When the Tiki Hut opens on Logan Martin May 2, it’s not just a date on the calendar to circle, but circle it anyway – it’s the unofficial start of lake season, and it’s a party to remember.
For locals and visitors collectively, it’s a destination point, a ritual and a lake life tradition all rolled into one fun gathering place to celebrate another season on the water.
Now in its fifth year, Tiki Hut has evolved into an event celebrated weekend after weekend all summer long. Cups and apparel will commemorate the fifth anniversary this season.
Everyone will be enjoying their best lakeside living on Logan Martin as the weather warms up
With its island vibe and lakefront view, patrons arrive by boat, car and on foot just to join in the revelry. Although famous for its frozen adult beverages, it’s a family gathering spot as well with Tiki Hut Jr., River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast, River’s Edge Marina, tiny homes rentals, a beach and playground area and 60 boat slips to accommodate the crowds lured its way.
Manager Michael Emerick and owner Paul Emerick previewed what’s in store this season. On opening day, May 2, Skier’s Marine will present an in-water boat show.
But the big celebration comes May 16 at the summer kick-off event with live music, plenty of food and drink throughout and of course, games and other activities. Performances will feature South Bound Music, 2 Da Max and Love Chyld. DJ performances will be between sets from DJIV sponsored by ABC Towing as presenting sponsor, along with Capps Painting, Stone Concepts, Woods Surfside Marina, ERA King and A Plus Tire & Auto.
Guests gather at the bar and along the beach
Open Friday nights from 5 to 9, Saturdays until 8 p.m. and Sundays until 5 p.m., it will feature bands every Saturday night beginning with the summer kickoff. Hunt Bros. Pizza is being added this year to help with food options, and Tiki Hut Jr. is being expanded to accommodate pizza.
The Emericks are adding to the playground. Bingo is back on every other Friday night, run by Nic Nic (Nicole) and Ma (Tanya), beginning May 29. Small bands will play on the other Friday nights, beginning May 22.
On the 4th of July, there won’t be fireworks, but a daytime concert series is planned, headlined by Poison Whiskey.
River’s Edge and Tiki Hut will help sponsor nearby Pier 59’s Poker Run as part of its Christmas in July events to raise funds for Christmas gifts for children at Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
Live music and DJs on Logan Martin Lake
On Aug. 1, the Greater Birmingham Homeowners Association will hold its poker run there, and Tiki Hut will feature a band during the festivities.
While the Tiki Hut closes in September, it does reopen for a special event – Boo Bash After Party –October 3. It’s the perfect exclamation point for a day of fun as Logan Martin hosts this dock-to-dock trick-or-treating extravaganza. Tiki Hut is the presenting sponsor, helping make it possible.
It also helps sponsor Dam Palooza, a giant boat tie-up at the dam with plenty of live entertainment and good times. The 13th annual event is set for June 27.
At the five-year mark for Tiki Hut, the 13th season for the restaurant and the 19th season for the marina, the Emericks reflected on the motivation behind their giving and supporting events around the lake, not just their own.
“The lake’s been a big factor in our growth,” said Paul, “and we want to make the lake a better place.”
Son Michael echoed the sentiments: “The lake has given us a lot, and we just want to give back.”
Compiled by Paul South and Graham Hadley Submitted Photos
Come January, with lake levels low and 2025 in the rearview mirror, it’s time to dream of sleek new boats for the summer ahead. Area boat dealers are unveiling something new for 2026.
From a sleek tribute to a boat from 1957 sure to whet the appetites of lake lovers, to new product lines, there’s surely something for everyone.
Here’s a glimpse at vessels expected to be on display in showrooms and at boat shows in the coming year:
Rodney’s Marine
At Rodney’s Marine in Cropwell, a blast from the past will be celebrated, as well as a hot new pontoon.
The 2026 Starcraft ‘57 Ski Champ
Rodney’s offers Starcraft pontoons and tritoons. But this year, a hot ski boat may steal the spotlight – a replica of a 1957 Starcraft Ski Champ.
Billed as a “tribute to the original 1957 model,” this limited-edition has a riveted aluminum hull, two rows of bench seats and a wood veneer dash. It’s also re-engineered for 2026, with a Suzuki DF25 HP motor. They come in a choice of teal or the All-American version in red, white and blue, perfect for our nation’s 250th birthday.“It’s super cute,” said Kim Humphries, the dealership’s finance manager. “It’s a limited production boat, so when they’re gone, that’s it.”
Starcraft RX Pontoon Boat
Rodney’s also features a 2026 Starcraft RX pontoon boat with a Suzuki 350-horsepower engine. It’s Starcraft’s luxury flagship, designed for comfort and performance. This is the perfect boat for families.
The RX offers a variety of options and colors, ideal for fun on the water. It offers an unsurpassed standard of luxury.
Visit Rodney’s Marine at 6046 Martin St. S., Cropwell, Ala. 35054, or online at rodneysmarine.com.
Poorhouse Branch Marina
Poorhouse Branch Marina celebrates two pontoons for 2026, the Avalon Catalina Pontoon and the LSZ Pontoon, both in a variety of layouts with a number of options that allow boaters to customize their boats with as many or as few options as they wish.
Poor House proudly carries Avalon and Tahoe.
The boats can be powered by either Mercury, Honda or Suzuki engines.
Avalon Catalina
The Catlina is a luxury pontoon that, like all Avalon boats, is known for style and quality features and performance and options like a Blue Ice lighting package, Garmin GPS and a quality Bluetooth sound system.
As with all Avalon craft, furnishings make comfort a top priority that will impress passengers. It’s been described as “a resort on the water.”
You can create the boat of your dreams with a variety of floor plans and options.
Avalon LSZ
The Avalon LSZ is part of the brand’s Signature Collection and is billed as “the ride of a lifetime.” It’s affordable, stylish and well built, in a variety of sizes, with layouts that will fit your lifestyle.
The vessel features a Deco wall design with a choice of four floor plans with plush handcrafted furnishings.
The LSZ models range in a variety of models from the LSZ Cruise, the LSZ Cruise Rear Bench, the LSZ Elite, the LSZ Elite Windshield and more.
Now with three locations, Poor House Branch Marina is Alabama’s only Premier Honda Dealer and is the top Avalon dealer in the state.
On Logan Martin, visit Poor House Branch at 7062 Stemley Road, Talladega, Ala., 35160, or online at www.poorhousebranchmarina.com. Other locations are Lake Martin, 14512 Highway 280 E.; Jackson Gap, Ala., 36831; and Smith Lake, 6167 Curry Highway, Jasper, Ala. 35504
Buck’s Island
One of the iconic local, family-run boat businesses serving boaters and anglers in the new year, Buck’s Island, will unveil a new product line and a new edition of one of the business’ mainstays.
SeaArk Boats
Best known for building the world’s largest Jon Boat – 24 feet long and 6 feet wide – the manufacturer has raised the stakes, crafting an even bigger Jon Boat at 26 feet.
SeaArk’s aluminum watercraft caters to anglers going for catfish, crappie and bass and also caters to duck hunters. Fans of the catfish circuit have no doubt seen the ProCat. But there’s really not a species on the water that SeaArk boats can’t be used for, according to the manufacturer.
Katie Grell, sales manager at Buck’s Island, said SeaArk will call Buck’s Island home in January.
Skeeter ZXE
Skeeter unveiled a new its ZXE for 2026, Grell said.
“We’re super excited. They changed some of the options on it, with a new fiberglass deck lid, which is really nice,” Grell said.
