Sept 15 –18, 2005 - Lake George in Water Boat Show

Sponsored by The Lake George Area Boat Dealers
Sept 15 – 18, 2005
(Thurs – Sun)
Sponsored by
YOUR LIFE. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
Managed by
The Post-Star
2 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
10 Proud Dealers
450 years Experience
33 Leading Brands
Sept 15
–
18,
2005
(Thurs – Sun)
Lake George Forum, Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845
(2200 Rt. 9, Lake George, NY: I -87 to Exit 21; see www.mapquest.com for further directions)
Thurs Sept 15: 12 PM -7 PM • Fri 16: 12 PM -7 PM • Sat 17: 10 AM -7 PM • Sun 18: 10 AM -5 PM
FREE PARKING. General Admission $7.50; children 12 & under free
Cruisers • Pontoons • Ski • Sail • Fishing • Performance
PWC • Docks • Boat Lifts • Marine Accessories
Sponsored by
Managed by
YOUR LIFE. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
www.boatlakegeorge.com
(518) 371-6363
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 3
The Post-Star
It’s Showtime!
Welcome to the “fall edition” Lake George Boat Show
10 proud dealers… 450 Years experience…33 top manufacturers
Snag a deal on a brand new ‘05’s or
a pre-owned boat. Be among the first
to see and get your order in on a new
’06.
For tens of thousands of consumers
in the Northeast, boat ownership is a
dream come-true. Quality of life
abounds for those fortunate enough to
have chosen this time-honored
tradition of cruising the lakes of the
Adirondacks, and beyond. From
cruisers to sailboats, fishing to skiboats, performance boats to pontoons,
there's a boat for everyone to enjoy.
And at the heart of it all, is quality
time well spent on the water with
family & friends.
Whether you’re a camp owner, rent
a slip at a marina, or trailer your boat
from lake to lake, there are thousands
of miles of waterways to explore and
thousands of reasons for you to
embrace this great lifestyle.
So come aboard…live the dream,
and “jump in” to the fall edition of The
Lake George Boat Show.
A one-stop-shop for the boating
enthusiast
Save weeks of time and thousands
of miles in travel at The Lake George
Boat Show this Thursday, Friday,
Saturday & Sunday.
This 2nd annual Lake George Boat
Show showcases a veritable “who’s
who” of local area dealers representing
the best manufacturers in the boating
world today. “It’s truly a one -stopshop for boaters”, says Great White
Productions President Jeff Fraser, the
producer of the event “You can bring
your boating questions to any of the
ten family owned dealers on hand and
see everything from a dinghy to a 39
foot cruiser to a trailer, dock or boat
lift. You can also save thousands of
dollars in show specials as each
independent dealer competes to earn
your business.
Formally known as the Lake George
Boating Expo, The Lake George Boat
Show has been re-branded with a new
name and a new logo to reflect the
quality of the participating marinas
and their respective boat lines.“ We’ve
had an awesome season for boating
this summer and all of our marinas
have done great” claimed Nick Barber,
one of the members of the ten dealer
Lake George Boat Dealers Association.
“As a group, all ten of our
independently owned boat dealers
deliver over 450 years of experience &
service to generations of boaters and
represent 33 of the best boat brands
on the market today” he continued.
Over 33 brands and 50 individual
boats will be on display in the 30,000
square foot Lake George Forum,
September 15-18 making it the largest
indoor show of its type in the region.
“It’s good to see a TRUE boat show of
this magnitude returning to Lake
George for the second time this year”,
Fraser quipped. “It’s also a guaranteed
cure for two-foot-itus”.
Enjoy your time with us. We’re glad
to have you here.
Lake George Forum
Jeff Fraser
President
Great White Productions
SHOW HOURS:
Thursday, Sept. 15 ~
12:00 noon - 7:00 pm
Friday, Sept 16 ~
12:00 noon - 7:00 pm
Saturday, Sept 17 ~
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday, Sept. 18 ~
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
ADMISSION:
Adults ~ $7.50;
Children under 12 ~ FREE
when accompanied by
an Adult.
FREE Parking
250 OFF
$
REGULAR
ADMISSION
to the
“fall edition”
Lake George
Boat Show
at the Lake
George Forum
September 15 September 18.
Must fill out below
for coupon to be
valid:
Name: ________________
Address: ____________
______________________
______________________
Phone #: ____________
4 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
The Post-Star
Your Next Great Deal
is at
The Lake George
Boat Show
• NEW 2006 Models
• GREAT Pre-owned Selection
• Model Year-End closeouts
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 5
The Post-Star
Adirondack Marine
Wake surfing is among the newest rages
in water sports to hit Lake George. In fact,
it may have been invented on Lake
George, some forty years ago.
