While working on my side job at a marina, I participated in a project where I felt a better solution could be found to improve the current method being used. We were working to add some additional flotation to some areas of a boathouse that had heavy customer build-ins. To accomplish this task, we built an angle iron frame to fit top of foam block and welded angle iron runners under structure where block was to be located, then we proceeded to come-a-long the block down and under structure. After in place, we fastened by welding the metal pieces together. Although this method did help the situation, it took several of us half a day, by the time we cut out and made frame and rails, weld together, and paint. All for the addition of one block of flotation, and the same method could not be used if we needed to take out an existing block and replace with new one. I have always been one that likes to find a simpler way to perform a difficult task, and the wheels began to spin in my head. That was in 1998. I know this because I made up a rough sketch of an apparatus that I thought would do this task. I sort of put this idea away for several years, seeing I didn't ever really have a prototype budget. In January of 2001 the idea was back on my mind, and I seriously began to pursue seeing if I could really make this idea work. I spent many hours at the drawing table, in the water barrel studying displacement, on the calculator, and researching on the internet. Kristi and I after lengthy discussions, and considering the risks, decided to go ahead and take the chance and see if we could do this. By early spring we purchased some materials and began to build our first piece of equipment, the foam sinking attachment (first version). Between side jobs whenever we got some extra money we would buy more materials, and finally we had completed our barge (first version, again). We were progressing ok and were getting concerned about putting all this money and sweat into our project and decided to see about patent protection, which was granted in 2005. After barge complete, we had to custom build a trailer to fit it. At some point along the way came the time we were waiting for. We took our pride and joy to the lake and to my surprise, we almost had a submarine.

Let me first say I have ZERO nautical engineering know how, nor could I afford anyone who possessed it. I fashioned my craft to be a size that could be legally transported down the highway and also made it Real Strong (overbuilt in a lot of areas), and built every kind of equipment into it that I thought I might ever need. Well this barge did actually float,

but not up out of the water near enough to make me feel comfortable. You should have seen my face, (I got to, someone took a picture and I guess I will share it).

You might say that was the first hump in the roller coaster ride this has been. We reworked the barge, adding more to bottom increasing displacement.

We also had to do all the legal stuff like being issued a HIN for vessel, taxes, title, and registration. We also had to abide with having all the same safety equipment as a pleasure boat. Next came try outs for our foam sinking attachment. I had it painted up looking good, launched it into family pond with a new bright white block of foam. We pulled a foam block down underwater and it seemed all was going well. Then we submersed foam sinker without foam and tried to maneuver attachment as if we were working around a floating structure. We'll my design turned out not to be the right design; another big hump on this roller coaster ride. At this time I am thinking that I probably should have started this earlier in life to ever live to see it finished. Many more trial and errors later, we finally reached the point of having the working equipment we had been looking for. If money was no object we definitely would change up a lot of things with our equipment, (hire nautical engineer!!!) but sometimes you have to work with what you have for the time being.

Well we thought we were all ready to be able to go out and help the first person to call in need of new flotation. We purchased our liability insurance for the barge and commercial on the truck. Might I recommend to anyone thinking about undertaking ANYTHING, to first go to the "Code of Federal Regulations" and see how they will affect you, because they will, and then you can figure it in with your business planning. Little known to us, we would not be legal to transport our equipment across our state line. I knew we were under the 26,001 lbs. that would require us to have a commercial driver license in our state, but what I didn't know anything about was a term known as "interstate commerce". To cross over state line without having a CDL, we would have to stay under 10,001 lbs. My 97 Chevy 1 ton alone is rated at 10,000lbs. GVWR, so another hump on the roller coaster ride. If I'm not looking pale right now from all the ups and downs, you can be sure I was the day I went to Tulsa and rented a semi-truck and took my CDL drive test. We also had to apply for a US DOT number as a private carrier, obtain CDL's, submit for random drug testing, medical card, perform required annual dot inspections of equipment, and maintain all records just like one of the national trucking companies. So now unless someone comes up with anything else, I think we are ready to get to work. We are just a small mom and pop operation, which strive hard to finish what we start, even when facing tough challenges. Looking back I can say, even if we never receive much monetary reward from all our efforts, with the lessons learned in patience and determination, all is not lost. Looking forward, we hope to be able to offer up boaters' another option for the maintenance of their boathouses and hopefully save them some money too. If you are in the market for a new boathouse, you will have to look farther down the road to one of the many qualified builders available, for we are only interested in the repair of existing structures. As soon as possible we plan to have pictures and videos of equipment in operation. Thanks for taking time to read our story, and may God Bless you as he has us.