. The great dane puppy is still growing! But, he and the cat love going boating. We get out every nice non-windy warmish day we can here on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Arkansas.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
from
John and Carolyn
Although many parts of the US are cold and even snowy, we are confident spring is coming! Think ahead to warmer days this holiday season, give the gift of a Nauticraft boat! And if you order prior to Dec. 31st, we’ll throw in a gift for you. Purchase an Encore and we’ll include a bimini top
Purchase an Escapade and we’ll ship you a Storage Cradle at no charge to you.
Nauticraft Corporation
5980 Grand Haven Road • Muskegon, MI 49441
(231) 798-8440 • Toll Free (888) 709-7097
inquiry@nauticraft.com
