15 Dec 2020

Boat Covers

Nauticraft offers 3 different kinds of boat covers for our Pedal, Pedal/Electric & Electric Boats.  This article will explain each of these covers and things to be aware of.

Bimini

Persons sometimes refer to this as a “canopy”.  The Bimini is easily raised/lowered while out on the water and provides protection from the sun and elements.  Due to its size, it is very difficult/expensive to package and ship.  We suggest that if you are considering adding a Bimini to your boat, that you do so at the time you purchase the boat.    Available in red (as shown) and turquoise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cockpit/Mooring Cover

The Cockpit/Mooring Cover is useful while boats are moored at a dock.  It snaps onto the upper perimeter of the boat and serves to keep the interior of the boat free of debris.  Nauticraft fastens snaps onto the boat ensuring that they line up to the snaps on the cover.  If purchased after the fact, the boat owner will need to fasten those snaps onto their boat.  And if purchased as a replacement cover, chances are the snaps on the boat will not line up to the snaps on the new cover. If a snap is in the “wrong” place it can simply be removed with a screwdriver and placed properly, then the hole filled with marine filler or a high-quality silicone-based caulk.

The Bimini can remain installed while attaching the Cockpit/Mooring Cover onto the boat.  It will rest on top of the Cockpit/Mooring Cover.  It will also fit under the Cockpit/Mooring Cover on the Encore after first removing it from its hinges and then lying it down inside the boat.  Available in gray (as shown).

 

 

Trailering Cover

The Trailering Cover is helpful in keeping the interior of the boat free of debris as well as rainwater from entering the hulls on the boat. This cover uses straps which go underneath the boat and is ideal for trailering or storage purposes.

The Trailering Cover will cover both the Cockpit Cover and/or Bimini (with the Bimini still attached to the boat and either resting on top of the Cockpit Cover or in the case of the Encore, with the Bimini lying down inside the boat). Available in gray (as shown).

OTHER

  • Remove or change position of the seats in order for the covers to fit better.
  • The installation of the snaps on the boat for the Cockpit/Mooring Cover is extremely difficult to do with accuracy. Nauticraft highly suggests that covers/Biminis are ordered at the time of purchase, so the boat owner does not have to do this on their own at a later time.
  • The Sprite Pedal Boat provides for one cover that acts as both a Cockpit/Mooring Cover as well as a Trailering Cover. The Bimini for the Sprite will fit under this cover with it still installed on the hinges.

1 Sep 2020

Nauticraft Spotlighted on eightWest Wood TV 8

Nauticraft Corporation and its boats were recently highlighted on a segment of eightWest which aired on Wood TV 8 in August 2020.

We invite you to watch the following video and learn more about Nauticraft, its owner Curt Chambers and what sets our boats apart.

Enjoy!!

13 Apr 2020

Practicing Social Distancing in a Nauticraft Pedal Boat

Practicing social distancing? Enjoy spending time outdoors? Nauticraft has you covered with our Escapade or Sprite Pedal Boats!

We have a build-up of inventory right now & need to move some boats out of our shop. We’re offering a 20% discount off the price of a new boat and options (exclusions apply). Place an order now and we’ll be ready to ship shortly after we are allowed to reopen for business. Contact us via our website at: https://www.nauticraft.com/contact/

10 Mar 2020

Tour Nauticraft Factory As Part of Muskegon Area Earth Week

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Nauticraft Corporation is thrilled to be hosting a tour of our factory as part of Muskegon Area Earth Week.  Come see how our rotationally molded pedal boats are made.  The event takes place on Tuesday, April 21st from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at 5980 Grand Haven Road, Muskegon, MI  49441.  We hope to see you  here!

 

If unable to make the tour, come visit us at the Earth Fair Expo.  We will once again be showcasing our Escapade Pedal Boat at  the Expo.  This event is taking place on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Muskegon Farmer’s Market, 242 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, MI  49440.  

 

25 Feb 2020

Storing/Docking a Nauticraft Boat

Nauticraft boat owners oftentimes ask what the best way is to store their boat during the off-season as well as suggestions as to how to dock their boat during seasonal months.

The ideal way to store a Nauticraft boat during the off-season (or seasonal) months is on one of our modified Karavan boat trailers (see prior blog posting) and preferably inside a building.  If storing the boat inside is not an option, we would highly recommend it be covered with a trailering cover or a tarp while stored outside in order to keep dirt and debris (as well as critters!) from getting inside of it.

