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Floating Lakefront Home
Just What Restaurant Family Ordered

by Joyce Deaton

When Kay and Jim Emad went to the Charlotte boat show last winter, they were just starting to look. Owners of Bentley’s on 27, the popular fine-dining restaurant on the top floor of the Charlotte Plaza building, they work every day but Sunday.

Looking for a getaway place to enjoy with their children, 12-year-old Taylor and 10-year-old Lauren, they decided a boat on Lake Norman would be perfect. They could get there quickly, enjoy all the comforts of a lakefront home, and cruise the lake, too. They’d never operated a boat, but they were up to the challenge. more>>

   
 

Financing Your Boat
In Today’s Credit Market

by Joyce Deaton

In the wake of last year’s economic collapse, many potential boat buyers hunkered down, assuming boat financing was out of reach. If you’re one of those, two local experts say, there’s good news. You can come out now.

“Credit is available for boat buyers,” says George Arnold, regional manager of Newcoast Financial Services, a specialized marine lender in Wilmington. Arnold works with boat dealers and individual buyers to find the best deals available. “We have lost a few sources when companies have left the market, but there’s still a good inventory of loan products. Interest rates have stayed fairly stable and in fact are better than last year,” he adds. more>>

   
 

New Boat Regulations
by Gus Gustafson

North Carolina is now one of many states that requires boat operators to complete a mandatory National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating safety course. Organizations that locally provide courses are beefing up their 2010 schedules to accommodate the increase in demand created by the new regulation. Below are excerpts of information from www.ncwildlife.org and other sources. more>>

From the editor Mike Aldridge
 
Piedmont Lake Pilot cover

About the cover:

The cover of this issue features the Emad family, very satisfied customers of Talley’s Pier 77 Marine (www.talleyspier77.com) and happy with their Regal 4460 Sport Yacht. Among the many features of the 4460 is a well-equipped galley that includes Corian counter tops, chrome, variable position faucet, coffee maker, an electric, 2-burner stove, microwave/convection oven, refrigerator, deep, polished stainless sink and ample storage. It’s a great home away from home as you can see in the lead feature this issue. It’s time to buy a boat and there are four pages of reasons ready for you to read ... accompanied by great photo illustrations by Donna Jernigan, www.jerniganphoto.com. Cover photo by Donna Jernigan.

Welcome aboard!

The cover of this issue features the Emad family, very satisfied customers of Talley’s Pier 77 Marine (www.talleyspier77.com) and happy with their Regal 4460 Sport Yacht. Among the many features of the 4460 is a well-equipped galley that includes Corian counter tops, chrome, variable position faucet, coffee maker, an electric, 2-burner stove, microwave/convection oven, refrigerator, deep, polished stainless sink and ample storage. It’s a great home away from home as you can see in the lead feature this issue. It’s time to buy a boat and there are four pages of reasons ready for you to read ... accompanied by great photo illustrations by Donna Jernigan, www.jerniganphoto.com. Cover photo by Donna Jernigan.

See you on the water,

-Mike

Mike Aldridge, Publisher

Mike Aldridge
Publisher

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Pier 77 Regal

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Catawba Riverkeeper

Feb-March ’09 Features

New Year, New Boating Laws

Is the Worst Behind Us? Some Forecasters Think So

April-May ’09 Features

Midway Marina Finds New Life

Tips on Fire Safety

NC Sailing & Rowing Center

Warren’s Grill: A Sandwich & A Smile

Trophy Cats

June-July ’09 Features

Bright Spot on Badin: Fish Tales Marina and Grille

Fishin’ the Piedmont Lakes

Dan Rajkowski of the CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS BASEBALL

Catching Bass on Topwater Baits. It’s not too late

Boat Sharing: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Alcoa Re-licensing getting muddy

How to maintain your boat’s value

August-September ’09 Features

Dream Dock on a Budget

Remixed Pontoons Right for Today's Buyers

Great Time to Buy a Boat

October-November ’09 Features

Lake Wylie - Off The Beaten Path

Depth / Fish Finders

December-January ’10 Features

Wake the World Gets Kids on the Water

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