Don't Forget Dad! - Bating Gifts for Father's Day
Pontoon and Deck Boat logo
Guys Epic Fishing Trip: In Good Hands with Charlie McGee
Goldilocks Pontoon: Is This One "Just Right" For You?
Dock N' Dine: Top Places for Boaters to Grab a Bite
Guys Epic Fishing Trip: In Good Hands with Charlie McGee
Goldilocks Pontoon: Is This One "Just Right" For You?
Dock N' Dine: Top Places for Boaters to Grab a Bite
June 2023
June 2023 | Volume 28, Number 6
CONTENTS
Features
16
GUYS EPIC FISHING TRIP
In Good Hands With Charlie McGee
22
OUR 10 ROUNDUP
Boating Gifts For Father’s Day
28
DOCK N’ DINE
Top Places For Boaters To Grab A Bite
33
FROM TRIAL TO TRIUMPH
Goofy’s Revolutionary Journey
PDB TESTED
36
HARRIS SOLSTICE 250
The Goldilocks Pontoon Line
40
HELLY HANSEN
Midlayer Sailing Jacket
41
COSTA
Santiago Untangled Sunglasses
FROM THE BOW
DEPARTMENTS
family together on a pontoon boat on the water
COVER PHOTO BY: Brady L. Kay
Pontoon and Desk Boat Logo
PONTOON & DECK BOAT STAFF
Editorial

Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
Editorial Staff Nicole Richens, Roy Sparks, Shelisa Melgaard

Editorial Correspondents
Dan Armitage, Sky Smith, Bill Gius

Advertising

Advertising Executives
Greg Larsen, glarsen@pdbmagazine.com
Kevin Malcom, kevin@pdbmagazine.com

Marketing

Marketing Director 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
Circulation Manager Chuck Harris
Controller Clayton Ward

HARRIS PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION

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

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 $19.95 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 2023 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

By Brady L. Kay

Captain’s Chair
“A nice sandwich and a sleeve of Pringle chips is a great boating meal, but there’s something about a warm slice of pizza, a fresh-cooked hamburger or maybe even some fish tacos while on board a boat that just feels right.”
Brady Kay sitting in the drivers seat of a boat in a blue Pontoon and Deck Boat t-shirt
Let’s Dine & Dash…Back To The Boat
Do you like to dine and dash? No, not that kind of dine and dash if you think I’m referring to those poor college student days. You know, that time in life when some young people are prone to eat a meal but then sneak out the back door of the restaurant to get out of paying the bill. I’ve done some questionable things in my life but I’m proud to say I’ve never skipped out on paying a tab.

The dine and dash experience I’m referring to is being able to head to a restaurant by water, get your meal to go, then get back on your boat–after you’ve paid for it, of course. Then enjoy a hot meal in a secluded cove or at a sandbar while you soak up some rays or stretch out beneath the shade of the Bimini top. Ah, the good life!

Like No Other: Engineered With Your On-Water Experience in Mind
Innovation Awards Winner, Minneapolis 2023, Meridian Lounge
Innovation Awards Winner, Minneapolis 2023, Meridian Lounge
family fishing on a boat
group on a boat with an American flag
family on a boat during sunset
BarlettaPontoonBoats.com
Comfort | Convenience | Performance | Customer Experience
Better Boater title
7 LIFE HACKS
USING PRODUCTS BEYOND INTENDED USE
PDB STAFF REPORT
From oil changes and propeller checkups, to protecting your gel coat and washing away mold, maintaining a boat can be a lot of work. Even with all that work, boaters know it’s well worth the effort when they’re cruising with a tube in tow, catching a giant bass or just spending time on the water.

The stress of the week seems to melt away out on the water, but when your boat is a mess and you can’t find what you need, the day can become a little hectic. Here are a few life hacks that anyone can use for a relaxing day on the lake.

NWZ typography
NO WAKE ZONE
Sirius Signal's Watersports Safety “dry bag” Kit including a lithium battery-powered model C-1004 SOS eVDSD and floating flashlight, and a first aid kit
Safety In A Bag
Sirius Signal, a leader in marine safety innovations, has launched its Watersports Safety “dry bag” Kit that contains useful emergency equipment for all watersports activities. A lithium battery-powered model C-1004 SOS eVDSD and floating flashlight, a first aid kit, and other important “should always carry” items to ensure on-water safety are included in the kit. All fit snugly in a custom three-liter dry bag. (www.siriussignal.com)
the EGO Waterproof Fishing Scale
Must-Have Fish Scale
Small enough to fit in any tackle pack, hoodie or shorts side pocket, the EGO Waterproof Fishing Scale is compact, but will weigh fish topping 100 pounds (like you’ll ever need that)!

