Dock Talk

When I was younger, my parents had a lake house in rural Vilas County, Wisconsin. This was the real Up North experience, from the call of the loons to the modest dock and a pontoon boat affectionately called Leaky Maroo.

Everyone had a dock — for swimming, fishing, tying up the family boat and gathering to watch the sunset. Most of the older ones were made of wood.

These days, however, wood isn’t the only option. Innovations in design and materials have opened the doors to more possibilities, which means lakefront property owners have decisions to make.

It’s a decision worth making carefully, as you’ll likely discover your dock becomes as important to your water life as your boat is. To this day, when my dad sees a photograph of our old Harris Lake vista, he’ll sigh and say wistfully, “My dock.”

months. Aluminum is a viable alternative, as it’s low-maintenance and lightweight, but it also can be expensive.

There’s concrete, of course, and composite. And there’s PVC.

Boyne City, Michigan-based Bulmann Dock & Lift embraced the PVC concept in 1998, when it introduced the Legacy Dock. This affordable, maintenance-free seasonal dock is made of PVC vinyl with lightweight, anodized aluminum side rails that won’t rust or corrode.

“The white vinyl conducts minimal heat, so it’s cool to the touch even on a 100-degree day,” says Chris Binger, Bulmann’s director of sales and marketing. “We use a UV inhibitor so it won’t become brittle or discolored, and it’s easy to clean. You just need a power washer or deck brush.” expensive.

Binger compares the modular dock design to using Lego pieces. You can rearrange the pieces however you wish, and a track system allows you to attach accessories such as dock boxes and kayak racks.

Wood docks have their downsides. Permanent ones are at the mercy of winter storms and ice, they are heavy, and they are expensive. You have to drive pilings, build and install the deck pieces, and attach the railings.

You can choose a seasonal wood dock, but weight can still be an issue. Some companies won’t do installations or removals simply due to the weight involved.

Plus, wood needs to be maintained, which means regular cleaning and upkeep, as well as appropriate storage during the winter

“You might not know exactly what you’re going to need five years down the road,” he explains. “You can reconfigure the dock segments to create an on-water patio, or you can create space for new watercraft. How you use it is up to you.”

And when fall arrives, you can store the dock outdoors.

“It’s stackable and has a small footprint, so it won’t be an eyesore,” Binger notes. “Some people put the stacked sections in their garage, but it’s not necessary. I would just recommend banding them together so winter storms won’t tip them over or blow them around.”

Although a Legacy Dock weighs less than a wooden counterpart, its wooden decking is screwed together in one piece. That means hiring a crew is necessary for installation and removal.

DIYers have their own solution now, however. At press time, Bulmann was preparing to launch a new dock that you can install in the spring and remove in the fall by yourself — without waders or a wetsuit. It’s called the Dream Dock.

“The frame is 60 pounds, and you can move the 30-pound deck pieces one at a time,” Binger explains. “Once the leg stands are set, you can install each segment without ever getting into the water. Each section hinges into place.

“Removal is waterless as well,” he continues. “You just lift the sections out.”

The new dock is available with options. One is venting, in case you’re in an area with heavy wave action. Another is marine board, which provides the natural look of a wood dock without the maintenance (or the splinters).

The Dream Dock is expected to have the longevity of its predecessor. Binger says many of the original Legacy Docks from 25 years ago are still in active use.

“Younger property owners who are newer to lakefront living have been really open to these docking solutions, because they want the maintenance-free aspect,” he adds. “Older people aren’t sure, because it’s not how they did it at the family cottage, but then they find out that these docks are durable and less hassle.”

Timelines are favorable too. A permanent wood dock might take a year or two to complete, whereas seasonal docks can be purchased and installed right away. The Legacy Dock is in stock now, and the Dream Dock can be built to order with less than a month of lead time.

“Here in the Boyne City area, we’ll start installing docks in mid-April,” Binger says. “Down at the Michigan-Indiana border, they’re a month ahead of us! So the season is almost here.”

Bulmann’s docking solutions are currently available in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, as well as in Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit BULMANNDOCK.COM. ★

SPECIFICATIONS

T9 / T10 / T11

LOA: 9'2" / 10'2" / 11'2"

Beam: 5'4"

Weight:

126 lbs. / 139 lbs. / 151 lbs.

