This boat has all the basics you need for a fun day on the water. Our typical crew is 4 adults and 4 kids. There is plenty of room to sit and move around. When the kids aren't swimming or tubing, they like to go down into the cuddy cabin and sit at the table to draw, color or watch a movie on a tablet.
It has a camper / Bimini cover as you can see in the pictures, which allows you to sit in shade if you choose. You can remove the side panels to get air flow. You can also remove the back half of it so the bench is in the sun.
There is deck seating for 6-7 people on top and a table & benches in the cuddy that 4-6 people can sit around. There is a twin bed area that goes under the deck that's good for small kids to lay down & take a nap.
It's docked in pool #2 on the Allegheny. Take it out cruising the pool or go through 1 lock to head down river to the Pittsburgh city pool. If we're just swimming off it or pulling a tube, we typically just stay in our pool. We'll go through the lock if we want to anchor near the point, dock at the North Shore to eat in the city or take it up the Mon to South Side Works.
We can supply a 2-person tube & tow rope if you would like. Just let us know a few days in advance so we can get it pumped up & ready. We don't keep it inflated or at the dock.
If you're looking for high speed running, maxing out the throttle, this is not the boat for you. Getting it up "on plane" at high speed can be fun. However, we learned really quickly that it's only safe when people are not moving around. When people start moving around at high speed, it will start to one side. Unless you are proficient with using the trim tabs or can make sure everybody stays put when moving, we don't recommend it.
Also, the boat is 35+ years old. There are a few things on it that don't work. Doesn't take anything away from us enjoying it though.
* Speedometer (use a phone app if you want to know your speed)
* Fuel gauge shows under 3/4 tank when full and can show empty when there is still 1/4 tank left. A full tank (100 gal) lasts us about 8-10 days on the boat. You won't need to worry about running out of gas.
* Fresh water tank & pump. No running water at the sinks. We just bring bottled water to drink. Use wet wipes for after using the potty.
We've also never cooked anything on the galley stove and you won't be able to either.
The owner will meet you at the marina 45-60 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. It takes this amount of time to do the following:
* Carry your gear (food, drinks, towels, etc.) from the parking area, down to the boat.
* Get the boat cover or canvas panels (front, rear, 2 on each side, 2 on top) removed & stowed away.
* Stow your gear on board.
* Owner will make sure the marine toilet is fresh & ready for operation.
* Confirm there is enough life jackets for everybody. Kids under 12 need to have one on when they are on the deck or swimming, but not when down in the cabin. If you get caught not following this, there can be heavy fines.
* Listen to a quick run-down on safety, starting & operation from the owner. It's an older boat, so it has a few quirks to it.
* Start it up & cast off!
All these things take time. I would hate to have you show up 10 minutes before your rental time and waste 40 minutes of your rental time window just getting the boat out. It's even longer if your trying to get kids on and into life jackets.
The owner will also meet you back at the dock around the end of your rental window to help close up the boat.