“That model has always been our number one seller.”
The updated boat has a sharp profile from bow to stern, but really struts its stuff below the waterline.
The elegant line above the waterline is perfect for recreation to tournament fishing, promising a comfortable ride.
Buck’s Island, with its expansive product line, will be like a boat show close to home.
In business since 1948, Buck’s Island offers new and used boats, as well as motors, and provides service and also sells tackle and sponsors local fishing teams. Visit the dealership at 4500 Alabama Highway 77 in Southside, (256) 442-2588 or online at www.bucksisland.com.
Woods Surfside Marina
Boat Show season at Woods Surfside Marina will feature exciting new boats, including the Bennington M Series and the Evotti 721 CS. Here’s a glance at both boats.
Bennington M Series
The all-new Bennington M Series is a sleek new pontoon with new features and innovative design. The company celebrates the new line as “a modern expression of style.”
The boat can accommodate 10 to 15 passengers. Models range in length from 22 to 26 feet.
The M Line offers standard features, as well as Luxe and Sport Packages. Other upgrades include Rockford Fosgate audio, sport and luxury trim packages and RGB lumbar accent lighting.
The Evotti 721 CS
The Evotti 721 CS is a new 21-foot pontoon that offers a blend of luxury and performance. With room for 11 passengers, the 721 CS can handle up to 250 horsepower.
It’s perfect for cruising, fishing and water sports and features a convertible stern. The 700 Series strikes a balance between performance, innovation and style, with luxury seating and advanced technology, all standard.
Visit Woods Surfside Marina at 37 Marina Drive, Cropwell, Ala. 35054, or visit online at www.woodssurfside.com. Call (205) 525-5533.
Rambo Marine
Rambo Marine in Westover will feature an armada of some 48 boats at the Birmingham Boat Show. Notably, the 2026 Axis T250 and the 2026 Barletta Lusso 25UC.
The Axis T250
The Axis T250 is billed by the manufacturer as “25 feet of bold design, room for 18 passengers with advanced wake and surf technology.” It’s a state-of-the-art ski and wakeboard boat.
The boat promises “next level comfort” and cutting-edge technology, including a one-touch “Go Home” button. Axis calls the T250 its boldest boat ever, with push- button technology to generate more wake.
Barletta Lusso 25UC
The Barletta Lusso 25UC features standard triple pontoons, RGB lighting and room for 14 passengers. More than 27 feet in length, the 25UC features VIP technology (Vibration Isolation Pad) to provide a smoother, quieter ride. A joystick control is optional.
The helm includes dual screens (12 and 7 inches), integrated storage and a premium steering wheel. There’s also storage under the helm.
Seating includes reclining captain’s chairs and front chaise lounges
Amenities include JBL stereo, power bimini and USB ports, among others.
Rambo Marine in Birmingham is located at 10396 U.S. 280 in Westover, Ala. 35185, or call (205) 543-5415. Visit online at rambomarine.com.
River’s Edge Marina
River’s Edge features some exciting new upgrades to two of its best-selling boating accessories and toys for 2026.
EZE Ladder
First, take a look at the 2026 Lake EZE Ladder. Offering an expanded color palate for 2026, including a red step, and instead of the traditional stainless metal, there will be powder-colored options in black, dark gray and white.
“We recently got to check them out,” said River’s Edge Manager Michael Emerick, “and they are sharp.”
EZ Dock
On the EZ Dock side, the company has just introduced a floating pontoon port. Bigger than the traditional jet ski port, the pontoon port can accommodate a pontoon or tritoon, with easy drive on and drive off capabilities.
The new docks and ports will also offer new colors for the new year, including red, dark grey, blue, brown and green.
“I think the brown could be a major color option for our lake, as a lot of people like to stain their piers a dark brown color,” Emerick said.
River’s Edge Marina is home to the Tiki Hut, River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast, boat rentals, accessories and RV sites and luxury tiny home rentals. Learn more at www.riversedgemarina.net, or call (205) 525-5562. The marina is located at 79 Rabbit Branch Circle, Cropwell, Ala. 35054.
Skier’s Marine
The new year will be an exciting time at Skier’s Marine, as it unveils two completely redesigned boats for 2026.
2026 MasterCraft X24
First, the 2026 MasterCraft X24. Redesigned from bow to stern, the X24 blends aggressive performance with refined luxury. Dual digital displays with the MasterCraft MyDrive Controller make the boat user friendly. An optional stern thruster provides effortless maneuvering.
“MasterCraft hit a home run with the X24, and I can’t wait to show everyone what it can do on the water,” said Jeremy Talbot, a product specialist at Skier’s Marine.
2026 Harris Sunliner
Also completely redesigned for the new year, the Sunliner series unveils a sleek new exterior and an interior with luxury and ergonomics as a priority. The new design set the Sunliner apart from any other pontoon on the market.
“The new design is perfect for families like mine who love spending time on the water cruising, pulling water skiers and tubers and of course, lounging at our favorite anchor spots,” Talbot said.
The MasterCraft X24 and the Harris Sunliner will be on display at the Birmingham Boat Show. Skier’s Marine is located at 10171 U.S. Highway 280, Westover, Ala. 35147, or visit skiersmarine.com, (205) 678-9099.
University Marine
University Marine at Pine Harbor proudly carries the SunChaser brand. Here’s a glance at two of University’s popular models for 2026.
SunChaser Lucerne 22 LR DH Sport
Offering exceptional value in the popular pontoon market, the Lucerne combines style and function with thoughtful design. The vessel offers a sleek, modern look without sacrificing durability, promising a smooth, stable ride on the water.
The Lucerne offers eight exterior panel color options. An optional luxury package offers features like a power Bimini top, Helix 5 in-dash GPS, high-back helm chairs, interior mood lighting and an upgraded steering wheel.
“This has become one of our most popular and affordable options,” said University co-owner Ricky Ganey. The Lucerne is powered by Honda engines.
2026 SunChaser Eclipse 25
Anchored in comfort and fun, while promising a relaxing day with your pontoon crew, the Eclipse 25 features two standard rear bench seats that provide room to lounge or to enjoy dinner on the water.
The versatile pontoon also gives its crew a license to thrill, thanks to an integrated ski tow for tubing, waterskiing or wakeboarding adventures.
The SunChaser 25 makes performance a priority. The standard PR25 third tube performance package ensures a smooth ride and an enjoyable experience for all on board.
The Eclipse model offers multiple layouts and can be powered by Honda’s new V8350.
University Marine is located at 2120 Fraim Drive, Pell City, Ala. 35128. Call (205) 884-2628, or visit online at www.pineharbormarina.com.
Six times. Six wins. Not bad. Not bad at all for Logan Martin fan favorite Salli O’Donnell as she capped another win in the Great Alabama 650’s 2025 edition with a first solo finish, first female finish and third overall.
Finishing first overall and first tandem winners, Bobby Johnson and Matt Taylor, captured the top titles in a time of 5 days, 9 hours, 3 minutes.
Overall Solo and Female Solo winner Sallie O’Donnell heads to Logan Martin portage
Chris Thomas was first male solo finish, and Trey Reaves, last year’s solo and overall top finisher, was in tandem this year with John Wellens. They finished second overall.
A 650-mile Alabama professional ultra-endurance paddle race through Alabama Scenic River Trail on Weiss Lake, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Coosa River and Alabama River to Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan, the epic event stretched from Oct. 4-14. Racers have 10 days to complete, but the winners arrived at Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan at the 5-day mark.
The Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) maintains and promotes the core National Water Trail, along with a network of over 6,500 miles of paddling trails throughout the state.
Paddler navigates the trail
The organization’s trail network spans from North Alabama mountain streams and whitewater rapids to South Alabama’s river deltas, making it one of the most varied water trail networks in the nation.
As a nonprofit, ASRT operates through collaborations with local partners, organizations, and outfitters, serving as the state’s paddling resource for all skill levels.
The Great Alabama 650, ASRT’s signature race, highlights the full scope of these waterways, promoting appreciation and recognition of the state’s exceptional water recreation opportunities.
From majestic American Bald Eagles to elegant Great Egrets, Canada geese and Great Blue Herons, Logan Martin Lake is a bird-lovers paradise.
But perhaps the lake’s most popular bird these days, save maybe chicken on the grill, doesn’t have a single feather. In fact, it’s best known as a toddler’s iconic bathtub buddy. Submitted for your approval – the rubber duck.
Thanks to Stacy Deegan and her late husband Brian, the shores of Logan Martin teem with the hidden non-feathered friends. It’s the hottest scavenger hunt this side of summer camp, as folks comb the area for the numbered ducks, take a selfie with their find for posting on Facebook, then hide them again for another hunter to discover.
It’s a fun twist on catch and release.
Every duck is tagged with instructions. Take a photo of the foundling, post it on the hunt’s Facebook page, then re-hide it for another hunter to find. It’s a year-round event, so it’s always rubber duck season.
Duck No. 494 found at Pirate Island
Known officially as the Logan Martin Duck Hunt, it’s a Facebook group the Deegans hatched in 2023 to track the movements of the rubber quackers. Stacy took the notion a step further with the scavenger hunt. They began with 10 numbered ducks. The first duck was hidden near Pier 59.
“We just got in the truck one day and started driving around the lake looking for public places to hide the ducks,” she said. “The first place we hid one was the Pier 59 boat ramp. We just kept driving around and hiding the ducks and created the Facebook group.”
The couple had so much fun, they started hiding more ducks. Each toy bird has a QR code that can be scanned, and the discovered duck’s image goes straight to Facebook.
Brian Deegan passed away last year, but Stacy continued the hunt, she said, “not as a tribute to him, but I did release some ducks that had tags with ‘In Memory of Brian Deegan’ and his dates. So, I had a round of memorial releases there.”
The Duck Hunt has been on for two years, and the number of toy ducks has grown to nearly 500. They come in all colors.
“It’s been so much fun,” Stacy said. “My neighbors have been helping me out with the ducks.” And this year, there’s a new wrinkle that’s – as they might say in The Hamptons – just ducky.
There are golden ducks secreted away – 14 of them – and whoever discovers one wins a prize. “I was able to get some local businesses to donate prizes,” Stacy said.
For example, Lakeside Candle Co., Pell City Coffee and Pier 59 are among the donors, as well as Porky Pirate Barbecue. One local Realtor is offering a cash prize for her firm’s gold duck, Deegan said.
In another ducky development, the Duck Hunt will be part of the fourth Boo Bash event this year. “It’s just another leg (of the hunt),” Deegan said. “It’s another way to have the ducks out for people to have fun with it.”
Five of the Boo Bash quackers will have prizes worth $100 for the finders, thanks again to donations from local businesses.
Found at Logan Martin LakeFest and Boat Show
Like Boo Bash, the wildly popular Halloween hullaballoo, the Duck Hunt aims to build a stronger sense of community on Logan Martin.
But it also takes a page from a social phenomenon called geocaching. According to geocaching.com, it’s “an any day, any time activity that can take you to amazing and beautiful places. Geocaches are physical containers hidden all over the world you can find from a set of coordinates.” There is a Geocaching app. For more information, visit geocaching.com.
“It’s a really cool idea,” Stacy said. “It’s getting families to get outside and get away from their phones and computers and get on the hiking trails and look for hidden treasures or hidden caches. People all over the world hide things everywhere that you don’t know about.”
She added, “Geocaching is what inspired me to hide the ducks and get people outside to look for something fun. Just something extra, especially on the lake, where there’s already plenty to do.
“But I just imagine the smile on a kid’s face when they are running out of Tiki Hut, and they find a little rubber duck.”
In an effort to be sensitive to the lake environment, Stacy intentionally conceals the ducks in areas where the rubber creatures can’t slide into the water.
“The idea is to not have them fall into the water and float away,” she said. “I made a conscious choice in the beginning not to place the ducks in the water.”
The end goal of the Duck Hunt? Good old-fashioned fun and a ton of smiles.
Found Duck 146 in Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Myrtle Beach, SC. These ducks will travel
“Just something to put a smile on somebody’s face,” Stacy said. “I usually tell people, enjoy for a minute, then re-hide it for someone else to find.”
She hopes the hunt will become a Logan Martin mainstay. Globally, the rubber ducks are enjoying a renaissance and have waddled out of the tub, so to speak. Many Jeep owners have dashboard rubber ducks. In the UK, there’s a whole store devoted to the beloved toy.
Once, Brian Deegan concealed 50 tiny ducks throughout the family’s Logan Martin house.
“I would love to do it as long as I can. The rubber ducks are not expensive at all. I just do it for fun. If it were expensive, I’d probably try to monetize it. But I don’t want to monetize it. I just want it to be fun. As long as I’m financially able to put these little ducks together and hide them for people, and they enjoy it, I’m going to do it.”
Every duck find posted on Facebook is an affirmation. “Every time someone finds a duck and posts it,” Stacy said, “that’s my reward.”
For more information, follow the Logan Martin Duck Hunt (Rubber Ducks) Facebook Page.
Few things joyously say an unforgettable day at the park louder than tricked-out trucks, cool cars, hot live music, food and family fun.
And nothing evokes the spirit of the community’s people than a heart for helping others.
All of these wonderful things will come together from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday Sept. 20 at the Lakeside Live Musicfest at Pell City’s Lakeside Park. Proceeds from the event will go to help The St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center’s Children’s Place, other local charities and the Pell City Police and Fire Departments and City Parks.
Pell City police and firefighters ready for battle on new turf – the beach at Lakeside Park. Battle of the Badges is a popular event at Lakeside Live, which is moving to that area of the park. Photo by Mackenzie Free
The free festival, now in its fifth year, will still call Lakeside Park home, but will move within the park to ease traffic and parking challenges of past years. Last year, some 6,000 cars came to the festival grounds.
The driving force behind Lakeside Live is Pell City’s Five 16 Foundation, a faith-based organization that shines its light “through fundraising, service and good works in the community. The 501c3 nonprofit gets its name from Matthew 5:16 in the New Testament: “In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Lakeside Live Director Casey Cambron is founder of the Five 16 organization, which has designated St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center as this year’s major beneficiary of the event.
The center works on behalf of children and families affected by the tragedy of child abuse. It also works to foster interagency cooperation in the legal system and train volunteers. It also works to educate and build awareness in the community.
“This is an organization that needs more resources,” Cambron said. “As a board, when we were discussing different areas to support, their name came up. The children that they support hit close to our heart.”
This year, Lakeside Live is moving to the parking area next to the water. The move off the grassy areas of the park will make life easier for festivalgoers and organizers alike, Cambron said.
