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Winter | 2016

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What’s Inside

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Oh joyous Jet Skis!

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30 On the Cover The annual boat show arrives in Atlanta just in time to do some comparison shopping, get the latest in gear and gadgets and learn about our local wildlife and waterways.

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Find out what fun personal watercraft can be and where you can shop around for one that is right for you.

Norton: Lake Lanier in 2055 12

More people, less property and technology that keeps water clean? It is on the horizon.

LLA: Help light up the night 22

Volunteers and donors are coming together to put up lights in dangerous areas frequented by night boaters.

Breathe easy on your boat 24

Keep yourself and your family safe on the water by knowing the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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34 DNR: Fair-weather friends 26

Enjoying birds on the lake means helping them out when they are on the move. Give migrating birds a fighting chance by putting out the right food.

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Failure to launch?

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Don’t lose your boat, trailer or your mind. Learn how to back your boat down the ramp correctly.

Picking the right marina 30

Do your research and find a place to keep your boat that has everything you are looking for at the right price.

Learning to row with LLRC 34

Rowing club offers the opportunity to form new friendships while getting outdoors.

Breaking new ground 38

Lake Lanier Olympic Venue gets started on some major renovations in time for the 2016 season.

Not your grandad’s pontoon 42

The latest in luxury now comes in the form of pontoon boats complete with speed, space and special comforts.

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Inside Every Issue 6 48 50 52

From the Editor Calendar Your Guide to Lake Lanier Around Lanier Winter | 2016

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From the Editor Keeping it safe in 2016

Editor Michelle Boaen Jameson Advertising sales Melisa Sizemore LAKE Magazine, a division of: The Times Gainesville, GA A Morris Multimedia Inc. property 345 Green St. | Gainesville, GA 30501 770-718-3421

www.destinationlanier.com

I found this photo that was taken during a story Lake did on the Gwinnett County SwiftWater Rescue Team. I thought it a timely reminder that safety should always come first on the water, especially with the amount of rainfall Lake Lanier has had in the last few months.

While it may be winter, lots of folks are going to be eager to try out recently purchased boats and toys. In fact, the 2016 Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show is a good place not only to compare and shop, but also to learn about boating and recreational water safety.

In this issue, the Lake Lanier Association tells us about a new initiative to get more lights on the water for those enjoying the lake at night. Lanier is vast and many more lights are needed to help avoid collisions. And the start of the new year is a good time to check your gear, from life jackets to fire extinguishers. Check out tips in this issue on towing, launching and avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning on a boat.

2016 looks promising for Lake Lanier and with any luck, we will maintain a full pool well into summer. Hopefully we can get out on the water and enjoy new toys with family and friends and return to shore with little more than a tan and lots of good memories. Here’s to a great new year!

M

J

ichelle ameson

Michelle Boaen Jameson editor@destinationlanier.com

LAKE: Destination Lanier reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason. Acceptance of advertising does not mean or imply the services or product is endorsed or recommended by LAKE: Destination Lanier. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Morris Multimedia Inc. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Morris Multimedia cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. LAKE does not currently offer subscriptions.

Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome.

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Catch waves Jet Skis provide flexible fun Story by Pamela A. Keene Zipping over the waves on a jet ski on Lake Lanier creates a certain sense of freedom. Jet skis, or personal watercraft, are fun, close to the water and suitable for all ages.

And with new technology and additional safety features, they’re a perfect way to take to the water.

“Jet skis are a fun way for people to enjoy the lake,” says Rick Albrecht with Port Royale Marina and Park Marine on Browns Bridge Road. “They’re great for family time and they’re a low-cost way to get into boating.”

For less than $10,000, you can purchase a new jet ski and trailer from most area dealers.

The most popular brands are SeaDoo and Yamaha’s Wave Runner. Used PWCs are sold through local dealers and privately in classified ads. They come typically in twoand three-seater models so riders can share the experience, though it may be easier to find a used single-seater.

“A lot of people like the three-seaters because they can have an operator, a spotter and the third person can either tube or wakeboard behind,” Albrecht says. “They’ve been made a lot safer with the addition of mirrors and other equipment, and if you’re towing someone you should always have a spotter.”

Many of today’s personal watercraft are powerful enough to tow an adult, and some can tow a water skier. Advances in design, including the change to cleaner-burning 4-stroke motors that do not require mixing gas and oil, have made them safer and more environmentally friendly.

Newer models use a closed loop cooling system to keep engines from overheating; older models recirculated water pulled from the lake.

“Jet skis can go into many places where a boat can’t, and that’s another reason people like them,” says Jimmy Westray, owner of Gainesville Motorsports on Browns Bridge Road. His company sells SeaDoos, motorcycles, ATVs and other recreational vehicles. “You can explore coves, plus they run clean and they’re pretty quiet.”

One of the newest advances allows riders to slow the watercraft using a dual-throttle system. Yamaha calls it the RiDE system; pulling the right handlebar throttle is forward and pulling the left slows the boat and puts it in reverse. SeaDoo calls it an intelligent brake and reverse. The goal is the same: to reverse the thrust of the water moving through the pump to quickly slow the craft’s forward movement.

It’s not difficult to learn to drive a PWC. In Georgia, the minimum age for an operator not accompanied by a competent adult is 16; if an adult is on board, teens ages 12 to 15 can drive. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1998, is required by state law to take and pass an approved boating safety course, which can be taken online or through organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard. For those ages 12 to 15, passing the safe boating course 8 Winter | 2016

“Jet skis can go into many places where a boat can’t ...”

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eliminates the need for an adult on board.

Albrecht suggests people considering the purchase of a jet ski try them out first by renting one. Rentals are available at many of Lake Lanier’s marinas, including Paradise Rental Boats at Port Royale. Renters receive instruction about how to operate the jet ski and an overview of safety requirements.

“Renting a PWC is the perfect way to see if riding is for you,” Albrecht says. “Try it out to see if you like it before you buy. Chances are, you’ll love it.” destinationlanier.com

Safety First: Know the rules

Be sure you know and follow the laws when boating, whether you’re operating a personal watercraft or a houseboat.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources enforces Georgia laws on the water, and rider safety is top of mind.

“The two personal watercraft violations that cause the most injuries and fatalities every year are riding too close to people and objects at a high rate of speed and riding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so be sure to follow Winter | 2016

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the 100-foot rule and leave the alcohol at home,” DNR Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon says.

The 100-foot rule applies to all boating, not just personal watercraft. Boaters are required to slow to idle speed when they come within 100 feet of other boats, docks, piers, the shoreline or other people in the water. McKinnon explains that riders should not jump other boats’ wakes or maneuver to splash people on docks, other boats or the shoreline.

Here’s a summary of legal and safety guidelines: n Wear a U.S. Coast

Fall | 2015 | 2016 10 Winter

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Guard-approved life jacket (required) n Don’t drink and boat n Take a boater education course (mandatory for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1998) n Obey Navigation Rules and Laws, including the 100foot law n Parents, set an example for kids and make water safety a high priority n Never start the engine if you smell gas fumes

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n Properly maintain your vessel and have required equipment aboard n Use common sense and courtesy at all times “The law says you must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while operating a PWC,” McKinnon says. “Even the best swimmers could be knocked unconscious if they are ejected during an accident and unconscious riders without life jackets are the ones our rangers too often have to recover from the bottom of the lake.”

Winter | 2016 11

Looking toward Lake Lanier in year 2055

In my column last fall, I wrote about North Georgia without a Lake Lanier, a metro Atlanta without its water supply, without its playground and without energy, vibrancy and connectivity that is stimulated and intertwined with Lake Lanier.

It struck nerves. We have received more comments and follow up questions than any other article that we have published to date. So in that line of exploratory thinking, and my perpetual pondering of “what if,” I thought I might look 40 years ahead at this Lanier Land we call home in the year 2055.

Many of us will be long gone, or those “old” folks remaining will be running around with bionic limbs, computer-assisted heart mechanics or other Star Wars era medical support systems, but Lake Lanier endures, without sounding too much like a Popular Science magazine. Here are a few random predictions (please save this article and look back in 2055 to see how accurate we were). ● The general population of Lake Lanier in 2055 has reached 558,558 up from 308,487 in 2015, a 45 percent increase.

