Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/2107
feature 22 Houseboatmagazine.com also steered Tony to a cabinet maker they work with and he built all the cabinetry for the boat. "We learned a few things in the process." says Bryan. "We would consider doing something like this again," he adds, "especially for one of our customers." Tony designed the interior to be an open layout to accom- modate the way they use the boat. The boat did not have a holding tank and one could have been installed, but Tony felt the best long-term solution was to install an Incinolet Elec- tric Incinerator Toilet. About once a week, he simply empties the ashes it produces. To provide electricity for it while away from the dock, he mounted a 3,000 watt Honda generator on the rear deck. The boat is powered by a 1995, 90hp Evinrude outboard. He also installed an on-demand water heater on the outside of the rear wall of the cabin so showers are always available. Tony says that the heater lets people, "take as many and as long a shower as they want." The cabin has a full galley, a kitchen table, a futon and lounge chairs. A TV-DVD combination unit slides out of a cabinet and swivels so it can be seen from various locations. The graphics on the outside of the boat took two days to install. They have the boat's name, 4J, named for Tony and his three sons, as well as some dolphins that are a major accent feature throughout the boat. Tony's wife, Penny, requested the dolphins and drew up what she wanted for the side graphics. Inside, the playful mammals show up on the pillows, throws and a homemade shawl. They also accent two lamps, a mirror, a lighted stained glass piece and the captain's chair. The other things that catch people's eyes when they look at the boat are the large American flag and two Marine Corps flags that proudly fly from the cabin roof. The entire job was stretched out over four years because there was considerable down time while Tony recuperated from two back surgeries. They were necessitated by injuries he had suffered during his career as a firefighter in Detroit, Mich. But by not rushing things, Tony kept the quality high. The survey states that "The ongoing renovation on this houseboat appears to be excellent, with the workmanship above average. Indeed, this custom boat will be 'new' and will meet new prices for similarly-sized new boats." Shaun says his dad was fortunate to find the people to work with that he did. But he also says the project got done because of his dad's personality and persistence. "He was always asking the people he worked with to tell him what to do," Shaun says. Tony agrees he was fortunate. He was fortunate to have help from a lot of friends and family; he was fortunate that Captain Mike Henry allowed him to work on the boat at his boatyard; and he was fortunate that Sailabration is a family- oriented business that put a lot of "tender loving care" into the project. But most of all, he says he is thankful to Penny. "I couldn't have done it without her." He is so thankful that he says it will be her boat when he gets done. That is a little joke between them because she calls him "The Putzer" because he always has projects going. She knows he will have little jobs that need to be done on the boat for a long time so is well aware that perhaps the boat may never be completely done. "I decided to do it because I knew that when it was done, I would know what I had," he says. What he has is a brand new, fully custom boat. He just doesn't know whether it is Stardust or a Sailabration. Jack Lambert, Tony Joyce and Bryan Lambert came together to celebrate the new "Starabration" houseboat. Joyce, with the help from Sailabration Houseboats successfully rebuilt an old Stardust Cruiser.