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The V One Twin
Salute the Troops
A $5K Twinkie?
Not a Log, Just a Gar
shape of an eagle with an American flag inside with typography that says Salute the Troops 2022
July 2022
E-Z Anchor Puller
Boating
Bottom of boat
Hands-Free, Cleat-free, nothing to jam!
Pair our Hero Series drum anchor winches with the Pontoon & Tritoon Anchoring Solution to create the ideal out of sight, below deck anchoring experience.
Hero EX-1
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Package
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The world’s first pontoon & tritoon undermount retractable anchoring solution with IP68 waterproof submersible drum anchor winch, wifi waterproof camera and wireless remote control!
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www.ezanchorpuller.com/tritoon | Toll Free: 1-800-800-1640
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www.ezanchorpuller.com/tritoon | Toll Free: 1-800-800-1640

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JULY 2022 | Volume 27, Number 7
CONTENTS
42
Features
22
SALUTE THE TROOPS
A Special Tribute To Those Who Serve
36
PDB ADVENTURES
A Kentucky Fourth
42
OUR 10
Best Boating Locations For Fireworks
PDB TESTED
18
THIS IS THE ONE
Veranda launches its V One Twin
FROM THE BOW
DEPARTMENTS
people riding on a boat
COVER PHOTO BY: Brady L. Kay
JC TriToon Marine logo
Simplicity through Technology text
Salute the Troops
Salute the Troops
Suzuki Boat Engine
For more than forty years, JC TriToon has offered quality, performance, comfort and luxury. Through technology, we are proud to be able to offer a new and spectacular combination of systems that will ease the operating use for even an intimated beginning boater. All the while giving the most experienced boaters out there something they have never experienced before now. Let JC TriToon introduce you to unprecedented technology, available only on a 2022 JC!
Find your local dealer* today
*Not for sale in California.
Suzuki Marine & JL Audio link
JC Manufacturing, Inc. | North Webster, IN 46555
e-mail: sales@jcpontoon.com
Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.
Pontoon and Desk Boat Logo
PONTOON & DECK BOAT STAFF
Editorial

Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
Editorial Staff Nicole Richens, Heather Magda Serrano, Roy Sparks, Annie Carbutt, Bradley Sallee, Ryan Beaty
Editorial Correspondents
Dan Armitage, Sky Smith

Advertising

Advertising Director
Jason Huff, jhuff@pdbmagazine.com
Advertising Executives
Greg Larsen, glarsen@pdbmagazine.com
Robin Witbeck, rwitbeck@pdbmagazine.com

MARKETING

Marketing Director Cameron Bischoff
Social Media Manager Stephanie Woods

Circulation

Circulation Director Chuck Harris

Production

Lead Designer Lavon Horne
Production Jim Donovan

To subscribe, go to:
www.harrispublishing.com/pontoon-deck-boat

HARRIS PUBLISHING GROUP ADMINISTRATION

Publisher Brady L. Kay
Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
Production Manager Janet Chase
Circulation Manager Chuck Harris
Controller Clayton Ward
Production Janet Chase

HARRIS PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION

Founder Darryl W. Harris
President Jason Harris
Vice President Chuck Harris
Vice President Ryan Harris
Treasurer Clayton Ward
Secretary Janet Chase

NMMA
Copyright, PDB magazine is published 11 times per year by Harris Publishing, Inc., sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for contents of ads and submitted materials, mail permits printed in Idaho Falls, ID.

The basic subscription price is $19.97 for 11 issues. Cover price is $3.95. Canadian and Foreign subscriptions add $20.00 per 11 issues. U.S. funds only. Limited back issues are available for $5.00 each.

Copyright 2022 by Harris Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Call 800-638-0135 to purchase a subscription, to correct your mailing label, or to order back issues.

Harris Publishing
corporate office

Harris Publishing, Inc.
520 Park Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(800) 638-0135 • Fax (208) 522-5241
www.pdbmagazine.com

Also publishers of Great Lakes Boating magazine and Diesel Tech magazine.

By Brady L. Kay
Captain’s Chair
“I’m not exactly sure how much I paid for my box, but even as a mild fan of Hostess I’m guessing whoever overpaid on this investment didn’t see much of a return.”
Brady L. Kay on his boat
Brady L. Kay on his boat
By Brady L. Kay
Captain’s Chair
“I’m not exactly sure how much I paid for my box, but even as a mild fan of Hostess I’m guessing whoever overpaid on this investment didn’t see much of a return.”
Good And Bad Investments
Twinkie Box
As I was eating a Twinkie for breakfast…ahem…wait–that sounds bad. I don’t want to be judged for my questionable eating habits so let me rephrase this. As I was eating my Twinkie approximately five hours before lunch time, I recalled someone once overpaying for a box of Twinkies as some type of an investment. Back in 2000, when workers for the corporate bakery that produced Twinkies went on strike, 20 batches from the “Great Twinkie Famine of 2000” were put up for bid. The top offer? $5,150! Whoa! I’m not exactly sure how much I paid for my box, but even as a mild fan of Hostess I’m guessing whoever overpaid on this investment didn’t see much of a return.