Lake Lanier is now in the heart of Megalithic Atlanta, whose 2055 population has tipped 12 million people. Outer regions of Atlanta now stretch to Chattanooga, Greenville and south toward Macon. ● By 2055, homes with direct access to Lake Lanier average $2,106,000 in price and the average home with proximity to Lanier is $1,125,000. ● Lake Lanier has a stable water level, in fact, higher thanks to the Corp of Engineers’ 2025 decision to raise the surface area by 2 feet. Now, understand the tri-state water war started in 1987 still rages on, with the latest appeal to the Supreme Court and the United Nations Committee for Full Water Resources. ● The water is clean. Surrounding communities continue to push for municipal sewer and enacted 2030 five-year recertification of private septic systems and biannual pump-outs.

Giant robotic computerized worms scour the lower levels of Lanier filtering and purifying water on a continual basis, providing some of the cleanest water on the continent. ● Recreation is still Lanier’s No. 1 byproduct. Unmanned,

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computerized GPS glass-bottom boat tours are launched multiple times per day from four different points of Lanier. Jet propeller ski boats, hovercrafts and hover skis are now the norm. Sonic fish tracking devices allow record bass catches and the new cooling systems put in place on the north end of the Lanier/ Chattahoochee River corridor has allowed the in product of rainbow, brown and black trout from Lanier Park North. ● The casino build on the old PineIsle site in 2025 has brought a new level of tourist year-round to take Lanier and riverboat gambling cruises. 2030 just extends that impact. ● The lawsuit challenging the Corps’ maximum private boat dock count fixed in the 2020s was finally settled in 2032, with the Corps increasing group and marina facilities to a 17,000 count. As a compromise for that action, boats must all be on lifts (environmental protection for gas-oil leakage) or dry dock stored when not in direct use. (long coming to Lanier.) ● Google-shot aerial photographs in the 1990s created GPS shoreline coordinates in the 2000s. In the 2030s it mapped every subsurface-level nook and cranny so recreational diving would be safer and three-dimensional ocular glass experiences could be generated without ever venturing below the surface. ● The Lake Lanier Association is now celebrating its 85th year and continues to be a valuable ombudsman for lake initiatives.

Bottom line, by 2055, Lake Lanier is a mega-commercial region with corporate offices built on its shore with equally commanding views. Residential planned communities have morphed into luxury compounds; hotels and recreation put the shore from one end to the other. Here’s to the future!

About the author Frank Norton is a seventh generation north Georgian, CEO of the region’s largest and oldest real estate insurance firm and a Lake Lanier homeowner/activist. He is a passionate market researcher, demographer and prognosticator and noted national speaker on emerging real estate issues.

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Fall | 2015 | 2016 14 Winter

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Bring on the boats!

2016 Atlanta Boat Show offers the latest in water craft and recreation

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Winter Fall | 2015 2016 15

The 2016 Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show, Georgia’s premier boating event, showcases the best in boating — boats, watercraft, educational seminars and simulators — Jan. 14-17 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Boaters of all ages get the chance to explore, engage and educate themselves at the annual show, which features the largest selection of boats, including houseboats and sailboats, safety products, apparel, marine electronics, dock equipment, engines, watersports equipment, paddle sports, trailers and fishing gear and accessories. Show-goers can also check out 16 Winter | 2016

features like the new Boating Skills Virtual Trainer, Sailing Maker Simulator, Bass Tub, Trout Pond, Kids’ Zone and more.

“With over 300,000 boats registered in Georgia and thousands more throughout the Southeast, the Atlanta Boat Show is the state’s prime boating resource,” said Show Manager Kevin Murphy. “Georgians spend over $400 million a year on boats and accessories. The Atlanta Boat Show is the best place to shop, as our exhibitors feature some of their lowest prices of the year at this event.”

Explore the Southeast’s biggest selection of boats and LAKE Destination

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aquatic accessories.

Whether it’s luxury yachts, houseboats, Jet Skis, powerboats, sailboats or a pontoon or fishing vessel, shop the largest selection to date. Before heading downtown to see the show, the Boat Buyers Toolkit can be searched for particular boats and brands. This year’s top-of-the-line fleet has something for all.

Looking for a retreat with all the comforts of home? New this year is the Axiom 70 Houseboat! The first of its kind, this sleek vessel is luxury lake living at its finest, with four bedrooms, two full baths, a large party top equipped with bar and grill, optional Jacuzzi and outdoor seating, and expansive windows that provide almost 360-degree views of the water.

Offered by Atlanta Marine.

Take sail in the Corsair Pulse 600 Sailboat, a 20-ft. folding trimaran that was named 2016 Best Boats Winner in the Daysailer category by Sail Magazine and nominated for 2016 European Yacht of the Year. In just 20 minutes, one person can get the boat from folded on the trailer to sailing across the water. The Pulse 600’s combination of performance, handling, simplicity and trailerability appeals to those who require fast, fun sailing without a lot of effort.

Craving power, performance and functionality? Check out the 2016 350 Sea Ray Sundancer from MarineMax. Or destinationlanier.com

come see the all new Bay Runner Sea Chaser by Carolina Skiff.

In addition to more than 200 exhibitors, experts at Discover Boating’s Welcome to the Water Center assist in finding watercraft best for both interest and budget.

A huge draw at least year’s event, and with eight world titles, the Miss GEICO racing team brings its newest offshore racing boat, a 50 ft. Victory Catamaran. The 3,300 hp 1650 RACE Mercury Racing pistons can reach speeds of more than 200 mph.

Engage in interactive activities fit for the littlest boater to most seasoned sailors.

Boaters can take the helm at the United States Power

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Squadron’s Boating Skills Virtual Trainer (BSVT). Practice skills including pivot turns, docking, stopping and more during a simulated boat trip. The BSVT provides hands-on experience by navigating a virtual boat on a lake that includes a marina, navigation aids, powerboats and sailboats.

Presented by the Marine Trade Association of Metro Atlanta, attendees can also take advantage of special offers at BoatAtlanta.com.

Little skippers can have a play day in the enhanced Kids’ Zone featuring the Sea Park, an inflatable aquatic water land with a slide, ball pit and bounce area, where they can “play in the waves” while staying dry!

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Dora the Explorer will also stop by to share how much kids can discover during time on the water.

Educate and enhance boating, fishing and sailing knowledge and techniques.

At the Bass Tub, experience fishing from the fishes’ viewpoint. The 12-ft. high, 40-ft. long mobile glass aquarium lets guests see just how fish react to and strike different lures during casting demonstrations.

Anglers get “schooled” with hourly classes at The Let’s Go Fishing Center. Learn how to catch a bounty of bass, finesse fly fishing skills and uncover additional techniques and tips from expert fishermen and guides.

Little ones will have the chance to take on a rod & reel at the Catch and Release Trout Pond.

The docking station for DIY, Fred’s Shed Interactive Learning Center, has a new curriculum with features like props for a faster, more efficient boat, diagnosing electri-

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cal problems, outboard troubleshooting.

Certified Marine Technician Fred, the “Outboard Doctor” and “The Boating Guy” bring more than 50 years of experience in “wrench-slinging,” tools and techniques during a hands-on clinic on real boat and motor cutaways.

Windsong Sailing Academy will offer free sailing classes for both beginners and seasoned sailors. Debuting this year is the Sailing Maker Simulator, making learning destinationlanier.com

to sail fun and easy and helping beginners feel more prepared when taking to the water.

The Lake Lanier Association will also be on hand to offer information for those living and playing on Lanier. And the Coast Guard’s attendance offers boating safety tips.

“We’re so excited to share many new boats and educational features this year, as well as our new Boating Skills Virtual

Trainer and Sailing Simulator,” Murphy added. “The 2016 Show has more boats, features and educational opportunities than ever before, with something for everyone, from novices to professionals.”

