Pontoon

LBT’s performance of Pontoon at the 2012 CMT 2012 Music Awards on June 6 "rocked the house." This was Little Big Town’s (LBT’s) debut of Pontoon on national TV and for a standing-room-only audience at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. They performed on a pontoon boat on the stage.

Little Big Town's Pontoon video, with 9 million views, was the number one music video on Country Music Television's (CMT's) chart this summer. It is fantastic.

My Happy Hours "Pontoon" video filmed on LW and featuring this hit song “Pontoon” with LBT was uploaded June 6 and has 135,000 views from 127 countries!

If you missed my appearance on KING 5 Evening Magazine on 7/16 click here.

Pontoon boats are sweeping the country but are just starting to get popular in the PNW. The new generation of pontoon boats uses modern multi-hull technology to create the best performing and most comfortable boats of their size and price. We have used our pontoon boat, Happy Hours, more than any of our friends have used their comparable in size single hull boats. Our boat is ready to board and can be used at the dock as a living-room/cocktail-lounge or quickly launched to enjoy the lake in comfort and luxury.Dear family and friends – If you missed going out with us this year, please call or email early for an outing next year. We love sharing our fun experiences!

2012 Summer Boating in Seattle

 

We were out on our boat, Happy Hours, 53 days this summer with family and friends. 2012 summer in Seattle set the record with 81 days (mid July through mid October) with less than 0.03 inches of rain. The Dykstras’ summer on Lake Washington was the best ever! Comments from out-of-towners include, “Our most memorable day in the Seattle area.” Comments from locals include, “The best day of our summer.”

This is our second year with the boat and its reputation has grown. The number and length of visits from relatives and out-of-town friends increased. The grandkids learned to water ski behind the boat. Everyone loves the water slide! We’ve relaxed viewing the Map of the Stars, just enjoying the lake, going to waterfront restaurants and sunset rides. We viewed houses for sale and sold with Realtor friends and their clients. We’ve had slow rides pulling the big tube and higher-speed extreme tubing and water skiing.

Because the boat has flat decks and a fabulous stereo system, we’ve had wonderful dance parties on the boat. We've had fantastic party times on the boat with the flotillas at Boating Opening Day, the 4th of July on Lake Union, Seafair, and in the party coves of Andrews Bay, Meydenbauer Bay, Fairweather Bay, and Cozy Cove. We took the boat through the locks to Poulsbo and it performed beautifully in the Sound. We joined the Rainier Yacht Club which is known as “The Fun Club” and had a lot of fun with the club members and activities. I have 3,873 pictures and movies taken this year and I am in the process of editing them. The best of the summer are up on a new Happy Hours 2012 Picasa web album. Because of all the above, my golf scores are up and I am way behind in posting to this blog. I will be catching up!

Seafair 2012

Lake Washington is famous for Seattle’s Seafair summer celebration. This is a month long festival of many activities throughout Seattle and ends the first Sunday in August. The final four days feature hydroplane races and the Navy’s Blue Angels’ air shows. The hydroplane races are on the west side of the lake south of the I-90 floating bridge. The Stan S. Sayres Memorial Park, known as the “Sayres Pits” was established here in 1957. The pits are the launching, service and staging area for Seafair’s hydroplane racing boats.

The air show’s center is this area over the lake. The planes and their stunts can be seen from much of the lake and its shores. During these four days the lake is crowded with spectator boats and the lake is renowned for the associated “floating party” or “Mardi Gras on the water.” (See Seafair’s Water Party)

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 3-5, The Navy F-18 air show begins at 1 pm and the Blue Angels performance starts at 1:30 pm. (More information about the Blue Angels.)