If a trailer is not available, Nauticraft boats can be stored sitting on their keels. The Escapade with its single keel, will need to either lean on a wall in order to keep it upright – or sit on a Storage Cradle.   Nauticraft manufactures and sells Storage Cradles made specifically for the Escapade that securely hold the boat in an upright position.

 

 

A Launching Wheel Set is available for the Encore and can be used while the boat is sitting on its two keels (ideally on a hard surface) as well as launching it (see prior posting).  A Styrofoam block may also be placed under the bow of the Encore, thereby giving it additional support.

The Sprite Pedal Boat is a relatively flat-bottomed boat and will easily rest sitting on its keel once the swing up drive units are removed and the rudder is swept up.

Boat lifts can also be used to store a Nauticraft boat when not in use.  Bunk risers added to a Personal Watercraft lift (similar to a lift used for a jet ski) will be needed to help with fitting the deep keels on the boats.

For boats maintained in tidal waters, suggestions are “Tideminders”, a Tidewater Boat Lift or a floating dock, which allow for the rise and fall of waters.

For ease of docking a Nauticraft boat, hand holds have been molded in at the stern of the boat as well as a cross hole thru the bow, all of which allow the boat to be tied off.

Another option is to mount a manual or electric davit to a dock to facilitate taking a boat in/out of the water.  A jib (or gantry) crane and electric hoist would be needed. An Encore or Sprite can then sit on the dock, while a storage cradle for an Escapade would work best for that particular boat. The below pictures reflect an Encore boat hoisted at the factory and how the hand holds and bow hole are used for this purpose. (Note that the boat should not be stored on the hoist.)

The above are just a few of the ways to store/dock a Nauticraft boat.  Nauticraft boat owners have been very creative in what works best for them!

NOTES:

  • Ideally a Nauticraft boat would be stored out of the water and not docked continuously for too many days at a time as the hull will become quite dirty, and barnacles – which are very difficult to remove – will attach to the hull if the boat is stored in salt/brackish water.
  • When storing the boats for a longer period of time, heavier items should not be placed inside the boats as that could possibly affect the shape/components of the boat.

 

 

5 Feb 2020

Trailering/Launching a Nauticraft Boat

A common question that we hear from new Nauticraft boat owners is how they are going to get their Pedal (Electric) Boat into the water.  And once it’s in the water, how to best store/dock it (to be discussed in a later blog posting).

Keep in mind that our boats are somewhat large and heavy. The 4-person Encore Pedal Boat weighs 375# without any accessories. Add the electrical components to it as well as a battery, and the weight increases to almost 500#. With a length of 14’2”, this is a sizeable pedal boat.

Our 3-person Escapade Pedal Boat weighs 325# without accessories. This boat is two feet shorter in length than the Encore, but still a sizeable boat.

We would highly recommend that a boat owner purchase one of our boat trailers for use in launching their Nauticraft boat.  We start with a Karavan personal watercraft trailer and then modify it to fit the deep keels on the boats.  With a draft of just under two feet for each of the Encore and Escapade boats this modification is needed to allow the boats to sit comfortably on the trailer. (Note that we would suggest purchasing the trailer at the same time as the boat, as shipping a trailer at a later time is very expensive.)

Modified trailer as pictured on the right
Drop bar has replaced rear cross member & bunk risers added to modified trailer as pictured on the left

In lieu of a boat trailer, an Encore boat owner might consider using our Launching Wheel set to launch their boat in/out of the water.  Note that a hard surface is needed to more readily maneuver the boat; as well as a boat ramp without a significant degree of tilt.  A bar will also be needed to place thru the cross hole in the bow to better allow two persons to lift and move the boat. (Note that if the boat is shipped, this bar will be included as part of the packaging.)  Please refer to the maintenance videos on our website for additional information on the launching wheel set: https://www.nauticraft.com/boats/encore/encore-videos/

 

A Nauticraft boat owner may rather prefer to use their own personal watercraft trailer in which case bunk risers will be needed. These can be purchased at a local major trailer/marine dealer or on-line.  Note that the trailer will sit higher, and as such it will be necessary to back it further into the water to safely launch the boat.

A boat marina is another suggestion.  Most (larger) boat marinas have the means to launch a boat and retrieve it out of the water.  Having a new boat delivered to a boat marina is an ideal way to get the boat into the water and may even cost less for shipping purposes. (Note that boats shipped from Nauticraft are packaged on a skid and in a large cardboard box.)