Follow @AtlantaBoatShow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And for the first time this year, all active and retired military, as well as law enforcement personnel and firefighters will receive free admission with valid ID. Winter | 2016 21

Efforts of volunteers help light up Lake Lanier As we wrap up 2015 and look forward to 2016, the Lake Lanier Association is thrilled to see our solar lighting program get back underway.

We have installed 123 solar-powered, photocell battery-operated lights on existing hazard markers in the south part of the lake over the past two years. The lights flash a yellow beam on for one second, off for three seconds from dusk to dawn hours. The Corps of Engineers has been monitoring our progress on this program and required a trial/waiting period to be sure the initial pilot program lights were well-received in the community, and that the Lake Lanier Association could install, monitor and maintain the lights to the Corps’ satisfaction.

This program is being completely coordinated and funded, in perpetuity, by the Lake Lanier Association without financial support from the Corps of Engineers or the Department of Natural Resources.

We received the order to “move out” for more lights in early fall 2015 and have just begun additional installations, working our way to finishing the southern part of the lake and moving north of Browns Bridge. We hope to have at least another 100 lights in place by summer 2016.

This program has been received with overwhelming support. We have been inundated with positive comments about the lighting program and are anxious to see it expand.

In addition to the light on the top of 22 Winter | 2016

the hazard markers, starting with the fall 2015 installations we are also testing the installation of a strip of highly reflective white tape on the markers getting the new solar lights. We will monitor the reflective tape going forward to assess visibility as well as the durability in the lake environment. If the addition of the reflective tape is deemed successful, we will retrofit the tape on the markers that already have lights as part of a longer-term maintenance program.

Specific thanks goes out to Robert Estrada of TowBoatUS and Barkley Geib of Lanier Islands Marina for being a big part of the monthly monitoring and repair or replacement of lights, if one is deemed nonoperational during the routine checks of the lights. Also, thanks to Tom Child of Marine Specialties for donating workboat services for volunteers who install new lights.

Finally, thanks Gary Hopkins and his associates at Plastek Werks in Cleveland for designing, fabricating and donating plastic mounting rings for us to test on our latest round of light installations. This allows us to

install lights more quickly and will be easier for us to repair or replace lights in need of maintenance.

Several of the lights have been sponsored financially by individuals or corporations. While we cannot guarantee a specific light location for a sponsor, we do recognize all financial supporters of this program in our newsletter and with a keepsake memento. It is bittersweet that some of the lights have been sponsored in memory of an individual who has passed away. While we are saddened by the loss of a loved one in our community, we are pleased to be able to help memorialize that person in the form of a solar light on Lake Lanier.

Thank you to all the Lake Lanier Association members and solar light sponsors that make this lighting program possible. Anyone that has been on Lake Lanier during evening hours knows that it gets very dark out there and being able to see marked hazards is a tremendous relief for boaters on the lake at night.

If you have any questions about the solar lighting program, please contact the Lake Lanier Association at 770-503-7757 or by email at lakeinfo@lakelanier.org. Of course, if you haven’t already, please join the Lake Lanier Association to support this and our other programs and services. See our website www.lakelanier.org to join and to view a graphic of light placement.

About the author Joanna Cloud is the executive director of Lake Lanier Association. For more information, or to join the Lake Lanier Association and support our programs and services, visit www. lakelanier.org.

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Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning on the boat Story and photos by LAKE staff where engines vent their exhaust.

Gas-powered boat engines produce carbon monoxide, or CO, n Keep a watchful eye on children when they play on rear swim a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can prove fatal to humans. decks or water platforms.

People exposed to high concentrations of CO over a short period n Do not block exhaust outlets. When such outlets are blocked, of time can die from that exposure, as can people exposed to lower CO can build up in the cabin and the cockpit. concentrations of CO over a longer period of time. n Do not dock or anchor within 20 feet of another boat that is No one gets on a boat expecting to be poisoned by CO. But CO running an engine or generator because exhaust from nearby vessels can build up on a boat rather quickly, and because it has no color, can send CO into the boat's cabin or cockpit. odor or taste, boaters and their passengers may be inhaling CO Preventing CO exposure and poisoning also involves teaching without knowing it. To protect themselves from CO poisoning, passengers to recognize its symptoms. It's easy for boaters to get those who plan to go boating should learn to recognize the distracted when hosting passengers on their boats, so make sure symptoms of CO exposure and react to their presence as quickly passengers know how to recognize potential CO issues. Keep a list as possible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and of exposure symptoms in an accessible common area on your boat Prevention, the most common symptoms of CO exposure and poisoning include: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, so passengers can familiarize themselves and recognize any potential problems that might arise. chest pain, and confusion.

A case of CO poisoning can quickly turn a relaxing day on the Many of the symptoms of CO poisoning are also indicative of boat into an emergency situation. Boat owners owe it to themselves seasickness, so boaters and their passengers exhibiting any of the and their passengers to take preventive measures to ensure no one is aforementioned symptoms should consider that they might be exposed to or poisoned by CO while out on the water. suffering from seasickness, which is not nearly as risky to a person's overall health as CO poisoning.

In addition to learning about CO, boat owners should take steps to Boat owners must take steps prevent CO poisoning on their boats. to protect themselves and their At the onset of each boating season and passengers from exposure to carbon monoxide. before each trip, inspect your boat's CO detector to make sure it is working properly. When it is, the detector will alert boat owners and their passengers to elevated levels of CO in the cabin.

Boat owners should keep a brand new backup detector on their boat so they won't have to cancel a trip should they arrive at their boat only to find out their existing detector is not functioning properly.

In addition to installing and maintaining your CO detector, the CDC recommends the following preventive measures to reduce you and your passengers' risk of CO poisoning. n Swim and play away from areas 24 Winter | 2016

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Plenty of fish still left, so keep your gear clean and ready Story and photos by LAKE staff Spending a day on the water can equate to paradise for the millions of people who enjoy recreational fishing.

In fact, shad fishing just got started here in North Georgia.

The mass number of fishing hobbyists spend millions of dollars on equipment and gear for their fishing excursions each year. With so much money being spent, it is essential to properly care for gear and store it well. Here's how to get started.

Safety There are many components of fishing gear that can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

From fileting knives to bait hooks, there is the potential for injury should young children get into the fishing equipment you have. Also, sinkers made out of lead can be toxic should children put these items in their mouths.

Emphasize safety when storing your equipment. If you are keeping rods and reels on your boat, be sure they're in a locked cargo area so they're not easily accessible.

If tackle and other gear is kept at home, be sure to have a locked cabinet where it can be kept, or place it high enough where it is out of reach.

Make sure sharp lures and hooks are kept together in a tackle box and placed out of the way. destinationlanier.com

Not only will this keep people safe, but it also helps to keep gear organized.

Cleaning In order to work properly, gear should be cleaned and inspected prior to storage. Cleaning will also prolong the life span of fishing equipment. Fishing rods should be wiped down after each fishing trip to prevent harmful contaminants and corrosives from eating away at the clear coat on the rod and any metal components. Wiping down also reduces the chance of salt water corrosion.

In terms of cleaning lures and tackle, start out by soaking them in distilled water. If there is a smell or debris stuck on it, some people have used a spray like WD40 with success. If using a soap-based cleanser on soft rubber lures, choose one that is gentle, like baby soaps or even gentle laundry detergent. Just be sure to rinse well.

Rod storage It is important to store fishing rods horizontally to prevent warping or bending. If using a rack specially designed for fishing rods, it will keep rods straight despite them being stored vertically.

Try to keep rods out of a humid room, which can further exacerbate warping and bending of the equipment. Also, never stow a rod in its tube.

This can trap humidity and cause corrosion of the guide rings.

Reels should be rinsed after use and disassembled to clean the gears inside. Water can become trapped in small crevices and may rust out ball bearings. Never soak reels in water and try to keep them out of the water on fishing trips. Fly fishing backing may be left on the reel, provided it is completely desalinated and dry. Application of lubricant between uses of a reel can improve performance.

Properly storing this equipment can prolong its life span and keep things safe and organized.

