Start off your year just right by upholding your community service resolution. IGY Marinas, the worldwide marina network, presents its community service initiative project, Inspire Giving Through You. The project that will launch with multiple events in various destinations over two dates is set to focus on community-based initiatives where the company operates its marinas. On February 20th, the community outreach events will directly benefit the Caribbean and Latin American communities. The second set of events will take place throughout the United States and The Bahamas on June 11th to improve the communities surrounding IGY Marinas’ corporate offices in Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and New York, New York; as well as its marinas. All hands on deck are encourage to support the efforts from IGY staff, marina associates, boat owners, captains, and crew to take part in this new endeavor.
The program’s objective is threefold: to identify a need area at each marina destination and partner with a nonprofit organization; to coordinate a community-focused event, where IGY associates, customers and partners can make a difference; and to give back to each community. Opportunities will range from animal adoptions to improvement for youth group and elderly organizations, and more. “Guests and boaters come to our marinas to enjoy the destinations, local cultures and attractions,” said IGY Marinas CEO Tom Mukamal. “We have always included community service into our business practices, and now we have an ambitious plan to embark on our 2016 community outreach project to give back to the local destinations in which we live and work.”
February 20th—Caribbean and South America:
Yacht Club at Isle de Sol (St. Maarten)
Yacht Haven Grande (St. Thomas)
Blue Haven Marina (Turks & Caicos)
Marina Cabo San Lucas (Mexico)
Simpson Bay Marina (St. Maarten)
American Yacht Harbor (St. Thomas)
Red Frog Beach Marina (Panama)
Marina Santa Marta (Colombia)
June 11th—United States and The Bahamas:
North Cove Marina (Manhattan, New York)
Marinas at Resorts World Bimini (Bahamas)
Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina (Hamptons, New York)
Newport Yacht Club & Marina (Newport, New Jersey)
Safe and reliable shore power connections are crucial—sometimes all it takes is a quick test to ensure all is well. Hubbell Marine’s new 30A/125V Twist-Lock Circuit Tester is styled and sized like a standard Hubbell Twist-Lock Plug and specifically comfigured to fit all locking receptacles at marinas. Simply plug it into the outlet at the dock and LED back panel immediately identifies if the connections are made correctly and in the right position. The yellow tester is compact and can easily clip onto a tool belt. It’s UL and C-UL listed. MSRP $89; hubbell-marine.com
By Nathalie Gouillou, Southern Exposure, January 2016
Tucked in New Jersey’s Cape May Harbor, South Jersey Marina has easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and ICW, while providing ample protection from Mother Nature’s outbursts. Among the closest marinas to the historic areas of Cape May, its quaint restaurants, beaches and parks, this full service marina—which earned marinalife Best Small Marina 2015—has been serving boaters for more than two decades. Its state of the art floating piers can accommodate vessels up to 150-foot LOA. Dockside services include local weather and fishing reports and the coordination of boat repairs through their sister facility, Canyon Club Resort Marina, also located on Cape May Harbor.
Let the marina’s trained, uniformed dock attendants assist you in tying up and get situated while the operations staff gets you squared away with dinner arrangements, rental cars, historic tours, and more. The marina also offers a shuttle into town to stretch your sea legs in the streets visiting local breweries, playing a round of golf, or relaxing at a spa.
The South Jersey Marina can handle large yachts up to 150 feet.
Serious about fishing, and located within some of the best deep fishing locations on the East Coast, the marina counts among New Jersey’s largest charter and party boat fleet and some exciting tournaments such as the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and the Viking/Ocean Showdown.
Amenities
• 75 slips
• Docking for boats UP to 150′ in length
• 800′ of side-to dockage in a sheltered basin
• Deep vessel access
• Experienced dock attendants
• High-speed in-slip fueling
• 100 amp electric service
• Laundry facility
• In-house concierge
• Taxi service
• Restaurant (breakfast/lunch)
Contact:
South Jersey Marina
1231 Route 109
Cape May, NJ 08204 southjerseymarina.com
The story behind the creation of Adventure Us II is a great illustration of Hargrave’s custom prowess and their dedication to clients. Perhaps most notable in the exterior is the yacht’s extended enclosed area on the upper deck—a variation from typical Hargrave Sky Lounge models—which was a request from the owners who wished for a large entertaining area to accommodate all family members, including children and grandchildren. The interior design received thorough input from the owners who had a true vision for their yacht. Throughout the years, Adventure Us II owners had compiled a binder with details of décor, furnishings, wall treatments, tiles and more, influenced by Art Deco, they envisioned for their vessel. The dining salon for example was designed around a glass etching from the 1920s of an elegant Parisian woman, which bright springtime tones of melon, lime and coral became the inspiration for the color pallet carried throughout the yacht. Hargrave craftsmen chose rich black walnut with gold leaf embellishments for the main salon to starboard and its walk-up bar. Forward of the main salon is the galley. With its sweetgum burl cabinetry the galley exudes glamour. Its starboard side also doubles as a side entrance to the staircase to the flybridge and guest area. The on-deck master suite allows for lots of natural light and has three large closets, including a walk-in closet, a hat, purse and accessories closet. The master bath boasts grey emperador marble and warm deep brown wood paneling, continuing with the Art Deco theme. The lower deck three guest staterooms were designed with certain family members in mind. The port stateroom has youthful colors of coral rose, peach and hot pink with three twin beds. The starboard stateroom has a full walk-around queen size bed with a more masculine tone of plaid rusts and honey. The captain and crew quarters are spacious and boast the same delicate finishes as the rest of the boat.