And, unlike other scales, the EGO Waterproof Fishing Scale also features a flexible, retractable measuring tape not only designed for measuring fish length but also works for wrapping around fish bellies for girth measurements, too. That means no carrying a tangled sewing tape measure—and you can leave the silver and yellow Stanley in the garage, too. (www.egofishing.com)

Joystick docking
for any pontoon boat
Retractable Bow Thruster
Retractable Bow Thruster
Outboard-Mounted Stern Thruster
Outboard-Mounted Stern Thruster
Wireless Joystick & Keyfob Control
Wireless Joystick & Keyfob Control
Joystick docking
for any pontoon boat
Retractable Bow Thruster
Retractable Bow Thruster
Outboard-Mounted Stern Thruster
Outboard-Mounted Stern Thruster
Wireless Joystick & Keyfob Control
Wireless Joystick & Keyfob Control
family on their boat
Feel the Freedom. Not the Stress. typography
Dock your dual or triple tube pontoon boat simply and efficiently

Move sideways, diagonally, or rotate in place

Easy DIY installation • $5,695 for the complete kit

Sideshift logo
866-983-6313
Guys Epic Fishing Trip typography

In good hands with
Maine guide Charlie McGee

By Brady L. Kay

In good hands with
Maine guide Charlie McGee

By Brady L. Kay

“Just get up here; we’ll take good care of you.” This was the reassurance our professional fishing guide Charles McGee offered me as we got closer and closer to my guy’s fishing adventure in Maine last August. This was going to be a epic family trip that my father-in-law, my three brothers-in-laws and I had been planning for years. Forgive me if I was a little anxious to make sure all the details were worked out prior to our vacation to the northeastern-most U.S. state, but through it all Charlie kept the lines of communication open.

As an avid angler (and unofficially the over-thinker of my family), there’s something about not having to worry about tackle or rods and just being able to show up to the lake to go fishing while letting someone else sweat the details.

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
Package
Package
Drum Anchor Winch box
Box package
Bar code
The world’s first pontoon & tritoon undermount retractable anchoring solution with IP68 waterproof submersible drum anchor winch, wifi waterproof camera and wireless remote control!
Light gadget
Phone paring
www.ezanchorpuller.com/tritoon | Toll Free: 1-800-800-1640
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube

www.ezanchorpuller.com/tritoon | Toll Free: 1-800-800-1640

Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube
Our 10 Roundup department heading
Boating Gifts
Father’s Day
By Shelisa Melgaard
Father’s Day is coming up and the question, “What do I get Dad?” rises up every time. It’s not easy to get a gift for the man who’s been there as a support for you and your dreams, but now can be the time to support him in his boating dreams and give him a gift that will make his days on the water much more enjoyable. We’ve compiled ten gift ideas so you can celebrate Father’s Day stress-free while giving him something he’ll truly appreciate this year.
Dock & Dine: Top places for boaters to grab a bite
BY SHELISA MELGAARD
Spending quality time with the family on your pontoon or deck boat is about as good as it gets. Toss in a gorgeous day of bright sunshine and you’ve taken it to another level. Now add some fresh seafood or other lakeside favorites from a waterfront restaurant and you may have what some would consider the perfect day.

Docking your boat to go into a restaurant for lunch, dinner or even just a snack is a great way to break up a day on the water. Chances are good you’re already familiar with places to eat when on your favorite body of water, but what if you’re looking for a new place to eat and relax this summer while exploring different lakes? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled some of our favorite “Dock N’ Dine” places to stop when out boating with help from our followers and readers as well as our own travel experiences.

From Trial to Triumph
‘Goofy’ Sohm’s revolutionary journey in the pontoon world
By Shelisa Melgaard
‘Goofy’ Sohm’s revolutionary journey in the pontoon world
By Shelisa Melgaard
Malcolm Sohm, better known as “Goofy” to his friends, lives in North Carolina with his saintly wife Terry of 32 years. He also has two daughters, Mary Kathryn and Courtney. Goofy practically grew up on the water with his father on their paddle wheel boat in Oshkosh, Wis., from the time he was eight years old until he was 14. Boating is something his family has always loved to do. Goofy’s life was quite normal, like many other families, until he received terrible news. His youngest daughter, Courtney, was diagnosed with AIDs; needless to say, this news rocked the entire family and required many adjustments.

Goofy knew something needed to change. “When something like this happens you start to realize what is actually important in life—spending as much time as possible with those you love.”