That was when Adirondack Marine
founder Tom Roach owned Tom's Ski
School and was experimenting with
virtually every possible variation in water
skiing, using parachutes, kites, his bare
feet and ski jumps to put on shows that
were highlights of Lake George summers.
With Tom's children now involved with
many of the business's operations,
Adirondack Marine remains at the
forefront of Lake George water sports.
It has one of the best equipped proshops in the region and is staffed by
skiers and boarders who understand the
sport and are able to outfit customers
with the equipment that fits their skill
level to the best advantage. The pro shop
also offers wakeboard clinics and demos
right outside its front door. Adirondack
Marine is located at Bayfront Cottages, a
Lake George resort owned and operated
by the Roach family since 1952. So in
addition to high-end wakeboard and ski
equipment, customers have access to
Adirondack Marine's professional
expertise. "Because we're skiers, people
value our opinions," says Roach.
Adirondack Marine is also the
northeast's largest dealer for the premier
water sports boat, Nautique from Correct
Craft.
The company was honored for the 3rd
year in a row with the J.D. Powers Award
for the best water sports boats on the
market. And Adirondack Marine, for four
years in a row, was recognized by the
company as one of the top ten Correct
Craft Dealers in the United States and
Canada, receiving the rating of #1 in the
United States and Canada for 2004. To
qualify, the dealer must receive at least a
99% approval rating from its customers
for the quality of service they receive
when buying a boat, when its delivered
and when its serviced.
"Correct Craft has always been the
water skier's boat of choice, and it
continues to be the boat that water skiers
use to break world records," says Roach.
"The company invented the wakeboard
tower system that more or less created
the world of wakeboarding."
Among the exceptional models offered
this year, says Roach, is the Sport
Nautique SV-211, which can accommodate
either slalom skiers or wake boarders by
virtue of the technology that makes it
possible to create 'designer wakes,' one
suited for the skier, the other for the wake
boarder. "It's also an exceptional ride,"
says Roach.
Another remarkable Nautique, says
Roach, is the Super Air Nautique 210,
ranked as the number one boat by wake
boarders for, among other things, its huge
wake.
For slalom skiers, the ideal boat is the
Ski Nautique 196. The boat has dominated
tournaments for more than 40 years,
producing the smallest, softest wake on
the water.
In 1999, Adirondack Marine added
another water sports boat, Tige, to its
line."Tige builds a wider, deeper hull that's
ideal for Lake George and for families,"
says Roach. Adirondack Marine also
received special recognition from Tige in
2004 for Customer Service Satisfaction,
which is determined by customer surveys
and comments conducted by Tige.
Among the Tige boats being featured
by Adirondack Marine this year is the 22i.
"It's a very creative design; a great boat
for Lake George," says Roach. “ The
interior layout is perfect for a crowd”. The
22v is another of Tige’s crowd-pleasers
with it’s family-friendly interior that lends
itself toward a fun-filled day of
wakeboarding and tubing or just to get
out on the lake and enjoy. Tige’s headturner for 2005 is the 24v, which is
winning praise throughout the water
sport industry for its hull design, ride and
spaciousness. Tige has consistently been
recognized for its design innovations and
versatility since it’s start in 1996.
What distinguishes all water sports
boats from other types, Roach says, are
the features that make them the best
handling boats on the water, giving the
driver the ability to see everything around
him and the instant control he needs to
adjust and maintain speeds for tubing,
skiing and wakeboarding. The inboard
engines boast 330+ hp geared for pulling
and will not strain when a skier has made
a hard turn. Some of those features are
functions of the inboard engines, which
Roach says are extremely reliable and
durable, requiring nothing more than
routine maintenance for many years.
Adirondack Marine is located at
Bayfront Cottages, a Lake George resort
owned and operated by the Roach family
since 1952 on Lakeshore Drive, north of
Lake George Village. It also has service
and indoor and outdoor storage facilities
north of the village on Route 9.
Correct Craft named Adirondack Marine
#1 Dealer in Customer Service Satisfaction
for US and Canada
SALES - SERVICE - STORAGE
WATERSPORT PRO SHOP
518-668-2658
Log on to www.adirondackmarine.net
for a look at our selection of new and pre-owned inboards
The Post-Star
6 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
Beckley’s Boats
Beckley’s has been a family run
company since 1965. Since then,
they have been offering a truly
pleasurable experience, helping their
customers enjoy memorable
moments on the beautiful waters of
New York.
Starting out as a boat rental
operation, they now offer for sale
four premium lines of quality boats:
Lund fishing boats, Ranger Bass
boats, Bryant family fiberglass
classics and Odyssey Pontoon boats.
All these are powered by an
impressive line-up of engines.
Beckley Boats are a full service
dealership for Mercruiser, Johnson,
Evinrude, Mercury and Yamaha.