Winter | 2016 25

Help birds weather the winter While fall was warmer than normal, winter will include its fair share of frigid weather. Of course, when the thermometer drops and chill winds whip across Lake Lanier, we have the luxury of taking refuge in cozy abodes. When Brown thrasher: Terry Johnson we do venture outside, we don heavy winter coats, hats and gloves to ward off the cold. At worst, frozen days and nights are little more than an inconvenience to most of us.

Such is not the case with our bird neighbors. To them, dealing with extremely cold weather is a life-and-death struggle, whether along the shores of Lanier or the mountains of North Georgia.

Fortunately, many birds are well-adapted to deal with the cold.

One way they keep warm is by fluffing out their feathers to trap body heat. The air found between the fluffed-out feathers acts as an excellent insulation. A Carolina chickadee, for example, uses an intricate network of tiny muscles to fluff some of the 2,000 feathers that cloak its body.

Other birds, like the American goldfinch, grow more feathers as winter approaches. The additional feathers provide added insulation.

Birds also keep warm by shivering. Since small birds are affected by the cold more than larger birds, it is not surprising that they shiver almost continuously when temperatures drop below freezing. In fact, some birds such as the black-capped chickadee (a close northern relative of our Carolina chickadee) can sleep while they shiver.

Shivering can keep an American goldfinch five times warmer than it would be if it was not shivering.

Keeping warm in cold weather also requires more energy just to survive. Hummingbirds can literally starve to death trying to stay warm on a bitterly cold night, especially if they have not eaten enough food to fuel their high metabolism. Birds such as turkey vultures and mourning doves are capable of reducing their body temperatures on cold nights, allowing them to conserve precious energy.

A few birds such as hummingbirds and black-capped chickadees carry this to the extreme. These feathered mites will go into torpor to survive the cold. In this condition, the birds remain motionless and their body temperature and respiratory and heart rates plummet.

A hummingbird’s body temperature may drop from the usual 107 degrees Fahrenheit to the mid-80s or so when the bird is in torpor.

You would think that since a bird’s feet are not protected with feathers they would be vulnerable to frostbite. Actually, they are not.

First of all, a bird’s foot has little muscle tissue that would be highly susceptible to the cold. Additionally, birds will often stand on one foot while keeping the other tucked close to their warm bodies.

26 Winter | 2016

When the exposed foot gets too cold or tired, the bird stands on the other foot and nestles the foot on which it had been standing among its soft feathers.

Have you wondered how ducks and Canada geese swim about in ice-cold water without damaging their legs and feet? The answer to this perplexing question is simple: They can constrict the veins found along the outsides of their legs and feet. This forces blood closer to warmer blood flowing through arteries from the heart, warming the cooler blood and preventing damage to legs and feet.

Quail will keep warm at night by roosting in a tight circle with their wings slightly elevated. Each bird faces out. The arrangement allows quail to more easily detect predators approaching from any direction and enables the birds to share their body heat, keeping them warmer than if they roosted alone.

Birds will also roost in thick cover, tree cavities or manmade nesting or roosting cavities to ward off cold. Chipping sparrows, northern cardinals, blue jays and mourning doves, for example, will roost in dense conifers and other thick cover on frigid nights.

Meanwhile, woodpeckers, titmice and bluebirds will spend the night in nesting and roosting houses, as well as natural cavities.

Interestingly, during extremely cold weather birds often retire to roosts earlier in the afternoon than they would during warmer weather.

There are a number of things you can do to help your bird neighbors survive frigid temperatures. First, provide them with highquality roost sites such as brush piles, dense shrubs, vines and trees that retain their foliage throughout the winter. When possible, leave standing any dead trees that contain cavities.

Also, erect nesting and roosting boxes in your yard. A variety of boxes featuring different sized holes will benefit a wider variety of wildlife than a number of boxes with entrance holes of the same diameter. When the weather turns cold, safe, warm nighttime roosting sites are just as important as food.

Lastly, stock your feeders with high energy foods such as suet and black oil sunflower seeds. Wild birds are well-adapted to surviving freezing weather. However, you can help them and other wildlife make it through the worst that winter can throw at them.

If you do, you will feel a warm glow during even the coldest weather, knowing that your actions may make the difference between life and death for the birds that live just outside your backdoor.

About the author Terry W. Johnson is a former program manager with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division and executive director of TERN, the friends group of DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section.

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The Lake Needs You The Lake Lanier Association is a non-profit, volunteer based organization that, for over 40 years, has focused on protecting Lake Lanier and keeping her clean, full, and safe.

Our programs include: 路 solar lights on lake hazard markers 路 the annual Shore Sweep lake clean-up which pulls, on average, 30 tons of trash and debris out of Lanier each year 路 the abandoned/derelict dock and vessel program which has resolved over 10 different major eyesores or lake hazards just in the last year 路 the Adopt-A-Lake water testing program We protect property values and recreational use rights.

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Ramp trap: Know how to back a boat Story and photos by LAKE staff No one wants to be that guy. You know, the one with nice new boat, the big truck and no idea how to back the boat into the water. You back up, you go forward, you back up, you get out and pretty soon there’s a small crowd and a few snickers. So first things first, you need to know the art of launching and retrieving your boat. And yes, getting the boat out of the water can be just as tricky.

First, you need to find the right place to put in. Are you using public ramps or private? Either way, you should get to know the rules, like how long you can leave your vehicle at the lot while you’re out on the water and if you need decals.

When you arrive at your chosen launch ramp, don’t be too eager to stop, drop and roll or you may end up having your truck, SUV or RV towed out of the water, which is both expensive and embarrassing.

Practice getting to understand your 28 Winter | 2016

wheel bearings, brakes and seals which will likely be hot after a long haul. According to www.onlinetowingguide.com, “when you stick a hot trailer right in chilly water, all those components undergo rapid cooling, and that leads to rapid contraction, which can lead to water intrusion.” Doing this repeatedly can end up damaging your trailer and shortening the life span.

Give the goods a chance to cool before you launch. Park your vehicle and trailer in a shady spot away from the ramp.

Use the time to load gear and get the boat ready for launching. Some ramps even have areas for these tasks so the launch ramp doesn’t get clogged.

Now, remove the tie-down straps at the rear of the boat. Be sure the drain plug is in. Leave the bow strap attached. A steep ramp and slick trailer bunks may mean dumping your boat onto the pavement instead of into the water.

Back the trailer into the water far

enough that the tops of the fenders are just above the waterline, just enough to float the boat off the bunks and make backing it off just a matter of shifting into reverse.

Depending on your trailer, you might need to back in farther or less.

You should be able to remove the bow strap without getting your feet wet, back the boat off of the trailer, then pull the trailer out and park. Do these steps in reverse to get your boat back out of the water, just be sure to drain excess water.

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Right: Both Fish Tales and Pig Tales in Flowery Branch allow boaters to dock their watercraft and walk up to the restaurant. Find out what amenities a marina offers when choosing the best one.

marina match-up

Find the right place to dock your vessel Story and photos by LAKE staff Taking to the seas on a boat is a recreational activity enjoyed by thousands of people. Boat owners who are not able to keep their vessels on their properties due to proximity to water or space constraints must seek out a marina in which to moor their boats for the duration of the season.

There are hundreds of marinas from which to choose, and in coastal cities and towns you may be facing some difficult decisions. However, keep in mind that not all marinas will be able to offer the same level of services and amenities. Boat owners must 30 Winter | 2016

also consider cost when choosing a marina.

It is important to weigh your marina options carefully because once the decision has been made you often have to commit to a certain term of housing your boat there.

Certain features available at marinas will help dictate which places will make for a good match.

Size and type of boat First and foremost, your marina options will be narrowed down by the type of boat that you own. Certain boatyards are simply not able to accommodate larger ships, while

others are customized to certain vessels, like pontoon boats or sailboats. Knowing the limitations of the marina beforehand can help narrow down your options.

Electricity and water supply Many boat owners would like a steady supply of electricity and fresh water available at their slip to charge components and also to make cleanup easier after a day on the water. Some marinas offer electrical hookups as part of the monthly fee. Others may have it available as pay-per-use. It is important to have a list of amenities available so you can LAKE Destination

Lanier

narrow down your options.

Is the area safe?

