Rich is ready for an afternoon of Sea Eagle boating fun

Kathy Crago and her boyfriend, Rich Elack, are hooked on Sea Eagle kayaking. Kathy, a Sea Eagle 370 owner, sent such a nice note (below) that we just couldn’t help ourselves — we had to call her to hear more about her Sea Eagle boating experiences. And Kathy had plenty to tell.

Dear Sea Eagle,

I never imagined our Sea Eagle 370 could provide us with so many great experiences we’d have otherwise missed! It’s the best investment in FUN that I have ever made. What a great avenue for some incredible on-the- water entertainment!

When a Florida vacation opportunity came up, the first thing we packed was our Sea Eagle 370!  I had never swum in an ocean, let alone kayaked in one. We kayaked along the white sand shores of Sanibel Island, just south of Fort Myers, Florida, and in San Carlos Bay and its canals that lead to the Gulf of Mexico.

Our Sea Eagle 370 enabled us to experience the best self-guided tour we could’ve ever imagined. A pair of curious dolphins popped up just 10 feet from our Sea Eagle. What a treat, as this Wisconsin girl had never seen dolphins in the wild before!  We paddled hard and fast trying to follow their lead through the beautiful blue-green waters.  Once we entered San Carlos Bay, flying fish started shooting out of the water into the air, almost landing directly in the Sea Eagle!

Social worker by day, Kathy enjoys kayaking with family and friends

I was truly amazed at the number of nesting pairs of sea hawks, pelicans, and other ocean birds we were able to see up-close and personal, all because our Sea Eagle kayak moves so quietly and easily through the water. I am so hooked on Sea Eagle kayaking!

Kathy Crago, West Bend, WI

Kathy’s note describes their recent Florida boating adventures, but summers find them boating in their local Wisconsin waters. Among their favorite spots are lakes in is Kettle Moraine State Forest.

They have a number of nearby lakes to choose from including Little Cedar Lake and Big Cedar Lake.  Cedar Creek connects them and flows through historic downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin. These northern waters teem with smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegills, rock bass, sunfish, carp, and more.

Summer evenings & weekends on the water

Kathy’s a medical social worker in her local hospital; Rich works in sales

Grandson Vincent’s busy inflating the Sea Eagle 370 while Rich checks his work

and building materials. “After work or on the weekends in the summer,” said Kathy, “we just load up our Sea Eagle 370 and go.” Kathy’s nine-year old grandson, Vincent, is a frequent companion on their boating adventures.

“We explore every channel, outlet, and everything in between,” Kathy told us. “We found a beautiful sandy beach on Little Cedar Lake.” Kathy and Rich tie up the Sea Eagle and just float in the sun for hours on end. “It’s not unusual to have eight or 10 boats parked there,” says Rich. “We’re the only Sea Eagle and we always get a lot of questions.”

“We always had boats”

Why do Rich and Kathy love boating? “We both love the outdoors,” Rich explained. “We do hiking and biking, cross-country skiing, and some downhill.” Kathy grew up boating. Her family had a summer cottage on a northern Wisconsin lake. “We always had boats,” she told us.

And why Sea Eagle? “In just 10 minuts max we’re on the water,” says Rich. “It’s easy to transport and easy to use.” Kathy explained further. “We see people loading up hard hull kayaks on roof racks or trailers. Rich and I can load and unload so much easier.” Rich takes the Sea Eagle to the launch spot and pumps it up with their battery-operated pump. “While I’m doing that,” Rich says, “Kathy blows up the premium seats with the foot pump and gathers gear including the soft cooler we have for drinks and food.”

Then there’s the toughness factor — darned important in rocky Wisconsin waters. “The number of rocks we went over, that bottom should be ripped up,” says Rich, “but we never got a hole in it. It looks brand new. Anything else would have gotten torn up like crazy.”

Quiet nature moments

Just 40 miles from Milwaukee, the West Bend area is well populated. But there’s plenty of nature around, and kayaking gives boaters a unique opportunity to enjoy it.  “We were kayaking down the Milwaukee River and we looked up and saw a family of owls – a mother and three fuzzy babies,” says Kathy. “We’d never have seen that if we weren’t on the water.”