Their years of experience will help
you decide on the boat and motor
combinations that will enhance your
boating pleasure.
Beckley’s Albany facility is located
at 20222 Central Ave. near Taft
furniture. The crew managed by
Brian Newell, has a total of over 125
years of experience in boating. They
will help you choose the boat that’s
right for you.
To choose from Lund, Ranger,
Bryant, Odyssey and a large
selection of pre- owned boats, check
cut Beckley’s on Central Ave. and on
the web at www.beckleysboats.com.
old-fashioned canoeing or kayaking
too.
Beckley’s offers a full line of Lund
aluminum boats, over 90 different
models, from Jon boats to the 21’
Baron open bow.
Since 1948, Lund has earned the
reputation of being the finest fishing
boat that money can buy.
Beckley’s boat rental operation is
located on Lake Shore Drive in
Beckley’s also offers Ranger Bass
Diamond Point, NY. If you have never
boats and multi-species boats. If
experienced a self-piloted cruise on
tournament fishing is your passion,
the Queen of American lakes, you
Beckley’s has a computer program
owe it to yourself to do so.
that will let you design your own
boat, right down to the color of your
Beckley’s has boats for cruising,
pin stripes. Ranger is the top gun in
fishing, skiing or just relaxing on a
bass boats, the one others try to
leisurely shoreline cruise. You can
rent a pontoon boat to simulate your imitate.
own powered private island
The newest addition to the
complete with sun-loungers and
Beckley’s family of boats is the
stereo.
Bryant line. Bryant Boats are for the
discriminating buyer. They are built
Beckley’s also offers fishing boats
and local information on the best hot to the highest standards in the
spots in the area. If you would like to industry with almost all the
amenities one can dream of.
be self-propelled, you can do some
The Bryant family runs and backs
these boats for a hassle-free boating
experience. No wood is used in their
construction and they are
handcrafted to achieve the highest
customer satisfaction. You cannot
build a better fiberglass boat than a
Bryant.
For the pontoon sailor, Beckley’s is
proud to offer the Odyssey line of
pontoons. Odyssey offers both twin
and triple pontoon configurations
with all the features, the all-day
adventurer could ask for. They are
truly home away from home on the
water.
The Odyssey Lextra series is
always considered the best show
with its built in galley, refrigerator,
sun lounger top, rear entry and
changing room. Don’t buy a pontoon
boat until you have checked out the
Odyssey difference
http://www.beckleysboats.com/
“We Aim To Please”
2022 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
518-456-7170
www.beckleysboats.com
[email protected]
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 7
The Post-Star
Boats By George
"The experience of buying a
boat should be enjoyable and
educational," says Pensel. "I
want to understand the
individual boater's needs, and
be of assistance to them if I
can. If I can't accommodate
their needs, I'll recommend a
dealer who can. I enjoy our
business, I like the people, and
I like to make people happy."
Pensel calls his sales team
"delivery specialists." He
explains: "Our customers are
On June 1, 2005, the former
essentially
building a boat. We help
“Mooring Post Marina” on Cleverdale
them
select
the options and the
in Sandy Bay was purchased &
specifications that will suit them.
renamed, Boats by George…”On The
We're with them through the
Lake” and fulfills a lifelong dream of
construction and preparation of the
marina ownership on Lake George and
boat. We deliver the boat to the
a second great location for Boats By
customer's dock, where we spend two
George.
to three hours helping him become
Ever since George Pensel
familiar and comfortable with it. We
established Boats By George in 1982,
define success as the delivery of a
he's strived for one goal and one goal
boat that matches its new owner's
alone and that is to exceed customers' dreams."
expectations. "Boater satisfaction Pensel hopes that Boats by George's
that's what makes the difference in our exhibit at the Forum will encourage
business," Pensel beams. And proof of
his personal conviction to customer
satisfaction can be found in his
flagship store at the corner of Route 9
& 149, where an impressive collection
of crystal awards adorns his credenza.
Among them, four Cobalt Platinum
Dealer Awards and another from Four
Winns, (awarded to only 23 of Four
Winn's 150 nationwide dealers), each
representing exemplary customer
satisfaction.
“Of course”, as Pensel readily
admits, "great service has to be
coupled with great products."
“Fortunately, Cobalt just happened to
be the first brand we carried at Boats
By George, and by marrying their
reputation for high quality, high
performance pleasure boats with our
commitment to excellence, the future
was so bright, we never looked back”.
Since then, Boats by George has
added Four Winns, and Sugar Sand Jet
Boats to their line-up.