A boat is not a cheap investment. Because you spend quite a lot on the initial purchase and maintenance, you want to ensure your boat will be safe while it's docked.

Find out how easy it is to get inside of the marina and if there are security personnel patrolling. Safety is not restricted to whether the boat can be vandalized or the marina can be accessed. It also involves how the vessel is protected from the weather. Make sure that the marina is in a wind and wave protected area. Check out the actual slip you can rent and ask about tide variations. Verify how water levels vary based on the time of day and year so you're ensured your boat will not get grounded.

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Location, location, location Most boat owners would like a marina that is close to home or a rental property. After all, traveling hours to arrive at the shore may negate the benefits of having a boat. How often the boat is in use and the availability of marinas nearby will dictate your decision, as will how easily you will have access to the routes you want to explore on your boat.

Noise level Many people take to their boats to get away from the hustle and bustle for a while. Others prefer the sense of camaraderie they share with fellow boaters. Find out whether social gatherings or parties are allowed within the marina to judge if a marina will offer peace and quiet or the social hot spot you desire.

Dry docking When the season is over, boat owners prefer to take their boats out of water. Does the marina offer facilities to overwinter vessels on the same property? Are there maintenance facilities also available to ready the boat for the season? These are other questions to consider.

Other facilities Some marinas have everything from a fueling station to a club house. The marina may offer a snack bar or cafe with a WiFi signal. Each of these amenities will affect the price, so it is best to know what you absolutely need and what is merely a luxury.

Having a safe place to store your boat is a necessity, but marinas are not all one and the same.

Winter | 2016 31

Towing somewhere?

Get your new toy from point A to point B safely Story and photos by LAKE staff Now that you have that brand new boat or Jet Ski, you need to be able to get it home and to the water. In addition to packing the interior cargo areas full of equipment, many road-trippers also haul gear and recreational accessories with them.

There's more to towing than hitching a trailer and hitting the open road. A number of factors come into play when towing cargo or another vehicle, including the towing capacity of the vehicle doing the hauling. The following are some safety tips for road trippers hitting the road with trailer in tow.

Tow vehicles While many vehicles have towing capabilities, not all of those vehicles are necessarily right for the job. Review the towing

capacities of various vehicles depending on the type of trailer that will be towed. A larger, more powerful vehicle may be necessary if you will be towing something large and heavy, such as a boat or a recreational vehicle. You may need more horsepower to maintain a safe driving speed when towing especially heavy cargo.

Equipment Different manufacturers offer towing packages equipped to work in concert with your vehicle. Towing packages may include certain types of hitches, batteries, flasher systems, extended-view side mirrors, and even special axles and tires. In many areas, a trailer with a loaded weight of more than 1,500 pounds requires a separate braking system and a breakaway switch located on the tongue of the

The size and weight of a trailer and the cargo it's towing must be considered before embarking on a trip.

32 Winter | 2016

LAKE Destination

Lanier

trailer that activates the trailer brakes in the event it separates from the tow vehicle. Having the right equipment can mean the difference between safely towing cargo and getting in an accident.

Ability Having a lot of power and the right equipment is not enough to safely tow cargo. Recklessness on the road, which includes driving over the speed limit, is a recipe for an accident.

It typically takes time and some practice for drivers to grow accustomed to driving while towing cargo. Driving while towing cargo requires that drivers maneuver their vehicles differently than they would in more typical conditions, and that they drive at slower speeds while leaving room for a larger turning radius.

In addition, drivers must accommodate for the extra weight when braking.

Vehicle check Verifying that the trailer hitch is secure is not the only inspection drivers must conduct before hitting the open road.

The vehicle doing the towing should be serviced, and any repairs should be made. Check fluid levels, particularly the transmission fluid. In addition, make sure the water level in the battery is acceptable and have the motor oil changed if it is nearing its mileage limit. It's also a good idea to replace the air filter, examine the tires for adequate tread and test the brakes.

When the trip begins, give your vehicle and the hitch a once-over to double-check that everything is in working order.

This can be done during service station stops along the trip.

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Rowing their boat ashore

Six-session class teaches individuals to stroke oars

Jay Gaspar leads a group carrying an eight sweeper boat out to the dock at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in Gainesville

34 Winter | 2016

Story and photos by LAKE staff Learning how to row is like riding a bicycle. It isn’t always easy and you may fall over once or twice, but that’s just part of the learning process.

For Norma Caskey and Lori Davila, nothing was going to stop them from learning to row.

“The first time you get in the boat, you kind of wobble,” Caskey said. “And it’s like riding a bike. After the first one or two times, the bike quits wobbling. You know how to control it or manage it.”

However, rowing is not as easy as it looks.

“I didn’t realize how intricate it is,” Caskey said. “You think you just get in the boat and play around in the (boat) and you just start rowing. But there’s a lot of technique and a lot of coordination and teamwork.”

To learn the techniques and teamwork, Caskey and Davila registered for the summer session of the Learn To Row program offered by the Lake Lanier Rowing Club. For six sessions, participants ages 14 and older are taught how to row on Lake Lanier.

The average age of the novice rower started at 14. Caskey, who will turn 60 in November, turned out to be one of the older members out of the three classes offered from June to August. In fact, out of the three summer sessions, nine students were older than 60, said Howard Stranathan with the Lake Lanier Rowing Club. The oldest person was 71.

Despite being in separate classes — Davila in June and Caskey in July — both women had the same goal: To learn to row.

“I was excited to learn because I thought it looked so graceful, you know, how you see (it) in the movies,” Caskey said, noting most of her friends and family thought she was doing it for the exercise.

However, it was not the only reason she LAKE Destination

Lanier

Lori Davila, 54, prepares for a morning of rowing on Lake Lanier.

She recently completed the Learn to Row program, which is conducted by the Lake Lanier Rowing Club in Gainesville. wanted to climb into a boat and stroke through the water. Caskey was inspired by the nonfiction novel “The Boys in the Boat,” by Daniel James Brown. It chronicles the career of nine rowers who competed in the 1936 Olympics.

Therefore, when Caskey attended the Lake Lanier Rowing Club’s Polar Bear Plunge last year, she saw a sign-up sheet and enrolled in the class.

“I had never thought about doing it before,” Caskey said.

Davila had participated in a beginner’s course eight or 10 years ago with her husband. This summer she decided to try the activity again.

“I wanted to find a new sport,” Davila said, adding she enrolled because she had time.

She quickly remembered her rowing skills, like the never-forgotten skill of riddestinationlanier.com

ing a bicycle.

While learning to row was new for one woman and a refresher course for the other, being on the water was not. Both women have extensive experience with the lake and water sports.

One of Davila’s favorite pastimes is being on the lake. She spends half her week in Buford on her houseboat. So she was not nervous about getting into the water, either.

“I’m definitely a lake person,” Davila said.

Caskey lives on the lake and felt pretty comfortable in the water.

Both women also lead active and outdoorsy lifestyles.

When she isn’t rowing, Davila enjoys biking, swimming, yoga and tennis. Caskey enjoys running, hiking, water skiing and taking her boat out on the lake.

Both women also wished they had learned how to row at a younger age.

“I wish I had learned it earlier,” Caskey said.

Davila who played high school volleyball, said she now regrets not competing in collegiate rowing.

While both women are in their 50s now, their ages factor into their determination and enjoyment of the water sport.

“When I’m rowing, I feel like a 24-year-old,” said Davila, 54. “Everyone says it’s a sport for a lifetime.”

Caskey, 59, did not let her age stop her momentum to be the best rower she can be.

“This is something that I can continue to do when my body starts giving out,” Caskey said. “It’s not hard on your joints.”

While it may not be hard on joints, rowing is a full-body aerobic workout.

Winter | 2016 35

A group of rowers who completed the Learn To Row program gather Fridays and Saturdays to row on the lake.

It works out the muscles, while being relatively low-impact on the body, Davila said.

Davila has some occasional shoulder pain, but it wasn’t bothered by rowing.

“You row with your legs,” she said.

Rowing is not without its learning curves.

Similar to getting scraped knees after falling off a bicycle, rowers eventually plunge into the water.

