Most damage should be visible on close inspection. The two areas that may not be easy to see are water in your fuel tank and water in the hydraulic reservoir of either your power steering or boat lift.  If you suspect (or know) that you have water in your hydraulic reservoir, don’t use the equipment except for emergencies.   Water in the hydraulic fluid can cause severe damage to the unit.

The Columbia County Sheriff reports that Swan Lake, the Fox River, and the Wisconsin river from the Hwy 33 bridge in Portage down to Lake Wisconsin are all posted as “slow no wake”, also. Lake Wisconsin and the river below the Prairie du Sac dam are not restricted.

Just because a lake isn’t posted does not mean that there isn’t reason to play it safe. The lakes are high and clouded/muddy. This can hide a number of hazards including stumps, sandbars (submerged islands), and floating debris. While conditions are out of the ordinary, take extra care out on the water.

Using some of the tools available through Google, we’ve converted the data into maps that can be viewed online, and into map overlays that you can view in Google Earth. If you have Google Earth Plus, you can even transfer our maps directly to your GPS unit. Take our knowledge with you when you go out on the lake!

The first two of our maps are already posted–both online and for download. As we have more time and more data, we’ll create more maps to share.

Put in your 2¢ worth

Boaters are a community, and that means communication goes both ways. So we’re anxious to hear from you. If you have more information to share, found some mistakes in the maps, or have things to add, let us know. We’ll make the appropriate changes to the maps and they’ll be included in the next updates.

One of the great features of the Google map tools is the ability to add comments. If you know something about one of the points on a map and you think everyone should know about it, tell us. We’ll include it in the next update.

Or… if you’re a Google Earth user and you want to create an overlay of your own, send it to us. If we think it’s appropriate to share, we’ll add it to our list. Do you have some good fishing spots to share? Do you know where there are some fun places for SCUBA diving on the area lakes? Are there some hazards that people should know about? Have you found the perfect spots for eagle watching on the Wisconsin River? Send us the maps!

E-mail your comments, corrections, or new maps to admin@manke.com

Sorta.

Thursday Morning, Neil Manke was working with his crew installing docks for a condo association on Lake Delton; normal work for a spring morning. That’s where “normal” ends and “lucky” takes over. The crew for Johnny Depp’s latest movie, “Public Enemies” was on their way to the set in Mirror Lake State Park when they took a wrong turn. That turn took them down near Lake Delton. One of the movie crew members, who just happens to have a fascination with knuckle cranes, saw our barge and got a flash of inspiration. The greensman, sitting next to him, dialed our number (it’s written on the crane), to ask if we’d be willing to help work on a movie. That night. All night long.

The answer, of course, was “yes”.

So, at 3:00 that afternoon, Neil, Blaze, and the big barge reported for duty.

Working on a movie set may sound glamorous, but it’s actually work. And waiting. With so many crews working in a small space, it’s important to know when to do the job and when to step out of the way and let others do their jobs. Our job was to transport three 18-foot red pine logs back to the area where they’d be doing the shoot. The “set” was a narrow, wooded path along Mirror Lake. Originally, the crew had been planning on hauling the logs down the hill and into place by hand. Each of these logs were estimated to be about 1500 to 2000 pounds. That’s a ton of lumber to carry down a hill, through trees, on soft ground.

Instead, a sky track was used to load the logs onto the barge at the boat landing. From there it was a 2 minute slow ride down to the set location. Under the direction of the greensman, Pedro, the greens coordinator, Jeff, and two arborists from H&H Arborists, we lifted the logs into place so that they could be rigged and secured. What would have taken a dozen hands and hours of back-breaking work, we were able to accomplish in just a few minutes. This allowed the crew time to work on the dozens of other projects involved in preparing for the shoot.

That time turned out to be extremely valuable to them. Construction work continued while the director, Michael Mann, walked through set, talking with assistant directors, special effects crews, and a multitude of others. Somewhere after 9:00pm, the cast showed up. Johnny Depp, Christian Stolte, and Stephen Lang started preparing for their night of shooting. Platforms were still being built while the film was being shot. The crews would go quite for the minute while the cameras were running, then would get right back to work while the shot was reset.

