Are you ready for the DICK’S House of Sport experience?

Posted on June 3, 2022by Elissa

DICK’S House of Sport is now open at the Minnetonka, MN Ridgedale Center, and you’ll want to check it out ASAP.

THE FACILITY

As you walk in, you’re greeted by a large Jumbotron screen above you that broadcasts both local and national games and sporting events. You’ll first notice how bright, open, and airy the store is – something we’re never felt at any other sporting goods store! Your eyes are then drawn to the large center display that changes seasonally with the fall’s best athletic wear and products.

Immediately to your right is a large service desk that is the perfect one-stop shop for all sports services such as bike tune-ups and repairs, ice skate blade sharpening, baseball glove steaming, and tennis racket restringing. If you have equipment that needs something fixed or tuned, they make it quick and easy to drop off and pick up right inside the store with an impressive one-day turnaround time.

Since this new store concept is only the third such implementation in the country for DICK’S (only others being in Rochester, NY and Knoxville, TN), the store is physically much bigger than your typical DICK’S Sporting Goods store. It is a large 2-story design (over 100,000 square feet!) with a tall rock climbing wall at the back of the second level that is easily apparent upon entering the storefront. The upstairs of the store is huge, with loads of apparel and a massive wall of footwear, the largest of any DICK’S store (with more than 2,400 customer choices). Downstairs is massive as well, which includes the newly implemented House of Cleats, and the golf center. The downstairs of the store will also lead to a 20,000 square-feet outdoor sports field once completed this fall.

THE COMMUNITY

House of Sport is designed with the community in mind. For example, the business invites local teams to come in and participate in various clinics, such as track and field or hockey. There are fitness and activity classes to sign up for as well like informational sessions and consultations with local wellness experts, and early morning yoga sessions (4 classes coming up in June, see schedule and register here!).

DICK’S also has started partnering with local brands to sell in store. The most recent addition is Honour Coffee and Juice. Throughout the facility, it’s obvious they care about being involved in the community. From the local brands all the way down to the wall graphics of local sports teams and top hiking destinations (shoutout to Oberg Mountain over by the rock climbing wall), you can feel how connected it is to Minnesota.

THE EXPERIENCES

Speaking of the rock climbing wall, it is a whopping 35 feet tall of fun! We were able to do some climbing during our visit and it definitely has our stamp of approval! Most of the routes (different paths that lead to the top of the wall) are swayed more towards beginner-level climbing, which makes it a great wall to try out if you’ve wanted to be introduced to the sport, but other routes have the size and features to give even experienced climbers a challenge. To top off our climb, the staff who helped us, Marty, was so awesome and friendly. You can make reservations to climb either online or in store.

Throughout the store there are specialized areas you would expect from a sporting goods store such as outdoor gear, equipment for every sport you can imagine, and apparel. The thing, however, we found that set House of Sport apart from other stores we’ve been in is the sheer number of experiential areas that have been incorporated into every area in the store. You can’t go far before being intrigued by the next experience opportunity.

Co Lab

Another great rotating space is Co Lab! Co Lab is a Pop up store style collaboration space. It currently features Hoka, as a 5k will be hosted in July at this House of Sport location in partnership with the brand!

House of Cleats

As you walk down the stairs, you’ll find a new area called House of Cleats. In this area you can try on hundreds of cleats to make sure they fit and feel the way they should. Trying on a pair of cleats is no longer the same experience it used to be when you try them on here – from the loud cheering and game sounds coming from above to the detailed real turf and bleachers, it’ll feel like you’re prepping to go out on the field.

House of Skates

But the excitement doesn’t stop at cleats. You’ll have a similar experience trying on hockey skates in the House of Skates. This is the first and only DICK’s specialty hockey shop and onsite ambassador. You also can’t miss the display of hockey goalie helmets painted with Minnesota themes by local Minnesota artists.

TrackMan Simulators

Another fun in-store feature Eric got to try out was in the golf center. House of Sport has an expansive golf section that includes a huge selection of all the biggest golf brands in apparel and equipment. It also has three TrackMan golf simulator bays. Eric tested out his swing while the on-staff PGA pro used the simulation equipment to track metrics such as face angle, ball trajectory, stance, and follow-through. The technology available at the TrackMan simulators can even track your body and club using the same motion capture technology used to film Hollywood movies (yes, you even get to wear the brightly colored sensors all over your body!). These hitting bays are rentable either online or in store, whether you just want to practice some drives or want to sign up for a clinic with a pro, it was definitely a fun and unique experience.