Blame it on my day job, but this got me thinking as I pondered the benefits of boat ownership compared to other investments that aren’t nearly as rewarding. We all have coulda-shoulda-woulda stories about money and investing. You know, that red-hot stock you never saw coming. Or your brother-in-law’s stupid business venture you lost a bundle on. Or that now-valuable collectible you tossed out years ago. Some financial flubs are easily shrugged off. But others can’t be forgotten quickly, because the dollar amounts end in way too many zeroes.

UPGRADE YOUR PONTOON BOAT
With innovative solutions from Teak Isle and Boat Outfitters
The innovative storage and table solutions from Teak Isle are customizable for pontoon OEM builders. Boat Outfitters offers dealers wholesale discounts on products designed and manufactured by Teak Isle that are standard on many pontoon brands as replacements or enhancements. Contact us for more information.
storage table with glasses, bottles, and snacks
storage cup holders
storage drawer and compartment
cup holder tray with bottle, phone, and can holders
gray storage tray with holders for crackers, small beer cans, and champagne bottles
storage trays for two sliver bowls
tan storage tray with two cup holders and a plate of crackers
storage bin for trash
small and large storage file cabinets
storage table with glasses, bottles, and snacks
storage cup holders
storage drawer and compartment
cup holder tray with bottle, phone, and can holders
gray storage tray with holders for crackers, small beer cans, and champagne bottles
storage trays for two sliver bowls
tan storage tray with two cup holders and a plate of crackers
storage bin for trash
small and large storage file cabinets
Teak Isle MFG logo
OEM Inquires
www.teakisle.com
(407)-656-8885
Boat Outfitters logo
Dealer Inquires
www.boatoutfitters.com
(866)-633-7961
Better Boater title
By Annie Carbutt
Ready For Summer Fun
Tips for a safe boat party

Everyone loves a party, but a party in a boat takes fun to a whole new level. When the weather is just right and you’ve got your family and friends out on the water with you, there’s not much that’s better. The last thing you want is for an accident or safety issue of some kind to get in the way of your good time.

With a little planning and forethought, you can have a great boat party and keep your bases covered in the event of an emergency, even if it’s only a little one. Of course you always hope that doesn’t happen, but we’ve put together a list of safety tips and advice for your next boat party, just in case.

NWZ typography

NO WAKE ZONE | PLACES, FACES, VIEWS, NEWS, PRODUCTS & MORE

Where's the Paddle?
Where’s The Paddle?
A paddle is hiding inside each issue of PDB and the names of the first readers to find it are printed in an upcoming magazine! In our May issue the paddle is on page 38 (shown in the photo on the left) in the background as part of the porch. Here are the readers who spotted it first:

Danny Criner, North Chesterfield, Va.
Marcus Rosehill, Kaneohe, Hawaii
Tom Gilbert, Atlanta, Ga.

As soon as you find the paddle, email its location, your name, and hometown to paddle@pdbmagazine.com. Paddle on!

PDB 340 Tested badge
This Is The One
Veranda launches its V One Twin
By Brady L. Kay
Boat speeding up
Rear side of boat
Side view of boat
people on boat
PDB 340 Tested badge
This Is The One
Veranda launches its V One Twin
By Brady L. Kay
Boat speeding up
Rear side of boat
Side view of boat
Our PDB Tested section is compiled of pontoon and deck boats, new products, gear, tools, aftermarket accessories and more. Simply put, if it can be tested and it applies to our favorite type of boating, you’ll find it in this section. And the one thing each review has in common is they were all tested and evaluated by one or more of our qualified PDB staff members.
What if I told you there was a pontoon boat in the industry with no cross members, no stringers, no rivets, and no bolts or screws holding the deck system together? Would you be intrigued? Just imagine having a solid aluminum floor with no components that could rattle or come loose, while the design eliminated the need of some type of an underskin decking since the flooring is as flat on the bottom as it is on the top.

While this type of flooring system may seem too futuristic to believe, it’s actually available today and has been since 2005. Considering how unique it is, you might find it a little surprising it’s not more recognized in the pontoon industry as being truly innovative.

shape of an eagle with an American flag inside with typography that says Salute the Troops 2022
Salute The Troops
In honor of our boating veterans
The military is the backbone of our country. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the selfless actions of our servicemen and women. Deciding to give up a more traditional life and put yourself in harm’s way to protect friends, family, and millions of people you’ve never met takes a rare dedication.

Our annual “Salute The Troops” edition originally started with our July 2016 issue and it’s something we look forward to as a staff every year. We got the idea to do the special feature when we started noticing a trend or pattern in some of the emails and messages we were receiving. A number of the messages coming in were from soldiers who were pontoon and deck boat enthusiasts looking forward to getting out on the water when they returned home to the states. However or whenever you served, this issue is dedicated to you. We want to honor those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. We Salute You!

