In September of 2003, Aloha Pontoons was on the cover with their brand new 32-foot pontoon. I believe the headline, “You won’t believe what this boat has to offer” because the boat looks amazing. Yet I’m glad some things have changed because the swim deck had carpet and seeing that caused my anxiety levels to rise instantly. It’s safe to say that every boat I ever own will have some kind of vinyl flooring in the back.
Enough about me; on with the history! Editor Brady Kay’s column cracked me up, which it usually does. It was a boater’s Bill of Rights and included great lines such as, “No boater shall be required to answer questions from spouses, such as why the garage door is still not painted, during crucial times of the boating season” and “In all sandbar drive-by’s, the boater shall enjoy the right to a quick and speedy peek at those in attendance without the judgment of others including, but not limited to, spouses and mothers-in-law.” Good stuff. I thought about texting my husband with these rights but I decided he doesn’t need any more permission to act this way.
Speaking of Brady’s column, Captain’s Chair, is anyone enjoying his new mug shot? The one where he’s actually smiling? I took it! And I’m going to take this opportunity to fill you in on the behind-the-scene moments leading up to it.
As a staff, we decided that Brady needed to be smiling in his new photo. No one would know how full of compassion he truly is in a photo where he looks grouchy.
This scene begins on the boat.
Katie holds camera up to her eye, waiting for the perfect moment.
Brady: Have you taken it yet?
Katie: I thought you said you were going to smile.
Brady: I'm pretty sure I am.
Katie: Dude, I'm pretty sure you're not.
Brady: Take it.
Katie: Smile. You need to feel it in your cheeks. [Flashes cute example].
Make sure you check out the finished product on page 6.
Once again, enough about me and on with the history.
We got an awesome letter to the editor about the previous Shot in the Aft (which is the photo that appears on the last page). It said, “You should be shot in the butt for publishing that photo.” It was a photo of a trained professional hand feeding a born-into-captivity alligator. At least we know people care.
Then there was a story about music in the boating industry. The lead-in photo was a huge picture of the Muzak logo. I worked in real estate; I know Muzak. For those of you who don’t, it’s background music played through speakers in public places. My first thought was “You can get Muzak on a boat? I’ve never heard of such a thing.” When I stopped to read the story, my favorite line was “Although Muzak does not offer its services to boats other than cruise ships, they have been direct broadcasting music for over 65 years.”
There was a great story about alternative fuels being on their way. Yes, this story ran ten years ago and nothing’s really changed. But here’s to continued hope!