Jerry Cash, 31, an Iraq war veteran, took over as marina manager at The Boathouse at Harbor Club in Greensboro, Georgia. Thankful for the opportunity the marine industry offered him upon his return from Iraq, Cash works tirelessly to get the new marina up and running with principles that were instilled into him during his time in the military—strive for the best and get the job done, no matter what.
SB: Tell me about what you’re doing now. JC: What I’m trying to implement is an all-inclusive dry storage facility and marina, where customers can come and not have to worry about service, maintenance or anything in regards with their boat. I want them to come out, call in their boat, leave, go out, enjoy their day, then come back and drop it off. So that’s something that I’m pushing to do, such as getting a mechanic on hand . . . that’s one of my main goals here at the Boathouse.
This is a new marina; they completed construction last year. I believe it used to be like a campsite from what I heard, and a hangout spot for a lot of old timers. The restaurant was redone, gas pumps were added and the dry storage was built. But when I came on board in August, nothing really had been implemented [as far as logistics and the creation of the all-inclusive facility]. We don’t have a [forklift] so I had a special trailer made, where we can move the boat from dry storage to the water. It’s actually safer believe it or not because you’re not traveling with the boat on the forklift, it’s sitting on the trailer. I got the idea from one of the other facilities I worked at, so I kind of took some dimensions and had it made for me.
The Boathouse at The Harbor Club in Greensboro, GA.
SB: How important is it for you to be able to implement that kind of all-inclusive service? JC: That’s what boating is all about, your only concern should be getting here and to the boat, you shouldn’t have to worry about scheduling maintenance or details such as shrink wrap. . . . I just want to be a full service where customers just show up and get on the boat. I think it’s important to shoot for, customers are paying for storage and other amenities, so I want that to be the main focus of this marina.
I’m in the process of working out the maintenance, of determining whether I’m going to work something out with the local maintenance shop, where the customer can let me or one of my guys know that their boat needs to be serviced, or have someone on hand, maybe someone who’s versatile and can help dock the boats and do maintenance work . . . but shrink wrap and anything else to get the boat ready for winter, that’s something I can handle.
SB: What do you like most about your job? JC: I like dealing with the customers, I like seeing them have fun while they’re out there. And at a marina, day-to-day operations are never the same, so it’s always a surprise coming in. New issues pop up. It never gets boring. There’s always something new to look forward to.
One of the boat lift at The Boathouse at The Harbor Club.
SB: Tell us about your background, where you’re from. JC: I was born in Gardena, California, and I was raised in South East Los Angeles. After high school I joined the army and spent three years in service including a tour in Iraq. I was in Iraq from ’05 to ’06. I got back from Iraq in April and then got out at the end of that month. I was stationed in Fort Stewart, right outside of Savannah, Georgia. I had some family members, who moved from California to Woodstock, and I like Georgia, the slow pace, a lot slower than California and less expensive, so I just decided to stay out here.
SB: Is there anything you’ve learned while you were in the military that you still use in your day-to-day activities? JC: Getting the job done. In the military if you’re handed an assignment it is your obligation to complete it, and I think that carries well to your work life. You start out with an idea and you pursue it until you get it done, just get the job done, see the task through. I think that’s one of the biggest things I took from the military. In the military you have to finish, you don’t have an option. Today for example I have a job, I know I could stretch out [my task] but that’s not part of me, so I get the job done, whatever it is.