Stan Sayres (1897-1956) was known as “The Legend of Lake Washington” and “The Fastest Man Afloat.” He was selling and racing cars in northeastern Oregon in 1926 when he had his first experience with a power-boat. He purchased a wrecked 40 mph outboard engine racing boat and began racing, designing and building race-boats. He moved to Seattle in 1931 and in 1937 he bought a 91 mph racing boat that his wife named Slow Motion. Stan changed the name to Slo-Mo-Shun, often called Slo-Mo. Stan designed, developed and built new and faster Slo-Mos. He moved to Hunts Point in the 1940s and built a 6,860 sq ft house on the tip of Hunts Point. (The house was demolished in 2008 and the vacant lot was sold March 31, 2011 for $14.8 million [see Seattle Mansions blog]). The neighbors in this sleepy community “enjoyed” (?) the roar and 30 ft rooster tails of his trials and practices.

He set his first boat-on-water speed record of 160+ mph in 1950 on LW and continued to set new records, all on LW, with his last at 178.497 mph in 1952. After his first record he took Slo-Mo IV to Detroit and won the 1950 Gold Cup, boat racing’s biggest prize. This was a big upset to the hydroplane establishment. Stan brought hydroplane racing to LW in 1951 as part of the Seafair. The first Seafair was in 1950 to celebrate the centennial of the first U.S.-European Seattle settlement. The 1951 race was the first U.S. hydroplane race west of Detroit and was a huge success. Stan became a local hero. The races are now a Seafair tradition. He received a lot of local backing for his racing against the Detroit establishment. Slo-Mo-Shun IV and V won the next four Gold Cups.

We live in the Proctor Landing area of Mercer Island directly across the lake from the pits and the center of the big show. We and nearly all of our neighbors have Seafair parties over the week-end. The planes fly low directly over our dock. After the air-shows we will be making trips with our new boat, Happy Hours, to join the spectator fleet for Seattle’s Mardi Gras. For Seafair facts and history, go to Seafair’s site.

Seattle Boat Sales Increasing

Seattle Boat Show 2012

The Marine Industry Association announced (5/16/12 Sport Fishing Magazine) the first jump in annual boat sales and boating participation since 2006. 2011 U.S. retail sales for boats, accessories and services jumped 6 percent to $32.3 billion, according to the organization’s latest Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract. In addition, boating participation increased 10 percent to 83 million (or 34.8 percent of adults, the highest since 1997). “The data signals the beginning of a recovery for the U.S. recreational boating industry,” the NMMA press release states. 2012 sales are running ahead of 2011.

Seattle area boat dealers are also seeing a major increase in sales and activity. The fastest growing segment of the recreational boating industry is pontoon boats. Pontoon type boats have evolved dramatically over the past years. They have come from spartan, low-performance, low cost water transportation and fishing platforms to high performance trimarans with a flat deck, very comfortable seating and luxurious features. These are the most versatile, stable and economical runabout boats. The top-of-the-line trimaran design provides outstanding performance with reduced water resistance and low fuel consumption. These boats are perfect for activities ranging from high speed (up to 50 mph) water sports (water skiing, tubing, etc.) to relaxed cocktail cruising and dock parties.

Dykstra’s Happy Hours

My boat, Happy Hours, is a new super-luxurious Avalon tri-toon boat. 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. We, our family and our friends are having fantastic great times with it.

Avalon Paradise Sandbar

Tom’s Boats, the area’s leading pontoon boat dealer stated: “The increase in sales this year is amazing. It’s across the board from $14,000 easy to trailer runabouts and fishing boats to the $90,000 deluxe party and water sports boats.” He is currently showing over 50 listings on Boat-Trader.com.

Dykstra at Boat Show Seattle

Seattle Boat Show 2012

Friday 1/27 – Sunday 2/5/12

800 Occidental Ave So, Seattle - CenturyLink Field

Hours:    Mon-Thur 11am – 8pm

               Fridays     11am – 9pm
               Saturdays 10am – 8pm
               Sundays    10am – 6pm

Book Signing – Author Appearance

Lake Washington 130 Homes

by David C. Dykstra

I will be at Captain’s Nautical Supplies booth, Concourse 2237, at the show signing copies of the book, playing on HDTV a new multi-media presentation of the Evening Magazine segment on the book, the book’s highlights and boating on LW. “Lake Washington 130 Homes” is a guided waterfront tour of Lake Washington’s most magnificent mansions and estates creatively woven with current and historical information about the homes, owners, their businesses and their communities.” Books will be on sale and available for purchase and, along with personal signings, I will be available for informal Q&A. Please stop by anytime at Captain’s Nautical Supplies booth – Concourse 2237.