On that same trip, “A great blue heron flew ahead of us, leading us on an adventure. She’d land and we’d catch up, then she’d take off again. Hours later, she was still flying ahead of us. She was like our scout!”

Fun way to socialize

You read a lot about online social networking these days, but Sea Eagle boating can be a “social network” of the old fashioned kind. Six or eight of Kathy’s friends own Sea Eagles, and all of them have gone boating and picnicking together. “It’s a fun thing to do with other couples,” says Kathy. “You can go as a group and explore, it’s a fun way to socialize.”

“Next summer, we’d like to get together with friends to do the Wisconsin River,” Rich told us. “It’s probably 125 miles from Sauk Prairie, 45 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin to the Mississippi River.” Rich estimates it’s probably a two or three day trek with tent camping along the way.

She took her friends’ advice. Now she passes it on

Kathy’s friends bought their Sea Eagles first. They did a lot of research on boats so Kathy didn’t have to. When she got interested they advised, “Don’t bother looking any farther than Sea Eagle.’”

Today, Kathy and Rich pass along the same message. When they get curious looks and questions, which they often do, “We tell people if you’re serious about kayaking, Sea Eagle is the way to go. We send them to the Sea Eagle website where they’ll see how easy they are to transport and use, easy to inflate and deflate in just a few minutes. “We’ve probably sold a dozen Sea Eagles!”

“We steer friends toward the Sea Eagle 370 instead of the two-person 330,” says Rich. “You can get three people and a lot of gear in the 370. If you’re going to buy one, you might as well get a big one, one that you can use for a variety of things.” Rich also advises, “Get the premium seats. They’re comfortable, and they’re good as flotation devices when you’re just lounging around in the water.”

Sweet summer afternoons on the water, in the sun, enjoying nature and good friends. Does it get any better than that?

— Do YOU have Sea Eagle photos & stories to share? E-mail us!

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!

Do YOU have Sea Eagle photos & stories to share? Our blog visitors want to see…and YOU could be featured on our Blog.

Email us your photos & stories today!

By Cecil Hoge

Sea Eagle President Cecil Hoge (right) and talks with Torqeedo’s Christoph Ballin about Sea Eagle’s new 10.6sr Solar Package

Last month, I wrote a blog post about my experiments with solar power and how I hope solar power in combination with electric outboards will soon be practical to motor our inflatable boats. I would now like to tell about our first introduction of a true solar powered electric motor boat which we presented last month at the Miami Boat Show – Our Sea Eagle 10.6 inflatable boat with a 3 HP 1003 Torqeedo electric motor, and a PowerFilm solar panel mounted directly on our Sea Eagle canopy.

We introduced this particular configuration at the Miami Boat Show because we think this combination of boat, motor and solar panel is particularly practical for yacht owners. This is because yacht owners generally use inflatable boats to go ship to shore and to cruise around scenic harbors. The great thing about this use is that when yacht owners are not cruising around harbors or going ship to shore, their tender is moored by their boat or tied up to a dock. If there is any sunlight, the PowerFilm solar panel is silently and constantly charging up the lithium battery of the Torqeedo motor.

Before the show, Torqeedo—the manufacturer of the electric motor—had a press conference inviting many magazines and press officials to a house in Miami on the Intercoastal Waterway. There Christoph Ballin, the President of Torqeedo, and I demonstrated our new solar panel configuration.

Those of you familiar with this waterway know that it stretches all along the East Coast of the United States, making it a beautiful protected waterway that many boaters use to go up and down the East Coast. Using the Sea Eagle 10.6 with the solar electric package as we did, the real advantages of this kind of boat configuration became readily apparent. Not only was it very quiet and clean and easy to motor through the winds and currents of the Inter coastal Waterway, but the battery was able to simultaneously charge while we were motoring. Because of this, our range (the distance we could travel on the current charge) was extended by the constant input of solar power.

Another truly interesting aspect was the fact that when motoring at a relatively slow speed, the battery power remains constantly fully charged. The solar panel delivers in full sun 45 watts and if you keep the power usage on the Torqeedo to 45 watts or less, you literally are running on solar power alone. This is a slow speed—it is only about one and half miles per hour—but it also allows you to travel without putting any drain on the battery.

