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 

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!

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.

 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. 

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

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 at the Fred Hall Show

The hull is born

Ready for rigging

Don, Dave, Jim and Jeremy brainstorming on dash design

Dash completed!

The twin Honda 250's are mounted

on an Armstrong swim step bracket

First day in the water

Our crew

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!

Cabin built

Armstrong bracket/swim step on

Matthew and Jeremy installing the engines

First sea trial

Olivier's first day on his new boat

-Above, photo credit Mark Lyons-

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

The hull and cabin are bonded together

Jeremy and Don installing the engines

Full dash

Running in the Santa Barbara channel

Sea trial on Millerton Lake

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

#ThisIsRadonCountry

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

New cabin and raising the bow

Craig, Don & Jose doing some "figuring"

Before

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

Cabin extension

Building the back of the cabin

The whole boat sanded and cabin primed

Painting completed

Rick, Johnny, John and Jeremy doing the rigging

At the Santa Barbara launch ramp

In the water again!

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 

Photos from customers, friends, and relatives:

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

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

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

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!

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

 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

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.

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/

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

Photo courtesy of Bev Morgan

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