Lake Washington Photos

Looking East at Bellevue and the Cascade Mountains

South of I-90 Bridge

Our daughter, Susie Vannatter, and her husband, Charlie Vannatter, visited us on June 4, 2011. This was the most beautiful day this year. Susie modeled and Charlie took pictures from the west side of the I-90 Bridge. It was another wonderful day and Happy Hours in paradise! The blog’s top photos, looking south at Andrews Bay and Mt. Rainier (very top) and Happy Hours on Lake Washington, were taken this day.

More pictures are on the Happy Hours Picasa web album.

Happy Hours Dock Parties

Lake Washington pontoon boat dock parties are very popular.  We’ve had several Happy Hours parties at our and friends’ docks. These dock parties are great on nice days.  When it is cooler or windy this is more comfortable than the open water. With this luxury living-room/cocktail-lounge at the dock it makes waterfront living and parties better. Sometimes we have cocktails at the dock in luxury before dinner in the house.

We’ve had up to 16 on the lower deck enjoying cocktails while others are above on the sundeck or water-sliding. The fantastic stereo system plays on both levels. The main level includes luxurious seating, 2 drink and appetizer tables, multiple cup and drinking glass holders, a wine and storage cellar, and a wet bar with a blender, an electric wine and glasses rack and a refrigerator.

Susan and I love taking our boat to friends’ docks for their parties. If you are having a dockside party, give us a call.

More pictures are on the Happy Hours Picasa web album.

Tom’s Boat Shop Seattle

Tom’s Boat Shop -- Seattle Area in Ballard
5350 – 30th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
206-257-6058 Tu-Fri 9-5, Sat & Sun 10-4

I bought my boat, Happy Hours, from Tom’s Boat Shop at the Seattle Boat Show in February 2011. Tom has been selling and servicing boats in Wilbur WA for many years. Tom opened his Seattle area dealership and showroom in Ballard May 1^st, 2011. After I met Tom at the Boat Show we became good friends and he gave me a super deal for having the first of his Avalon luxury pontoon boats on Lake Washington.

I have his advertising on the sides of my boat. Because of Tom’s and my friendship and my passion for the new boat and LW sightseeing, I love taking guests for Happy Hours boating. Please let me know if you and your family, friends, associates or clients would like to join Susan and me on a Happy Hours outing or Happy Hours at the dock.

From Tom’s web page:  “Tom's Boat Shop is a Family-owned, Family run, full service boat dealer. We believe in providing the absolute best customer service possible and we mean it. Before, during and long after the sale, we treat people with the greatest respect and are available to do whatever is needed to take care of our customer. We believe premium service along with premium products is a winning package, add to that exceptional people and you end up with a one of a kind dealer who really does care!

“We specialize in new boat sales of Avalon pontoon boats.  Our full service repair facilities have state of the art equipment and certified technicians that can handle all of your repair and boat customization needs. Small town hospitality, great people and first rate service tell the story.”

Avalon Luxury Pontoon Boats

After I decided the new generation pontoon boats were perfect for Lake Washington I researched the available brands and selected Avalon. I contacted customers and they raved about Avalon’s quality, performance, features and service.

From Avalon’s web page: “Avalon Pontoon boats are a result of our total commitment to making the finest pontoon boats in the world. These luxurious boats are a beautiful composition of the finest elements known to pontoon boating, along with over 40 years of pontoon boat manufacturing experience. The finest construction, the most luxurious designs and the largest group of unique standard features create a distinctly different and clearly superior pontoon boat that will exceed your expectations.

“The latest technology, the finest materials and the best people create Avalon Pontoons. We have been building the finest U.S.A. made pontoon boats for over 40 years. Avalon is a vertically integrated builder. We manufacture the pontoons, framing, furniture, covers and more right in our own production facility [in Michigan]. Avalon is rated as having one of the lowest incidents of warranty claims in the industry and has also won the 2008, 2009 & 2010 NMMA CSI Award for outstanding customer service.All Avalon Pontoons are certified by the National Marine Manufacturer Association which lets you know it was built to meet and often exceed, the industry’s strictest quality and safety standards. According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics NMMA Certified boats are safer than non-certified boats.”

Happy Hours Boating

Lake Washington luxury pontoon boating is the way to go! Since we brought our Avalon boat, Happy Hours, home on May 10 we have had many wonderful Happy Hours boating with our friends. The weather was not always the best but we’ve had a lot of fun and are enjoying the new boat. More pictures are on the Happy Hours Picasa web album.

It is rated for 14 passengers but is most comfortable with 10 to 12 adult passengers plus the captain (me). It includes an upper deck with seating, a sunbathing area and a water slide. The main level includes luxurious seating for 14, 2 drink and appetizer tables, multiple cup and drinking glass holders, a wine and storage cellar, a privacy (porta-potty) station plus a wet bar with a blender, an electric wine and glasses rack and a refrigerator.

FREE (BYOB/D/F) rides or dock parties (I will bring the a deluxe party room to your dock) with the Happy Hours deluxe Avalon pontoon boat are for friends and family. We depart or dock on nice days at various locations on Lake Washington. The rides are usually 2 to 3 hours, depending on the passengers' desires. Locations include, but are not limited to, Luther Burbank, Madison Park, Kirkland and private docks. We take up to 12 passengers. If you are interested please reply and let me know the approximate number in your group, preferred departure location and preferred dates. We will schedule rides about one week in advance based on the weather forecast. The boat and I are also available for water skiing and kids’ parties.

Dykstras' New Boat!

Avalon Pontoon Boats in Lake WashingtonHappy Hours Launched May 7, 2011

 

Seattle's Boating Opening Day 5/7/11

On 5/7/11 Susan and I launched our new boat, “Happy Hours,” and, with our wonderful crew, we proceeded to Seattle’s Boating Opening Day celebration and boat parade. Tom’s Boat Shop and I entered Happy Hours in the parade. The Opening Day theme was "Salish Sea Treasures" and we received the Alaska Airlines Trophy for 1st place in our class (Decorated Commercial). Pictures are up on the Happy Hours Picasa web album.

Happy Hours is the first boat of its kind in the Seattle/Lake-Washington area. This is an Avalon luxury pontoon boat. It is sometimes called a party barge - but it will go 35+ mph and can pull water skiers. It is the perfect boat for Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish. You can go happy hours sightseeing in luxury or just float and with kids of all ages relaxing or playing on the water slide. It is also great extension of our dock. We now have a luxury cocktail lounge, sundeck and wet bar with refrigerator and blender at our dock.

I bought the boat from Tom’s Boat Shop at the Seattle Boat Show in February 2011. Tom opened his Seattle area dealership and showroom in Ballard in May 2011.