Cars and vehicles of all kinds on display
They took a page from another popular local event, LakeFest, to address parking problems. “Traffic control (last year) was a nightmare,” Cambron said. (LakeFest’s ) set up was very well organized. So, we’ll move to the parking lot near the water.”
He added, “It opens up a lot of parking and makes the whole event easier for spectators to be able to enjoy. It gives us the opportunity to have better handicapped-accessible parking, better parking for large and small vehicles. Just overall, the whole experience will be better.”
Another change in 2025? Musically, the event will return to a homegrown feel. Last year alt rock band, The Spin Doctors, who made a splash on the charts in the 1990’s, headlined the event. This year, local entertainers will fill the bill. Every musical genre will be celebrated.
“This year, we want to go back to our roots,” Cambron said. “We want to have more focus on our local community.”
While the music lineup is still in the works, local favorites Sand Rock, a group of Pell City High School students, will perform, as well as the Leverton Brothers.
Jazzed up cars and trucks will also be featured at the festival’s Motorfest event. Prizes will be awarded to the best vehicles in a variety of categories, including best in show car and best in show truck, best interior, best paint job, best engine, police choice, fire choice, promoters choice and more. Registration for the car show is at 10 the morning of the festival, with awards presented at 2.
For questions about Motorfest, call (205) 200-0359, or check out the Lakeside Motorfest Event page on Facebook,
The car show and other events at the festival will be 100 percent family friendly.
“I’m passionate about creating a family friendly atmosphere,” said Cambron. “I’ve been to events where I’m walking around with my kids and the DJ is playing music full of profanity, it just doesn’t feel right. My goal is to build an event where everyone feels welcome, comfortable, and proud to be there. We want people to leave feeling like they experienced something positive, something truly worth coming to.”
Food and drink for every taste will be on sale from local restaurants and food trucks, as well as a wide variety of arts and crafts and boutiques for men and women, folks of all ages and interests. In short, there’s something for everyone. “We just want people to come and spend money with our local vendors,” Cambron said.
And there will also be friendly competition between Pell City police and firefighters at several events, notably a tug of war. Known as “The Battle of the Badges,” a pro wrestling style championship belt and bragging rights will be on the line.
Spectators line the course
More important, the competition aims to forge closer bonds between first responders and the public they serve.
“That is our most favorite event,” Cambron said. “Our foundation is about bringing people together. Usually, when you see a police officer or a firefighter, it’s not the best of times. Usually something bad has happened. It’s the same with firefighters. We want to give people a warm, happy feeling about first responders and intensify it with this competition.”
Lakeside Live Musicfest reflects what’s best about Pell City, Cambron said.
“I’ve lived in a few different towns,” he said. “Pell City has a sense of comfort. There’s a lot of really, really great people that live in this town. This is one of the few towns I’ve been in when, if there’s an event that’s happening, people turn out and support it, whether it’s hot as it can be, or pouring down rain. The people come out. It’s unlike any other community I’ve ever been a part of. The town is what makes this event and every other event here great.”
Story by Roxann Edsall Submitted photos from Alabama Outdoors
Top photo by Cathy Flynn
Katie Faught had no plans to take up photography. That is, until she moved to Logan Martin Lake almost six years ago. In that time, she says, she’s seen so many beautiful sights that she just had to pick up a camera and start shooting. Her lenses capture the images of osprey, hawks, and eagles that nest and fish the waters of the Coosa River.
“I got my first Nikon camera and first telephoto lens five years ago and started getting serious about it,” says Faught. “We live in the slough by Knox Landing in Pell City. We have bald eagles and osprey that both nest nearby.” She photographs them just outside her house when the water is down. When the water comes back up, she and her husband, Brian, head out by boat to look for them.
For Faught and other eagle enthusiasts, there is good news. There will be more sightings of bald eagles around Logan Martin Lake, as their numbers nationwide and in Alabama continue to rise. According to Robyn Miller, director of Auburn University’s Raptor Center, there are about 100 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Alabama.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) oversees a program called the “mid-winter bald eagle survey,” a joint effort by many state and federal environmental agencies that annually tracks the location of eagles across the U.S. Dylan Shaw is a biologist in environmental affairs for Alabama Power and participates in the survey each year.
“We have been a part of that effort since 1993,” Shaw explains. “We track the eagles on the Coosa River on a rotating basis over a three-year period, surveying the upper Coosa on Neely Henry, the middle Coosa on Logan Martin, and the lower Coosa on Lay, Mitchell and Jordan lakes. Logan Martin was surveyed in 2024 and Neely Henry in 2023.” That survey revealed at least 15 bald eagles on Logan Martin and five on Neely Henry.
Eagle and osprey in flight
Photo by Katie Wade Faught
The numbers could be much higher, though, since the crews only survey from the water. “We take crews and survey the entire shoreline with about six observers searching with binoculars,” Shaw continued. “It’s all done in one day, and it’s just a snapshot. It reflects the minimum numbers that exist but really indicates that there are many eagles on our lakes.”
It took a special effort to bring bald eagles back to Alabama. In 1985, according to Chris Sykes, executive director of the Alabama Wildlife Center, there were no nesting pairs in our state. “There was a big push by the Alabama Department of Conservation,” Sykes said, “and between 1984 and 1991, they released 91 juvenile bald eagles into Alabama wild lands.”
Logan Martin resident Barnett Lawley was a part of Alabama’s efforts to repopulate the bald eagle when he served as the state’s commissioner of conservation under Governor Bob Riley from 2003 to 2011. He remembers participating in a program in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that relocated eaglets to Alabama from Alaska and Florida, states where the species was abundant.
Specialized biologists would remove some young birds from nests in those two states, transport them to Alabama and put them into large, enclosed habitats referred to as “hacking stations.”
“I don’t remember exactly how many, but the hacking stations were all over the state,” says Lawley. “The young birds were fed by humans but would never see the hands that were feeding them. They thrived and would begin to test their wings. They would fly out of the station and come back. They would do that many times and when a bird left and didn’t come back, you’d know it was looking for a mate.”
Each year, conservationists and biologists would survey the state to look for bald eagle nests. “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided a small airplane so we could use it in our department,” adds Lawley. “We’d take it to do the yearly bald eagle surveys, and when we were doing other projects and saw a nest, we would put that location in the GPS, too. By the time the program ended, we had identified the locations of over 100 nests.”
Success story
The comeback of the bald eagle from near extinction is largely considered one of the most notable victories in the conservation world. In 1963, there were only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles known to exist in the lower 48 states.
Fifteen years later, they were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The protections under that act, coupled with the banning of the synthetic pesticide DDT by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, created more favorable conditions for the birds, and their populations began to increase. By 2007, they were no longer listed as endangered.
The same favorable conditions that other anglers enjoy have helped bald eagles thrive on the Coosa. The coves and inlets provide many favorite fishing spots, and since fish is the primary food in a bald eagle’s diet, there’s every reason to love lake life. Small rodents, turtles and waterfowl can also fall victim to the talons of a hungry eagle, though they prefer an easier meal.
Eagles are opportunistic hunters and will steal another bird’s catch when they can. One of Katie Faught’s favorite photos, captured a few years ago, involved an egret who experienced just such a loss to an eagle.
“I call the series, ‘Lose Your Dinner,’” Faust laughs. “It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had. I was photographing the egret who had caught dinner and was on the beach with his fish. Suddenly he flew off. I started to follow him with my camera, but then, for some reason, I looked back at the beach, and an eagle was there with the fish. He was eating the fish, swallows the head, then looks right at me. It just captured me. I was spellbound in that moment.”
