Visiting with Perry Johnson of Dockmasters, I saw pictures of several docks that I recognized on Lake Wylie. There are lots of designs, to fit every need and budget.
As an owner of a boat with an uncovered dock, I've always been intrigued by the "touchless" boat covers. Just push a button and the cover drapes down over the boat, with no snapping, tugging, or excess effort. One thing to consider with these covers, however, is that they count as square footage on your dock. The square footage of a dock is determined by factors such as the amount of shoreline on a property, and the dock permit will reflect the allowed square footage. Because the touchless boat covers "cast a shadow," according to Perry, they are considered part of the allowed square footage. So not all docks would qualify for this addition.
If you own a pontoon, there is a neat boat cover that is almost as easy as the touchless. The Boat Guard retractable boat cover is operated by remote control!
The Boat Guard has rails that attach to the boat itself, so wherever the boat goes, the cover goes. Excellent idea!
Speaking of pontoons, have you ever seen a 2-story one? I saw The Lake Wylie Man real estate team checking out a double decker pontoon with a built in slide. Now that looked like fun!
Floating around in the lake is always fun, especially on a hot summer day. For the ultimate in relaxing, there is now an alternative to sitting on an upside-down life jacket while chillin' in the water: The Bum Float. This device straps around, well, your bum, and allows you total range of motion without the bulkiness of a life jacket. It isn't intended to substitute as an official floatation device for boating safety, but it IS quite comfortable and functional for hanging out on the lake. I'm not too sure about it as fashion accessory while on land:
After you've been out on the lake all day, sometimes it is a challenge to dock your boat in the dark. I saw some nifty Underwater LED lights that could really shed a little light on a dark situation. The lights float, and are anchored wherever you need them. They even have an anti-theft activation code.
What about tying your boat to a dock that has no cleats? We've all been there - - pulling up to a friend's house or T-Bones when the cleat is either missing or not in the right place. The Dock Key is a handy little device that allows you to attach your boat to almost any dock. Attach the key to your boat rope, slide it between the slats on the dock and give it a twist, and you're tied up:
For lakeside fun, how about a hot tub? Yes, they're expensive to operate, and require special electrical hook-ups . . . unless you have a Softub. These tubs are made of foam, can be rolled up and easily transported, and are powered by a standard 110v outlet. They are a lot less expensive to operate than a standard hot tub, can be used indoors or out, and come in various sizes:
It was fun visiting the various exhibits, and I also enjoyed seeing some of my favorite Lake Wylie residents, including David Coone with The Lake Wylie Man and custom homebuilder Dana Anthony. They were hanging out at the Classic and Antique Boat display, of course!
The Boat Show certainly got me in the mood for some lake fun. See y'all on the water!