Horsepower: 6 / 9.9 / 15

MSRP: $10,800

ASPENPOWER CATAMARANS.COM

CONTACT

Aspen Power Catamarans 360-668-4347

INFO@ASPENPOWER CATAMARANS.COM

pawprint.

Tenders can sometimes be a forgotten class of boat. People often get so wrapped up in their larger, primary boats — spending untold amounts of time picking out interior fabrics, electronics packages and hull paints — that the smaller boats become an afterthought. But it’s high time that practice stopped. And the Aspen Carbon Cat is here to ensure your dinghy has the flavor it needs to properly round out your fleet.

The Carbon Cats come in three different models, the T9, T10 and T11, ranging from 9 feet, 2 inches, to 11 feet, 2 inches, all with a remarkably feathery displacement spanning from 126 pounds to 151 pounds. Constructed of carbon fiber, the lightweight boats have a seaworthy hull with a fine entry that widens significantly aft to resemble that of a catamaran, which aids with both stability and lift. Performance is a key selling point here; the T11 can reach a top speed of 21 mph with a single 9.9-hp outboard, proving an impressive speed to hp ratio.

Designed by Aspen Power Catamarans, all of the boats’ gunwales are lined with a thick foam bumper made from SeaDek HD. This material makes for an incredibly durable protective barrier, and eliminates the chance of unsightly scratches and abrasions. The Carbon Cat’s seating areas are also lined with the same material, which aids with both comfort and grip while underway.

Notably, though these boats will compete almost exclusively with the smaller RIBs that dominate this class of boat, sans any inflatable hulls, they maintain an aura of durability that separates them from the pack. Another very cool feature is that these tenders can be outfitted with optional wheels at the transom, which greatly aids in beaching them when the time comes to slip away from the big boat and go find your own little slice of sandy paradise. ★

Dual purpose.

Blackfin is a well-known and well-respected brand in the fishing world, famous for zippy and capable center consoles that excel at hauling in gamefish from grouper to tuna. But as popular as center consoles are, they are not for everyone. Some boaters prefer a layout with a little more heft, particularly as they begin to take their young families out on the water with them. To that end, Blackfin now offers the 252DC (dual console). It’s a layout that offers a bit more comfort and protection from the elements than her more rough and tumble sisters. But that’s not to say this boat isn’t just as capable. In fact, she is more so.

“The dual console setup is more family friendly than the center consoles,” says Kurtis Sandmire, a Yacht Works sales associate based in Sister Bay, Wisconsin. “It’s got a spacious salon and the head is so big. I am 6 feet, 2 inches tall and I can stand up in it comfortably, and it’s really well finished too.”

He also admires the boat for more technical reasons as well. “Blackfin does everything so well, from the hull construction to the electronics installment; everything is checked along the way, and if it doesn’t pass the test, they start over again. That kind of process goes a long way in building a really high-quality product.”

The 252DC is a bowrider, which makes it excellent for entertaining, as well as for fun underway. “Those seats are so deep up there that nobody is getting bounced out,” says Sandmire.

Not ignoring the brand’s fishing roots, the boat comes standard with an insulated baitwell, a fiberglass hardtop with rod holders, in-floor fish boxes with macerated pump-outs, and much more.

At 27 feet, 5 inches length overall, this boat is small enough to trailer to the lake and big enough to stand up to most ocean swells as well. It’s this type of versatility that makes the thoughtfully designed Blackfin 252DC up for just about anything. ★

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA (w/ engine): 27'5"

Beam: 8'10"

Draft (up/down): 20"/32"

Dry Weight (w/out engines): 5,800 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 140 gals.

Water Capacity: 15 gals.

Max Power: 450 hp

Base Price: $195,028

BLACKFINBOATS.COM

DEALERS

Grand Pointe Marina

GRANDPOINTEMARINA.COM

Keenan Marina

KEENANMARINA.COM

Pier 53 Marine

PIER53MARINE.COM

Yacht Works

YACHTWORKS.COM

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 27'7"

Beam: 9'8"

Draft: 22"

Weight (with engine): 6,610 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 189 gals.

Max Power: 600 hp

MSRP: $182,821

COBIABOATS.COM

DEALERS

Basa’s Marine

BASASMARINE.COM

Keenan Marina

KEENANMARINA.COM

The fish finder.