PDB 357 TESTED badge
SOLSTICE 250
THE GOLDILOCKS LINE FROM HARRIS PONTOONS
By Brady L. Kay
smiling family enjoying their pontoon in the sunny weather
PDB 357 TESTED badge
SOLSTICE 250
THE GOLDILOCKS LINE FROM HARRIS PONTOONS
By Brady L. Kay
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears” is a 19th-century English fairy tale that has become a cozy family story over the years. After a young girl named Goldilocks enters the forest home of a family of bears consisting of “a little, small, wee bear, a middle-sized bear, and a great, huge bear,” she ends up finding the porridge, chair and eventually the bed of the youngest bear to be the most desirable or “just right” for her. If you’re not familiar with the “too hot/too cold or too hard/too soft” dialog from this fairy tale, you should probably Google it and redeem your childhood fail.

Harris engineers most likely didn’t set out with a plan to build a “Goldilocks pontoon,” but with the Solstice line it’s not [too] over-the-top with features and it’s far from being [too] simplistic. Rather, it fits in perfectly somewhere in the middle for a lot of consumers looking for a mid-level pontoon that is “just right” for their needs.

PDB 358 Tested Badge
Helly Hansen
Men’s Crew Midlayer Sailing Jacket
By Brady L. Kay
Brady L. Kay smiles and poses for a photograph outdoors on a clear sunny day as he sits back on a grey sofa couch inside a motorboat vehicle wearing a grey Helly Hansen branded crew midlayer sailing jacket
PDB 358 Tested Badge
Helly Hansen
Men’s Crew Midlayer Sailing Jacket
By Brady L. Kay
Four Helly Hansen branded crew midlayer sailing jackets in four different colors (navy blue, orange, yellow, and earth/olive green) side by side
It all started in 1877 when sea captain Helly Juell Hansen discovered a better way to stay protected from the harsh Norwegian elements and launched a business producing waterproof oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil. Fast forward nearly 150 years and Helly Hansen is now a global retail giant and the number one apparel brand for ski professionals, as well as one of the leading Scandinavian workwear brands.

However, in the boating industry, HH is best known for its sailing gear that is worn by world-class sailors across all five oceans. You don’t need to be from Norway or even know what a regatta is to appreciate its lineup of great boating gear that ranges from jackets to footwear and everything in between that is ideal for even the average recreational boater.

PDB 359 Tested Badge
COSTA DEL MAR
SANTIAGO UNTANGLED SUNGLASSES
By Roy Sparks
Costa Del Mar Santiago Untangled Sunglasses (blue tinted inner frame and black outer frame) sit upside down next to its grey protective cover case
PDB 359 Tested Badge
COSTA DEL MAR
SANTIAGO UNTANGLED SUNGLASSES
By Roy Sparks
Close-up perspective of the Costa Del Mar Santiago Untangled Sunglasses (blue tinted inner frame and black outer frame) with one part of the inner frame shining a blue light on the surface from the sun's beam/shadow
Costa is truly committed to helping our environment and it goes beyond its impressive Kick Plastic movement that was launched in 2015 to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in our waterways each year. Being responsible and respectful to the marine environment is just part of Costa’s DNA. So how could we not promote its Untangled collection of sunglasses when we first heard about it at the Miami Boat Show back in February?

Made of 97 to 100 percent recycled fishing nets, Costa’s Untangled collection of sustainable frames includes Core Performance and Beach Lifestyle options that are as good for fishing as they are for the ocean. We placed our order for the Santiago Untangled black frames with blue mirror polarized glass to see for ourselves what all the excitement was about.

Tackle box typography
Tackling
Storage
By Dan Armitage
Tackling
Storage
By Dan Armitage
Studies show that most of us fish from our deck or pontoon boat at least once each season – and often (much) more. Even aboard those boat models that are designed for the sport, the issue of safely and conveniently storing the tackle needed to wet a line can be a challenge. That’s especially true if children are part of the on board angling equation, to which anyone who has shared the deck with an elementary school-age angler can attest.

That said, adults have been known to step on a rod, trip over a tackle box or get hooked themselves while fishing aboard a boat that’s not properly outfitted for storing tackle. Here are some tips and accessories that you may want to consider to keep tackle ship-shape and out from underfoot aboard your boat. Many are available as options from the boat manufacturer and can be found as aftermarket items that can be added to make a boat better organized for angling.

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By Sky Smith
STAYING IN ‘TOON
Boating Tips and Observations with Sky Smith
The Baby Boomer Switch
Sky Smith Headshot
As you might have realized, I like to talk. My wife says it’s because my astrological sign is Leo, which apparently is someone who likes attention and wants to command a room and of course, talk. She also says I have a “side” of Gemini, which apparently is another sign that likes to talk.

When I talk, I spend a lot of my time educating and informing new buyers and first-time owners about boating. Not because I am the preeminent authority, but because I believe new owners need to go into boating with their eyes open as to what it is really like to own a pontoon. The good as well as the not so good.

Pontoon and Deck Boat
Thanks for reading our June 2023 issue!