“They said, ‘It’s not a matter of if you go in, it’s when you go in,’” Caskey said.

“But I haven’t ever seen anybody go in.”

And while some quit after falling off into the water, Caskey and Davila did not.

“I haven’t fallen in yet!” Caskey exclaimed.

For those who may fear falling into the water during their first or second lesson, the Lake Lanier Rowing Club has “training wheels.”

“Some people are nervous about be36 Winter | 2016

ing in the water and going in the water,” Caskey said. “Some people were put in the boat and they had training wheels, like small floaties out beside the boat.”

The floats, or pontoons as they are officially called, help stabilize the boat.

Learn To Row graduates and younger rowers also help with the class, including Duane Schlereth.

He took the class in 2003 and has enjoyed rowing ever since.

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s challenging,” said Schlereth, who started helping with the classes shortly after he took the course.

As the classes progressed, Caskey and Davila learned different skills and terminology with their classmates.

Davila enjoyed learning new things every week, but said the first two sessions were the most difficult.

She said everything was new to her, but she picked up the instruction quickly.

Caskey also had some difficulty with the speed of instruction at first.

“It’s a lot of stuff all at once,” Caskey said. “There’s a lot of instruction, because it is technical. But if you keep going, even if you don’t know what you’re doing, you come out on the other side.”

One day they learned rowing terminology and commands. The next day, they learned techniques.

“You have to hold the oars a certain way, and you got to turn your wrist, and go back and drop them in the water at the right time,” Caskey said. “You got to bend your knees, and don’t look outside the boat, and shut up.”

It was a bit frustrating at times for her, but she refused to quit.

“You’re thinking, ‘Can they give me one more rule or one more thing I have to watch?’ This hand goes over this hand.

Don’t bend over, bend back. Don’t go that far,” Caskey said.

Eventually, it all came together.

“It’s like drinking water from a fire hydrant at first,” she said. “And then it all LAKE Destination

Lanier

starts clicking.”

When Caskey mastered the techniques and terminology, she was more determined to do well.

“It’s just a personal satisfaction, because you can feel it immediately when you aren’t doing it properly,” she said.

“You get instant feedback, and you know and you want to be the best.”

Rowing in a boat with eight people also spurs your determination to improve.

“You want to do good because everybody in the boat knows you’re the one (who) didn’t get your oar in the water,” Caskey said. “It’s like being a Rockette, you can’t be the only one who’s kicking.”

She added the instructors were incredibly helpful, encouraging and good teachers. They wouldn’t push anyone to do anything before they were ready.

Eventually though, the rowers bond

with each other during the classroom instruction and in the boat on the water.

“It was a good group of people. Everybody was very open and friendly,” Caskey said. “We all walked in and we were chatting up right away.”

A self-proclaimed perfectionist and overachiever, Caskey is determined to improve. Therefore, she enrolled in the Learn To Row II program, which is designed for intermediate rowers.

“I came out thinking I was pretty damn good,” Caskey said.

“The more that I learn, the more that I know that I have to learn,” she continued.

“The more you learn, the more you start to realize that you have to become one with the boat.”

Learning hasn’t stopped yet for the Gainesville resident, who completed the second program at the end of this month.

After that, Caskey said she will be out on the lake rowing whenever she can.

“It’s easy, it’s fun,” Caskey said. “I think people should check it out.”

Schlereth agrees.

Retired from a public accounting firm now, he rows three or four times a week.

During his career, rowing was his way to escape the office and its troubles for a few hours.

Davila has been on the lake numerous times since her class ended and has worked to perfect her technique. She said she goes out on the lake to row twice a week.

“I would go Friday, Saturday, Sunday, but that gets to be a bit much,” Davila said.

Both women said they would go more often if they could.

“It gets really addictive,” Caskey said.

“I love it. It’s so freakin’ cool.”

Duane Schlereth and Sharon Heard prepare for a morning rowing at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in Gainesville.

destinationlanier.com

Winter | 2016 37

Vamping

the Venue Lake Lanier’s Olympic site gets going on a facelift for 2016

Story and photos by LAKE staff Nearly 20 years after the world watched the Olympic Games in Gainesville, the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue is on the verge of a makeover.

A $1.6 million renovation is poised to get underway, the first step in an eventual $7.5 million to $10 million plan to redo the venue — on both sides of Clarks Bridge Road/Ga. 284 — and turn it into more than just a sporting complex.

“I see a lonely (clock) tower getting a lot of friends,” U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, said during a recent ceremony at the venue kicking off the first round of work.

“I see a venue that’s not only going to serve a community that likes to kayak and row, but go across the

Key supporters participate in the groundbreaking event at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge Park in Gainesville Some of the key components of the renovation include adding restrooms and making the venue more handicappedaccessible.

38 Winter | 2016

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street … to a beach and where (people) can come and meet, where the community as a whole, not as a segment, can take part.

“Don’t let anybody tell you this (project) is for a special few. This is for all of Hall County, Gainesville, North Georgia and the world. When we focus on that, we all win.”

Morgan House, the venue manager, echoed that sentiment.

“I want to see this venue, in part, not only grow to be the best venue in the world, but I want to see it become a prime meeting spot through private events, outdoor activities and everyday recreation,” he said.

Mimi Collins, Gainesville-Hall ’96 chairwoman, said the first phase of work will include handicapped-accessible ramps from

Top: U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge Park in Gainesville. Mimi Collins, Gainesville-Hall ‘96 chairman, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony.

40 Fall | 2015

LAKE Destination

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the Olympic Plaza to the tower, tower renovations (including bathrooms) and construction of a bridge that leads from the top of the plaza to the second floor of the tower.

Also planned is work to public restrooms near the plaza and construction of new bathrooms on the beach side of Clarks Bridge Park.

The project is being paid for by government funding, private donations and a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The plan is to get it done by March, or well before the Pan American Championships for sprint kayak taking place in May. “That Olympic spirit is also found in accessibility,” said Collins, whose daughter Jordan has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair.

“When a community looks after all its members, everyone is risen and everyone

takes pride.”

The venue was the home of canoe/ kayak/rowing events held during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and has served as a training and competition center for flatwater sports since the games.

“This is the last remaining venue used for its intended purpose,” said state Sen. Butch Miller, R-Gainesville.

“This is a great moment for Hall County … and for the economic development and quality of life in our community,” he said.

Gainesville-Hall ’96, a private nonprofit entity in charge of running the venue, was formed in 1993 to bring the Olympics to Gainesville.

“Once the Olympics came and went, (the group) became dormant,” House said.

About three years ago, the group was revamped with the intent to “bringing

the venue back to life and revitalizing this invaluable community asset,” he said.

A press release from the venue stated: “With the 20th anniversary of the Olympics in Atlanta coming up next summer, the stewards of this Olympic legacy venue agreed the time has come to invest in the area’s sports heritage.”

Gainesville Mayor Danny Dunagan said the venue has had an economic impact this year of $6.2 million.

“So, we’re just in the beginning stages of this … but we’re headed that way in a fast direction,” he said.

Richard Mecum, Hall County Board of Commissioners chairman, said, “We look forward to seeing a long-term vision that Gainesville-Hall ’96 has for (the venue). The venue is a truly unique feature of our community.”

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Richard Mecum, Hall County Commission chairman, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge Park in Gainesville.

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New tritoons are faster, easy to maintain and more luxurious

Photo courtesy Harrisboats.com Story by Nancy E. Spraker

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Pontoon boats have really changed. The days of put-put boats chugging at a snail’s pace are over.

Pontoons with two floats and, increasingly, tritoons with three now are towing water skiers, tubers and wakeboarders. They can travel up to 50 mph and round a buoy with ease. Updated amenities include mood lighting, remote controlled stereos, refrigerators, bars and sinks, upper decks and even sliding boards.

Tim Chambers is the pontoon man at Singleton Marine at Lake Lanier, the No. 1 Harris Pontoon dealer worldwide. Recently he took me for a spin on a middle-of-the-line Harris Cruiser 220 tritoon with a 150-horsepower outboard motor.

