Johnny Knoxville
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2011
- Messages
- 30
Greetings from East TN. 15 year inflatable boater.
These are my 15th and 17th boats. The Achilles LSI 10 foot 2inch was a tender for a 30 foot Pursuit we had for a few years and we bought it new. It is powered with a 5 HP two stroke Mercury which has just been infallable.
The Zodiac is a 1999 480 DL Yachtline with a 70 HP 2 Stroke Yamaha. This boat handles extremely well and is very dry, stable and with the deep Vee RIB eats waves or at slower speeds just corks over them. Both these boats have been from the Florida Keys to the Great Lakes and points between.
It took over a year to track down a good used 480 they just aren't very common. This one was 3 years old when I found it in Grand Haven, MI, I have run it for 8 years.
Home is now Lake Tellico (Little TN River) following 20 years in FL. My Brother in Law and I (Iron Men in Rubber Boats) have taken to boat camping on Lake Fontana, bordered by the Smoky Mountain National Park and NC, Nantahala National Forest.
Enjoy the pics.
Cruises nicely at 15-20 mph. WOT 42 on smooth water 1/4 tank and one person. I put a bimini on last year.
Barely noticeable behind a V8 Explorer. Easily launched a landed solo.
The NPS runs a shuttle boat to trailheads that tie into the Appalachian Trail.
Two LSIs Ready for Lake Camping/Cruising.
Loaded with camping gear for the trip up the Lake at about 7 MPH. Once unloaded its back to the relaxing 5-15 mph. Doing 4 day trips it took us three years to cover the Lake from Dam to Bryson City, NC and finally as far as we could go on the Nantahala River. Bring plenty of your favorite libations as some of the Counties are dry. Ice and fuel are conveniently available.
There are remote (SMNP Wilderness) campites only available by watercraft. During the week boat traffic is almost non existant.
Smoky Mountains live up to their namesake.
These are my 15th and 17th boats. The Achilles LSI 10 foot 2inch was a tender for a 30 foot Pursuit we had for a few years and we bought it new. It is powered with a 5 HP two stroke Mercury which has just been infallable.
The Zodiac is a 1999 480 DL Yachtline with a 70 HP 2 Stroke Yamaha. This boat handles extremely well and is very dry, stable and with the deep Vee RIB eats waves or at slower speeds just corks over them. Both these boats have been from the Florida Keys to the Great Lakes and points between.
It took over a year to track down a good used 480 they just aren't very common. This one was 3 years old when I found it in Grand Haven, MI, I have run it for 8 years.
Home is now Lake Tellico (Little TN River) following 20 years in FL. My Brother in Law and I (Iron Men in Rubber Boats) have taken to boat camping on Lake Fontana, bordered by the Smoky Mountain National Park and NC, Nantahala National Forest.
Enjoy the pics.
Cruises nicely at 15-20 mph. WOT 42 on smooth water 1/4 tank and one person. I put a bimini on last year.
Barely noticeable behind a V8 Explorer. Easily launched a landed solo.
The NPS runs a shuttle boat to trailheads that tie into the Appalachian Trail.
Two LSIs Ready for Lake Camping/Cruising.
Loaded with camping gear for the trip up the Lake at about 7 MPH. Once unloaded its back to the relaxing 5-15 mph. Doing 4 day trips it took us three years to cover the Lake from Dam to Bryson City, NC and finally as far as we could go on the Nantahala River. Bring plenty of your favorite libations as some of the Counties are dry. Ice and fuel are conveniently available.
There are remote (SMNP Wilderness) campites only available by watercraft. During the week boat traffic is almost non existant.
Smoky Mountains live up to their namesake.
