Gena Camerlengo and her friend, Bryan, plane nicely in her dad’s 10.6 SR with an 8hp gas motor

We have enjoyed our Sea Eagle 10.6sr inflatable boat on the ocean off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.  Running our boat along the coastline to uninhabited islands including a bird sanctuary has given all of us good times to reminisce for years to come.  It’s adventures like these, with the help of our Sea Eagle boat, that keep our adventurous trips anticipated by our family and friends for years to come.  Thank you, Sea Eagle!   

— Leon Camerlengo

When we spoke with Leon Camerlengo recently, he told us his story of enjoying solo time and social time among South Carolina’s Barrier Islands with his Sea Eagle 10.6sr

Leon is a medical professional in Columbus, Ohio and owns a second home near Charleston, South Carolina, within easy reach of the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina’s famous Barrier Islands.

Having gone to medical school there, Charleston is familiar turf for Leon.He and his wife, Kathy, spend weeks at a time there in spring and summer. “I love the summers in Charleston,” Leon told us.

Easy access to water makes boating a natural for the Camerlengos. The Edisto River, the longest undammed and unleveed blackwater river in North America, is right around the corner, as are endless miles of Atlantic Ocean, pristine beaches, and uninhabited islands.

“I never grew up around boating,” Leon told us, “but with a home within a mile of the ocean,” he wanted to give boating a try. “Our Sea Eagle is so much fun, comfortable, and safe, it’s just a blast.”

Just the two of us

The Camerlengos love the peace and quiet they find on South Carolina’s lesser-known, secluded beaches. “When it’s just Kathy and me,” Leon says, “we go to one of the islands, pull up, and go picnicking; just the two of us.” Or they’ll go dolphin-watching. “Dolphins are everywhere down here,” he tells us. “When you see one, you’ll soon see many more.”

Leon explains the appeal of their private time. “We just enjoy being together in a private atmosphere. Our Sea Eagle can always bring us to a private place where other people aren’t. It’s like having own private island right around the corner.”

The “SR” in the 10.6sr stands for Sport Runabout. While Kathy sunbathes on their private excursions, Leon is “catching air” with his Sea Eagle. “The performance is really good,” says Leon. “Steering is accurate and it planes easily with two passengers with our Mercury 8HP motor.” With the 8, “it’s kind of like flying. When I hit the waves right, I get airborne. To me, that’s exhilarating.” Leon will be flying higher this season with his new, 15HP motor.

Boating with family & friends

Besides boating with family, Kathy and Leon take outings with friends to nearby Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary. Off limits above the high tide line, this is a predator-free nesting site for thousands and thousands of sea birds. “With no predators,” says Leon, “the pelicans just stand there looking at you.”

Gena, Leon and Kathy’s daughter, and her friend Bryan take the helm for a spin in Dad’s Sea Eagle along the South Carolina coast.

“Everyone who comes down to visit us loves the Sea Eagle,” says Leon. “It brings people together.” He’ll ferry a few friends at a time to outings on nearby islands. Asked why he doesn’t get a bigger boat that’ll hold more passengers he replies, “I love the adventure of a smaller boat – the waves breaking over the bow make it fun like a day in the sun.”

Run all day on a couple gallons

 “I wanted a boat that was light enough to carry,” he says. “Bigger boats are more trouble. If I bottom out on a sandbar, I can pick up the Sea Eagle and move it.” And the inflatable Sea Eagle provides an added benefit: affordability. “With gas prices as they are,” says Leon, “we go all day on a couple gallons. After initial purchase it’s affordable way to have fun.” Leon compares the cost of his boating fun with that of a friend who goes offshore fishing. “He’s spending $800 in gas on a single trip!”

Sea, sand, sun & fun off the South Carolina coast. (OK, visitors, who can ID the bird?)

All fun, no upkeep

“What else could you want?” asks Leon. “It’s a small investment with a big bang for your buck. Where else could you get that much fun for that little money? There’s no upkeep, it’s very inexpensive to operate, reliable, and a lot of fun.”

South Carolina sun, sand, surf, and a Sea Eagle…it all sounds perfect to us!

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