HitTrax for Diamond Sports

In the diamond sports area, you’ll find a huge selection of bats and gloves for all levels of experience for both baseball and softball. If you’re testing out a bat, utilize HitTrax! HitTrax allows you to choose what stadium you’d like to test at, then you can test your swing with your new baseball or softball bat and practice your swing on a tee, or, even better, this location also has the option to pitch the ball to you.

The Field

The Field will be a great addition to the store once completed in Fall of 2022. It will be a year-round sports facility, including a turf field made from ocean plastics and an Olympic grade running track. This space will be used for events and programming (i.e. baseball/softball training, yoga classes, fitness boot camps, youth soccer clinics, community gatherings). In the winter, since the Field is open air, it will be converted to a large ice skating rink. There will be a professional sound system, lighting, fencing, scoreboard, and the ability to divide into two distinct playing areas.

Footwear Deck

In the upstairs Footwear Deck, there is another unique feature in this space (which, did I mention, alone is 7,000 square feet?) where you can request your size by simply scanning a shoe and a ‘team member’ will promptly bring them out for you! When testing out, for example, running shoes, go for a test run on specialized treadmills that track your gait and whether the shoes fit correctly for running. The amount of footwear selection is staggering, over 2,400 choices, and DICK’S has all the top running brands like Brooks, Nike, Adidas, and Hoka as well as a dedicated basketball section for Jordan brand.

THE CLOTHING

Actually, let’s talk about the mannequins first. There are ~750 mannequins throughout the store that represent all body shapes, sizes, and abilities. It was a breath of fresh air to learn that all types of people are represented.

And while there are many clothing brand sections throughout the store, DICK’S House of Sport has three brands that stand out as their own.

The first is Calia. Calia is an exclusive brand to DICK’s and has a great variety of apparel for all fitness types and and lifestyles. It’s a women’s private label brand that includes swimwear, golf, and a maternity section. As someone who loves golf apparel, Elissa was excited to learn that this House of Sport listened to consumer feedback and has created the largest selection of women’s golf apparel.

The second brand is VRST. VRST is also a private label brand only found at DICK’S and has a great and versatile selection of workout and casual apparel just for men.

The last is DSG. This brand is made for the entire family, and is noticeably an inclusive and affordable brand for the whole family. Something we really admire about DSG is that 1% of every purchase of this brand goes to the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation for youth sports.

You can also find sections dedicated to other large brands like Carhartt, Nike, Columbia, Cotopaxi, and more.

There’s even an experience to be had if you’re trying on clothes! The employees here are so helpful and nice, they are available for anything you may need. To try on clothes, visit one of their social fitting rooms and add your name to the fitting room door. Soon after, someone will stop by to begin assisting you with sizing, getting you new styles, and giving suggestions.

THE END

In our opinion, DICK’S House of Sport is putting an end to the traditional, boring shopping experience. To shop here is an adventure and an experience not to be missed. See you at the Grand Opening!

Lists, MicroAdventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, New

These 6 Parks have the Best Winter Activities around Alexandria

Posted on January 31, 2022by Elissa

Disclosure: Though Explore Alex graciously comped our weekend, the following thoughts and opinions are our own and are not in any way influenced by these factors.

Welcome to Alexandria and Douglas County in Minnesota!

Located north east of the Twin Cities by about two hours is this beautiful micropolitan. Nestled within 300+ lakes, more than 500 miles of recreational trails, and over 25 parks (two of which are State Parks), there are endless recreational opportunities for all types of explorers!

Here are a few ways you can enjoy winter at six of their local parks:

Andes Tower Hills

Andes Tower Hills started in 1980, and has been an amazing addition to the community, hosting over a million skiers over time, ever since. Their mission statement includes “To offer a family friendly relationship building environment that creates positive long-lasting memories,” and you can feel that as soon as you walk in the door. If you can, try to speak with Tom “Hollywood” Anderson for a few moments – his father and uncle started Andes Tower Hills in 1980 – he was such a joy to speak with, and taught us so much about the facility and surrounding area.