The plentiful food supply and the abundance of tall, sturdy trees in which to build nests provides all that is necessary for eagles to thrive on Logan Martin and Neely Henry. Bald eagles are a migratory or semi-migratory species but always return to within 100 miles of the nest where they fledged.
“Birds only need nests for babies,” explains Sykes. “Outside of breeding season, birds just sleep in trees. Bald eagles come back because their nests are so durable, and it’s just easier to go back to that nest than to build a new one. Sometimes they may take a break from that one if it gets too dirty. They’ll let nature clean it up, then return another year.”
Up close and personal
Mike Wadsworth, owner of Wadsworth Blueberry Farm, has a bird’s eye view of a bald eagle’s nest on his property just off U.S. 231 South in Cropwell. The nesting pair, who showed up with their juvenile fledgling after the 2011 tornado that touched down near the Logan Martin dam, have returned every year since.
His family has watched them add to their nest or build one nearby each breeding season. “The other day I saw them working on it. They sometimes bring a limb so big they must work together to get it in,” Wadsworth says.
Bald eagles have a strong pair bond and will usually mate for life. And while they often return to the same nest each year for the breeding season, sometimes they have another nest nearby that they choose to use for a season or two.
Photo by
Katie Wade Faught
They will add to the nest each year to make repairs and make it stronger. In doing so, the nests grow larger and heavier, some as large as eight feet wide and weighing more than one ton. The weight of the nest, coupled with strong winds can sometimes break the tree or compromise the nest.
“The first year they nested here, they raised three fledglings,” recalls Wadsworth. “It was great to see how they strengthened their wings. They had three fledglings, and the third one didn’t want to hop out of the nest. The parent on the nest at the time was just fussing at the bird. It would cock its head and step toward it. It reminded me of a parent going after the teenage son who wasn’t doing right.”
Later, he watched as the birds hopped from limb to limb, a strength-building behavior called branching.
Wadsworth says he has learned a lot in the 14 years of having bald eagle neighbors. What surprised him most was the way bald eagles constantly talk to each other. Adults will call out in a scream, chatter or peal to each other, depending on what the circumstances dictate.
“They talk off and on, day and night,” says Wadsworth. “I can hear one of them call and look out across the lake toward River Oaks. That’s a good fishing spot. And you can see the juvenile coming home when he hears the call.”
Eagles’ nests have been spotted on Logan Martin near River Oaks, near the dam, near Riverside and near Ogletree Island. “I’ve tried to get photos of the ones near Ogletree Island,” said Faught. “I finally got pictures of two bald eagles not far from there. They were sitting on a plateau in the water, having just finished their dinner.”
Recognizing the difference
Being able to identify an eagle takes practice. Often osprey and hawks are misidentified as eagles and vice versa. Raptor Center’s Miller says identifying eagles can be tricky, especially with juveniles.
“We often think of bald eagles with distinctive white heads,” Miller explains, “but it takes four to five years for them to get their fully white feathers. Juveniles are uniformly brown and are commonly thought to be golden eagles. Bald eagles also have bald legs, while golden eagles are considered a booted species, meaning they have feathers that go all the way down to their feet.”
Eagles are quite large, weighing between seven and 10 pounds, with a wingspan of up to seven feet. They can be up to 40 inches tall, with males being slightly smaller than the females. Mature bald eagles have white heads and white tails, with yellow legs and feet and a bulky yellow beak.
An osprey is not as big and has a lot of white and brown colorations. Hawks have a shorter wingspan, with rounded wings and broad tails, as opposed to eagles who have straighter wings and longer tails.
Identifying the presence of nesting eagles is important because there are special precautions to take to protect the national bird. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, property building or tree cutting should be limited to permitted activities and not during breeding season.
Ideally, less human disturbance is best for these creatures that are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
“I talk to people all over the world,” says Faught of her photography contacts. “They are aghast that I can walk out my door and get pictures of these beautiful birds. The bad part is that I haven’t had to learn the extreme patience that so many photographers have had to.”
For the rest of us, enjoying the beauty of the bald eagles on the lake is just a time to live in the moment, unless you’re fast enough to grab your phone or your camera before they’ve soared away into a nearby tree or on down the river. But what a beautiful moment it is.
Editor’s Note: To report a bald eagle’s nest, contact the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s bald eagle coordinator (334) 242-3469.To report an injured bird, contact Game Warden Jason Bassett (256) 510-2467.
A few years ago, when Kent Back ran for this Coosa River town’s governing council, his message was clear: “I told people that whoever wins this election will get the opportunity to reimagine Gadsden.”
Since taking office, Mayor Craig Ford, his administration and the city council – with Back as its chairman – have worked to reimagine the city. Improvements to Noccalula Falls, growth in the downtown business district and economic development on the Coosa have been big news.
Now, Guntersville developer Patrick Lawler is opening a new chapter on the blossoming waterfront – Coosa Harbor.
Architectural rendering of aerial view
of the complex
The mixed-use development, with an estimated value “north of $20 million” will include 20 condominiums, selling for $500,000 each, as well as retail shops and restaurants, another step toward recasting Gadsden as a destination city.
While the development in its final form may be larger, current plans have the development at 34,000 square feet, said Patrick Lawler, the CEO of P Lawler, LLC.
City officials reached out to Lawler and after a series of meetings with Ford and Director of Economic Development John Moore, the project got the green light.
Gadsden’s biggest attraction for Lawler? Not surprisingly, the Coosa River.
“They had water,” Lawler said. “I don’t build anything that’s not on the water.”
Lawler has one waterfront project up and running in his hometown of Guntersville – City Harbor. The $30 million development on Lake Guntersville has proven wildly popular.
In April 2024, the city of Decatur approved plans for a 75,000 square foot development at Ingalls Harbor.
Lawler and Gadsden officials hope for a repeat performance of Guntersville’s success when Coosa Harbor comes online in a few years. Lawler is currently in discussions with Alabama Power officials regarding electrical infrastructure for the project.
Lawler was attracted to Gadsden after an initial meeting with Ford. “He gave me their vision for the city and what they have in the works right now, I think the future for Gadsden is really going to upturn in a positive direction.”
Lawler has been approached by other cities, but turned them down. Gadsden was different.
“I liked the site, and the numbers made sense as far as what other restaurants were doing down there, gross (receipt) wise. It just checked all the boxes.”
He added, “I’m impressed with their vision for the whole waterfront area. I think we’re going to be the centerpiece of that and a catalyst for development of the whole waterfront area.”
Restaurant tenants confirmed for Coosa Harbor are Big Mike’s Steakhouse, Lost Pizza, Kilwin’s Ice Cream and Levi’s on the Lake, a live music venue.
Aesthetically, the architectural style and finishes are going to be similar to the Guntersville project.
Covered tables, walkways and green space are part of the plans
“Being on the water, it will be a high energy development,” Lawler said. “There will be the right lighting, video boards and outdoor live music. There’s a reason cities call us. We have a proven product.”
Back agreed. He’s visited City Harbor in Guntersville “three or four times. It’s been no secret as far as the phenomenal success that Patrick has had in Guntersville with his project on the lake up there,” Back said. “I think half of Gadsden has been to City Harbor and really enjoyed it.”
He had high praise for the finished product. “(City Harbor) is very clean. The architecture and everything is just really cool.”
For decades, Gadsden has wanted to take advantage of its most visible natural resource that flows through the heart of the city. But until now, that’s never really happened with the exception of riverwalks on both sides of the river.