Cecil and Cristoph take the Sea Eagle 10.6sr Solar Package for a ride

One of the many unique characteristics of the Torqeedo electric motor was that it has a computer module showing remaining battery power, speed over land, remaining range at a given speed and the actual wattage in power that you are using at any given time. This allows you to simply set the power usage at 45 watts and chug along for free, or to go faster and monitor your usage and remaining range all the time.

One thing that is sometimes forgotten when discussing the power and speed in an outboard motor, is that to get twice the speed, you need 8 times the power. In other words, the faster you go the much more power you use. Without the benefit a solar panel, the Torqeedo motor goes full speed for 38 minutes, 3/4 speed for over 2 hours and slow speed for up to 10 hours, so the range and time you can go changes dramatically with the power you use. When you add a solar panel, it increases your range and it extends the time you can use the motor.

Personally, the best benefit of using a solar panel is that when the boat is at rest and when there is some sunlight, the battery is always recharging, eliminating any need to plug it into an electrical source when you’re not using it. Unlike rigid solar panels the PowerFilm solar panel uses amorphous solar cells on a flexible but durable fabric material allowing it to charge all the time there is some light. While it charges best in full sunlight, the solar panel still charges in cloudy and waning light conditions. This is a welcome change from rigid solar panels which are much heavier and need a certain light intensity to deliver any charging power. It also means that the PowerFilm solar panel is far lighter than traditional rigid glass solar panels.

The fact that the solar panel charges all the time in most light conditions has some real and unusual benefits for a yacht owner. While the boat owners are at a restaurant enjoying a nice meal or moored and relaxing on their boat, the solar panel is silently recharging the battery of the motor as long as there is some sunlight.

This is very practical in terms of how many yacht owners use their yacht tenders. It allows someone to go to a nearby beach or to a dock or to another boat to tie up—often for several hours at a time—and then get back in their boat and motor back from whence they came. And the truly great thing about this, is the fact that all the time the boat is at rest in sunlight, it is recharging the battery.

The Torqeedo Travel 1003 lets you set its power, allowing you to maximize the solar panel’s efficiency

This means that most yacht owners will almost never have to recharge their batteries – they will have perpetual power at their disposal, ready to use whenever needed. Of course, if they need to charge the battery electrically this is also easily done since most large boat owners have a diesel generator on board with available electrical outlets. And of course, the battery can always be charged from an electrical outlet at the dock or at home. Since the battery only weighs about 10 pounds this is not the hassle it is with lugging a 40 or 50 lb. lead acid battery.

We are hoping this new solar electric configuration will offer yacht owners a whole new energy free way to have a tender. Not only is this a very green alternative to using a gasoline motor, it is also a very clean way to motor a boat…there is no gas or oil to spill and mess up and stain your clothes or your boat. Solar electric is clean and easy all the way.

Those of you familiar with the hassle and expense of running and handling a small outboard gas engine will especially appreciate using a Torqeedo electric motor. Instead of having to pull a manual start cord and deal with their temperamental starting nature that seems inherent to all small gas outboards, all you have to do put the magnet starter button on the tiller handle and turn turn the handle left or right for forward or reverse. Instead of having to listen to a loud motoring sound of small gas explosions in a small gas engine (how can such little engines make so much noise?), the yacht owner only hears a low whirring sound of the electric motor. And instead of having your gas motor yearly serviced for what seems like half the cost of the engine, the Torqeedo requires almost no upkeep over a 10 year period.

Cruising through the Intercoastal Waterway with a Sea Eagle 10.6 Solar Package

All of the inherent advantages of a Torqeedo are enhanced with the use of a PowerFilm solar panel on our Sea Eagle canopy. Not only is the panel durable and reliable, it is completely out of the way of the boater. This allows full use of the boat while the solar panel recharges the battery of the motor.

Last but not least, I would like to mention why I think the Sea Eagle 10.6 with a 1003 Torqeedo and a PowerFilm solar panel is such a great match for the average yacht owner. The size of this boat, at 10′ 6″, is perfect for most yacht tending situations – it can hold comfortably 4 people. Better still this model has a patent pending exterior drop stitch keel which allows it to steer very precisely. Most inflatable tenders simply slide when you try to turn them. Not so for our 10.6, because of the exterior keel, it turns precisely within a much smaller radius. This is very important for a small boat motoring around docks and crowded moorings where often there are much larger boats paying not too much attention to the smaller craft that may come nearby.