GAME CHANGER IN PONTOON DOCKING!
QR Code for Wave Armor
Wave Armor logo
GAME CHANGER IN PONTOON DOCKING!
QR Code for Wave Armor
PREMIUM FLOATING DOCK SYSTEM, BOAT AND PWC PORTS
boat dock with ket ski and boat, both with covers on them
man riding jet ski
Story and photos by Gini McKain
A Kentucky 4th typography
The creeks, coves, and fingers of Lake Cumberland
The Fourth of July is usually busy on any lake during this holiday, but on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky there are so many creeks, coves and fingers it seems like any other day. You can fish in the morning, have burgers for lunch in a secluded cove, and enjoy fireworks from your boat that evening. It is a time to enjoy the beautiful area with friends, relatives, and family while swimming in a secluded deep water creek or in hundreds of wooded coves. Maybe the only difference during the holiday celebration is the multitude of our red, white, and blue American flags on boats or those colors on boaters themselves.

Created in the early 1950s, the 65,530-acre impoundment (the 9th largest in the U.S.) was established for flood control and production of hydroelectric power. It is estimated that the dam holding back the waters has prevented more than $500 million in flood damage since its construction. The over 100-mile-long reservoir is part of the original Cumberland River that was established by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and has approximately 1,255 miles of shoreline! That is more shoreline than the state of Florida has. All that shoreline is formed from Kentucky’s south central mountainous, rugged topography that creates and shapes the multitude of fingers and coves. There is a steep drop at the shoreline for that very reason.

Tackle box typography
Pitching Rope To Prehistoric Fish
By Dan Armitage
Pitching Rope To Prehistoric Fish
By Dan Armitage

Slow-cruising between fishing spots under bow-mounted electric trolling motor power, I was standing up front with eyes glued to the forward fishfinder screen at my feet as we ghosted across the broad, flat-as-a-pancake bay. Scanning for any deep cover that might hold fish on the sweltering summer afternoon, I was about to give up the search on the local water supply reservoir when I looked up just in time to see what I took for a log floating just underwater off the bow. The two-foot-long “log” reacted with a violent splash as I slapped the handle of the motor aside to turn away from the obstruction before it fouled the plastic prop.

I needn’t have worried. The ‘log’ was long gone by the time I settled down to figure out just what had happened. Before we moved another 20 yards, I spotted another log-like object just under the surface ahead. I shut the motor off and allowed the pontoon boat to drift close enough to the creature to make an ID. As with the first encounter, the sub-surface fish allowed us to get within rod-poking distance before submerging with a sudden flick of its broad, spotted tail.

Our 10 Roundup department heading
By Roy Sparks
Photo by Kathy Anderson
Worthy Of A Celebration
Best boating locations for fireworks
Few holidays bring the heat like the Fourth of July, especially when it comes to pyrotechnic displays of patriotism. Oh how we love those big colorful explosions, especially when they’re synchronized to some of our favorite all-American songs.

Yes, watching fireworks is awesome, but do you know what’s even better? Watching fireworks from your pontoon or boat. We’ve put together some of the best boating locations for watching fireworks this Independence Day so you can get the most out of both your boat and the holiday. While there are plenty of other great firework shows over water, each of these patriotic celebrations we included have their own personal flair as unique as the cities they’re hosted in. Regardless of where you end up this Fourth of July, be sure to take advantage of arguably the greatest boating holiday of the year.

ADVERTISERINDEX
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  • Avalon/Tahoe Pontoons3, 48

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  • Barletta Boats5

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  • Bart’s Water Sports8

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  • Conrad Marine45

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  • EZ Anchor Puller2

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  • JC Tritoon Marine7

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  • Kicker Audio35

www.kicker.com

  • Playcraft—Pontoon Deck Boats17

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  • Starcraft/Smokercraft25

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  • Skysmith Specialty Insurance16

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  • Teak Isle Mfg11

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By Sky Smith
STAYING IN ‘TOON
Boating Tips and Observations with Sky Smith
After You Drop The Anchor
Sky Smith Headshot
Sky Smith Headshot
By Sky Smith
STAYING IN ‘TOON
Boating Tips and Observations with Sky Smith
After You Drop The Anchor
Most recently I have been working on an anchor project, specifically the installation of an E-Z Anchor Puller Hinged Anchoring Solution. While working with anchors and thinking about the Fourth of July, the question came up about the term anchors aweigh.

What exactly does anchors aweigh mean, and why is it “aweigh” instead of “away?” As I was thinking about this I was humming along with the “Anchors Aweigh” song in my head.

First, “Anchors Aweigh” is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy and the unofficial march song of the United States Navy. It was composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmermann with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles.

Pontoon and Deck Boat
Thanks for reading our July 2022 issue!