The Ameses are one of those couples — they handpicked Long Lake as the ideal retirement spot and moved here with just a few more years left of working. It’s the quintessential retreat everybody dreams of: a charming cottage on a small lake. Add in a community filled with kindhearted friends and a high-quality Crest pontoon that waits at their own private dock…well, they’ve pretty much got it made.
Though Burt didn’t boat while he was growing up, he and Linda have always enjoyed being around the water. A few friends introduced them to boating and they jumped all in, purchasing a cruiser that they could sleep aboard. For years, the Ameses piloted a 37-foot cruiser on Lake Michigan: a big boat for a big body of water. Yet a few years ago, they felt ready to downsize to a smaller lake and a smaller boat with far less maintenance.
They carefully researched three boat brands and spent significant time at boat shows. Crest was high on their list, and when they met Sam Paxson at Murray Lake Marina, they stopped looking anywhere else. “They were the easiest by far to work with,” Burt said. “We have no complaints.”
“I absolutely love it,” said Burt. “You can tell they added high-end finishes. The best feature by far is the flexible and open layout. I can’t find anything I don’t love about it.”
The draw of a pontoon, of course, was the joy in finding something that fits the whole family, giddy grandchildren included. With two married children and seven grandkids ranging in age from 13 to 7, the Ameses wanted a boat that could fit everyone at the same time and still be able to pull a tube.
Their Crest 220 has been perfect. Last year was their first season with the pontoon, and they went on as many boating adventures as possible. “We spent as much time on the water as we could last year. We burned through a lot of fuel but it was worth every penny,” Burt laughed.
“It’s the easiest thing in the world to go boating since we live here. We often go for a sunset cruise in the evening. I love that it takes only minutes to get out on the water,” Burt said.
This is a complete shift from his longtime career as a general communications manager for an electrical contractor. Burt explained, “Although I started doing design project management, which I enjoy, by the end I didn’t get to do any of that. I was just in meetings all day.” He decided to make the transition to a new line of work and has no regrets.
His wife Linda does commute to a nearby hospital, where she has worked as a registered nurse for 46 years. Burt gushed about his wife of 23 years, saying, “She’s a kind and caring nurse; it’s just what God made her to do. And although she’s great to me, she’s even better for me.”
Both Burt and Linda plan on retiring in a few years, though their boating hobby definitely loves a constant stream of money.
“Our problem is we put a ton of money into this and we like nice things,” Burt said with a laugh. “We’d love to add a canopy boat lift so we could simply pull in the slip and raise the pontoon out of the water. It would be a nice setup, but very expensive, so we’ll wait until next year to add that.” But when it does come time to buy a boat lift, he knows exactly where to shop.
His favorite boat people are at Murray Lake Marina, just 20 minutes away from Long Lake.
“I can’t say enough nice things about them, especially the owner Sam,” Burt said. “He spent time talking to me and understood exactly what I was looking for in a pontoon.”
Murray Lake Marina’s website touts, “There isn’t a friendlier or more knowledgeable staff than ours. We’re happy to help you find either the perfect watercraft or the parts you’ve been looking for to make your outdoor living more enjoyable.”
Along with many satisfied customers, Burt appreciates the helpful staff there.
Sam bought the dealership three years ago, though he began working there over a decade ago as a mechanic. The previous owner saw Sam’s potential and asked him to help in sales and growing the business. Sam did such a great job that when the owner was ready to sell, he offered the business to Sam.
Over the past few years, Sam has expanded the company by adding buildings, brands, and additional products. Currently, Murray Lake Marina stores nearly 1,000 boats on site among their seven buildings, as well as everything you need for boating from life jackets to boat lifts.
The business has sold the Tahoe and Avalon brand for years; when Sam was looking to add another brand, he turned to Crest for its high-quality and nearby factory.
“I like the fact that Crest is built nearby in Owosso, Mich. While some manufacturers buy parts from all over and just bolt them together, Crest does everything in house. They make the majority of their own seats, their own foam, and their own walls. That’s an advantage because parts are more readily available and warranties are easier to secure,” Sam said.
In addition to selling quality pontoons and offering friendly service, Murray Lake Marina is able to keep their customers happy with good, old-fashioned honesty. When asked about his secret, Sam explained, “I try to be honest with people. Honesty goes a long way.”
“We have great neighbors and we love meeting them on the water. We’ve gone all-in embracing the lake lifestyle,” Burt said. “We even have a golf-cart to putter around the pathways at the lake like everyone else, making it so easy to stop and visit with people as we pass by.”
With a community as open and inviting as a pontoon layout, Burt and Linda find plenty of ways to enjoy living on a lake.
“I love the flexibility of pontoon boating,” he concluded. “It can be just me and my wife out for a cruise to see the sunset, or a whole group of us with the grandkids, or even friends we meet on the lake.”
It’s the perfect way to take life at a slower pace and enjoy every sunset that comes their way.
www.crestpontoonboats.com
www.murraylakemarina.com
www.suzukimarineusa.com