With projects like Coosa Harbor, that’s changing. “After seeing what was going on in Guntersville, I think it was just, ‘How can we get that guy to come to Gadsden and do the same thing?’ I think he’s caught the vision of the mayor and the Council on how to grow Gadsden and be progressive and moving forward,” Back said.
The projects fits into plans to stretch the city’s entertainment district past Rainbow Drive (U.S. Highway 411) to the river.
“I think Patrick’s vision of how (Coosa Harbor) is laid out and just the quality of the craftsmanship and the workmanship … and the restaurants and the businesses there will give Gadsden something that we never had before on the river. It’ll bring new restaurants and retail that we’ve not had.”
The city is giving Lawler the site, as well as $1.5 million of in-kind services for site preparation.
To critics of that aspect of Coosa Harbor, Back said, “The reality of it is, every project that comes to any city receives those kinds of legal inducements. It’s part of how it works. The reality is you have to make that investment to get that development.”
Based on conservative estimates, the project will mean a boost to city revenues of $700,000 to $800,000 in sales taxes, along with new jobs, Back said.
“That’s a real win for the city,” Back said.
For Lawler, who has been a developer since his early 20s, Coosa Harbor is good news for Gadsden and its citizens, as well as for surrounding areas.
“It’ll be very positive for the community,” he said. “It will be enjoyed by all. It’ll be 100 percent positive for the city and for future development also. I’m excited about being in Gadsden. I’m excited about the forward thinking that Mayor Ford and the Council have. I have to give the mayor a lot of credit. He’s the one who sold me on it.”
It’s another chapter in the transformation in Gadsden. The city is no longer a tire and steel town.
Just as in his campaign, Back has another clear message about Gadsden, evidenced by projects like Coosa Harbor.
Historic Riverside home holds multitude of memories, stories
Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Mackenzie Free
Roxanne Bukacek’s Riverside home overlooking the sparkling waters of Logan Martin Lake is a treasure trove of history, paying homage to the family, as well as the town that shaped her.
There are keepsakes and memories from four generations of family members who have shared meals, hopes, dreams, laughter and tears within the home’s walls. But there’s also a number of artifacts from bygone days that tell part of Riverside’s story.
“This house was built in 1872,” she said. “Riverside was a big logging town, and the sawmill needed a doctor for the employees, and the only way they could get one was to build him a house.”
After the sawmill closed, and the doctor moved away, her great-grandparents moved into the house. Except for a 13-year period, it has remained in the family ever since, and when Bukacek had the chance to buy it back in 1986, she jumped at it.
Bukacek and her husband, Tom Douyard, have a binder full of favorite recipes
“When it came up for sale, I knew I had to buy it,” she said. “Even though interest rates were 16 or 18 percent, I didn’t care.”
Since then, she’s done her best to honor the historical integrity of the house along with its outbuildings, including a smokehouse, on the 7-acre property. When a huge oak tree crashed onto the guest home next door during the April 2011 tornadoes, Bukacek rebuilt the house to look exactly the same from the outside, minus the chimney.
She and her husband, Tom Douyard, have also shared the house and surrounding property with family and friends. “I’ve lost track of how many weddings we’ve had here,” Bukacek said, adding that another one is scheduled for October. “Several of my students have gotten married here,” said the retired art teacher. “I added a gazebo for my best friend’s son’s wedding.”
Family treasure
Walking into the house, which is on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, is in many ways like walking into a time capsule. Bukacek has saved, restored and repurposed relics from the past to preserve her family’s history. “My father was born in this house in one of the upstairs bedrooms,” she said. “It’s real special.”
To the left of the foyer are twin parlors, both with fireplaces as centerpieces. The second parlor features a china cabinet and a chess table built by her great-grandfather, Alois Bukacek. “He graduated from the University of Prague in woodworking and came through Ellis Island to Chicago,” she said. “They came from Czechoslovakia, trying to start a new life.”
Once in America, her great-grandfather designed and built the interior of Pullman trains. “They had a boy that was sickly, so to keep the baby alive, they moved south,” she said, adding that they settled in Riverside because they had friends nearby. “That’s how I got here.”
Her grandfather was Riverside’s postmaster, and the old post office counter separates the den from the kitchen
Although Bukacek never lived in the family home as a child – she grew up in a house at the end of the street – she spent a lot of time in it. Most of it, anyway. “I was such a tomboy, I wasn’t allowed in this part of the house,” she said of the parlors. “Once I bought it back, I came in here and just romped and ran around.”
When Bukacek’s great-grandparents passed away, the house went to her three great-uncles: Jerry, Emil and Frank. “Uncle Frank was dropped on his head when he was on the boat, so he wasn’t quite right,” she said. Bukacek named a metal scarecrow that graces the side yard Frank after her great-uncle, and he’s blamed for anything that goes wrong, she said with a laugh. “If there’s a leak in the bathroom, we say, ‘Frank did it.’”
The great-uncles added a den, dining room and kitchen, and they also made the front porch smaller. “It used to go all the way across the front of the house, but they said it was too much to sweep,” she said. “Doesn’t that sound just like a bunch of old bachelors?”
The den wall is home to a large collection of family photos, which surround the original map of Riverside that’s dated 1883. “My granddaddy was the postmaster,” she said. The old post office counter, complete with a Money Order sign hanging over the window and 14 mailboxes, separates the den from the kitchen.
A ball point pen is still attached to the counter with a chain, and a sign reads, “The ball point pens placed on this desk for your convenience are the property of the U.S. Post Office Department. Penalty for theft is $500 fine and/or one year in prison.”
“The pen’s still there,” Bukacek said with a laugh. “I’m not going to prison for a ball point pen.”
Dream kitchen
When Bukaceck renovated the kitchen in 2013, she married the old with the new. She kept the cast iron sink that’s original to the home but painted the cabinet blue to match the La Cornue stove that’s both gas and electric. “I ordered it from France; I’m crazy,” she said. “But it was my dream kitchen. I made everything on my wish list come true except I wanted a built-in coffee pot. I didn’t get that.”
Ceiling tins are framed by old wood she found in the barn, and an old “Riverside” sign that’s original to the train depot hangs over the windows. An antique scale that once hung in the post office now has a place of honor in the room.
The element that makes the room unique, however, comes in the form of 50 hand-painted and glazed tiles that Bukacek created, depicting places and details found on the property. The first tile she painted, the brick steps and entrance to the yard, took seven hours to complete.
“I thought, ‘I can’t spend seven hours on each tile,’ so we came to the word, ‘simplify,’” she said. There are tiles illustrating a weather vane, the boat house, the original guesthouse as well as the new one, and the gazebo.
The two-story boathouse is represented, along with an image of a sign that says, “The ‘Douyard Doc,’ ” a nod to Douyard’s career as a dentist. There’s a tile with two wagon wheels and one representing the old Buggy Barn she wasn’t able to save.
The walls are covered with artifacts of local history
Perhaps one of the most special tiles, though, is a painting of a swing that’s just steps away from the back door and reminds Bukacek of her great-grandmother. “That’s where she’d shell her peas,” Bukacek said. “My great-granddaddy put it in for her.”
When Bukacek bought the house back, she discovered the poles and the swing were still there, although they were hidden by decades of overgrowth. “It took me years to finally get the guts to start whacking away at it, but I’m so glad I did.”
That’s the kind of history Bukacek worried was gone forever when the house sold after her great-uncles died. “I was in college, my sister was in high school, and nobody else wanted it,” she said. “I wanted it all my life.”
