Radon Boats -- Newsletter
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Issue No. 33, Summer/Fall 2014

Compiled & edited by Linda Radon

 

President's Message

 

Since our last newsletter, TWO years ago, we have been REALLY busy!

 

After a couple years of feeling the recession, 2013 was one of our best years ever and 2014 has been awesome! We feel that the economy is getting better and people are willing to invest in the things that enhance their love of the ocean, which of course includes their boat. For all of that we are very thankful.

 

We hope everyone had a great summer!

 

 

 Don Radon

 Don Radon 

 

 

 

Featured Boats

 

26' - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

 

In 2012, Tom Moylan, the Marine Operations Manager at Cal Poly State University, approached us and told us that his department would love to have a Radon Boat for their facility in Avila Beach, but he didn’t think he had the budget to buy one of our boats. We worked with Tom, and between the two of us, we found a way for Cal Poly to get their dream research boat. The experience was really great for us – and we learned a lot about the work that Tom and his staff do on their great big pier in Avila.

 

We are very proud the Cal Poly 26!

 

 Cal Poly SLO Radon 26

 

The new 26' x 8' 6" custom Radon was built for the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences (CCMS). Their facility houses the only marine research laboratory facility between Santa Barbara and Monterey and provides a vital resource for not only CCMS sponsored research but also for researchers and government workers from other institutions and agencies. The CCMS pier provides 2,000 sq. ft. laboratory space, with an overall usable space offshore of 40,000+ sq. ft. for field-based experiments, field-testing of sensors and platforms, educational activities, and small vessels launch for near shore research and collections. The CCMS also owns and operates four small vessels used for near shore research and teaching. The 26 foot Radon allows for more extended offshore research trips. The new boat has twin Suzuki outboards a Flir night vision camera and full Furuno electronics.

 

 Cal Poly SLO Radon 26

 

 

Cal Poly SLO Radon 26

 

 

 Tom Richards & Cal Poly SLO Radon 26

 The boat was named for Tom Richards, retired Professor of marine biology at Cal Poly

 

 

29' - Morro Bay Harbor Patrol, Patrol/Fire/Rescue boat

 

The new Morro Bay custom 29' x 9' Radon is powered by twin Yanmar 350 HP diesels with Konrad 660 dual prop outdrives. The vessel is equipped with a 1000 GPM, 150 PSI fire pump and full Furuno electronics. It has dive/rescue doors on both port and starboard. It has two dewatering pumps for pumping out sinking boats. It also has a stainless steel tow bit, auto directional finder and an AIS system. The boat will be used for search and rescue, assisting and towing disabled vessels, patrolling Estero Bay for boating safety and enforcement, surf rescue, and fire suppression. Morro Bay Harbor and Radon Boat's relationship goes back a long time - Don Radon built Morro Bay their first Radon, a 21' patrol boat, in 1978. The staff at Morro Bay Harbor Dept., including Eric Endersby, Dana Stein, Becca Kelly and Scott Mather, among others, were incredibly easy to work with every step of the way on this project. We feel incredibly lucky to have shared this project with these extremely knowledgeable and dedicated people. 

 

 

Morro Bay 29 Morro Bay 29 Morro Bay 29

 

 Don confers with Eric and Dana while Johnny & Jeremy work on the 29’

 

Morro Bay 29

 

Above is my favorite photo of the Morro Bay boat – it

was taken by Scott Mather, who is an accomplished photographer. 

Scott also took the photos below.

 

Morro Bay 29

 

Morro Bay 29

 

Morro Bay 29

 

Dedication of the Morro Bay 29

Dedication day! All of the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol personnel attended

 

 

The Puglisi family 26’

 

Dave & Jim Puglisi are father and son, and they love to go fishing and boating together. Debbie Puglisi is Dave’s wife and Jim’s mom, and she loves boating too!

 

So when we built their custom 26’ x 8’6” 

Radon, we kept the whole family in mind.

