Pontoon

This year, Ray’s big summer project was refurbishing the pontoon. A classic from 1963 - - yes, 58 years old! - - we knew it needed some major attention in order to continue to be “seaworthy.“

The pontoon originally landed at the lake nearly 10 years ago. The previous owner towed it across the bog with a snowmobile after the first freeze that year. Since then, the pontoon has been put to good use for fishing, serving as a mid-lake swimming launch, and providing some quiet and calm on the water. Nothing fancy for sure, but it certainly got the job done! However, because the lake doesn’t have a road access, the pontoon was stuck at the lake. Since it’s original trip across the bog, it has sat along the shoreline, season after season, with the weather clearly taking it’s toll - rain, sun, wind and snow. Now, with the floor a little too squishy, and the motor linkage prone to problems (seemingly always in the middle of the lake), the pontoon was past due for a re-build.

Designated the official family boat-renovator, my dear husband was up to the task!

Ray started by disassembling the pontoon down to the floats. He prepped and added new marine-quality floorboards and laid outdoor carpet, added new (to us) chairs and a captain’s console, rebuilt the steering and motor linkage, and attached a new overhead awning. After sitting unused for the entire last year, Ray also gave the motor a tune-up and sure enough, it fired right up.

The pontoon was sea-worthy once again!

However, there was one final hiccup. Because the summer’s drought caused the lake’s water level to drop significantly, the pontoon was pretty much land-locked. Rather than drag it out and possibly damage the boat and/or the shoreline, Ray decided to batten it up for this winter and hope for a nice wet spring to raise the water level again and allow safe passage on to the lake. So, with fingers crossed and fishing poles in hand, we’ll be particularly ready for “ice-out 2022,” to enjoy the pontoon’s refurbished maiden voyage!