Houseboating Adventures - Issue 19 - (Page 31) HBA: How long has Florida Adventure Craft been in business? KR: The first Adventure Crafts were manufactured in the Palmetto, Florida area. The first models were tested and developed in the Saint Pete area. In 1995, the Adventure Craft was offered to the public. On the early models the flybridge was an option, A/C Unit was an option, so was the generator. Starting with the 2000 models, all these items are some of the many standard features in the Adventure Craft package. We feel the end result is the most durable, easy to clean, trailerable houseboat in South Florida. Our Adventure Craft Dealership has been offering this most unique trailerable houseboat to Florida for about two years now. We opened the doors of Florida Adventure Craft Boat Sales on October 1, 2005. HBA: What were your reasons for selecting Adventure Craft as the boat to sell for your area? KR: We feel the Adventure Craft is absolutely perfect for this area. The Adventure Craft was designed in the Saint Pete area for the saltwater environment. It was built for this climate with the fiberglass shell and big open window design. The flybridge is the best seat in the house and offers a 360-degree view for the captain. We have total comfort from the A/C or heating unit, powered by the efficient Honda Generator. HBA: Please describe your Adventure Craft houseboats for me, Kirby. KR: The Adventure Craft is 28.5 feet long from bow to stern. Included is the aluminum Dual Axle Glide-on trailer with surge brakes that is custom made to fit the patented hull of the Adventure Craft. This makes for easy loading and off loading every time. The Adventure Craft will load straight and flat every single time with this custom made trailer. Starting in the bow, there is four storage compartments one in the floor, three in the rap around molded seating with cushions and a removable pedestal table in the center. This area is a great place for the kids or grandkids to ride while cruising. The bow is rapped with stainless steel railing for safety. The kids are upfront and having fun where you can see them at all times while navigating from the inside helm. A spacious interior atmosphere is one of the most unique features of the Adventure Craft recreational vessel. The generous 6'4" headroom throughout the cabin and eight large screened windows create an expansive breezy feeling. In the daytime, boaters can enjoy four seated lounge areas equipped with a dining table on a swivel base for easy pass through. Mid-ship, the lavatory with a hot water shower and marine head and the galley with refrigerator, coffee pot and microwave are conveniently located which neatly divides the two living spaces. At night, the forward and aft lounge areas easily covert to two separate sleeping compartments for up to four persons. Privacy curtains on all windows and doors create a secure private area so that you can relax after an exciting day of fun and sun. The aft or stern area has a storage compartment in the floor and two mold seat compartments with cushions. The one on the starboard side holds the two batteries with a selector switch; the other on the )6B@" A05("%C&5AB9&@ port side is empty storage. Between those two compartments is mounted a 135 Honda Four Stroke engine. That will propel the Adventure Craft in upwards of 26 to 28 mph, but the best feature of this engine is how quiet and reliable it is. Up the stainless steel ladder is the upper deck and flybrige. The first thing you notice up there is how far you are above the water and the view. The upper deck is 7’ wide and the railings are 9’6" to the water. The view is 360 degrees and beautiful. The flybridge offers two pedestal chairs that swivel, Honda gauge package, trim controls, Ultra Flex throttle/gear controls, everything needed to navigate the Adventure Craft safely. Located behind the flybridge on the upper deck in the center is the A/C – heating unit and EU3000 Honda Generator. The generator can be key started from down below, it powers the electrical outlets inside, refrigerator, A/C-heating Unit, hot water heater, and the on-board battery charger. Down below above the helm on the ceiling are all the electrical controls that include120v panel with circuit breakers, 12v switches that control the interior lights, navigation lights, freshwater pump, three bilge pumps and the CD-AM/FM player. This control panel on the ceiling also houses a VHF Radio with external antenna mounted on the flybridge. HBA: What specific advantages do Adventure Craft have in your area? KR: Some of its biggest advantages the Adventure Craft has regarding the Southwest Florida area is the thought and design put toward easy cleaning and maintenance. Its ability to go in shallow waters with only a 10 inch draft. Its versatility to stop at a campground plug it in, then stay the night on the way to the lake or bay. Its stability with the patented hull designed in the choppy Southwest Florida waters.
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