 

Jim & Dave Puglisi with Don Radon

 

   Jim & Dave Puglisi with Don at the Fred Hall Show

 

Publisi 26

The hull is born

 

Puglisi 26

Ready for rigging

 

 

 

           Don, Dave, Jim and Jeremy brainstorming on dash design

Don, Dave, Jim and Jeremy brainstorming on dash design

 

Dash completed!

Dash completed!

 

Twin 250s

The twin Honda 250's are mounted

on an Armstrong swim step bracket

 

Armstrong swim step bracket

 

Puglisi 26

 

First day in the water

First day in the water

 

Puglisi 26

 

Our crew

 

Our crewwinners

 

 

The “Montecito Radon” – Olivier Leclercq’s 26’

 

We built this boat in 2012, but we are very proud of it and thought we would include it in this newsletter.

 

Mr. LeClercq is French and he LOVES to fish. He went out on Captain Tony Vultaggio's charter boat and during that fishing trip he mentioned to Tony that he wanted to buy a new boat. Tony V. said "you have to buy a Radon – they build them right here in Santa Barbara". And he did ;)

 

Olivier loves bright colors so we made his boat Orange with a silver stripe to match his twin Honda 250's. The boat is also equipped with state of the art electronics, transom dive door and is a full fishing machine!

 

Leclercq 26

Cabin built

 

Armstrong bracket/swim step

 

Armstrong bracket/swim step on

 

Matthew and Jeremy installing the engines

Matthew and Jeremy installing the engines

 

First sea trial

First sea trial

 

Olivier’s first day on his new boat

Olivier's first day on his new boat

 

photo credit Mark Lyons

-Above, photo credit Mark Lyons-

 

Tony V fishing with the Leclercq family

Tony V fishing with the Leclercq family

 

 

Featured boat #5: State of California, Dept. of Parks and Recreation 22’

 

This 22’ has twin Mercruiser Verado outboards. It was built as a lake patrol boat

and ended up at Millerton Lake in Fresno.

This boat was a really fun project!

 

Jeremy and Don spray the hull

Jeremy and Don spray the hull

 

The hull and cabin are bonded together

The hull and cabin are bonded together

 

 

Jeremy and Don installing the engines

Jeremy and Don installing the engines

 

Full dash

Full dash

 

  Running in the Santa Barbara channel

Running in the Santa Barbara channel

 

 Sea trial on Millerton Lake

Sea trial on Millerton Lake

 

A big thanks to Alex Peabody, who was completely
supportive from start to finish with this project!

 

 

#ThisIsRadonCountry

 

#ThisIsRadonCountry

 

#ThisIsRadonCountry

 

Don Radon with the APCD group

 

 

Here is Don with the APCD group – they toured our facility to see how to run a small boatyard efficiently. Don talked to them about how we try to keep our boatyard environmentally acceptable, neat and organized

 

 

RESTORATIONS!

 

Remodel of the decade!

 

Craig Brooker's 30' Wilson commercial boat needed a facelift so
he brought it to us. Here are a few photos showing the transformation.

 

Demo time

Demo time

 

 New cabin and raising the bow

New cabin and raising the bow

 

Craig, Don & Jose doing some “figuring”

Craig, Don & Jose doing some "figuring"

 

Before

Before

 

 

 After: Back in the water and ready for work!

After: Back in the water and ready for work!

 

 

The “Fat Choi”   

 

Mike Malloy and his sons; Chris, Keith & Dan, spruce up their beloved boat

 

Mike Malloy and his sons; Chris, Keith & Dan, spruce up their beloved boat

 

Cabin extension

Cabin extension

 

Building the back of the cabin

Building the back of the cabin

 

The whole boat sanded and cabin primed

The whole boat sanded and cabin primed

 

 Painting completed

Painting completed

 

Rick, Johnny, John and Jeremy doing the rigging

Rick, Johnny, John and Jeremy doing the rigging

 

At the Santa Barbara launch ramp

At the Santa Barbara launch ramp

 

At the Santa Barbara launch ramp

 

In the water again!

In the water again!