While most of Pensel's customers
are sophisticated, knowledgeable
boaters who are in the market for a
new, perhaps larger, more luxurious
boat, he serves the novice boater as
well. "We see the Sugar Sand jet boat
as an entry level boat," he says. "We
also offer high quality, late model preowned boats."
those attending the show to visit the
dealer's headquarters at the
intersection of Route 9 and 149 or at
their new “on the lake” facility on
Cleverdale in Sandy Bay. "We're very
proud of our two facilities," says
Pensel. Our Route 149 locale has been
the home of Boats by George since
1982, with the main building
renovated in 1999 to allow for more
space for offices, the ship store and
parts department. In 2003, he also
built a new, 8000 square foot
showroom - the area's largest. "Every
day is a boat show at Boats by
George," Pensel says. “Our new
location on Cleverdale features a great
ship store, gas docks, slips, pumpouts, emergency repair and the ever
popular quick-launch”.
"Lake George and the entire
Adirondack region is our market," says
Pensel. "We happen to live in an area
that's experiencing dramatic growth.
“We're serving customers on Schroon
Lake, Sacandaga, Lake Placid and the
Saranac chain."
That constitutes a demanding
clientele, but one that Pensel believes
Boats by George is more than qualified
to serve.
"We want people to spend their time
enjoying their boat, not worrying
about it, he says. "We make owning a
boat easy."
Boats by George, he says, not only
winterizes, stores and services its
customers' boats in the off-season, its
staff makes house calls in summer.
"Our people are on the water taking
care of customers," he says. "We're
usually no more than a half hour away
from a customer's dock."
George Pensel grew up on Lake
George. His father opened Dunhams
Bay Boat Company in 1948, where
George went to work as a dock boy
when he was 15. After graduating from
Ashland University in Ohio, he
returned to Lake George to go into the
boat business himself. Asked if he had
ever given any thought to moving
away, he replied, "How could I leave
Lake George? My name is George. It's
my lake and I have two great
locations!"
The Post-Star
8 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
Castaway Marina
Castaway Marina, owned and
operated by two generations of the
Matthews’ family, is located at two
easily accessible sites where four
quality boat lines can be purchased.
The marina, located at Warner Bay 9L
on Lake George, is a full service marina
which includes a public boat launch, a
ship’s store, dockage and storage
facility and a year-round service
department. The Castaway Marina
showroom, one of the largest in the
area, is conveniently located at the
corner of Bay Road and Rte 149 in
Queensbury, N.Y. Castaway is the
proud dealer of Master Craft, Campion,
JC Pontoon, and, most recently, Fisher
boats.
The Fisher lineup brings a
full range of aluminum mod V
and deep V fishing boats,
utility and Jon boats,
aluminum deck boats, as well
as fishing and family-friendly
pontoon boats. The majority
of Fisher boats come as a full
package: boat, Mercury O/B,
and trailer. Fisher boats have
created the best of what
aluminum boats can be based
on, as to performance,
innovation, and, of course, lasting
value. Fisher
boats compliment Castaway’s
existing boat lines.
Master Craft was Castaway
Marina’s first boat line. It is one of
the world’s premier ski boats and
has set the stage for what Castaway
expects from all its boat lines.
While every boat built by Master
Craft embodies the same standards
of craftsmanship, beauty, and
performance, each model is unique.
They range from tournament level
ski and wakeboard boats, the
Prostar and the X-Star,
to the Mari Star,
FISHER Hawk 170 Sport
a luxury high performance boat
named “2004 Boat of The Year”
by Boating Magazine.
Campion, Canada’s largest
independent boat manufacturer
uses the same manufacturing
techniques as Master Craft. The
two boat lines have comparable
strengths and qualities. Campion
offers three series of boats:
Allante, Explorer, and Chase.
The Allante ranges from a 16 ft
runabout to a 30 ft cruiser that
sleeps five. The Explorer is a
rugged, indestructible utility boat
and the Chase line offers luxury,
high-speed performance boats.
JC Pontoon is the Cadillac of
pontoon boats. Research reveals
its superior quality. In addition,
JC Pontoon will customize a boat
to match individual needs, such
as for the handicapped.
As a family business, Castaway
Marina takes pride in its friendly,
reliable, and professional service.
John, Diane, Thalia and the
Castaway staff invite you to visit
them at both locations or at
www.castawaymarina.com.
CAMPION 825 Allante
SHOWROOM:
MARINA
Corner of Bay Road & Route 149,
Queensbury, NY - (518) 743-8433
Route 9L Warner Bay
Lake George, NY - (518) 656-3636
WWW.CASTAWAYMARINA.COM
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 9
The Post-Star
Dockside Landing Marina
are the best available in the
market place!
No other dealer has a bigger
selection or more choices!