An added feature of our 10.6 when it is using a high pressure drop stitch inflatable floor along with the outside drop stitch keel (you have a choice between plastic floorboards or a drop stitch inflatable floor), the overall boat is much lighter – 43 lbs lighter to be precise. The 10.6 weighs just 93 lbs. with the drop stitch floor, making it practical to be easily carried by 2 people, to be pulled up on a larger boat or to be towed long distances by your larger boat. And again, when used with the drop stitch floor, the boat is far easier to assemble and far more compact to store – two very important features for yacht owners.

Of course, I have to admit that I am prejudiced since we sell Sea Eagle boats and I am the proud president of the company – we think the 10.6 is the best all-around yacht tender on the market. And we think when it is combined with a Torqeedo motor and a PowerFilm solar panel on our Sea Eagle canopy, this package offers the yacht owner a unique and very pleasant alternative to gas powered yacht tenders.

We hope this new introduction of our solar electric Sea Eagle 10.6 – we call it the Ultimate Solar Electric Package – is just the first of many new solar electric configurations using our boats with Torqeedo motors and PowerFilm solar panels.

No one boat and no one kind of innovation can change the world, but many different people and many kinds of innovation, using many different kinds of solar electric boats and solar electric cars and other solar electric products could change world. More than that, I think this change can come only one person at a time. It will not be a government or a single business that changes the world, it will be people, one person at a time, changing to new innovative products, that will change to world.

Later this year, I hope to report to you about other developments using Torqeedo outboard motors with PowerFilm solar panels on other Sea Eagle inflatable boats. The introduction of our solar electric package for our Sea Eagle 10.6 is, I hope, just a small part of my solar power dream and the first step of many to offer alternative choices to the use of fossil fuels and gas motors.

You’ll often find the Boey family and their Sea Eagle PaddleSki, set up as a sailboat, in the waters around Singapore

If you love boating, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, or other aquatic adventures, put Singapore on your must-see list. We talked recently with Singaporean, Vincent Boey, who told us of his life-long love of boating and how he’s enjoying passing his love of the outdoors on to his children.

“Singapore is blessed with a tropical climate and an abundance of open water,” Vincent told us, “which makes it ideal for water recreation all year around.”

“As a child,” Vincent continues, “I was always fascinated with the outdoors. During school holidays, I’d gather a few good friends and we’d spend days of fun camping, fishing, sailing, and simply enjoying the outdoors. Nature and the sea have taught me teamwork, independence, fear, and respect among other things.”

Clarence, Vanessa, and Vincent set up their Sea Eagle PaddleSki as a kayak for paddling fun

Water Everywhere!

Singapore, formally the Republic of Singapore, is an island country off the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia, just 85 miles north of the equator. It’s a cluster of islands — the largest, Singapore Island, and 62 smaller, largely uninhabited ones.

There’s water, and easy water access, at every turn. To the north, between Singapore and Malaysia, are the Straits of Johor. The famous Lido Beach, on the Malaysian side, is a popular and beautiful spot.

To the south, separating Singapore from Indonesia, is the Singapore Strait, a busy, deepwater point of entry to the Port of Singapore. Among Singapore Island’s many rivers is the historic Singapore River — the mouth of which was the original port of entry to Singapore.

Family Boating & Family Bonding

Vincent tells us, “The outdoors is a big classroom where many valuable lessons can be taught and learned. My lovely wife, Christine, though not an outdoor person, is rather accommodating and joins me on outdoor trips. When our children, Vanessa and Clarence, came along we took every opportunity to get outdoors to enjoy and savor Nature.

I remembered the thrill and excitement in their eyes when my children first saw a shooting star. When they grew older, I decided to expose them to water adventure and sailing. I searched the web and chanced on the SeaEagle 435Ps PaddleSki. It’s an ideal boat for our needs. Its five-boats-in-one versatility is like owning 5 boats for the price of one. It provides safety, stability, durability, and was certainly worth the investment. Its ease of storage, transport, and utility is truly a boon.”