Sietech Dollies are another option – more so for an Escapade Pedal Boat.  With its large tires, the Sietech Dolly helps with maneuvering a boat thru the sand. Note, though, that pulling a boat out of the water onto a launching ramp requires a very strong person.  Also, the Sietech Dolly doesn’t travel very well across hard surfaces.

Bottom line – if the boat is being launched just 1x/season, most likely 3-4 able-bodied persons can lift the boat in/out of the water.  If the boat is to be launched more frequently, though, we suggest using one of our modified boat trailers or one of the other options as described above.

4 Dec 2019

How to Determine Generation Of Boat

Nauticraft Pedal boats have undergone various modifications over the years and as such, when boat owners contact Nauticraft for replacement parts, it is important that we know which generation boat they own so that the correct parts are sent to them.
One way in which boat owners can tell the generation of their boat is based upon the drive shaft &/or the end piece on the propeller. We thought the following would help with that determination:

                                        Encore
– 1st Generation (boats molded prior to 2010 – approx.)
Drive shaft = fiberglass – round on the outside & hexagonal shaped on the inside; large bolt in middle of end piece

– 2nd Generation (boats molded in 2010 (approx.) thru mid-2015)
Drive shaft = aluminum tube (crimped on both ends); no bolt in middle of end piece

– 3rd Generation (boats molded mid-year 2015 thru mid-2019)
Drive shaft = aluminum rod

– 4th Generation (boats molded mid-2019 thru current)
Drive shaft = aluminum tube (somewhat similar to 2nd generation, but no crimp on front of tube)

                                        Escapade
– 1st generation (boats molded prior to 2008 – approx.)
Hex-shaped rod (inside & out) & white fiberglass; screw in middle of end piece

– 2nd generation (boats molded in 2008 (approx.) thru current)
Round plastic rod (3/4” diameter); no screw in middle of end piece

Note that changes to the drive shafts were needed mainly
due to our suppliers. Either the parts were no longer available,
or those suppliers were not providing us with parts up to Nauticraft’s standards.

12 Nov 2019

Reel Fishermen – On-line Dealer of Nauticraft Boats

Nauticraft would like to welcome “Reel Fishermen” as the newest on-line dealer of our 4-person Encore Pedal, Pedal/Electric & Electric boats as well as our 3-person Escapade Pedal boat.  Check out their website – and while you’re there – order a boat!!

Reel Fishermen

10 Apr 2019

Escapade Pedal Boat to be featured at Earth Fair Expo

Come check out our Escapade Pedal boat at  the 7th annual Earth Fair Expo.  This event is taking place on Saturday, April 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Muskegon Farmer’s Market, 242 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, MI  49440.  It’s sure to be a great time!  These pictures are from the Earth Fair Expo we attended previously with the Escapade Pedal boat.

19 Sep 2018

WINTERIZING/STORING YOUR BOAT

Well – here we are. Summer has come and gone – way too quickly! Cool nights are upon us, leaves are starting to change color and soon we (northerners!) will be shoveling and plowing snow!

With all of that ahead – you may be wondering what you need to do to winterize your Nauticraft boat.

First of all, if you live in a climate that is going to freeze, you will want to take your boat out of the water. Ice can cause damage to the pedal drive system and moving ice flows may also cause the hull to become misshapen.

You will then need to drain any water which may have entered the boat during the year and accumulated between the hulls. This step is especially critical for boats that are stored in freezing weather conditions.

Drain holes for both the Encore & the Sprite can be found at the rear of the boat on the keels. These drain plugs should be removed to allow any water (this should be very minimal) to drain out. MAKE SURE TO REPLACE THE DRAIN PLUGS AFTER THIS PROCESS!

Water in the Escapade should first be pumped out via the bilge pump. A sponge can then be used to clean out any excess water in the Escapade’s bilge.

If you have an electric boat, we suggest disconnecting the battery after charging it fully and then attaching a trickle charger to protect it from becoming too depleted. If storing the battery on a concrete floor, you may want to set it on a piece of wood. This will prevent it from getting too cold and reducing storage capacity.

We highly recommend storing your boat inside. If it is necessary to store it outside, you will want to cover it tightly to keep dirt, moisture and squirrels out. Make sure that the cover is heavy enough so it won’t rip and let water inside. You will also need a support to keep the cover well above the windshield to protect it from the weight of snow accumulation.

You might want to check out the videos on our website which further describe winterizing your pedal, pedal/electric or electric boat. We think that you will find these very helpful!