Cobias are one of the world’s most prized (and fun) gamefish, so you know if a boat company is named after the species, it’s going to be a serious fishing package ready to take on all challenges. Such is certainly the case with Cobia’s 280 Center Console.

The 280 is an improvement on the 277, one of Cobia’s most popular models. It’s notable for its features list, which is massive for a boat in this class. For one thing, it has a front-entry head, which is not something you see on center consoles in this size range. A stylish hardtop covers the amidships portion of the boat, including a three-sided windshield that features a vent and electric wipers for inclement weather and over-the-top chop. At the helm, the dashboard can be stuffed with state-of-the-art electronics.

As for fishing features, there are plenty. Two 47-gallon insulated fishboxes in the cockpit have macerated overboard drains. There’s also a 42-gallon livewell, a tackle station, and loads of rocket launchers and under-the-gunwale rod stowage. And the ride is unmatched.

“The boat runs so smoothly and that’s thanks to the deep-V and the deadrise,” says Rich Gotlund, president of Basa’s Marine. “It has a Carolina flare, so it’s a very dry ride in rough water; I’m talking on plane in 4- to 5-footers and you’re dry. It’s one of our best-selling center consoles for a reason.”

For family fun, the 280 CC also has some treats. There’s an insulated console cooler for cold drinks, a covered boarding ladder for easy access to watersports, and lots of comfortable seating. A two-tone hull comes in a variety of optional grays, blues and whites. The bountiful aesthetic choices are a good way to dress up what is a highly usable and seriously fishable boat. If you choose to put this 280 CC to work, she’ll be incredibly capable of achieving the task at hand, be it reeling in prize fish or making a fun run to your local watering hole with the family. ★

Good things come in threes.

Few builders in the world can boast the pedigree of MJM, which was founded by the Johnstone family in 2002 — the same Johnstone family with multiple members in the National Sailing Hall of Fame. It should be surprising to no one, then, that these powerboats take on some very sailboat-esque qualities, including a no-muss-no-fuss design, and a focus on efficiency and weight savings all in the name of performance.

The MJM 3 is the baby in the builder’s lineup at 38 feet, 3 inches length overall. But what she lacks in size, she makes up for with smart design and fun to spare. The outboard-powered boat can hit a blistering 50 mph on the pins with twin 300-hp Mercury Verados, and ably cruise in the high-30-mph range. Easily operated joystick piloting is a boon for any captain, as is Skyhook capabilities that can pin the boat in place with ease. And with the proprietary dry composite, vacuum infused, post cured, epoxy construction process, every MJM boat is guaranteed to be light, fast and strong.

The MJM 3 is also a bowrider, which was a wise choice as it greatly expands her entertainment space, offering three separate areas instead of the more traditional two. Guests can expect a dry ride when enjoying the U-shape seating in the area, thanks to the extra flare added to the boat’s bow. This feature is part of the “Carolina Downeast style” that MJM has coined since its recent move to a North Carolina facility.

“The 3 is an excellent choice for families,” says MJM second-generation Chairman Peter Johnstone. “You get lots of entertainment space in a sporty but safe package that will be appreciated across generations. We are a boating family ourselves, so we understand how vitally important it is that everybody can enjoy the boat.” ★

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 38'2"

Beam: 11"

Draft (up/down): 21"/32"

Weight: 13,279 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 250 gals.

Water Capacity: 58 gals.

Std. Power: 2 x 300-hp outboards

MSRP: $845,791

MJMYACHTS.COM

Vermilion Yacht Sales VERMILIONYACHT SALES.COM

Walstrom Marine WALSTROM.COM

I’m going to start off by offering a public apology. When I sea trialed the new Tiara Yachts EX 60 recently in Miami, Florida, I may have been a little tough on Tiara’s director of marketing and communications, Whitney Vishey. I told Vishey that, as I know the brand well and have been on several of its yachts over the years (actually captained a 43 from Florida to Rhode Island solo, but that’s another story), I was going to go through this new offering very closely to make sure it lived up to the Tiara Yachts name.

The short story is that I was schooled by Vishey and her team. This EX 60 is worthy of the Tiara name and your undivided attention. There is so much the Tiara development team brings to the surface, as well as some hidden things you wouldn’t know about, that makes the EX 60 an exceptional vessel.