Five boats in one

Vincent’s inflatable Sea Eagle PaddleSki is a unique nautical chameleon that’s easily set up as five different craft. It’s an easy-paddling kayak. Attach an outboard motor and get where you’re going effortlessly. Set up with oars and a sliding seat, it’s an on-water rowing/exercise machine. With a sail rig, it glides silently across the water. And decked out as a fishing boat, it’s roomy and comfortable.

Family man, family bonding

Vincent expresses thoughts every family man has. “Due to the nature of my work, time with my family is extremely valuable to me. Whenever possible, we take the Paddleski out for a great outdoor adventure and family bonding time. We go fishing or simply enjoy ourselves sailing in the open waters of Pasir Ris, Changi, and East Coast Park.

If there are good winds, we do some sailing. Otherwise, we’d set up the Paddleski as a kayak and paddle. Or we mount our Minn Kota outboard motor. If the tides are good, we do some fishing. Depending on the time of the year and luck, we catch fish like sea bass or snapper. The kids do some swimming or just laze away on the beach having fun. Thank you, SeaEagle, for the affordable and high quality product I’m proud to own.”

— Do you have Sea Eagle boating photos and stories to share? Email us!

Tom Mannion and son, Patrick, prepare for some dad-and-son time as they fish for bass on one of New Hampshire’s pristine pond in their Sea Eagle FoldCat 440.

Thomas Mannion, of New Boston, New Hampshire, balances his love for bass fishing and his love for his family in a way that makes everybody happy — he combines them.

“I’m a still water bass fisherman,” Tom told us. He sought a boat that would get him where he wanted to be; in the shallow, still waters where the lily pads grow the big bass lurk. “What really drew me to the Sea Eagle FoldCat was it draws only four inches.”

Try Tom’s stealth bass fishing secrets

“One of the best fishing spots I’ve found is in a pond near home. I fish the still water between the shore and a natural berm formed by blueberry bushes. Behind the berm, it’s all still water about a foot deep, filled with lily pads. The fish like that because they feel hidden and safe.”

Tom says there are a lot of smallmouth bass in New Hampshire waters but when you hook a largemouth bass it tends to be a big one: they know how to hide from fishermen. “One of the biggest fish I’ve caught was a 5-1/2 lb. largemouth bass. In New Hampshire, that’s a big fish.”

“I drift along and the fish don’t realize I’m there,” says Tom. “The lily pads separate right around the pontoons as I glide by.” Tom says they’ll spook when the pads move but he keeps it down to barely a crawl — just inches at a time — and the fish don’t seem to notice. “The FoldCat gives good shadow cover, too,” he says. The floor between the pontoons creates a good shadow and, “You can actually see the bass swimming around and under the boat,” because the boat’s shadow cuts the reflection.

An engineer’s a careful shopper

Tom’s an internet engineer who specializes in wireless connectivity. “As an engineer, I look at things from a very analytical point of view,” he says. “I started looking for boats a few years ago and when I saw the FoldCat 375 I knew it was the boat for me.” He says he thought, planned, and asked a lot of questions. “I’ve spent a lot more money with a lot fewer questions on things like cars,” he told us.

When we asked Tom what his boat-shopping criteria were, he reeled them off. “The FoldCat 375 fit my needs exactly. First, it’s perfect for a still water fisherman like me. And the inflatable FoldCat packs small so I don’t have to worry about a trailer, lights, or connections. And with no trailer, you burn less gasoline. A canoe weighs over 100 lbs. and takes two to put on a car top carrier. The FoldCat just goes in the trunk or back of my pickup. That’s priceless. Try doing that with a 12’ aluminum outboard! At the water, I just unload, unroll and inflate it. I got the two-stage pump so inflation is simple.”

FoldCat 375 vs. FoldCat 440

But then something unexpected happened. “When Sea Eagle came out with the 440 FoldCat, I had to rethink everything.” He observed, “The 375 is clearly a 2-man craft. The 440 is the same boat but bigger, and can be set up for one to four passengers just by changing a few wing nuts.”