• Formula – Premiere
Performance Boats, Sun Sports
and Cruisers
• Regal – Sport Boats, Cruisers,
n
and Sport Yachts
• Larson – Runabouts,
Deckboats, Cuddies, and
Cruisers
• Sea Doo – Jet Boats
t
• Ski Centurion – Wakeboard
and Ski Boats
• Pre-owned - Dockside Landing
has a large variety of select preDockside Landing is the region’s premier
owned boats.
marine dealer due to a very simple
strategy – Focus on the customer, before,
The most important component to our
during, and after the sale! Exceptional
success is the fact that Dockside Landing’s
associates are the most qualified team in
y customer service, premium products, and
the region!
excellent value equate to extremely
• Joel Holden – Sales Manager
satisfied customers; it sounds simple but
• Jason Marchese – Sales and Financial
we work extremely hard to accomplish this
Consultant
ultimate goal. At Dockside Landing, the
• Jennifer Litwa – Sales and Marketing
entire team takes great pride in providing
Coordinator
our customers with the best products and
services anywhere!
Dockside Landing is also the
region’s largest marine operation
with over 30,000 sq. ft. of indoor
sales, service, and storage space
throughout our three convenient
locations:
• Dockside Landing Marine
Center and Showroom located
in Lake George Village
• Dockside Landing Marina
located on Lake George in
Hague
• Dockside Landing Boating
Center located in Ticonderoga
- serving Lake George and
Lake Champlain
Dockside Landing’s facilities
and services are a cut above!
• Brand new 25,000 sq. ft. yearround heated sales, service,
and storage facility
• Mobile service trucks –
offering Dockside service
• Sea Tow on-water towing
services
• Certified marine technicians
• Custom canvas and upholstery
shop
• Structural fiberglass repair and
complete boat detail shop
Dockside Landing’s products
• Mike Mullen – General Manager
• Dan O’Connor – Service Manager
• And the most qualified service
technicians and administrative
personnel anywhere!
Dockside Landing News:
Dockside Landing and Regal Marine
make waves!
Dockside Landing now represents Regal
Marine Sport Boats and Sport Yachts in
upstate NY and Vermont. Regal builds
quality sport boats, cruisers, and sport
yachts from 19 ft to over 50 ft. “When you
combine the best boats with the best
dealer you have a recipe for success.
There was a long list of prospective
dealers interested in representing Regal,
but Dockside Landing stood out among the
rest. Dockside Landing’s professionalism,
personnel, and facilities are far superior.”
Formula introduces the 240 BR and 31
Performance Cruiser for the 2005 model
year. Make sure you stop by the Dockside
Landing booth to see the long awaited, all
new, 24ft. bowrider – available for as little
as $349/ mo.
Larson is all new for 2005. Check out
the value-packed LXI’s and the reintroduction of the exciting Senza sport
runabouts.
Sea Doo continues to raise the
excitement bar with 4 new models,
complimenting the most comprehensive
line-up of jetboats in the industry. Checkout the new inter-cooled supercharged 215
hp Speedster – guaranteed to elevate your
adrenaline level to new highs!
Ski Centurion wakeboard and ski boats
– innovation, quality, and unsurpassed
value. Before you consider the higher
priced competition, find out why Ski
Centurion is the fastest growing towboat
company.
For additional information please
contact Dockside Landing by calling 518668-4300 or visit our website at
www.LakeGeorgeBoats.com
The Post-Star
10 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
Dunham’s Bay
SeaRay/Silverton
Dunham’s Bay Sea Ray- the oldest
boat dealer on Lake George has
changed its name to Dunhams’ Bay
SeaRay/ Silverton.
Owned and operated by Roger and
Karen Howard, the marina has been in
operation as a Sea Ray dealership since
1970 when Roger first took on the Sea
Ray line after spotting their display at
the New York City Boat Show. Since
then the operation has expanded to
include another marina on Lake
Champlain in North Hero, VT---a
highway location on Route 7 in South
Burlington, and the newest and largest
showroom which opened on TroySchenectady Rd. in Latham in 1998.
The adage that “we are where you boat”
definitely applies here with four full
service operations spanning from south
of Albany to the Canadian border.
Sea Ray offers a range of boats
suitable to almost every need and taste
running the gamut from entry-level
boats to live aboard cruisers. The most
popular Sea Ray on Lake George is the
Sundancer, which varies in size from 26’
to 48’. Every one of them is spacious
enough to serve as a weekend cruiser
and luxurious enough for even the most
demanding passenger. They’re powered
by MerCruiser stern drives, assuring
superb and
safe handling,
high
performance
and easy
maintenance.
Karen and
Roger are
quite proud
of the fact
that they are
the only Sea
Ray Master
Dealers in
New York.
That designation is awarded to dealers
with the best sales facilities and service
departments, and the best trained
staffs. To qualify, a dealership must
meet more than 100 standards, each
one measured by an independent
expert. To maintain the status, the
dealership must pass annual
inspections. Both the Lake George
and Latham stores have achieved this
certification.