The new owner operated a tea room for a while, and the home was also used as a recording studio, Bukacek said. “She also put in central air and heat, and I was glad about that. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it.”
Not just a house
Maintaining the home and restoring the property is a full-time job, especially when you consider all the structures and outbuildings. There’s a blacksmith shop and a washhouse where the clothes and vegetables were cleaned. “There’s a two-seater outhouse and a wine cellar is under the greenhouse,” she said.
Her great-uncles made wine, and the arbors still stand in the backyard. She and Douyard also built the “BBQ Shed,” a gazebo that houses all of the grills and smokers. “It was supposed to be a little lean-to, and then she got involved,” Douyard said and laughed. “I just love all the projects we do all the time.”
One project was building a little walkway to a fish pond where Douyard loves to sit. “All the bricks came from the old seawall when it collapsed,” she said. Another pathway leading to the guest cottage was made from bricks she salvaged from the chimney after the house was destroyed during the storm.
Bukacek now operates the guest house, where her Aunt Mary once lived, as an Airbnb, but she taught art lessons there for a while. Bukacek’s career as an art teacher included a stint in a Jefferson County school , 17 and a half years at St. Clair County High School in Odenville and nine and a half years at Pell City High School before she retired.
The cottage, as well as the main house, is filled with her artwork. “This is 18 years work of charcoals,” she said of a series of framed still lifes. “Every year I would teach charcoal and pen and ink, and I made one each time.”
The framed images hang over a console table she made that features tile and a mosaic pattern created from “20 years of broken dishes.” A silkscreen print that was once displayed at the Birmingham Museum of Art, is on the wall by the front door.
She’s also repurposed things she’s found in the outbuildings or salvaged from the original guest house. Two old doors became a headboard in one of the cottage’s bedrooms while old shutters hang behind the bed in another. A piece taken from an antique armoire hangs over a cast iron bathtub in the guest bath. “As an art teacher, I decorate with everything,” she said. “Sometimes, I wish I could stop thinking.”
Some of Douyard’s favorite art pieces of Bukacek’s are the ones hanging in the downstairs bathroom of the main house. “Every year for Valentine’s Day, she makes me a heart,” he said. On one, she cross-stitched the names of the many places they’ve visited together. There are hearts made from feathers, painted bottle caps, buttons and dried flowers. There’s a heart made from antique keys, one made from Easter Egg shells, and one that features dried clovers.
Another heart is filled with lipstick kisses, and the surrounding mat board is made from the foil wrappers from Hershey Kisses. “I really made the sacrifice for that one,” she joked.
Landscape art
Although visitors to Bukacek and Douyard’s home could spend hours looking at all of the architectural details, furniture, photos and artwork inside the house, the view from the front porch is a work of art, as well.
The 700 feet of waterfront, right near the historic Riverside Railroad Bridge, offers breathtaking views and a peaceful calm that that can soothe the soul of anyone fortunate enough to visit. There have been many celebrations down by the water, where Bukacek has spent so much of her life, but when she takes in the view, the scenes she sees are from years past.
“That slough over there is where we’d fly kites,” she said, pointing from her front yard. “And I’ve climbed every tree around here.”
It’s those kinds of memories that make her grateful for the opportunity to be the caretaker of her family’s house. “It’s home,” she said. “It’s home.”
See more photos after the recipes!
Soda Cracker Pie
Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
16 soda crackers, crumbled
1 cup chopped pecans
1 jar pineapple preserves (You may use apricot)
2 cartons whipping cream
1 package frozen coconut
Directions:
Beat egg whites, adding sugar, cream of tartar, and vanilla. Beat until thick. Fold in crumbled crackers and pecans. Spread into buttered 9×13 pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool. Spread with preserves, top with whipping cream (follow the directions on the carton and use their hints for the whipping cream). Sprinkle coconut on top and chill overnight.
Granny Nelson’s Beans and Peas
Ingredients:
1 can English peas, drained (She uses LeSueur Very Young Small Sweet Peas)
1 can lima beans, drained
1 can French cut green beans, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 small, grated onion
2 hardboiled eggs, slightly chopped
1 can French fried onion rings
Directions:
Mix first nine ingredients together and put in a buttered casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until bubbly.
Five Cup Salad
Ingredients:
1 cup orange juice
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup grated sharp cheese
1 cup Pet milk
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained well
1 3-ounce package lime Jell-O
Directions:
Bring orange juice to a boil, then add Jell-O, stirring until it is dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients. Pour into a slightly greased mold or casserole dish. Put in refrigerator to set.
Compiled by Paul South and Graham Hadley Submitted Photos
For many lake lovers, whether on Logan Martin, Neely Henry, or anywhere along the beautiful Coosa River, December’s visions of sugarplums melt away in January, replaced by dreams of new boats – crafts that will be a surefire cure for the summertime blues.
Think pontoons or tritoons, ski boats, surf boats or kayaks. The first frost of the season draws more than a few folks into showrooms to check out the newest offerings. Consumer confidence is on the rise.
“We sold four boats yesterday,” Rambo Marine General Sales Manager Grant Stinson said in a phone interview shortly after Thanksgiving.
Optimism, it seems, like lake levels in summer, is high at boat dealerships up and down the river and its popular lakes and streams.
The Sunchaser Calais 23
Available at University Marine at Pine Harbor, the new boats will feature the Honda 350 eight cylinder engine.
The pontoons are a celebration of quality and comfort. The Calais, according to the company, is “the crown jewel” of the Sunchaser fleet.
Featuring a lavish interior that includes four wrap-around couches a power bimini top, as well as theX-Treme PR25 Third Tube performance package that ensures smooth navigation even at breathtaking speeds, the Calais can seat up to 12 passengers.
The Calais also includes platform lighting, an executive console with cooler storage anda WetSounds MC 2 music system that is Bluetooth/USB/satellite-radio ready. Colors include a white panel with black or blue stripe, or a Carbon panel with black stripe.
The Sunchaser Lucerne
Billed as a pontoon that delivers style, functionality and exceptional value, the Lucerne is sleek and durable and comes in eight exterior colors. The entry-level Lucerne has a 50-horsepower motor.
Options include a luxury package that offers a power bimini top, Helix 5 in-dash GPS, high-back helm chairs, interior mood lighting and other features.
Sunchaser offers a variety of pontoon choices for first time buyers on a budget, or boaters who are looking for a luxury experience. That’s what makes these boats special, said University Marine manager Ricky Ganey.
Visit University Marine at www.pineharbormarina.com
Starcraft RX Series
Rodney Humphries, owner of Rodney’s Marine in Pell City, is a veteran of the boat business, working at marine businesses since he was 13. And he’s just as excited today as he was then.
Listen to him talk about the new Starcraft RX Series tritoon boat, a craft that combines plush features, elegance, durability and high performance.
“It’s a new styling. It’s got fiberglasss railing. The design of it is different from their traditional pontoon.”
Depending on options, the boat sells for $80,000 to $120,000 – and the Starcraft traditionally offers seemingly limitless options.
Visit Rodney’s Marine at rodneysmarine.com
Savannah Center Console
Center-console fishing boats continue to grow in popularity. The Savannah line for sale from Rodney’s is no exception. And Savannah keeps stepping up the game for 2025.