 

Mike Malloy going for a boat ride

Mike Malloy going for a boat ride

 

The Malloys are a super nice family.

They certainly understood the process of restoration and we appreciate that.

  

 

Our new 40’ hull 

 

 Radon's new 40’ hull

 

 

Photos from customers, friends, and relatives:

 

 

This is Kirra, Mark Lyons beautiful pup! She loves boat rides!

This is Kirra, Mark Lyons beautiful pup! She loves boat rides!

 

Tom Chung’s 29 Radon as seen through Arch Rock

Tom Chung's 29 Radon as seen through Arch Rock

 

Don & Jeremy at the Santa Barbara launch ramp after a long (fun) day of fishing

Don & Jeremy at the Santa Barbara launch ramp after a long (fun) day of fishing

 

 

The "Easy Money" then - late '60's/early '70's...

The “Easy Money”

And below, with current owner and boat restorer extraordinaire, David Falossi

 

And below, with current owner and boat restorer extraordinaire, David Falossi

David's job by day is sculpting - he makes some fantastic pieces of art!

 

Go to David's website, http://falossistudios.com/, and see his (other) work for yourself!

 

 

Jason Schmidt with bugs!

Jason Schmidt with bugs!

 

 

Don with Matthew McCune and a nice ling cod!

Don with Matthew McCune and a nice ling cod!

 

 

Shop tip:

 

Clean up your fuel system!

 

 A cranky carburetor or a fuel filter that is frequently fouled indicate
problems somewhere in the fuel system. The new blended fuels are causing a lot of problems. The ethanol can separate and/or absorb moisture. If you can find fuel that isn't blended it is less likely to give you problems. Also, there are additives that keep blended fuels from separating as fast. Always use a fuel additive such as Sta-bil when your boat is not going to be used often. Also, always run the fuel through a water separating fuel filter. If problems persist, and you conclude the problem is somewhere in the boat, suspect the fuel tanks. Debris could have been left inside by the manufacturer (not Radon Boats, of course ;) The tanks could be rusting, delaminating, or corroding. Repair or replace your tank if necessary.

 

 FYI

FYI

 

 Ever wonder where, and by whom your boat was manufactured?
We get this question all of the time!

 

To find out, go to the site below. You will need your registration paperwork.

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1.aspx

 

 

 

Our crew summer picnic and baseball game

 

 Radon picnic

 

 

Radon picnic

 

Radon picnic

 

 

22’ Radon Signature for sale!

 

22’ Radon Signature for sale!

 

New 22' Radon, powered by a Volvo 220 HP diesel, equipped with
full Raymarine electronics, on a heavy duty AB aluminum trailer.
Turn key, ready to go!

 

Call our shop for a demo ride and pricing
(805) 692-2170

 

In Memoriam

 

Velma Radon, Don's mom, sadly passed away since our
last newsletter. Velma, along with Ron Radon, Sr., started
Radon Boats way back in the '60's. Velma and Ron had a life-long love affair and shared every business venture and adventure together. She is very much missed by her family & friends.

 

 

Velma Radon

 

Above: Ron & Velma on a 24’ Radoncraft

Above: Ron & Velma on a 24' Radoncraft, Port Townsend, WA, 1974

 


 

Ron Merker, father of Radon 26' customer Lance Merker passed away this summer.  Ron was a pioneer in the diving industry who taught thousands of SCUBA divers to love the ocean as much as we do. He will be missed by his family and friends. You can read more about Ron here: http://www.dailypilot.com/

 

 Ron Merker circa 1953 with spearfishing world record

Here's a photo of Ron Merker circa 1953 with the spearfishing world record BSB (back when they were legal to catch)

 

 

 

 

Vintage Pic!

24’ Radoncraft in the Santa Barbara Channel circa 1971

 

24' Radoncraft in the Santa Barbara Channel

 

circa 1971

 

Photo courtesy of Bev Morgan

 

 

 

Radon Team is finished for now! See you next time!

 Last Updated 10/27/14