The Howard’s added the Silverton
Yacht line in
2003 to fulfill
the need for
luxurious
yachts at
affordable
prices.
Silverton
offers sport
yachts from
33’ to 48’ all
complete with
bridges and
large windows
to make them
truly a floating summer home. Silverton
has proven itself a perfect compliment
to the already very successful Sea Ray
line. Dunham’s Bay Sea Ray of Latham
received the award as one of the most
rapidly growing dealers in the Silverton
family.
Roger and Karen are joined in their
business venture by their son Heath,
who shares his many talents between
the various operations. All of the
Howard’s live in the Lake George area
and are very active in the community.
Roger has been active on the board
of directors of the Lake George
Association, the lake’s oldest and
largest protective organization for many
years. Karen is serves on the board of
the Crandall Library, Chapman Museum
and is involved with many other local
civic organizations.
The Howard’s host activities each
season to keep in touch with their
boating family. The annual island party
in September has become a tradition in
the Lake George area. The Pig Roast in
Latham breaks up the winter blahs with
a great party that puts the boaters back
together with their summer boating
friends. Their philosophy is that they
are not the best dealer in the area
because they are the oldest—they are
the oldest because they are the best!
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 11
The Post-Star
FR Smith & Sons Marina
No history of Bolton Landing would
be complete without a chapter devoted
to the Smith family and the marina that
F.R. Smith established on Sagamore
Road in 1921.
F.R. Smith began making cedar
rowboats in the 1880's, supplying the
great hotels along the lake with the
distinctive boats that rival the
Adirondack guide-boat for beauty
and craftsmanship and are perfectly
suited to Lake George.
When electric boats became
fashionable, the marina serviced
those, even building a waterpowered generator to charge their
batteries. When boats powered by
internal combustion engines
replaced those, Smith's retained
electric boats for use as fishing
boats, guiding luminaries like the
governors who attended the
conference at the Sagamore in 1954,
when Vice President Richard Nixon
announced the birth of America's
interstate highway system.
Fred Smith worked on the
steamboats of Spenser and Katrina
Trask; his son, Jim Smith, worked on
the Ellide, the fastest steamboat in the
world.
It was the boat builders and
mechanics of F.R. Smith who developed
the stepped hull that made El Lagarto
outboard engines. It’s still a Johnson
and Evinrude dealer.
And the marina is still owned by the
the only boat to win three Gold Cup
championship races.
F.R. Smith and Sons was the first
dealer in America to sell Johnson
same family. Today the general manager
is Scott Andersen, a lifelong resident of
Bolton Landing himself and, like Fred
Smith, has served as Town Supervisor,
active in its affairs. Andersen also
currently serves as a member of the
Town Board.
Andersen is not just a manager.
"I'm a gear head," he says. "I'm still in
the shop; re-wiring, re-powering
engines & installing new drives."
With Andersen at the helm, F.R.
Smith and Sons maintains the
traditions established by Fred Smith.
It's still a full service marina. It still
owns antique mahogany boats,
which are available for charter. And
while it no longer makes rowing
boats, it does sell Old Town canoes
and kayaks.
Of greatest importance, today's
staff at F.R. Smith and Sons maintains
the traditions of integrity, loyalty to
customers, and expertise about
every aspect of boats and boating.
F.R. Smith and Sons is now the
region's premier dealer of Sea Swirl,
which, Scott Andersen says, is one of
the nation's top-rated fishing boats.
But, he adds, they also make sports
boats, bow riders and family
runabouts. "Whether you're looking for
fun, a versatile cruiser or a sturdy
fishing vessel, Seaswirl gives you the
ultimate boating experience," he says.
FULL SERVICE MARINA ON LAKE GEORGE SINCE 1921
OUTBOARDS
Premiere Sea Swirl Dealer in the Adirondacks.
COME SEE US AT THE
LAKE GEORGE FORUM
BOAT SHOW
March 31st - April 3rd
Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing, NY
Phone: (518) 644-5181 • www.frsmithand sonsmarina.com
The Post-Star
12 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
Pilot Knob Marina
Buy your boat where you’re going to
use it” says Nick Barber, co-owner of
Pilot Knob Marina. “If you’re planning
on boating on Lake George this summer,
it just makes sense to buy your boat on
Lake George. Catering to your specific
needs (and wants), you and your boat
will be cared for by people who want to
get to know you and certainly know the
Lake”.
On Lake George since 1926, Pilot
Knob Marina offers a boat line so well
adapted to the Lake that Barber and his
partner Mike Smith quip that you’ll
swear the boat designer actually lived
on the Lake.
The Brand? Chaparral of course. A
high-end luxury
performance boat
that
consistently wins Boat of the Year
honors!