With 15 downhill runs, there are options for all abilities! There are also four chairlifts equally spread throughout the hill, so we never felt like we had to wait to go up. Our favorite runs were Big Ben, Serendipity, Hawaiian Cruise, and the Big Dipper.

Throughout the week, the facility hosts hundreds of school groups and other groups seeking to learn how to downhill ski or snowboard, too. Likewise, they receive a lot of visitors from North and South Dakota due to its central location and proximity to those states. Due to their ever-increasing popularity, the chalet has recently doubled in size, allowing for even more visitors to rent, locker, eat, shop, and warm up inside.

If you prefer something else, Andes Tower Hills also offers snow tubing (and Neon Nights Tubing), snowshoeing, and nearly 10 miles of cross-country trails!

Eric & Elissa at Ski Lift

Skis on Ski Lift

Eric at Top of Hill

View of Ski Runs

Rental Skis

View from the Top

Big Ole Central Park

When you come to Alexandria, you have to visit Big Ole, an iconic 28-foot tall Viking statue on the south shore of Lake Agnes. According to the plaque that stands beside him, Big Ole was originally “created to accompany the Kensington Rune Stone to the New York World’s Fair in 1965.”

Big Ole Central Park is in the heart of the city, and a beautiful place to start your visit! In the snowy months, take the opportunity to snowshoe around the park, or stop by while snowmobiling on the Central Lakes Trail which goes through the park. In the summer, visit the Alexandria Farmers Market, have a picnic with lake views, or play a game in the green space.

Winter in Alexandria

View down Central Park

Trail Map

View of Lake Agnes from Park

Glacial Lakes State Park

Though we didn’t visit Glacial Lakes State Park on this trip, we did stay here back in 2017. I wanted to ensure this park was included on the list because we would recommend it! Learn more about our previous visit here.

We enjoyed this smaller Minnesota State Park, especially for its ease of access and navigation. The trails were a great mix of level and steep, depending on which way you went (unfortunately a trail map wasn’t available at the time at the ranger station or online, so I do not know the names), and always had great views and areas to explore.

There are also signs around the park to give you its history, so our plan when we return to this park is to check out all of the glacier-formed kettle lakes and continue to learn about the history of this area.

Winter activities include hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.

Glacial Lakes Sign

Glacial Lakes Boots On Firepit

Glacial Lakes SP Canoes

Glacial Lakes SP View From Top Of Hill

Glacial Lakes SP Mardys Trail

Glacial Lakes SP Cabin

Glacial Lakes SP Signalness Lake

Kensington Rune Stone Park

Welcome to Kensington Runestone Park, one of Minnesota’s greatest hidden gems. This 300+ acre farmland-turned-county park provides endless opportunities for recreation all year long!

Here in the snowy months, you can explore the visitor center, cross-country ski, fat tire bike, sled, and snowshoe. In the warmer months, you can explore the visitor center, bike, mountain bike, run, picnic, or play at the playground.

We spent the day fat tire biking and checking out the visitor center. Our fat tire bikes were from Jake’s Bikes, and we were lucky enough to have Jake deliver them himself. You can tell the passion for biking that Jake has, and we learned a lot about the area and the sport by speaking with him beforehand. It was our first time on a true fat fire bike trail, so we stayed on the Olaf Ohman and Bifrost trails, which are the two beginner-most fat tire/mountain biking trails in the park. What a challenging and exhilarating sport! We’re excited to try it again someday.

Not only are there ample recreation opportunities, but this park is also the site of one of Minnesota’s greatest mysteries – the Kensington Runestone, discovered in the late 1800’s. More about this can be learned within the visitor center, which is heated and open year round.

Fat tire bike in snow by lake

Fat tire bike in snow by lake

Eric & Elissa by Bike Trail Map

Inside the Rune Stone Visitor Center

Lake Carlos State Park

This State Park holds a very special place in our hearts as Eric has been camping here annually since ~2007 with his “second family,” and I started joining them whenever possible within the last 10 years too!

Lake Carlos State Park is a great nature retreat for those seeking adventure in the Great Outdoors! It is nicely secluded on the north end of Lake Carlos, and offers many outdoor activities, no matter the season.

