Houseboating Adventures - Issue 20 - (Page 45)

the Gibson? KM: The Gibson satisfied everything that I had in mind, that I would want to do, which is the traveling side of it and the cost per foot, for lack of a better way to say it. It’s pretty cost effective. The Gibson just struck me as the ideal boat to do what I wanted it to do. HBA: So, you decided on the Gibson, you decided on the cruising aspect of it. Did you go to the Gibson factory, or did you call them up, what exactly was the ordering process that you went through? KM: In 2006 we went to the boat show, and we talked to Scott Bachman of Wahoo Marine, who is Gibson’s leading dealer. In February of 2007, the plant had been wiped out. Scott Above left: The biggest surprise for the McGee’s was the crown that they put on that extends fro platform. It turned out to be a wonderful little area, they put some nice lighting on the underside called me in December of 2007, some shaded area and it is just a peaceful place to be. It turned out much better than anyone ex and said that they were going above at Expo back into business and would be up and running shortly. So I plant was going to be and we discussed what their came out in February with my brother, and we drove plans and goals were from the production side and up to the plant and met with Billy Brummett III, the their assembly process. We were pleased with what owner of Gibson before they had even moved a lot of he had to say and what he had to offer, so we went to their equipment in, before they were back up and run- Scott and placed the order. ning. We then sat down with Scott and specked out the basics on the boat in order to get a slot in on the HBA: Can you describe your boat for me? production schedule. AM: We had originally ordered a 55’ boat with a gasoHBA: And lo and behold you end up with the Louisville showboat for 2008. KM: Well, I had pretty much talked to Scott about doing that originally back in 2006 when we met him at the boat show. We worked it so that he could use that boat as the showboat. AM: We like being a little showey, and we like to go first class so we figured that by the time that we got finished with this thing it would be rather deluxe and through Scott’s help and through Billy’s efforts at the factory I believed that we were going to have that accomplished. We had followed the activity of Gibson when I had read that they had been hit by the tornado, we actually went up there in September of ’06 and saw the damage. And as Keith said, we started making plans when it looked like they were going to go back into production at some point and we would be able to stick with the Gibson model like we wanted. We then went to visit with Billy at where the )6B@" A05("%C&5AB9&@ line engine. When we actually went up and sat down with Billy, we extended it to a 59’ and put Yanmar twin 315 diesels in it. We reached their maximum – that’s as large as they build. HBA: In addition to the power options and the big 59’, tell me about the layout and the interior on that boat, are there two big master suites, or how do you guys have that boat laid out? AM: That whole rear master suite has been redesigned where you’ve got two queen sized beds along one bulkhead. My wife tells me that it’s about like a Coleman Carriage Car. And then on the opposite side there is a small office area as well as the bathroom and a stackable washer and dryer. And then other than that change the rest of is pretty basic Gibson design with your refrigerator and your Ushaped kitchen / bar area. The dining and the kitchen are on the same level as the cabin. That’s how it’s dif-

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Houseboating Adventures - Issue 20

Houseboating Adventures - Issue 20 Editor's Desk Info Houseboating Accessories Guide to Brokers & Dealers Job PROfile - State Dock's Sheila Helm World News New Zealand Launches New Houseboat Industry Job PROfile - Sumerset's Dave Corbin DreamBoats - Stardust's "Toy Garage", Sumerset's Wild at Heart II, Gibson's DreaManner Adventure Guide

Houseboating Adventures - Issue 20

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