SB: Did you grow up with a passion for the ocean, fishing, boating? How did that come about? JC: Believe it or not I just kind of fell into it. I do have a degree in Information Technology, but when I got out of the military I was just job hunting and I started off part time at Little River Marina [in Lake Allatoona, Georgia] and just moved up the chain from there. Prior to that I had actually no experience with boats at all; I’d never been on a boat. Little River Marina offered me a part time position so I took it. At the time I had just gotten married so I needed an income. I started part time there, and I was doing construction. Eventually I was offered full time. I was there for about eight years. Before I left I got promoted to assistant manager, but prior to that I was operations manager.
SB: When was the first time you went on a boat? JC: It was a few years when I was in Little River until I was able to take out a rental. It was a pontoon, a Harris float boat. I went out a little bit with one of the older guys who lived in the apartment complex I lived in. We did a little fishing with no luck; we didn’t catch anything, but it was a blast for the first time.
SB: Do you go boating more often now? JC: Believe it or not, I don’t get out on the lake as much, but my experience with boats is plentiful, I tow boats daily, drive… I can drive just about any boats. I don’t get out as much as you would think working at a marina. I spend most of my time helping out customers making sure things are the way there’re supposed to be at the marina. Making sure people are having a good time on their boat, that’s my purpose.
SB: Would you want to own a boat? JC: I do, definitely. Just a little 20-foot bowrider would be perfect for me and my little family; I have a 4-year-old daughter.
SB: Where do you see yourself in a few years from now? JC: The marine industry has treated me pretty well, and I’ve developed a knack for it, so I think I will continue. I don’t know which avenue in the marine industry I’d like to pursue next, but I can definitely see myself sticking with it.
By Nathalie Gouillou, Southern Exposure, December 2015
Adventure Medical Kits’ Marine Series offers a range of kits to meet the needs of all boating enthusiasts. With 10 kits, this series covers from the casual rowboat to the vessel with a large crew headed to sea for extended periods. Every waterproof kit features the Easy Access Pocket System, a patented system that makes first aid kits faster and easier to use. Just open the kit, fold out the clearly labeled pockets and open the one you need. The kit comes with treatment instructions within each injury compartment. MSRP from $24 for a basic kit to $799 for large comprehensive kits; adventuremedicalkits.com
Located in the heart of Brooklyn Bridge Park between Piers 4 & 5, ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina, the newest marina in New York City, New York, is under construction with new docks being anchored and a state-of-the-art wave attenuation system now in place. Construction is set for a fall completion and a grand opening anticipated for spring 2016.
The marina will accommodate boats from 16′ to 250′ for seasonal docking, a sail club and school, and a members-only harbor club.
The new marina will be the first to be built in New York Harbor in 20 years. Arthur Tay, chairman of the SUTL Group, is the visionary behind the ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina brand, whose expertise and experience earned ONE°15 Marina Club Singapore the title of Best Marina and Yacht Club in Asia in 2009 and again from 2012 to 2014. “Boating and the water have long been passions of mine, and I recognized an opportunity in Singapore to bring the water and that lifestyle to a wider audience,” said Tay. “As we looked to expand the brand into international destinations we identified the perfect opportunity in Brooklyn, with the vibrant, lush public spaces of Brooklyn Bridge Park, Manhattan skyline backdrop and open water. Boaters and water enthusiasts from around the corner and around the world will feel at home at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina.”
The marina will bring a state-of-the-art wave attenuation from a 17-foot-wide Marinetek concrete breakwater to New York’s busy waterfront. The marina will use 40 percent translucent decking materials to support the New York Harbor’s goal to reestablish a habitat for prey fish. With onsite amenities, concierge and top-notch security measures, the marina will offer 102 slips/berths.
Amenities:
• 102 slips/berths
• Docking for boats 16′ to 250′ in length
• Water, marine grade power and wireless internet to every slip
• Vessel maintenance assistance
• Sanitary pump-out facilities
• Concierge
• 24-hour security and gated access
• Dock master office with restrooms and showers
• Community dock
• Kayak spaces, kayaking instructions and small protected beginner basin
• Sail Club
• Sailing School
Contact:
ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina
Pier 5 (end of Joralemon Street) Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn, NY 11201 One15brooklynmarina.com
Grady White’s popular Freedom 275 is getting a makeover for 2016 to offer more room. In addition to extending the helm area on the dual console, a reconfigured deluxe seating for cockpit spaciousness and a new deck design exude a special appeal. Top this with a wider port console entry, a new wet bar set-up, plus refined features (standard and optional) and the Freedom 275 is even more versatile and functional than before.