Rare among American boat
companies, it is still owned by its’
founder, Rick Pegg. “He’s a legend” says
Smith. “He began making fiberglass
dinghies for boaters who wanted to row
to their moorings when he was still in
high school!. Then one day, someone
asked him to make one that could carry
an outboard engine; and the
rest as they say…is
history. I have so much
respect for him” Barber
beamed.
Pegg is still involved
in the operation of
Chaparral, from the
Research &
Development of
new models to
satisfying the
demands of their
expansive dealer network.
Among the Chaparral
models featured by Pilot
Knob this year is the 265, a
dual-purpose sport boat and
plush cruiser. According to co-owner
Smith, “Lake George Boaters
consistently report back that they get
more than they expected from their
Chaparral, even though they knew they
were investing in a premiere boat at
time of purchase”. Not surprisingly
then, almost half of Pilot Knobs annual
sales come from personal references
provided by proud Chaparral owners.
“Great products however demand
great service, as the one
cannot exist without
priority” exudes Barber. Both Mike
Smith & Nick Barber share this
commitment to customer satisfaction as
they have since 1986 when they became
partners in Pilot Knob. ”We’re ideal
partners…we have the same
philosophy” Smith continued.
Pilot Knob Marina has two locations,
the second one serving as a dry land
showroom and ship store in summer,
and Arctic Cat snowmobile and
ATV dealer in winter.
the
other. If it
breaks, we fix it
the first time and it
stays fixed! We’ve made
customer service our
From 18’-31’ Cuddys, Bow Riders, Deck Boats & Cruisers
Your Local Chaparral Dealer for 20 Years.
Stop By Our Booth & Let Us Show You the Chaparral Difference
C U D D Y S
B O W
R I D E R S
D E C K
B O A T S
C R U I S E R S
OPEN 7 DAYS 10AM-6PM
Sales • Service • Storage • Gas • Beer • Groceries • Ship Store
Pilot Knob Road on The Lake, Lake George, NY • 761-9616
www.pilotknob.com
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 13
The Post-Star
Shoreline Boat Sales
Shoreline Boat Sales is located in the
south end of Lake George Village at 21
Sewell Street. The property consists of an
indoor showroom, six service bays,
Waterfront facilities for dockage & launch
and an outdoor storage yard. Shoreline Boat
Sales became the region's Chris Craft dealer
in 1995. Since then, they have seen the
addition of Fountain Powerboats, Doral
Cruisers and Sportboats and most recently,
Gekko Ski & Tow boats. With these
prestigious additions to Shoreline’s line-up
come the plans to further grow the
operation in 2006 by enlarging the
showroom and adding additional storage
space. “Creating a long term relationship by
extending exceptional hospitality and
service to our customers is our highest
priority, we’re going to do whatever it takes
to accomplish that goal” states Dennis
Quirk, president of Shoreline Boat Sales.
The last few years have seen great
changes and improvements in Shoreline’s
premier Dealer line, Chris Craft Boats.
“Chris Craft always meant classic elegance,
beautiful craftsmanship, superb quality,
reliability, service and a unique heritage,"
says Quirk. "It still does."
Today's Chris Crafts, Quirk says,
incorporate the beautiful lines and
distinctive flared bow that made the wooden
Chris Crafts icons of American style. With
state-of-the art technology and engineering,
modern Chris Crafts perform superbly and
handle easily on big, open waters like Lake
George. "The boat's deep v-hull gives it
remarkable stability," says Quirk. "And with
Chris Craft's dedication to craftsmanship,
it's a luxury boat that's built to last a
lifetime."
For those curious about the new Chris
Crafts, including the incredibly popular
“Speedster”, a visit to Shoreline Boat Sales is
well worth the time. Quirk and company
have every model in stock and available for
inspection at their Lake George showroom.
Shoreline Boat Sale’s other brands are no
less distinguished. It represents Fountain,
which is currently celebrating its 25th
Anniversary of building "the world's fastest,
safest, smoothest, best handling boats," and
Doral, a Canadian brand which he says
deserves to be ranked among the best-built
boats on the market.
While Fountain is best known for its high
speed performance boats like the
"Lightening," "Fever" and "Executioner," the
company also makes fishing boats and
luxury yachts. "Every design is a
competition-proven winner and is built with
the finest materials available," he says. The
folks at Fountain promote their product as
“The best value in Performance Boating”.
Fountains “standard features” are routinely
considered “add on options” with other boat
manufacturers. Coupled with Mercury
Marine engine products, there are four
words that best describe a Fountain
Powerboat: Dependable, Efficient, Affordable
& Unbeatable.
