"Our new pet injury coverage for boaters gives them peace of mind their pets are protected if they get injured in an accident on the water," said Rick Stern, Progressive boat product manager, in a statement.The coverage is free for those with comprehensive and collision coverage. It covers only dogs and cats if they're on a boat and injured in an incident such as a crash, theft, fire or flooding.

Kathy Gilpin & Tessa on Table Rock Lake; note Tessa's life vest. She always wears one on water. Photo courtesy K Gilpin 

Man Does Great Loop in a Premier Pontoon

Colorado native Lyn Morgan, 63 years old, has completed a 5,300-mile Great Loop journey in a 24-foot Premier S-Series pontoon. Morgan completed the epic journey in eight weeks and one day.

             "Not sure if anyone has done the Loop in a pontoon boat, but I think this one is capable," Morgan wrote in his blog on the first leg of his journey. "It is definitely not your grampa's pontoon boat."

Morgan's 235 S-Series PTX triple-tube pontoon was powered by a Yamaha six-cylinder, 250-horsepower motor. With a top speed of 40 mph, Morgan kept his cruising speed between 20 and 35 mph. Premier Marine is headquartered in Wyoming, Minn.

Sumerset Houseboat Assets Auctioned Off

On July 27, an auction took place to sell off equipment and fixtures at Sumerset Houseboats' Somerset, Ky., headquarters, Soundings Trade Only reported.

            Jery Claunch, an executive vice president with Citizens National Bank, which was the company's lender, said Sumerset ceased operations in October 2009. The bank still owns the company's building and trade name and is making "active efforts" to sell those, he said.

            The bank did not repossess any boats.

Last summer, Sumerset, with an excellent reputation for building high-quality houseboats, announced a three-month shutdown to allow a glut of finished inventory to clear out. That shutdown had been expected to last through Nov. 1, 2009.

 

Publicity shot of  Sumerset's houseboat, High Limit  Photo courtesy Sumerset Houseboats

The correct name of one of the companies listed in Capt Fred Davis'
Boat Smart column in September is "Duroboat." HeartLand Boating regrets any confusion.

Cool and Green-Tips for Winterizing Your

Trailer And Boat

Protect both your trailer investment and the environment with these ideas from the BoatU.S. Foundation and its Trailering Club.

1 Select a certified clean marina to make green winterizing easier. Clean marinas in more than 20 states follow established environmentally friendly practices. Visit this site to find a clean marina.

2 Don't park under trees. Some boaters think storing the boat under a tree will protect it, but the opposite is true. Ice, snow, and howling winter storms bring limbs crashing down. Falling leaves and needles stain boat covers and gelcoat, or can make their way inside to block transom drainholes.

3 Spray lubricants such as WD-40 on metal trailer roller assemblies, winch gears and electrical connections to keep away moisture and rust. It's also best to take care of any rust spots now on the galvanized metal trailer frame.

            4 If you plan to pressure-wash your own boat, ask your marina where the best place is to do it. Many marinas have washpads designed to prevent contaminants from entering the water. If none is available or if you are at home, use a tarp under the boat to capture any debris. Use an environmentally friendly boat soap before you put her away.

5 Keep boat and trailer rig in a bow-up position to let water drain out the transom drain hole. (Just don't forget to remove the drain plug and tie it to the ignition key where you will find it in the spring).

6 Winterizing a boat's motor and outdrive creates quarts of waste oils. Collect and save these fluids for your marina's or local gas station's oil-recycling program. It's all right to put all of these oils in the same container, but ask where it should go. Also have a supply of absorbent materials to handle drips when winterizing the engine, outdrive or gear cases. 

            7 Winterize with safe, non-toxic "marine" or "RV" antifreeze that contains propylene glycol. This fluid is often pink, but can also come in other colors. Never use automotive antifreeze, ethylene glycol, which is toxic and can cause illness if used in freshwater systems.

            8 If you leave the boat on the trailer in your driveway for the winter, face the hitch away from the street, and put a lock on the trailer hitch. Make your rig as difficult as possible to steal.

            9 Remove the trailer tires and store them inside to prevent sun damage. With the tires off, it might be a good time to repack the bearings. Block the frame and secure contractor-grade trash bags over the hubs and brakes to keep them dry. If tires won't be removed, position the tires on a plank to prevent dry rot, and cover them. To avoid flat spots, move the trailer a few inches now and then.

            10 Shrinkwrap recycling starts now. Installing shrinkwrap in the fall generates waste material. Ask your marina or club to set up a recycling program to recycle the scrap leftover from covering boats. Any time shrinkwrap is recycled, it must be "clean." Ropes, tie-downs, zippers, or plastic vents should be removed.

For more information about services the club provides, visit this site or call 1-800-395-2628.