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The Bennington
Last summer, we decided that it was time to upgrade our boat. We traveled all over hither and yawn in Ontario Canada as well as New York State shopping for just the right one. We settled on a new 23 foot Bennington pontoon boat. We are not the 'buy new' kind of people but used did not have the options we wanted and cost nearly as much. So last September, we ordered it before leaving for the season for a June 1 delivery. We picked it up upon our arrival and drove it straight to the folks who were going to make the custom canvas enclosure for it in 5 days. Pontoon boats usually only have Bimini tops (like a canvas roof for shade and minimal rain protection) but this is our commuter boat so we can be out in all kinds of weather and we are in no mood for wind, rain and cold in the fall come pouring in from all sides.
Well due to Covid, the Russian invasion, the supply chain breakdown, inflation, TRUMP (of course), climate change and every other bogus excuse you can think of, it took them 5 weeks. Finally, it was done and here she is.
For a long time, pontoon boats were thought to be for old people as they lumbered along next to speed boats. But as time went on, they have become more and more popular with all age groups. Older folks (NOT me!) and anyone who is mobility challenged (NOT me!) sure love them because they are dead easy to get on and off, especially next to a floating dock like ours and have plenty of room for many more passengers. We opted for a Triton which are 3 tubes or floats, with one in the center between the two outer ones which adds a lot more stability and gives a smoother ride through wake and waves.
Of course you can easily carry groceries, building materials and many have powerful engines that allow them to keep up with most other boats. Families love them because some (like ours) have swim platforms on the front and back for a mid lake or river swim. Various models have options like a little changing room, a toilet, a BBQ hanging off a rail, lounge chairs or fishing set ups. This is not your father's pontoon boat.
And Phantom makes 6
Last summer we bought a few islands near us because the seller would not part with the one we wanted (right next to Honey Bee) but only the 4 that he owned and was going to sell all or nothing. We only wanted the one (that we have since named Pirate island) so that no one else could buy it and turn it into a party island so close to us. The whole purchase turned into a real Chinese fire drill with one of the 4 islands being nowhere to be found at the time, but that is a story for another time. This story is about Phantom island.
When we were completing the purchase, I noticed on the previous owners deed that he also had purchased the same islands as a group in 1968. In reading his deed, I saw that the 4 islands were identified by number with one curious addition. The deed stated that he was purchasing the identified islands but included the sentence " AND the island located 65 feet south of island 80J" [That we own] Excuse me? "AND" another island? What island? Since we are purchasing the same group of islands do we get that one too?
NO, was the short answer. In 1968 they were a little looser about identifying real estate in a sale but today, unless a property has a tax roll number assigned to it, you cannot own it. This being Canada, if a property is not privately owned it belongs to the Crown (the government). I checked but since it was sold to this individual in 1968, it did not. Still, without a tax roll number no one could own it. It was clear that any attempt to untangle this legal mess would only open a can of worms, be a real morass and a fool's errand. Perfect, I thought. I'm all in.
I approached our local government with the argument that I wanted to pay taxes on the property but I needed them to give it a number. "Help me help you!" was my approach, but no dice. We then hired an attorney to do whatever was necessary to get a tax number on this very pretty but small island but not before we had the seller sign a document that stated that if we managed to get a number assigned to it, we would own it at no extra charge. He agreed with a 'good luck' snicker.
10 months went by with the occasional email between us and the attorney with no progress to show for it. He was being ignored and given the brush off by every agency and department the government had. Then one morning this past month we woke to him reporting that had done an end run around the 'mapping correction portal', whatever that is, and got the sucker registered.
As quick as a lick we were in his office signing the deed. We also decided to keep the name he had jokingly given it throughout the year. PHANTOM. It joins the other 5 we have for the time being as we will keep both Honey Bee and Pirate Island. But Spirit, Secret, Mystery and Phantom Islands are all up for sale.
Another day in Paradise
This months big projects were more on the subject of docks. After getting our new main dock last month, it set in motion the movement of a number of others. I had recovered a good deal of the salvageable wood from our 'old' dock to build new ones for the little islands we had acquired. Meanwhile, a friend generously gave us a dock he was no longer using or wanting and would be perfect to replace a smaller one we had at 'Pirate Cove', a beach of sorts we have for small kids on the island. That last one is being re purposed, again, for another island. If you are beginning to see a musical chairs kind of thing here, you are not far off.
But this is about the new dock being gifted to us. At 6 X 20' (2 X 7 M) is is of a very respectable size. He not only gave it to us but helped tow it from his place to Honey Bee. I 'rode' it to ensure we would not have any mishaps like hitting other docked boats or rocks along the way. Once there he suggested that he could 'flip' the dock upside down to inspect it. He had been a park warden for over 30 years and had done it a number of times, he claimed.
Flip the dock. Upside down. In the river. Right...
I don't want to suggest that I was skeptical but while I was born at night, it just wasn't last night. Still, he insisted he could flip a dock in the water in less than 10 seconds. Of course, he was wrong. It took him 3. Once upside down, we could inspect it for any damage (none) so it was time to put it back upright. You can see it all here.