The wintertime activities the park has to offer are snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Snowshoeing is open to the entire 1,231 acre park. There are 6 miles of groomed ski trails, and the 9 miles of snowmobile trails that are on the park connect to Douglas County trails so you can make an entire weekend from activities solely in the park if you want!

We took advantage of the good snow conditions while we visited, and strapped on the snowshoes to see what winter sights we could catch. It turns out there was lots to see, and we just barely scratched the surface. There were also many fish houses out on the lake, not far from the park.

In the summer, the park has a swimming beach, horse trails, and lots of boat parking for your summer camping getaway!

Lake Carlos sunset on ice

Elissa snowshoeing

Restroom building

Noonan Park

When you think of winter in Minnesota, you can’t help but think about pond hockey. And what better place to play than Noonan Park! During the cold months, the pond freezes over and is home to both ice skating and ice hockey, as well as ample snowshoeing and winter hiking options. In the summer, you can experience beautiful flower gardens with a lively pond, a playground with an awesome playhouse (the “Duck Inn”), and walking trails all around.

The Douglas County Historical Society shared that Noonan Park was given to the city by Philip and Mollie Noonan (a successful local businessman) with the agreement that the space would remain a public park. The Noonans paid for the initial landscaping and took care of the park from 1937 until it was donated to the city in 1943.

Duck Inn at Noonan Park

Ice skating rink at Noonan Park

Have you been to the Alexandria or Douglas County area? What parks would you recommend visiting?

MicroAdventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, New

Mankato River Ramble – a Great MN Cycling Experience

Posted on October 27, 2021by Elissa

It finally happened! Eric and I have been wanting to participate in a MN cycling event for years! We were even signed up for two, but life happened and we weren’t able to.

That is, until the Mankato River Ramble came along.

What an invigorating experience!

First greeted by the energetic and motivating volunteers, I was directed toward a large event check-in tent at Land of Memories Park. After checking in, I enjoyed some refreshments, snacks, and amazing live music before hitting the trail.

This is the first time I’ve ever done an event like this, so I was feeling a little nervous.

Though I did the smaller of the trails, called the “Minneopa Falls Loop,” it was one of the most diversely scenic 12 mile bike rides of my life. We rode through beautiful hills, to a waterfall, to a ski hill, and around through town.

And I’d love to share my 3 favorite views and experiences with you!

Stop 1 – Minneopa State Park

Biking distance from Land of Memories Park = 3.3 miles.

This was the most difficult part of the entire ride, so lucky for me it was in the beginning. If I’m being honest, I actually almost gave up on the way here! But I’m glad I didn’t because it was an easier ride once we got to Minneopa SP.

Eric and I bike often, but never in such hilly places, so I really had to fine-tune my gear shifting abilities fast. I have an older road bike that doesn’t shift as smooth as others, but once I figured those gears out, the rest of the ride was much more pleasant.

Minneopa State Park is one of southern Minnesota’s best kept secrets. Just 5.9 miles from downtown, be sure to have this beautiful park on your itinerary. Visit in the summer or fall to view the free-roaming bison, visit in the spring to see the stunning Minneopa Falls, and visit any time of year to experience their nearly 5 miles of hiking trails and endless snowshoeing opportunities.

Stop 2 – Mount Kato

Biking distance from Minneopa State Park = 4 miles.

The stretch between Minneopa State Park and Mount Kato were the most scenic parts of the ride. First following the South Route Trail adjacent to CR 90 (Hawthorn Rd), you will then connect with the Red Jacket Trail. Be ready and make sure your brakes are good as you head toward the end of the South Route Trail, however, because you do not want to be caught off guard by this frightening 5.1% incline. The breeze through your hair during this segment feels amazing, though!

For fans of outdoor recreation, Mankato has a great skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and biking mountain right outside the city, aptly named Mount Kato. The mountain consists of 19 trails of varying difficulty, from the bunny hill to difficult black diamonds. There are 4 terrain parks for practicing your skills, and 8 chair lifts to get you back up to your favorite runs as quick as possible. Open in both winter and summer seasons, you’ll be able to take advantage of the mountain no matter when you visit!

Stop 3 – Sibley Park

Biking distance from Mount Kato = 3.7 miles.