I will be conducting a seminar Wednesday, 2/1/12, at 1:15 in the Gold Room. The seminar title is “Cruising Lake Washington: The Map of the Stars.” The seminar will be for both people who frequently and rarely boat in LW. There are more than 200 additional interesting boating and fishing seminars at the show.

I will occasionally be at Tom’s – Avalon Luxury Pontoon Boats, booth North 155. I bought my new Avalon (Avalon video) luxury pontoon boat (boating blog and video) from Tom at last year’s show. I recommend you stop by and see some of the perfect boats for the PNW. www.TomsBoatShop.com.

Go to Dykstra Boat Show pdf for more information.

Call my cell – 206-931-6065 for show passes.

Seattle Boat Show 2012

Seattle Boat Show 2012

Friday 1/27 – Sunday 2/5/12

800 Occidental Ave So, Seattle - CenturyLink Field

Hours: Mon-Thur 11am – 8pm

               Fridays     11am – 9pm
               Saturdays 10am – 8pm
               Sundays    10am – 6pm

This is the biggest boat show on the west coast. The show features more than 1,000 yachts and boats plus the latest accessories and supplies. There are more than 200 interesting boating and fishing seminars. I will be conducting a seminar Wednesday, 2/1/12, at 1:15 pm in the Gold Room. The seminar title is “Cruising Lake Washington: The Map of the Stars.” The seminar will be for both people who frequently and rarely boat in LW.

The Boat Show’s main location is indoors at the CenturyLink Field Convention Center. In addition the Show has exhibitors showing large yachts in the water at South Lake Union. There is free shuttle service between the two locations. www.seattleboatshow.com.

I will be exhibiting at Captain’s Nautical Supplies, booth Concourse 2237 and will be there most of the time. I will occasionally be at Tom’s – Avalon Luxury Pontoon Boats – booth, North 155. I will also be conducting a seminar. Click here for my personal Boat Show information.

Go to Dykstra Boat Show pdf for more information.

Call my cell – 206-931-6065 for show passes.

Captain’s Nautical at Seattle Boat Show

Seattle Boat Show 2012

Friday 1/27 – Sunday 2/5/12

800 Occidental Ave So, Seattle- CenturyLink Field

Hours:    Mon-Thur 11am – 8pm

               Fridays     11am – 9pm
               Saturdays 10am – 8pm
               Sundays    10am – 6pm

Captain’s Nautical Supplies - Booth - Concourse 2237

I will be exhibiting at this booth. Captain’s sells conventional and exotic nautical equipment and supplies, marine charts and flags of the world plus nautical and related books. The booth is close to the box office and entrance on the second floor of the parking garage. www.captainsnautical.com.

Captain’s started in Seattle as Max Kuner Company in 1897. They changed to the current name in 1979 to better reflect what they do. Their store is located at 2500 15th Ave West, Seattle, 98119, a mile south of Fishermen’s Terminal and the Ballard Bridge. The store is worth many visits for any boater.

Go to Dykstra Boat Show pdf for more information.

Call my cell – 206-931-6065 for show passes.

Tom’s Boats at Boat Show Seattle

Seattle Boat Show 2012

Friday 1/27 – Sunday 2/5/12

800 Occidental Ave So, Seattle - CenturyLink Field

Hours:    Mon-Thur 11am – 8pm

               Fridays     11am – 9pm

               Saturdays 10am – 8pm

               Sundays    10am – 6pm

Tom’s – Avalon Luxury Pontoon Boats

Booth – North 155

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 1st, 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.

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!”

I will occasionally be at his booth. I recommend you stop by and see some of the perfect boats for the PNW. www.TomsBoatShop.com.

Go to Dykstra Boat Show pdf for more information.

Call my cell – 206-931-6065 for show passes.