Meet the Mannions — Colleen, Patrick, and Thomas

That’s when the family man in him kicked in. “We’re a very close family,” he says, “and we do everything together. The 440 is the perfect boat for that.” Tom says getting a boat the whole family could use and enjoy together was the 440 advantage that tipped the scales. “Frankly, I thought it would be selfish of me to spend time with just one family member when, for a little extra, we could all go out on the water together.”

As a parent…

“My son, Patrick, will be 10 in March,” Tom told us. “He loves to be with me and loves to be on the boat. As a parent, every moment with a child is a teaching moment and I take the opportunity to teach him about boating, fishing, and safety.”

Tom’s happy, Patrick’s happy, and his wife, Colleen is, too. “My hearty thanks to Sea Eagle for a phenomenal product. As a consumer and boater, I couldn’t be happier. If I had it to do over again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

“One more thing,” Tom added. “Anybody want to buy my old aluminum rowboat?”

— Do you have Sea Eagle photos and stories to share? E-mail us!

Sea Eagle 285fpb owner Mitch Moline catches a fish

Mitch Moline is 14 years old and nuts about fishing. And pursuing his passion is an everyday event for Mitch — he lives at a lakeside resort his parents own.

We visited Mitch and his family at their Afterglow Lake Resort outside Phelps, Wisconsin. Built in 1949, the resort spans 240 wooded acres and is surrounded by the Nicolet National Forest. Their privately-owned, spring-fed Afterglow Lake measures 33 big acres and teems with bluegills and bass. “The bass are really big and nice,” reports Mitch.

“Holding that fish was the coolest thing I ever did.”

Mitch got hooked on fishing Afterglow Lake young. “I was about nine when I caught my first big bass. I held it and it was the coolest thing I ever did,” says Mitch. As a pre-teen he fished from shore. As he grew older, he fished from old rowboat. “But,” says Mitch, “the rowboat was too big for me to handle.”

Then Mitch spotted his dream boat. “I was looking for lures in the back of a fishing magazine,” says Mitch, “when I saw an ad for Sea Eagle.” Being somewhat light on funds at his young age, Mitch turned to his parents for financial aid. “I begged and begged my parents for a Sea Eagle.” What parent could resist a son who wants to fish rather than watch TV? “It was the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten,” says Mitch with a happy smile.

He’d rather fish than watch TV

Mitch’s parents agreed willingly. “I’ve always encouraged Mitch to get outside and I’m really glad he’d rather fish than watch TV,” says his dad, Pete Moline. “I saw a report that kids spend an average of seven hours a day on TV, phone, and video games.” Most parents would agree with Pete when he says, “Any time you can get your kid outside fishing and having fun is more important than playing a video game.”

“It’s a great fishing boat.”

From a fisherman’s point of view, Mitch gives the Sea Eagle 285 Frameless Pontoon Boat two big thumbs up. “It’s set up for fishing. You’re high up off the water so you can see the fish before they can see you. I really like its hard floors and the bait holders, too. The net that is right by your feet helps hold your fish while you are getting the hook out. It’s a great fishing boat, light, easy to maneuver, stable, and easy to row.”

Safety in mind.

Mitch and his parents shopped carefully, with safety in mind. “It was important to us to buy a boat that’s safe,” says Pete. “This Sea Eagle is safe and stable, even when Mitch is standing. He’s a fly fisherman, so he will be standing.” Mitch added, “My parents trust the Sea Eagle to keep me safe.”

“I spend a lot of time at our resort working,” says Pete, “and it always puts a big smile on my face to look out and see Mitch out there catching fish. After seeing all the fun Mitch has with the Sea Eagle, I’d strongly recommend any parent get their kids one. It’s been a great boat for all of us and it’s a great value.”

A happy Mitch Moline poses in his Sea Eagle Frameless Pontoon Boat

“I do a lot of damage.”

As we were leaving, we asked Mitch if his boat is tough. “I’m a kid,” says Mitch. “I do a lot of damage. The Frameless Pontoon Boat is so durable we haven’t had any problems.” And when we asked him what he’d change, he told us, “The only thing I would add is a fish finder. Other than that, the boat’s golden.”

Watch Mitch and his Sea Eagle in action on our website. Click here.

— Do you have Sea Eagle photos and stories to share? Email [email protected]