One of the last stops along the Mankato River Ramble route is beautiful Sibley Park. You first ride in from the northeast corner of the park, by two softball fields. You’ll notice multiple park benches along the Minnesota River to your right. Don’t forget to take a rest break and soak in those river breezes.

As you ride the trail south past the park shelter, you’ll notice an old log cabin with a sign in front of it that says “Ott” catches your eye. This quaint cabin was moved to Sibley Park in 1931, but was actually constructed in 1857 by George Ott Sr., who was one of the first settlers of the area.

Following the Minnesota River Trail through Sibley Park, you’re met with one of the most beautiful gardens in the Mankato area. One could spend hours wandering around Sibley Park and see something new around every turn. Visiting in the spring means catching the hundreds of flowers blooming. And visiting in the fall, like I did, provided equally as beautiful views as the trees change color.

Back at Land of Memories Park

Biking distance from Sibley Park = 1.7 miles.

I’m not in the greatest shape – actually, in the worst shape of my life – but it felt so invigorating and accomplishing to participate!

If you’ve never done something like this before, I would strongly encourage you to do so. Doing something that’s on your bucket list (especially if it’s been on there a long time) gives you that extra motivation to just try it out!

You’ll feel such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, I bet you’ll want to try it again with something else – or maybe that’s just me 😉

How have you pushed your boundaries and tried something new recently? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. You probably noticed Eric wasn’t able to attend – this is because he broke his foot on a motorcycle trip a few weeks beforehand, but he was there in spirit and promised he’ll be ready for next year! 🙂

Itinerary, Minnesota, New, Twin Cities

Self-Guided Northeast Minneapolis Brewery Tour

Posted on September 30, 2021by volkmanadventures

Northeast Minneapolis is an eclectic area known for its art, restaurants, and – you guessed it – breweries! Minnesota has over 180 breweries, and 33 of them are in Minneapolis, making it a wonderful place to meet up with friends and try something new!

Join us as we take you to five of those breweries on a beautiful summer day. All within 2.9 miles of each other, this makes for the perfect walking (or biking!) tour of the city.

At-A-Glance Stats –
Fair State Brewing Cooperative to Sociable Cider Werks = 0.7 miles
Sociable Cider Werks to Indeed Brewing Company = 0.6 miles
Indeed Brewing Company to Able Seedhouse + Brewery = 0.3 miles
Able Seedhouse + Brewery to HeadFlyer Brewing = 0.9 miles

Fair State Brewing Cooperative

Our first brewery tour stop is Fair State Brewing Cooperative! With 20+ beverage options, this is a great stop to try something new! There’s something here for everyone, especially if your group likes different types of drinks.

Can’t decide which to get? Describe what flavors you like to the amazing bartender, who will perfectly match you with an awesome drink!

I can’t talk about Fair State Brewing without mentioning something that’s really special about them. The co-op was creating with collaboration and giving back in mind. How amazing is that? Here’s a blurb from their website:

“In 2016, we launched our community engagement arm, Fair State Cooperates. Each month we partner with a different nonprofit organization selected by our Member-Owners. In our partnerships, we raise funds through beer sales, awareness through social media, and involvement through volunteerism.”

Our suggestions –
The Roselle (kettle sour with hibiscus)
Big Doinks (IPA)
Fruityboom Frozen Slush (Mango Dreamsicle)
Non-alcoholic cold press

Pro Tip!
Bring snacks or food and plan to sit outside in the beer garden!

Sociable Cider Werks

Ready for a cider? Stop number two brings us to Sociable Cider Werks! Here you can choose from 15+ types of beverages, including non-alcoholic options. Be sure to wander around and check out all of the fun vintage bicycles and bicycle parts. The spacious outdoor deck and patio are the perfect place to relax.

Our suggestions –
Squoze (guava)
Pinch Flat (hibiscus rose)
Training Wheels (scrumpy apple)

Pro Tip!
Take a Tap Room tour on Saturdays – free if you bring a donation in the form of a canned food item!

Elissa with beverage at Sociable Cider Werks

Indeed Brewing Company

Welcome to Beerland at Indeed Brewing Company and Taproom! Feel free to wander around and take it all in. There are plenty of seating options both indoors and outdoors – shaded and sunny! Don’t forget to check out the gear shop for some great merch options too.

