The Final Test
With a scheduled boat launch picnic just a few weeks away, we decided it would be a good idea to test the finished boat at least one time before it’s first official launch. So, just as Alicia did with the boat-o-type and first pontoon, we packed up the boat in Abby’s truck and headed for the Conewago Creek.
It took just a few minutes to unload and assemble the boat, and the anticipation was mounting! We gently carried it into the creek, and sure enough, it floated! We guided it out far enough to where we could get on, and one by one we boarded the boat. You had to be a little mindful of the balance, but four of us were able to to get on the boat without a problem. This boat was plenty buoyant, we think we could have had even more people on it!
A note on balance… the boat itself was very buoyant and had no trouble at all supporting each of us. However, we did discover that you need to keep the weight evenly distributed, and unfortunately we found this out the hard way. While it was clear you had to balance things when getting on, it’s even more important if someone gets off. At one point during the test, one of the crew members decided to abruptly get off the boat which caused it to tip, sending two of the other crew members (Abby and Denny) into the creek. Of course, the boat had no trouble staying afloat.
All in all, the test was a huge success, and we couldn’t wait to show off the boat to all our friends and family. In just two weeks we were going to have the boat’s official launch with a picnic at Pinchot Park.
