Take a Party Barge on the Lake

Sure, we'd all like to putter around in a jet-powered Hinckley or a mahogany-trimmed Chris-Craft, but once in a while it's nice not to have to worry about scuffing the brightwork or keeping the onboard computer system from crashing. And for times like these there's no greater pleasure than renting a pontoon boat from Oquossoc Marine (207-864-5477) and heading out onto Rangeley Lake for a few hours. Did you bring the family dog along on your vacation?

Not a problem - the two aluminum hulls keep this nineteen-foot boat so steady that even Rover won't lose his footing. Just throttle up the forty-horsepower outboard, head toward Rangeley Lake State Park on the lake's southern shore, and enjoy the views of the western Maine mountains. You'll soon discover why these so-called "party barges" have attracted such a loyal following.