Dive into the world of hybrid-bay boats with Savannah Boat Works’ Hybrid Inshore Series. Designed for fishing and family outings, these boats offer the perfect balance of agility and performance. With luxurious features, efficient layout, and unmatched versatility, Savannah boats ensure a comfortable and exhilarating experience on the water, whether you’re chasing fish or enjoying leisure time with your loved ones.
Your Hybrid Inshore model is ready for a quiet early morning fishing followed by rallying the family for an afternoon anchored off a lake island. At 2500 pounds, they’re easy to tow over the road, will pull a tube or a skier, and float in just over a foot of water.
Nucanoe Kayaks
Allen Norris and his wife, Jessica, moved their kayak shop from Shelby County to Cropwell in 2024, recognizing that kayaking is increasingly popular on the Coosa, which is part of the Alabama 650 paddleboat racecourse.
The Nucanoe Unlimited Kayak is a hot property for 2025. At more than 12 feet long, this boat is, as the name suggests, a new design in kayaking. A sturdy craft, it can hold up to 650 pounds and up to three people and offers a great experience for hunters, anglers and kayakers.
The craft sits high on the water and has 360-degree seating. Sold in a variety of colors and crafted in one-piece durable plastic – no seams or weak areas here. A second 360-degree seat can be added, as well as a bench seat, perfect for pets.
A second kayak, the Nucanoe Flint, is also worth a look in 2025. Like the Unlimited, it’s fully customizable, but is better suited to creeks than big water, Norris said.
Visit The Yak Shak at 2705 Martin Street South or online at theyakshak.com.
Avalon Quad Lounger Shift
At Poor House Branch Marina, the buzz words are Avalon and Tahoe — for Avalon & Tahoe Manufacturing, makers of the 2025 Quad Lounger Shift. The Quad Lounger gives boaters a “retro feel” and boasts “luxurious design and a spacious sundeck,” according to the company website.
The boat includes a push-button switchback seating system, a tapered front deck and an expanded rear deck. It offers a 10-year bow to stern warranty and a lifetime structural warranty.
Tritoons like the Quad Lounger offer a smoother ride, according to Poor House owner Dina Chappell.
Avalon Catalina VRL
A second hot boat that was especially big in 2024 was the Catalina VRL for Versatile Rear Lounger, a “bed boat.” The Versatile Rear Lounger features both a port and starboard bow bench. The aft features a seating area that converts into an oversized lounge area perfect for the sun worshippers of the family. Also, the seat can move back and forth so the occupants can face either the bow of the boat or aft.
Poor House Branch also offers a variety of accessories – lifejackets, floats, mats, noodles and more are available.
“We have a shop that has everything you need for a fun day on the water,” Chappell said.
Bennington M Series
The boat that has folks stoked at Woods Surfside is Bennington’s new M Series. The company trumpets it as “a modern expression of style” in the pontoon boat fleet. The series comes in three lengths, 22, 24 and 26 feet and in a variety of colors.
The boat cuts an elegant figure on the water, and includes a newly designed digital display system, Rockford Fosgate Audio and state of the art vessel control.
A sleek, new interior and exterior design, makes the boat “look fast standing still,” said Surfside’s Mark Hildebrant.
Check out Woods Surfside Marina, one of Bennington’s top dealers in the U.S., at www.woodssurfside.com or visit at 37 Marina Drive in Cropwell.
MasterCraft X Series
At Skier’s Marine in Westover, Jeremy Talbot is fired up about the MasterCraft X Series surf boat. Redesigned for 2025, the boat has more ballast capability, a newly-designed sound system, a mix of comfort and performance for all watersports. “it’s a really awesome boat,” he said.
MasterCraft has also revealed new colors for 2025, including the elegant magnetic blue that makes a statement on the water.
“This boat will check all the boxes, handle all the watersports and provide all the comfort that the family needs,” he said.
Harris Pontoons
Skiers is now the area dealer for Harris Pontoons. At January’s Birmingham Boat Show, the dealership will feature Harris’ two top-of-the-line boats, the Crowne and The Grand Mariner. In all, Skiers Marine will feature 32 boats at the show.
Skiers features a pro shop in the dealership with everything from towables, surfboards, innertubes, wakeboards, skis and lifejackets.
Visit Skiers at10171 Highway 280, Westover, AL 35147 or at skiersmarine.com
Barletta Luso
Designed with you and your on-water experience in mind, the Barletta Lusso models offer something for everyone. A classic and stylish rail-set, ultra-soft and ultra-comfortable furniture, a sleek helm loaded with technology and leg-room, pet-friendly amenities…the list goes on and on. Take a look and see why the Barletta L-Class pontoon boat just might be the perfect choice for you and your family.
Barletta Boats redefines luxury pontooning with its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design. Born from a passion for boating, Barletta prides itself on creating pontoons that blend style, comfort, and performance seamlessly. Each Barletta boat is meticulously crafted with premium materials and cutting-edge technology, ensuring durability and reliability on the water. From spacious lounging areas to state-of-the-art entertainment systems, every detail is thoughtfully curated to enhance the boating experience.
Check out the Barletta line at Rambo Marine on U.S. 280 or visit online www.rambomarine.com.
Yamaha FSH
Yamaha is leaning hard into the center-console boat lines, specializing in their FSH jet boat series, which you can find at Rambo Marine.
Yamaha’s Center Console series epitomizes the flexibility of Jet Boats, whether you’re fishing at dawn, enjoying tubing with the kids in the afternoon, or cruising to your favorite on-water dining spot at sunset. Available in 19-foot, 22-foot, and 25-foot configurations with single or dual engines.
Yamaha’s Helm Master EX and joystick control deliver seamless, precise low-speed maneuvering. With Helm Master EX, drivers can effortlessly command boat movements—forward, reverse, lateral shifts and rotations — all controlled with just one hand on the joystick.
America’s longest paddle race navigates Neely Henry, Logan Martin en route to finish
In the quiet of a Saturday evening and Sunday morning in September on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes, you just might have heard the sound of a boat paddle slapping the water in staccato precision, propelling the paddler toward the finish line.
It would be a week before the first of the group reached that goal as they made their way across lakes, rivers and creeks on a 650-mile trek that takes stamina, will and determination. Lots of determination.
First to arrive at Logan Martin portage near the dam
It’s America’s longest paddle race, and it’s right here in Alabama – along the state’s Scenic River Trail. It began at Weiss Lake near the border with Georgia and ended in the Alabama Gulf at Fort Morgan as the final racer crossed the finish line Oct. 1.
The first leg of the race took paddlers through Gadsden and Neely Henry, arriving there during the night of the first day. The next morning residents up and down the shores of Logan Martin caught glimpses of paddlers all day long as they headed to the portage at Logan Martin Dam.
Watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Gadsden
One of the first to pass through the local area was Trey Reaves, who went on to win the race in seven days, three hours and 20 minutes. The first-place finish was familiar territory to Reaves. He was Alabama 650’s first back-to-back solo winner.
Also coming in quickly at Logan Martin’s portage was Lindsey Tilton, the first female to complete the course exclusively on a paddleboard. She finished in 9 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes.
To underscore the grueling challenge of the race, only 47 percent actually finish. At the end this year, there were only 10 claiming that achievement. l
Editor’s Note: The Great Alabama 650 is part of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a network of more than 6,500 miles of river trails throughout Alabama, spanning from mountain streams and whitewater rapids in North Alabama to the river deltas in the South. It is one of the most diverse in the country. For more, go to: ASRT.me.
Lindsey Tilton in historic paddle board finish at Fort Morgan
