a man, woman and five kids smile while sitting on a red Harris FloteBoat beside a small pier

From Drab to Fab

Heirloom boat gets a new makeover

By Rebecca Blackson

quarter view of a red Harris FloteBote covered and carried on a hitched pontoon trailer
the bow of a red Harris FloteBote
It’s hard to outgrow a boat you’ve spent your whole life making memories on. So it was especially painful when Jim and Diane Stackhouse decided it was time to let go of their much-loved and well-used Harris pontoon. Diane’s parents had bought the boat in the 1990s and over the next two decades she and Jim and their young children spent many summer weekends boating with them.

Since Diane loved the 24-foot Harris FloteBote so much and her other siblings weren’t interested in managing the boat’s upkeep, she and Jim inherited it from her parents in 2012. After all, this next generation was the one with four kids at home eager to go boating. And for the next 12 years, the Stackhouse family went cruising around multiple lakes in southern Michigan.

a man sits at the helm of a pontoon as a woman and two young boys wave from one of the passenger benches

By then the blue and black rails had faded, the wiring needed to be updated, and the seats were cracked and weather beaten. Jim and Diane were ready to swap out the family boat for a much newer model filled with modern conveniences, but they weren’t quite willing to spring for a straight-from-the-factory brand-new version.

They checked out multiple used boats, but were disappointed to learn that, like buying all used things, it was a take-it-as-it-is kind of purchase. There was no way to customize the vessel or choose amenities or colors that they wanted.

the helm of the red Harris FloteBote
a passenger bench at the stern of the red Harris FloteBoat
wide view of the stern of the red Harris FloteBote

And then by happenstance, Diane’s uncle mentioned that he was refurbishing a boat around the same time that Jim heard a radio ad for Marsh Brothers, a pontoon restoration company just 20 miles away.

Diane said, “We went and talked to Marsh Brothers about our boat and what we wanted. Having them redo it sounded perfect. It was much more convenient than having to sell the old boat and trying to find the perfect used one.” After all, they loved the length of the FloteBote, and if they could add all of the bells and whistles they wanted, so much the better.

Marsh Brothers
In 1984, Marsh Brothers started out doing odd jobs such as sandblasting and painting, and locals from the nearby lakes started bringing in pontoons to fix up. The business grew until they were refinishing 50-60 boats each year, and in 1994 they began selling new boats as well. Their crew of 17 works year round, often refinishing boats during the winter so they’re ready for cruising on the water the following summer.

Currently, pontoon rebuilds are more complex so the company generally does around 35 complete overhauls a year, with dozens more that want simpler changes, such as replacing marine carpeting with vinyl floors. Marsh Brothers also has an in-house upholstery shop and tailor-makes new pontoon covers. They also run an online store called Pontoon Specialists, where they sell an extensive selection of pontoon parts, furniture, and accessories. If you’re thinking of updating your pontoon, it’s a great place to find everything you need.

Mike Marsh took over the company from his dad and uncle, the brothers who originally opened the business. With decades of experience refinishing pontoons, he knows how to tune into what upgrades the customers are looking for. Jim appreciated the advice and said, “Mike listened carefully and figured out things he could do to help us.”

four young kids wearing life vests and colorful cartoon towel smile while sitting on a Harris FloteBoat passenger bench
starboard side of the red red Harris FloteBote on a pontoon trailer
When it came time for the redo, Jim loved not having to winterize his boat. He said, “Things worked out perfectly. When we finished the boating season in late fall, we dropped off our boat to Marsh Brothers and they had it finished by the spring. They did a perfect job and it turned out so well.”
A Complete Overhaul

Ready for a more modern boat, the Stackhouses decided to revamp nearly everything on their pontoon. Keeping only the actual pontoons, the rails, and the Mercury motor, everything else was redone.

Mike said, “The project was unique because we were able to use their original rails. We moved them forward to have room for a swim deck on the back. We were able to change the old traditional L-group seating into a new quad lounger layout with dual captain’s chairs,” he said.

They also added Taylor Made furniture, an all-new fiberglass console with new gauges and wiring, Infinity flooring, and a power Bimini top.

Diane was thrilled with the upgrades. She said, “They moved the whole railing up and put an extension on the back for a swim deck. That has been so nice! They added a permanent ladder, which is so much better than the detachable one we’d been using.”

a young boy wearing a life vest stands on the diving platform on a pontoon floating on a lake as a young girl standing close by smiles
a toddler wearing a life vest stands at the stern gate of the red Harris FloteBoat
a young boy wearing a life vest grasps the wheel as he stands between the helm and the lap of a older man seated in the captains chair
She was also pleased with the convenient double door and the refinished rails in her chosen shade of bright red.

“When we were looking at new boat options, we saw other red pontoons that looked so good, said Diane. “I just love the look of them!”

Jim loves all of the fancy new amenities, “We’re old enough that we can afford to give ourselves more conveniences. The automated Bimini offers shade at the push of a button. The new anchor system has push-button control and we can easily put out anchors when the wind is high. They added new lighting and revamped all of our previous settings that weren’t working. They really took care of us.”

The shop also fabricated a new door, attached new sheet metal to the rails, relocated the gas tank, custom built a ladder for the swim deck, and installed a LilliPad diving board. Jim said, “We added the diving board on the back deck for the grandkids, and they love it. But even as an old man myself, I like it, too!”

Looking Totally New

With so many upgrades and refinishes, it’s hard to imagine that it’s actually the same boat. In fact, Jim and Diane kept the project a secret from their grown children, and when they showed up for a weekend of boating the kids were all convinced that this was a brand new boat.

“It was such a surprise for the kids,” Jim said. “They could hardly believe it when we told them. In fact, everyone thinks we have a new pontoon. I let them think that for a minute, but then I tell the truth,” he admitted.

two young girls, one holding, both wearing life vests, sit on a FloteBoat passenger bench
a painting depicting Fourth of July fireworks bursting in a dark sky over a lake with the silhouette of a family watching from pontoon
a woman wearing sunglasses and a bathing suit relaxes on a pontoon, smiling as a young girl wearing a life vest sits in her lap

There is one last thing that stayed the same from the old boat, just for nostalgia. “We kept the steering wheel as a nod to the original boat,” Mike said, “just so they could see something familiar.”

The boat’s name also alludes to its heritage. Named after Diane’s parents’ last name, North, the boat is called North Legacy. With four grown children and now 11 grandchildren, the Stackhouse family is continuing the tradition of spending time on this Harris pontoon.

“We live near seven lakes and we go to all of them, which is so much better than having just one lake,” Diane said. Coldwater Lake is a favorite with the grandkids because there’s an ice cream store.

Every Fourth of July the family gathers on the pontoon to watch fireworks over Coldwater Lake. stopping for ice cream or ordering a pizza to eat on board. They call it a “pontoon pizza picnic.”

“That’s an event we all identify with. Everyone comes, we pop popcorn, and watch the fireworks display,” Jim said.

In fact, it’s become such a cherished memory that when their 17-year-old grandson, Matthew, took art lessons, he painted the beloved family pontoon silhouetted on the lake with fireworks in the sky. It’s a keepsake that may or may not last longer in the family than the boat itself.

For More Information
Harris Boats
www.harrisboats.com
Lillipad Marine
www.lillipadmarine.com
Mercury Marine
www.mercurymarine.com
Pontoon Specialists
www.pontoonspecialists.com