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Publisher Brady L. Kay
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This March Harris Publishing president Jason Harris and I were graciously invited to visit São Paulo in Brazil to see for ourselves the evolution of this pontoon manufacturer. The red carpet treatment we received was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
All of this freedom is possible with a boat trailer. When you’re not confined to a single marina, your vantage points are only limited by as far as you’re willing to drive. To help with the many considerations to make when purchasing a trailer and the technical aspects of towing, launching, and loading with a trailer, I’ve culled my favorite pointers to help those new to boating.
Brazilian-based VCAT continues to build on its legacy
Brazilian-based VCAT continues to build on its legacy
By Brady L. Kay
If you’ve ever traveled internationally then at some point you’ve probably discovered something in a foreign country and thought, “I think this would be popular back home.” Maybe you’d like to have a Japanese toilet, one of those Australian utes (small truck), or perhaps just an imperial pint of European ice cream in your freezer. While some smaller products such as ketchup potato chips from Canada or the popular Brazilian soft drink Guaraná Antarctica are easier than others to bring home in a suitcase, realistically some of the best foreign discoveries may never be available in other countries.
Fortunately for Brazilian natives Benedito Prado Neto and his wife Valéria De Fusco Pereira, they were determined not to let the daunting task and monumental challenge deter them from taking something they had discovered in the US and bringing it to their country.
“We’re not the biggest, and don’t necessarily want to be the biggest, but at the end of the day I want everybody who works for me to go home and know they built the best product they could for our customers,” says Founder & CEO Chip Schwein who has been in the trailer industry since 1985. Chip spent nearly 20 years at Eagle Trailers, where he made substantial contributions to the company’s progress before beginning his own business.
Each year Boatmate continues to refine the details of their pontoon trailers. Wide transom steps at the back of the trailer not only look nice, but also provide easy access to the vessel. One exclusive feature is their spiral stairway. Noticing that the steps on many trailers required a stepladder to even reach, they designed a spiral stairway with a step that begins below the trailer’s frame and allows easy access to the boat itself.
Built with a recycled fishing net upper and a perforated drainable footbed, water is able to flow through freely without pooling, allowing for quicker dry times. Added grip in wet conditions comes from its non-marking, slip-resistant outsole with drainable rebound EVA midsole which pushes water out with every step. Features such as the integrated neoprene sock construction and locking bungee cord laces with toggle closure add all day comfort and secure support. Rocky is arguably best known for its legendary high-end work boots, but has clearly discovered a truly great boating shoe.
But a mere permit does not an angler make, and if you are lucky enough to have adult friends or family members who have expressed an interest in fishing you may be able to introduce someone into a lifelong activity that they will appreciate for years to come.
For nearly a decade, Nashville resident Andrew Ostrowski thought it was strange that he enjoyed the scenic Music City skyline from the Cumberland River practically by himself. Aside from the river cruises offered by the General Jackson Showboat, the major waterway seemed empty of other water-loving crowds. So in an effort to bring people out on the river admiring the views and having a grand ‘ole time, he launched the Pontoon Saloon, a honky-tonk booze cruise like no other.
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In past columns I have mentioned our lake being a Corps of Engineers lake and the fact that we only have one marina. That doesn’t leave the average boat owner much of a choice if you want a slip at the marina.
I never thought it was a big deal. When I owned my 22-foot Venture sailboat, I trailered it to the marina. It had a crank up centerboard and was set up trailering. I assume some of you know the routine. Then I sold that boat and bought a Catalina Capri 22 with wing keel. If you are not familiar with keel sailboats, it usually requires a tongue extension (or chains and dollies etc.) to get the boat backed into the water far enough to clear the trailer. With the drama required to load and unload I realized that any sailing would be a really big chore, so I opted for a slip.
