Paddle boat on the lake

The inventor restored a pontoon boat to make a Mississippi-style paddle boat. Photo by Phil Custodio

Local inventor, author, and artist Carl Knaus has a new creation soon to be cruising Lake Van Norman in Independence Township, The Tara Princess, a pontoon boat converted in the style of a Mississippi River paddle boat.
“I wanted to introduce something new,” Knaus said.
Rebuilt from a 25-foot pontoon boat, the Princess is 32 feet long, 10 feet wide, with a 10-by-12 foot dance floor, chandelier, and space for up to 10 people. It is supported by two pontoons and three 100-gallon drums in the middle, and a six-foot paddle wheel driven by a Briggs and Stratton engine for a speed of about 3 mph.
“Mississippi gambling boats go 3-4 mph,” he said. “It’s supposed to go slow.”
He offers the boat, with bedroom with bed and ceramic toilet with a holding tank off a yacht, entertainment with speaker system, food, and captain for $90 per hour, two hour minimum; after two hours, $45/hour.
“You don’t have to do anything but have fun,” Knaus said.
The boat is registered and insured, though passengers would sign a standard liability contract, and equipped with life preservers and fire extinguisher as required by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
“I have designed boats all my life – I’m an artist, self-trained engineer, and inventor,” he said. “I just like inventing and building things. I always have. When I was 9 years old, I had an idea to motorize my Radio Flyer wagon. My dad bought me a lawn mower engine and the next thing you know, I’m going down the sidewalk in a motorized wagon.”
Call him at 248-330-4124.
– Phil Custodio

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