Our suggestions –
Strawberry Fields (sour)
Day Tripper (pale ale)
Pink Rabbit Pils (pilsner)

Pro Tip!
Be hungry and ready for the best chicken you’ll ever eat at the onsite food truck, Revival!

Welcome to Beerland sign at Indeed Brewing

Able Seedhouse + Brewery

Note: This brewery has unfortunately now permanently closed.

Stop number four previously brought us to the beautiful Able Seedhouse + Brewery! Their values focused on the environment and the arts, and you could really see and feel that throughout this brewery.

Suggestions were –
Raspberry hibiscus wheat ale
Mosaic Ain’T So (American IPA)
Non-alcoholic Northstar Kombucha (cherry elderberry)

Pro Tip!
Onside food truck Animales Barbeque Company is the perfect pairing to Able’s amazing beer selection!

Elissa holding beverage at Able Seedhouse + Brewery

Headflyer Brewing

Our last stop on the Northeast Minneapolis Brewery Tour takes us to HeadFlyer Brewing. What a great atmosphere and way to end the day. Chill out on their deck or patio to chat, play a game, or reflect on all of the great places you visited today.

Suggestions –
Oh Baby Baby (kettle sour)
Hawaiian Sophie (pale ale)
Rye-U-Mah (malt forward ale)

Pro Tip!
Play a game on their giant, handmade cribbage table!

How to, Minnesota, New

Vintage Ski Boat Restoration

Posted on May 5, 2021by Elissa

I have always been a huge fan of 80’s and 90’s vintage ski boats. I remember regularly seeing the same old ski boat on my hometown lake as a child. The owner the boat kept it super clean and in original condition. It had simple graphics on the side with a mid-engine, direct shaft drive, and a very low profile in the water. I would see it year after year growing up and loved everything about it. I of course knew very little about brands and types of boats at that age, but my dad knew exactly what it was; it was a Ski Nautique made by Correct Craft. This type of tournament ski boat is what slalom skiers typical own, as they have tons of towing power, and are very light and maneuverable which lends itself very aptly to skiing.

The Boat

As fate would have it, last fall we stumbled across a seemingly fantastic deal for a vintage Ski Nautique. It was the 2nd model Ski Nautique ever made, and the smallest hull at only 17’ 6” length (plus the swim platform on the back) and about 6 ft wide. The power plant however is a 351 cubic inch V8 engine. From the pictures I could tell the interior was in rough shape from sitting in the rain and snow, but the exterior looked excellent. I really wanted this boat even if I had to put some time and money into restoring it.

When I contacted the seller, it was clear he was not ‘boat guy’ and had come to own the boat through the purchase of a cabin property. He told me he had dropped it off at a boat dealership to have serviced. It needed a couple things when he got it earlier in the year. The trailer received new tires the motor got a fresh 4-barrel carburetor. When I heard the effort that was already put into it, I decided the price was right, assuming I would need to put another $1000-$1500 into it for the interior, plus my time. So I made the deal and promptly started making a list of what it all needed. Mainly, it needed new floor and carpeting, upholstery would be a bonus. I made sure the stringers (think of them as the “bones” of the hull) were solid, to avoid a complete teardown of the boat was needed.

The Restore

First things first, I needed to rip all the old carpet and rotten floor out. Before I could do this though, I had to unbolt and take out the three seats and engine cover. The floor was so rotted out the engine cover wasn’t actual bolted to anything anymore, so it lifted right out. As I was taking out the “hardware” holding the seats to the floor, I noticed they were almost completely rusted away. Typically, all hardware in marine application should be made of stainless steel to avoid rust and corrosion, but there was plenty of hardware that was not done correctly by a previous owner. As I was pulling things out of the boat, I was happier and happier that I was going through so much trouble to do a complete restore, as opposed to only fixing the floor as originally intended.

Once I got all the seats out of the way I took what was left of the rear floor out. As I was shoveling out the debris, I found I large chipmunk nest that was packed to the brim with acorns and other goodies. I filled my 2-gallon Shop Vac multiple times with dirt, debris, and wood particles. Once cleaned out I assessed what I would need to fix the floor. I would need to do some fiberglass work, as well as use a piece of treated plywood for the main rear floor. The last step I did as part of the cleanup was removal of the original carpet. It was only lightly glued on, so it came out really easy, but it was old and falling apart so it was dirty and nasty taking it out.

