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Mitey-Toon pontoon available locally

Published Monday, May 12, 2008

Meet the Mitey-Toon: At 10.5 feet long and 250 pounds, this mini-pontoon is quiet, easy to maneuver, and now it’s for sale in Otter Tail County.

Jim Kleinfelder has been a Mitey-Toon owner since September and the boat’s local dealer since April. A Navy veteran and musician, Kleinfelder sells Mitey-Toons from his home along Wall Lake, part of a business he calls Treasures Enterprise.

“I’ve never considered myself a salesperson,” he said, “but these things pretty much sell themselves — either you like them or you don’t.”

The Mitey-Toon is a two-person watercraft resting on pontoons measuring 10 feet, 7 inches. Manufactured in Duluth, the boat features a 55-pound thrust Minkota electric motor, battery, on-board charger, bimini top, swivel seats and a built-in table with cupholders. A standard model runs at $2,995.

Kleinfelder and his wife first discovered the Mitey-Toon when they were looking for a boat of their own, but couldn’t find anything smaller than 22 feet. After a bit of Internet research, Kleinfelder discovered the Mitey-Toon, and after only a few months of ownership, was approached by a dealer in Alexandria about becoming a dealer himself.

“What I like about (Mitey-Toons) is...they’re small, they’re easy to maneuver,” Kleinfelder said.

“I always say it’s great for the older people who just want to cruise around,” he said, “but the two people who’ve committed to one (so far) are in their 30s.”

Mitey-Toons are also good for hunters, Kleinfelder said, because they’re quiet. The boats run at about seven miles per hour and are available in single or dual battery styles, with an optional solar charger.

Kleinfelder says he also plans to carry lettering kits, anchors and boat lifts, as well as lake rafts by the same company.

Kleinfelder keeps a Mitey-Toon on his front lawn and says many of his customers have been people simply driving by. It’s talking with those people, he says, that’s been the highlight of the job so far.

“This week alone, it’s just been wonderful — the people who stop by,” he said late last week.

More information about the Mitey-Toon and Treasures Enterprise is available by visiting www.treasuresenterprise.com.

Comments

The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.

Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This little rig, and others like it, are becoming more popular as people learn about them. Clean, quiet and easily managed, they are a great way to fish or just take a little swing around the lake with a cooler of beer. Or iced tea.

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