This is where the waiting came in for the Manke crew. From the time the last tree was positioned, around 6:00pm, until the shoot ended at 4:00am, we were on stand-by. This afforded us the opportunity to watch the action–both on-set and off. 8 pontoon boats from a local rental company ferried crew members and equipment back and forth from the boat landing. Two more were set up as floating lighting platforms. About 2 dozen grips and FX crew worked in one area while a similar-sized group of assistants and camera crews worked in another. The stars mingled among both locations, waiting until it was time for them to do their job.

Because of the way the schedule worked out, we weren’t able to meet any of the stars, but we did have the chance to hand out a few thank-yous. So… when you’re standing in the check-out line looking at the covers of the tabloids, if you happen to see a photo of Johnny Depp wearing a blue workshirt with the Manke Enterprises logo on it, don’t worry. He earned it.

To see all the photos of the process, look in our gallery. ( Sorry:  no photos of the cast.  We weren’t given permission.)

Spring time is filled with unpredictable weather–especially storms.  Without a boat to hold it down, a boat lift canopy becomes a giant kite.  One good gust of wind, and it can be tossed around violently.    The risk of this happening is why we’ve created a policy of not installing canopies until the boat is ready.   This small delay can save you hundreds of dollars in retrieval and repair cost.

You can read it here.

It’s been a difficult spring to be a lake-front homeowner.

We understand that. And we are–and have been–working to overcome the obstacles that Mother Nature has thrown our way so that you can be out on the water as soon as possible. Unlike some other companies who wait until the lakes are clear, our crews have been out on the water since the first week of April. Wherever the water was open and safe, we were putting in docks and lifts. Our crews are working 7 days a week to make up for the long winter so that your summer can come sooner. About half of our customers–including the UW Crew Team–are already in the water and enjoying the lakes.

You shouldn’t have to wait to enjoy the lake. If you’re our customer, we’re doing everything we can to make sure you don’t have to wait.

When you start looking at accessories, you should take into consideration who will be using the dock, how you’ll be using the dock, and how you can make it fit in with your home. ShoreStation has, perhaps, the largest set of accessories for their docks. All of these accessories are constructed with the same quality and materials as their dock, making them a perfect fit.

Dock Bumpers: If you’re doing any boating at all–or if you have friends who drop by in their boats–you’ll want dock bumpers. They protect your boat, and your dock, and allow you to tie up easily and securely.

Aqua Steps: Getting in and out of the water can be difficult sometimes. Aqua steps make it easy. With sturdy aluminum steps and railings, they make it easy and safe for you to get in and out. The adjustable parallelogram design means that they’re always the right height to fit your dock.

Cedar Bench: No dock is complete without a place to sit back and relax. Almost every manufacturer has a bench in their list of accessories. Usually, they’re made of cedar. This gives you an attractive, weather-resistant bench where you can sit and just enjoy the lake or rest up after a hard day playing. If you have room in your layout, you might want a couple of them so you can turn your dock into an outdoor living room.

Swivel Chair: The fisherman’s favorite. ShoreStation has a great cedar swivel chair that’s just perfect for the dockside fisherman.

Dock Lights: Don’t want the fun to stop when the sun goes down? That’s not a problem at all. Add some lights to your dock. ShoreStation’s Dock Lights have a big, 24″ cover that protects the bulb from the elements and reflects the light for a gentle, indirect glow.

Gear Tower: If you’re using your dock for more than just a way to get to your boat, you’re going to want somewhere to keep your stuff–towels, drinks, toys, sun screen. A gear tower is the perfect way to do it. With ShoreStation’s gear tower, you can even add a dock light to it so you’re able to find your stuff even late at night.

No matter how you design your dock, or how you choose to accessorize it, Manke Enterprises is here to help. We’ll work with you to create a dock that you’ll be able to enjoy for years.

Just click on this link to schedule your spring install.

By filling out the form, you put your information directly into our system. This allows us to schedule you faster and more efficiently. It also means that this fall your information will already be in place. All you need to do is confirm it.

Time’s running out. If you wait too long, you could be left high & dry.