It should be known that the pontoon I am most familiar with is my sailing club’s 1987 Harris-Kayat race committee boat, with no amenities to speak of. Its 60-HP motor’s maximum speed is 20 knots. Aboard the Cruiser, I pleasantly sank into a sumptuous lounge chair as Tim cranked up the motor. It was so quiet I barely knew it was running. He tells me that the 350 HP is even quieter.

He put the boat in gear and, once past the no-wake buoys, we sped up to 35 mph on a plane. It was such a smooth ride. Being a weekday, there were only a couple of other boats on the water. A speedboat created some wake that Tim decided to cross. We sliced through the waves with only a couple gentle bumps – no major splashing, pounding or rattles.

The boat was still quiet enough to continue conversation with the motor at three-quarter throttle. Tim made some tight turns facilitated by its keel and lifting strakes, blades of aluminum that run the length of the pontoons underneath. His pinkie easily turned the wheel with the aid of power steering. The boat hardly heeled and the bow obediently stayed level.

We briefly beached the craft on a nearby sandy shore with no need for an anchor. Draft was only 8 inches with the motor raised. It’s only 1.5 feet with motor down. All too soon, it was time to head back to the dock.

Winter | 2016 43

At the Singleton Marine offices, Chambers shared his passion for and knowledge of pontoons and tritoons with me. According to him the size of the boat, size of motor and whether to get a pontoon or a tritoon all depend on what the boat will be used for. A pontoon is fine for fewer especially if no kids are included.

He says if three or four people just want to go “puttin’ around on the lake” a pontoon with a 150 HP is just fine, but “you need an extra log to carry the heavier motor” for more people and watersports.

He says the trend is going toward tritoons because of their capacity to do more. The tritoon can travel up to 45 or 50 mph with a larger motor. He recommends a 250 HP or 350 HP to travel 45-50 mph.

These motors can maintain these speeds even with 14 people on board. However, he says that the 150 HP is very popular and can speed up to 38-40 mph and will pull a skier.

One boat does not necessarily fit all.

For those who fish, the Fishing Cruiser pontoon boats offer a center walkthrough seating arrangement, built-in tackle boxes, rod holders, a dedicated fishing chair, live well for live bait and a trolling motor.

Pontoons’ shallow draft lend themselves to the fishing lifestyle. Bar boats are great for entertaining with sit-up bars for food and drinks, sinks and refrigerators.

The beauty of a pontoon or tritoon is ease of maintenance. Ninety percent of the 44 Winter | 2016

A Harris Cruiser 220 sits at the dock at Singleton Yacht. Below, a 150 hp motor is perched on the back of a luxury pontoon.

Photos by Nancy E. Spraker LAKE Destination

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Photo courtesy Harrisboats.com

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2016 Gala ArƟst Guest of Honor, Roseta SanƟago

QUINLAN VISUAL ARTS CENTER

boat is aluminum and can last a lifetime. Engine maintenance is usually an annual oil change on the upper unit and every other season on the lower unit. Winterizing is unnecessary since all water drains out.

Vinyl upholstery has UV protectant, is double stitched and just needs an occasional spray and wipe with 303 Protectant. Cleaning is handled mostly with just soap and water. Typical flooring is stain, mold and mildew-resistant vinyl teak and woven vinyl seagrass that essentially only need hose-downs.

Below deck are seven layers of marine plywood that’s “made to get wet” says Chambers. Deck crossmembers are spaced closer together especially in the engine area for structural integrity. The pontoons themselves are larger, thicker and multichambered now. Each pontoon is made of several compartments so that if punctured, it won’t completely fill with water and sink. Larger splash guards keep cockpits dry and surging is minimal since bigger pontoons increase freeboard area.

One nice thing about a pontoon is that you can

2016 Fine Art Auc�on, 100 Works

Saturday, March 5th

Gainesville, Georgia

$125 per person, black �e Includes entry to Preview Night with arƟsts, Thursday, March 5th

770.536.2575

Tickets go on sale January 8th

quinlanartscenter.org

Photo courtesy Harrisboats.com go to different lakes. Chambers says “I can virtually load up a pontoon boat in one minute.” You just need a double-axle trailer with brakes on each axle. Trailers are very light and most boats with trailers can be towed with a family SUV. Now for the bells and whistles: Rope lighting at seat bases, underdeck lighting, lighted biminis, lighted cupholders and speaker lighting are all available. A wide variety of mooring covers and biminis plus complete enclosures are possibilities.

Since the head on pontoons is usually a porta-potty, a pop-up changing room with 46 Winter | 2016

curtains is a welcome feature.

Several styles of cushy seats, a variety of ladders, a ski locker in the middle pontoon, cupholder upgrades, bars and grills, Bluetooth stereos, a multitude of floor plans and an extensive palette of color choices aim to please.

Harris has many models of pontoons/ tritoons from basic to posh. According to Chambers the midrange Solstice 220 (23 feet, 6 inches) and 240 (25 feet, 4 inches) with 200 or 300 HP motors are most popular. The luxurious Crowne 250, almost 27 feet long, has a teak articulating

table, tilting automatic swim deck, remote stereo controls and an optional touch screen controlled helm with GPS-based cruise.

The Crowne 250 bar boat is on display at the 2016 Atlanta Boat Show as well as the new Cruiser 220 with two decks and a slide.

Now that I’ve experienced the newer pontoons/tritoons, it may be hard to return to the old Harris race committee pontoon boat. But you do have to give it credit for lasting 28 years!

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Photo by Nancy E. Spraker destinationlanier.com

Winter | 2016 47

Calendar

Ongoing Northeast Georgia History Center Family Days 1-4 p.m. Second Sunday of each month through December.

Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville.

Free. 770-297-5900, www.negahc.org.

Northeast Georgia History Center Forums 7 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month through December.

Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St NE, Gainesville.

Theme differs each month.

Admission free for members, $3 for nonmembers. 770-297-5900, www. negahc.org.

Bowen Center for the Arts 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tuesday through Friday; Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

New shows monthly. Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville. Free. 706-216-2787, info@dawsonarts.org.

Lake Lanier Rowing Club classes Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clarks Bridge Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville. $100. www. lakelanierrowing.org, llrc@ mindspring.com, 770-287-0077, 770540-7144.

ages and levels welcome. 770-5323311, ext. 114.

American Business Women’s Association 6 p.m. fourth Tuesday each month.

Recess Southern Gastro-pub, 118 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville. Dinner, speakers, meeting. 770-654-9277, abwallcc.org.

The Pilot Club 5:45 p.m. every fourth Thursday.

Elk’s Club, 1547 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. 770-532-2528, jlc814@ yahoo.com.

The Georgia Art League Noon, third Thursday each month.

Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

Georgiaartleague.org.

Friday sketch Club 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. first Friday of the month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $20. 770-536-2575, info@ qvac.org, www.quinlanartscenter.org.

January Jan. 7 Mary Addison Hackett solo exhibition Atlanta. Opening reception 7-9 p.m. Jan. 7. Exhibition through Feb. 6. Marcia Wood Gallery Midtown, 1037 Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta. marciawoodgallery.com.

Toastmasters program, improve communication and leadership skills 6 p.m. Mondays. 611 Spring St., Gainesville. Free. 706-265-6710, 2520. toastmastersclubs.org.

Jan. 9 Riders in the Sky Dahlonega. 2 and 8 p.m. Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega. $20-$35. www. hollytheater.com or 706-864-3759.

Square dance plus classes 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays. Mulberry Creek Community Center, 4491 J.M. Turk Road, Flowery Branch. Free. 12 years old and older. 770-965-7140.

Jan. 9 Jordan’s Run for Riverside 5K Gainesville. 8 a.m. Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. $15-$79. www.runforriverside. com.

Library chess club 1-5 p.m. Fridays. Gainesville Library, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. All 48 Winter | 2016

Jan. 11-12 Tchaikovsky Spectacular featuring

the State Ballet Theatre of Russia Athens. 8 p.m. UGA Performing Arts Center, 225 Baldwin St., Athens. $55-$65. www.pac.uga.edu. 706-542-4400.

Jan. 14 Date Night at the Q Gainesville. 7-9 p.m. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $25. www.quinlanartscenter.org/date-night.html or 770-536-2575.

