Festive Pontoon Boat Transforms Into Effective Work Space
Author: ChrisNewman Total views: 30 Word Count: 802
Pontoon boats have been known for parties on the lake, but not anymore. These specialized vessels have earned quite a name for themselves as some of the most multifaceted work boats. The boats can easily adjust and perform to some of the most diverse and even risky tasks including fire fighting, commercial recreation, wildlife protection, marina construction, fish and game research and management, and marine demolition or construction.
Pontoon boats, particularly Chinook Boats from Metalite Industries, have received honor because they can be crafted and tailored to weight demands, work environment, and payload capacity. Width, length and buoyancy can be customized to meet your working requirements. Even the stern and bow shapes can be modified to meet your requirements for utilization of surface space.
Each pontoon boat user will begin with a platform that is crafted for its durability and incredible flotation stability. But you can customize almost anything on these boats. From riggings, cleats, tie-downs, steering and enclosures - cabins, tarps or canopies. All based on the simple or complex nature of the enterprise.
Ken Hagman's firm, Copper Bay Construction, has been a fixture on Idaho's Priest Lake since 1977. He ties the increased use of his pontoon boats to the demand for greater longevity of marine construction. "We're using more aluminum framing and composite decking. Because of that, transporting equipment and materials to the site has become much more critical over the years."
One aspect of Hagman's work is removing damaged boat lifts and replacing them with new equipment. To make the job more efficient, Hagman went looking for a large, high-speed pontoon boat that could readily move and install heavy machinery. He chose a Chinook Pontoon Boat that was built to spec by Metalite Industries, a subsidiary of NewMax Incorporated. The 12 x 32-foot boat has a 15,000-lb capacity and carries a gantry crane that can lift and position 8,000 to 12,000-lb boat lifts. The speed and size of the new boat saves time and labor costs. "With it being 12 feet wide, which is extremely wide for its size, it allows us to deliver and set boat lifts with a two-man crew. As opposed to the old method, a slow moving boat that needed four people to jockey and set the lift in place."
In fact, Hagman has calculated that since purchasing the Chinook Pontoon five years ago, he has saved half the cost of the boat in labor savings alone. Even as fuel costs rise, Hagman has calculated that he has saved even more money because of the boat's four-stroke engines operate at one-third the cost of powering the large and heavy semi-displacement work boat Copper Bay previously used.
"We've been very impressed with the performance of the boat. It's common to travel fifteen miles over water to get to a job site. Most work boats are semi-displacement vessels that plow through the water at a slow pace. The Chinook Pontoon work boats incorporate an angular, flat pontoon design that has a higher displacement and better surface planning capability. The design provides better hydro-dynamics to allow the vessel to plane on the water's surface, where it can move quickly and more efficiently. We specifically wanted this boat so it would save money in labor costs by getting people to the job faster. We've had a lot of competitors, some who come from five hundred miles away, looking at the boat for design ideas for their operations," he said.
Hagman's Copper Bay Construction crew is in the midst of replacing Priest Lake's oldest marina. A hundred boats slips will be replaced and a new breakwater will be installed. The marine aspects of the project will not be completed until the end of 2008, when full attention will be given to the on-shore construction of a bar and restaurant.
Hagman had his Chinook Pontoon Boat outfitted with aluminum ramps that attach to the front of the boat. This allows crew to transport and easily disembark mini excavators. The machinery will be needed for the on-shore work that must be done during the winter months, when Priest, a reservoir lake, is drawn down. Standing snow may arrive in early November and remain in residence until April. Regardless, the pontoon boats are kept in the water year round. "The aluminum gets cold, but the boat performs well," he said.
Though Hagman keeps busy throughout the year, when time permits, he's not opposed to a little fun. "Every summer, we throw a party for our twenty-five employees. We turn the pontoon boat into a floating party. We spruce it up and cruise around the lake, smiling at everybody. We've had more than 30 people safely on that boat," he said.
Free Web Content Provider | My Articles Directory /
About the Author
Chinook Boats is the premiere manufacturer of pontoon boats and work boats for a many different uses. Each boat is custom designed and precision crafted to meet the the customer's needs. Chinook also builds leisure craft pontoon boats. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
Copy and Paste Article Code.
Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.