With the boat cleaned out and with more working space, I took this opportunity to test out and fix any electrical accessories that needed it. I went down the accessories on the dash, with only about a 50% success rate. The bilge pump and horns didn’t work, and when I tried out the blower it turned on but sounded like the pulse setting on a blender. When I tore the blower assembly apart, I found more remnants of chipmunks, with the blower hose packed to the brim with acorns. I cleaned it out and checked the blower off the list. The bilge pump wiring needed to be replaced at the pump, which was an easy fix. That just left the horns, for which the problem was in the horns themselves. To fix, I opened up the horns, and with some playing around with the little set screw in them, as well as adding some WD-40, I was able to get them operational again.

The existing plywood flooring was really damp, so as I worked on replacing the floor, I had a dehumidifier and fans running for several weeks. I wanted to keep the internal wood as dry as possible to avoid rot. To get the plywood to sit level and at the right height I needed to cut some tabs out of the adjoining floor, as well as needed two layers of plywood. Because I didn’t have any existing floor pieces to model this off, I had to take my best guess on what exactly it should look like. I added the port hole in the plywood pieces and moved on to fiberglass. I have worked with fiberglass enough to be dangerous, and honestly this part took no time at all, except for waiting for it to cure completely. I used extra plywood to make mounts on the left and right sides and used decking screws to get everything secure. The back wall of the boat that sits behind the bench seat was rotten on the bottom so that also got replaced with treated plywood.

Originally, I thought I could salvage most of the vinyl and upholstery on the seats because the only real bad spots were on the two front seats. I did a complete 180 on that thought as I tore further into the seats while taking them apart. I found the name of a local upholstery shop and called them up. There was a two-month lead time on the seat skins so in the meantime I got to work on rebuilding the seats. I cut new plywood for the seats wherever there were rotten boards and kept a pile of hardware that I knew I needed to replace. The foam of the seats was all in pretty amazing condition, especially considering the shape of some of the seat boards. I took a trip to the hardware store with my assortment of crusty hardware, and the employees helped me replace everything with brand new shiny stainless steel. There was only one piece that I couldn’t get at the hardware store. It was more of a specialty hinge, and luckily, I have a great friend that sourced an exact match for me.

After rebuilding the seats, things were nearing the finish line as I waited for the seat skins to be ready. I started on the exterior of the boat and trailer to freshen them up a little bit. The trailer got new carpet on the front bunks, and it was missing a guidepost on one side, so I took the remaining one to a metal shop near me to have a replica created. I then purchased padded guides to go on the posts, and as a bonus they even say the name of the boat on them! As for the outside of the boat itself, I decided I didn’t like the dingy rope that was in the bumper all the way around, so I replaced it with a nylon UV-treated winch rope this is blue in color, and in my opinion really makes the other colors pop. The teak was faded and dull, so I freshened it up by applying multiple coats of linseed oil over a couple weeks to allow to soak in. Linseed oil is recommended for teak and the difference it made is astounding. Lastly, I touched up any black in the lettering that was chipping with auto detail paint.

I was able to pick up the seat skins in March of this year, so I promptly got to work putting them on. My dad made his career out of car and boat upholstery, so he gave me some industry tips and tricks, as well as let me use his pneumatic stapler. The stapler definitely saved my hand some pain, as I imagine I put in well over 1000 staples total, which would’ve been a nightmare otherwise! I went with a different color scheme on the new seats, with much less blue, keeping it as an accent. I think this really modernized and cleaned up the look of the boat overall. I added 1-inch foam as I put on the covers and it was a lot of work and time, but with plenty of staples, hand cramps, and a few choice curse words, I was able to complete them. If I do say so myself, even though this was my first upholstery job I think it turned out great.

The Maiden Voyage

Overall, I am so happy with how the boat turned out, and I am equally happy that I chose to put my blood, sweat, and tears into the restore. I estimate the total hours I spent on the boat was well over 80 hours, and I calculated a little under $1500 in materials to do the job. It will be so rewarding being able to go out on the lake for years to come and enjoy the initial effort I put into. I feel connected to the boat since I know it so well from the rebuild. The best part about this experience is, all that’s left now is to just enjoy the boat!