Jan. 14-17 Atlanta Boat Show, Atlanta. Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C, 280 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta. $14. www. atlantaboatshow.com.

Jan. 15 Dave Mallett Dahlonega. 8 p.m. Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega. $15-$20. www. hollytheater.com. 706-864-3759.

Jan. 17 Athens Tango Project Atlanta. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Heritage Sandy Springs, 6110 Blue Stone Road NE, Atlanta. $10-$5. 404-851-9111.

Jan. 23 Juni Fisher Dawsonville. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville. www.dawsonarts.org or 706-216-2787.

Jan. 23 Hiroya Tsukamoto Sautee Nacoochee. 7:30 p.m. Center Theatre, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee Nacoochee. $12-$18. http://snca.org/snc/ performance/billboard.php#Tsukamoto or 706-878-3300.

Jan. 26-Feb. 20 “Once on This Island” Gainesville. Hosch Theatre, 429 Academy St., Gainesville. $12-$24. 678-717-3624 or www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org.

Jan. 28-Feb. 20 “Dracula” Oakwood. University of North Georgia Gainesville Ed Cabell Theatre, 3850 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. $12-$20. 678-7173624 or www.gainesvilletheatrealliance. org

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Jan. 29-31 Great American Motorcycle Show, Norcross. $7-$12. www. greatamericanmotorcycleshow.com.

Jan. 30 Second annual Suwanee Gateway Half Marathon, Suwanee. 7:30 a.m. $65$75. Register online at www.active.com or www.runsuwanee.com.

Jan. 31 Gainesville Civic Center Bridal Expo, Gainesville. 12:30-4:30 p.m., Civic Center on Greent Street. $5 at the door. www. gainesville.org/bridal expo

February Feb. 5 “Connectability” photo show Dawsonville. Opening reception Feb. 5.

Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville. www.dawsonarts.org or 706216-2787.

Feb. 14 “Love Songs: From the Backwoods to Broadway” With Katie Deal with Chris Wright & Friends, Gainesville. 2:30 p.m. Pearce Auditorium, 1 Centennial Circle, Gainesville. $20-$25. www.theartscouncil. net or 770-534-2787.

Feb. 20 Movie fest Dawsonville. 1-4 p.m. Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville.Video finalists and awards presentation. www. dawsonarts.org or 706-216-2787.

Feb. 23 2015 Georgia author of the year Dr. Carolyn Curry, Gainesville. Brenau University’s Women’s College. Reading at 7 p.m. in Hosch Theater followed by book signing in Burd lobby. Reception 6 p.m. at the North Georgia History Center. Free and open to the public.

Feb. 25-27 Debra Nadelhoffer studio workshop in oils or pastels Gainesville. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Quinlan Visual

Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $350. http://www.quinlanartscenter.org/ debra-nadelhoffer.html or 770-536-2575.

March

March 12 John McDermott Gainesville. 7 p.m. First Baptist Church of Gainesville, 751 Green St., Gainesville. $17-$22, for tickets www.fbcgainesville. tix.com or 800-595-4849. Information, call 770-538-0858.

March 19 Second annual North Georgia Women’s Expo Gainesville. Time and location TBA. Vendors and sponsorships available. 770535-6323 or 770-535-6304.

March 22 “The Philadelphia Story” Oakwood. Through April 16. University of North Georgia Gainesville’s Ed Cabell Theatre, 3850 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. $12-$20. 678-717-3624, www. gainesvilletheatrealliance.org.

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Day-use Parks 1 Buford Dam 2 Lower Overlook 3 Powerhouse 4 Lower Pool 5 West Bank 6 Shoal Creek 7 Big Creek 8 Burton Mill 9 Van Pugh South 10 West Bank Overlook

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Boat Ramp

Playground

Picnic Areas

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Old Federal Balus Creek Mountain View Robinson Simpson Sardis Creek Wahoo Creek Thompson Bridge Little River Lula

State, County, City Parks 1 Lake Lanier Islands 2 Flowery Branch 3 River Forks

Swimming Areas

Campgrounds 1 2 3 4

Old Federal Duckett Mill Toto Creek Bald Ridge

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Belton Bridge Toto Creek Nix Bridge Thompson Creek War Hill Bolding Mill Little Hall Duckett Mill Keith Bridge Long Hollow

Vann’s Tavern Bethel Two Mile Six Mile Charleston Young Deer Tidwell Little Ridge Mary Alice East Bank Lanier Park Van Pugh North 7 Laurel Park 8 Clarks Bridge 9 Lumpkin

4 Lanier Point 5 Longwood Park 6 Holly Park

Marinas

5 Sawnee 6 Bolding Mill 7 Van Pugh South

1 Lanier Harbor 2 Lazy Days 3 Holiday 4 Hideaway Bay 5 Aqualand

6 Sunrise Cove 7 Gainesville 8 Port Royale 9 Bald Ridge 10 Habersham

UNIFORM STATE WATERWAY MARKING SYSTEM Keep an eye out for these signs when you are boating on Lake Lanier. They provide crucial information about what lies ahead in the water

DIVER BELOW Boaters should exercise caution when passing through area

OBSTRUCTION MARKER

Indicates not easily seen blockage Do not pass between shore and buoy

BOATS KEEP OUT Danger such as waterfalls, swim areas or rapids ahead may lie outside diamond shape.

DANGER!

Danger may be indicated inside diamond shape, such as rocks, reefs, dams or construction

CAUTION!

Controlled area as indicated in circle, such as speed limit, no fishing, slow-no wake or no prop boats

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One short blast: Pass to the right

Two short blast: Maintain Course

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Pass astern

One blast right.

Two blasts left.

Around Lanier 2015 Festival of Trees Dec. 5, 2015

The annual Festival of Trees Gala in Gainesville benefited Challenged Child and Friends.

Organizers of the event were aiming to raise $100,000 for the charity through auction items and ticket sales. The Festival of Trees is Challenged Child and Friends’ largest of the four fundraisers hosted by the organization. More than 300 tickets were sold for the event.

52 Winter | 2016

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Christmas on Green Street 2015 Dec. 6, 2015

Nostalgia was in abundance this year as Christmas on Green Street offered carolers, hand bell choirs, hosts in period costume and The Salvation Army band playing holiday favorites. And, of course, plenty of century-old homes open for wandering.

The Hall County Historical Society sponsors the event every year on the first Sunday in December. And it usually draws a crowd. This year was no different, as people streamed between brightly decorated houses, sipping on hot chocolate, munching on cookies and fudge samples and snapping photos of the homes.

Fall | 2015 | 2016 54 Winter

LAKE Destination

Lanier

destinationlanier.com

Winter Fall | 2015 2016 55

Quinlan Winter Exhibition 2015 Dec. 10, 2015

The newest exhibition at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville included a Georgia Art League juried show, the University of North Georgia DoVA faculty exhibition, local artist Diane Speight “re:constructed” and artists Ann Goble and Amanda Lovett “Ranchlands: Embracing the West.”

Fall | 2015 | 2016 56 Winter

LAKE Destination

Lanier

One Stop Solution

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north georgia .com

Connecting North Georgia to news and information ... and connecting area businesses to customers and solutions.

Mingle with Kringle Dec. 13, 2015 Inside the Main Street Market on the historic Gainesville square, the Mingle with Kringle event welcomed children of all ages

and all temperaments to spend a little time with Santa. Each child enjoys a small chat with the Santa, a photo, and leaves with a candy cane in their hand and a smile on their face.

Lake Lanier Association wins state award Dec. 16, 2015

The Lake Lanier Association was recently awarded First Place in the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation’s statewide Community Greening contest. This was related to efforts on Lake Lanier with the Shore Sweep event as well as work on abandoned and derelict docks and vessels.

Pictured are Forsyth Commissioner Cindy Mills, LLA Executive Director Joanna Cloud holding the award, Bonny Putney Lake Lanier Association Board Member, Kevin Smith Keep Forsyth County Beautiful.

Fall | 2015 | 2016 58 Winter

LAKE Destination

Lanier