Wanted: Used Pontoons & Lady Boaters

It's the busiest time of year for a marina right now, as I am sure you can imagine. We're servicing boats to get them out on the water for summer. We're selling some of the last new boats that will make it on the lake this season. We're opening restaurants, planning events and so much more. But there are two specific things going on right now we want to alert you to: we need used pontoons, and we're hosting another Women Making Waves class.

First, the pontoons: If you're thinking about selling and upgrading to a 2013 model Sweetwater, Sanpan or Aqua Patio pontoon, now's a great time. We need used pontoons! They are our fastest selling inventory, especially this time of year. Interested in learning more? We make it easy: just call any of our sales staff Mon-Sat, 9-5, to get a ballpark quote of how much we can give you for your used pontoon. 



Now on to Women Making Waves. This is a course we hold specifically for the ladies to help them feel comfortable at the helm of the boat. Who says boating is for men?? If you own a boat, or just want to feel more comfortable out on the water, join us on Saturday, June 8 for a day of learning. We'll talk boating laws, boating safety, boating practices and much more. We held this event last year, and it was a huge success. Spaces will be limited, so please reserve your space ahead of time. 

Saturday, June 8 at 9 am
at Atwood Marina West
Call 330.364.4703 to reserve your space

Looking forward to seeing you around, whether it be to sell us your pontoon or to join us for Women Making Waves!

Preparing Your Outboard for Boating Season

You might be mentally ready to spend hours on the water, boating away. But is your boat physically ready? One of the most important parts of getting ready for boating season is checking out your engine. Of course, we would be happy to do it for you here. We do service work on Yamaha, Honda, Nissan, Johnson and Evinrude outboard engines.  We have two factory trained and certified Yamaha and Honda technicians that work full time. 

But if you are the more do-it-yourself type, here are a few basic steps you should take to ensure your outboard is just as ready for spring as you are.

• Drain and refill your fuel tanks. Even if you put marine fuel treatment in your tank last winter, ethanol collects water over the winter. So, dispose of all fuel over a month old.
• Charge your batteries or replace them if they are more than two years old.
• Replace your fuel filters, lower unit lube and spark plugs.
• Check all steering, throttle, and shift cables and connections to make sure they work smoothly.
• Check the operation of the engine "kill switch". Run the motor and pull on the kill switch cord to make sure the engine dies instantly.

Last, of course, check your owners manual or factory service manual for its recommended service. 

After taking a long break (like over the winter), it's important to gradually introduce your outboard into usage again.



For a two stroke engine:
For the first 10 minutes:  Run engine at lowest possible speed, a fast idle in gear is best.  
For the next 50 minutes:  Do not exceed half throttle or 3000 rpm.  Vary engine speed occasionally.  
For the 2nd hour:  Accelerate onto plane then reduce to 3/4 throttle and vary engine speed occasionally.  
For the 3rd through 10th hour:  Avoid operating at full throttle for more than 5 minutes at a time.  Let the engine cool between full throttle runs.  Vary engine speed occasionally.  
After the first 10 hours:  Operate engine normally. 



For a four stroke engine:
For the 1st hour:  Run @ 2,000 rpm or no more than half throttle.  
For the 2nd hour:  Increase speed to put boat on plane but avoid full throttle, then back off throttle while keeping boat at a planing speed.  
For the next 8 hours of operation:  Avoid continuous full throttle for more than 5 minutes at a time.  
After the first 10 hours:  Operate engine normally.

Is your outboard ready for spring?

Welcoming Regal Boats

We are in our first year of being a Regal Boats dealer, and we have definitely enjoyed getting to know these boats. They're a bit (okay, a lot!) different than our pontoons, but we like having the variety. We think you will too, because if a pontoon isn't your style, then we have great alternatives. 


We thought we'd give you a bit of an introduction to this line of boats as we all learn more about them. The company began in 1969 and has been innovating ever since. We like Regal's FasTrac hull, which was introduced in 1995 (so, obviously it works!). It's engineered with a full-beam step to reduce drag and friction. Learn more about the hull with this video. Some Regal boats also have a power tower, which means you can raise or lower the sports tower with the push of a button - super convenient. Lots of our customers like pontoons because of the amount of seating - well, we're here to tell you that Regal boats have made seating a priority as well. There is a lot of it, and much of it is convertible to fit your needs on a particular day. The company has received many awards for excellence and we're sure it will continue to do so. 




We've got several Regal boats in our showroom right now, but definitely not as many as the company makes. We're most excited about the bowriders and deckboats. 

 

Which Regal are you most interested in learning more about?

Register for Our Spring Open House

Coming to our spring open house?



Then make sure to register here so we know to expect you! See you then!

Welcome to Our Blog!

Welcome to the new Atwood Lake Boats blog! We'll be posting about once a month about boating techniques and supplies, our future plans, and so much more.

      

But first, let's educate you on us! We are Atwood Lake Boats, a locally owned business in Mineral City, Ohio, with over 47 years of experience serving Ohio boaters. We are Ohio's largest pontoon dealer, selling Sweetwater, Aqua Patio and Sanpan pontoons. In addition, we recently added Regal Boats to our dealership. We also sell Yamaha and Honda outboard motors.

With four on-water locations we treat our customers a little different than your typical boat store. Atwood Lake Boats sells you a lifestyle, not just a boat. Every customer receives personal consultation to determine the right boat for their needs. Each new boat delivery includes a demonstration ride, docking lessons, safety instructions and unlimited follow-up training. We want every day on the water to be a pleasurable boating experience. Our lakefront facilities are open all year offering boat sales, service, rentals, parts, accessories, a gift shop, Atwood Lake clothing and dining. 

Atwood Marina East offers boat rental, accessories, ethanol-free fuel and dining. This marina is home to some of our most famous yearly events including drive-in movies and the annual fish fry. Saltfork Marinas are on Saltfork Lake and offer a greater variety and number of rental boats than any other location in Ohio. There, we have waverunners, ski boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, kayaks and canoes available to rent. Rentals are only available at Sugartree Marina at the north end of the lake close to the lodge, Cabins and golfcourse. Overnight docking is only available at Saltfork Marina.  Both locations offer boat accessories, supplies, logo clothing, fuel, ice, pumpout service and food. Lighthouse Bistro is our full-service restaurant, which is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Finally, The Dock  is our casual, waterfront grill.

So now that you know about us, we want to know something about you: what sorts of things would you like us to write about? Are there tips and tricks you'd like us to share? Current events you want us to explore? Our ears are open!

Here's to lots of blogging!