Doral's motto of "the art of luxury," is
more than just a catchy phrase, Quirk notes
“it’s the goal that the Doral engineers are
working hard to achieve, and they’re
succeeding beautifully”. I’m so proud to be a
member of the Doral family; they continually
impress me with their commitment to
quality and the drive to produce the best
possible boating experience for our
customers. These Canadian boats, which
range from runabouts to yachts, are built
with years of experience. “The Doral name
is relatively new to our area but I knew that
such a first class product would eventually
catch the attention of today’s well informed
boaters. I wasn’t too surprised when the
demand for Doral Cruisers began to
skyrocket over the last year.” Doral boats
are available with a choice of engines
manufactured by either MerCruiser or Volvo
Penta, which allows us to give our
customers everything they want in an
engine together with a boat designed to fit
every boating need.
Shoreline Boat Sales was established in
1993. In 1998, the company having grown
into a full service dealership, built and
moved into a new facility at 21 Sewell Street.
In addition to the showroom and sales
offices, the building houses a full Service
and Parts department. It's open year round.
"Whether its sales or service, our attitude
is, 'the customer comes first,'" says Quirk.
"Our service and parts department are
staffed by technicians trained and certified
by Volvo Penta, Mercury/MerCruiser and
Bombardier. Our sales staff is trained and
knowledgeable about our products. We've
produced scores of satisfied boaters over
the years, and we're proud of our record."
The Post-Star
14 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
Yankee Boating Center
Yankee Boating Center’s new retail
store and showroom on Lakeshore
Drive in Diamond Point is proudly
displaying several models of Key West
Boats and Harris Flotebote Pontoons
boats. These boats are powered by
Honda Outboards, for which Yankee has
been the exclusive area dealer for over
30 years.
Yankee’s general manager, Jon Brodie,
is also featuring them at this year’s boat
show at the Lake George Forum.
Key West Boats, says Brodie, are well
mad,e outboard powerboats, designed
for fishing and cruising. “It’s a great
company, they make a great product,
and the boats are priced competitively.
Year after year, they rank in the top
three by JD Power, but continue to be
priced well below the competition.”
One of the reasons why Key West
Boats appeal to consumers, Brodie
says, “is that many of its features, which
other companies offer as options at
additional costs, are standard on Key
West Boats”.
“These boats are especially wellsuited for Lake George” he adds,
“They’re comfortable, unsinkable,
maintenance free boats. Their deep V
hulls were designed for rough water and
are perfect for rough, choppy days on
Lake George.”
Among the Key West boats to be
displayed at The Lake George Boat
Show are 15 ft, 19 ft, and 23 ft models.
Theses models include bow riders,
center consoles and cuddy cabins. The
rugged fiberglass hulls have a 10 year
warranty, and are all powered by Honda
Four Stroke Outboard Engines.
Yankee Boating Center is also the
exclusive dealer for Harris Flotebote
Luxury Pontoon Boats. Harris has
been a leading builder of pontoon boats
for over 45 years and offers 8 different
Yankee is also the areas only sailboat
dealer selling Precision, Laser, Sunfish,
J-Boats, and Hunter sailboats.
Many of the boats that Yankee
Boating Center offers for sale can also
be rented this summer at its lakeside
marina. With the construction of its
new year round showroom and ship
store on Lakeshore Drive, Yankee
Marina will have more space available
at the lake for rentals, sailing lessons,
hauling, launching, dockage, storage,
gas, and repairs.
The new showroom will increase
Yankee Boating Center’s visibility as a
boat dealer as well as cater to the needs
of Lake George boaters. Open year
round, the store offers the areas most
complete line of boating supplies,
including waterskiis, wakeboards, water
trampolines, maintenance supplies,
sailing hardware, foul weather gear,
safety and navigational equipment. The
store even offers nautically themed
gifts, are work, and home furnishing.
Located in Diamond Point on Lake
George since 1972, Yankee Boating
Center is a family owned and operated
models in sizes from 18 to 27 feet. From business that has earned an unrivaled
fishing, to waterskiing, to luxurious
reputation for service to its customers,
cruising, Harris has it all.
the lake and Lake George boating.
668-2861
Visit Our NEW Lake George Ship’s Store & Showroom!
Saturday, September 10, 2005 – 15
The Post-Star
Great White Productions salutes the ten family owned marinas
of the Lake George Area Boat Dealers
and encourages you to patronize their marinas
for all of your boating needs!
Be sure to mark your calendars for the following great events
produced by Great White Productions!
Visit us online for show dates!
www.adirondackliving.com
September 23-25, 2005 Hudson Valley
Community College
McDonough Field House, Troy, NY
www.nyhomestyle.com
March 23-26, 2006
Lake George Forum
2200 Canada Street, Lake George, NY
www.boatlakegeorge.com
16 – Saturday, September 10, 2005
The Post-Star