The anchor locker features a thru-hull chute for easier anchor deployment and a clear deck. The comfortable port and starboard bow box cushions can seat up to six people, while the entry to the lockable port console is wider for easy access—the new bow layout also allows for longer rod storage in the console. The widened helm area adds generous seating space for increased comfort. The standard helm seating—a horizontally and vertically adjustable chair—can be upgraded to a plush cushioned and contoured seat with flip-up bolster. The optional deluxe wet bar now faces inboard and is located just behind the helm seat. This entertainment feature can be equipped with a grill and refrigerator. The aft cockpit working space is enlarged for more room to play, fish or chill, and the restyled ski pylon (optional) that fully recesses into the transom when stored is sure to please tow sport enthusiasts. The Freedom 275 is available in one of five hull gel coat colors or two paint colors.
Specifications: LOA: 27′
Beam: 8′ 6″
Draft: 20″
Displacement (w/out engine): 4,972 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 184/20 U.S. gals.
Top Speed: approx. 50 mph (depending on engine package and accessories)
Cruising range: approx. 350 nm
MSRP: $153,420
Contact:
Grady-White Boats, Inc.
5121 Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy.
Greenville, NC 27834
(252) 752-2111 gradywhite.com
Betty Bauman Founder and CEO of “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!”
Passion, experience and a true understanding of the task at hand spurred the creation of “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!” the brainchild of Betty Bauman.
SB: Tell us about yourself.
BB: I’m a marketing and PR professional, my background includes handling marketing positions in some of the largest boat companies in the industry (Wellcraft, Donzi, AquaSport), and I started on my own about 20 years ago. I was born and raised in western Pennsylvania. I fished as a child. My first marketing positions were in the cosmetics and cookware industry, and I didn’t get back into fishing really until my job at Wellcraft, where they brought me along as the “token” female. That’s how I fell in love with fishing. It started off with dolphin fishing, mahi-mahi, and I fished with some guys from the Pittsburg Steelers in the Arthur Smith tournament [in Palm Beach, Florida], and it was so much fun. I got my own boat and started fishing on my own. I had a Wellcraft V20 Steplift and I was fishing from trial and error because I really didn’t know that there were special techniques, special knots or anything like that.
SB: How did you really get into fishing and the program?
BB: I had pretty much reached the top level I could with the corporation and felt that I wanted to start my own company. So I did, they [the boat companies] became my clients and I was doing some program magazines for some of the big fishing tournaments in Fort Lauderdale. So because of that I got to learn more and more about fishing, and I married my husband who was a tournament winner. He would yell at me, you know in the heat of the moment he would bark out orders, things I needed to do, and to me that was Greek—I didn’t know what he was talking about, what to do with it, and why I had to do it. And by the time you ask those questions, when you’re in a fishing situation it’s too late.
What really spurred [“Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!”] was that as part of my business I went to the ICAST [International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades] show every year. I was at an industry breakfast and the president of the ASA [American Sportfishing Association], Mike Hayden, mentioned that women were a huge part of the potential marketplace that was not properly developed—a light bulb came on. I thought I know why: this sport is intimidating, it’s male-dominated and women don’t understand the terminology. There are a lot of women like me who get frowned upon in situations and are expected to know what to do and they don’t. So my theory was I do marketing, I do events, if we had events where women could learn the theory, have a chance to practice hands-on, and have a chance to go fishing, plus a chance to network, because women like the social aspect to fishing, we could develop more female anglers. I had the business, I had the infrastructure, I was all set up to do it. I approached the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the concept. They embraced it. I knew it was going to be an expensive proposition, we set up a partnership and then they went to the industry and a lot of the large corporation also set up partnerships. That was 1997.
I started with my first event, which was at Marina Bay [Fort Lauderdale, Florida]. I put together all the structures, I knew I was going to need a lot of volunteers and guides to come out of the water to work with these ladies one on one. The response was overwhelming. The first class was sold out with 85 people—as much as the room could fit. This is an immersion program, we totally immerse the ladies and the strategy and the mechanics of fishing and with hands on.
Betty Bauman, founder and CEO of “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!” demonstrating a stand-up technique.
SB: How has the program changed today?
BB: The program then was a success from the get-go. We’ve made some tweaking but when something is a success you stay with that. So for years we kept the same program but we keep improving the logistics, we expanded the options and fundraisers because we know that we need to raise enough capital to keep the program viable.
SB: What does the program entail?
BB: Our main events start out with a Friday evening social so we can recognize the sponsors, and the ladies get a chance to meet the others. Saturday mornings are the sit-down classes, which are very heavily laden with conservation because the best time to learn conservation is when an angler is new and impressionable. And then we serve lunch.
After lunch we have hands-on fishing techniques, for instance, I show stand up fighting techniques. We have tables for knot tying, lure usage, lure rigging, other fishing skills, sometimes we have how to handle the dock lines; they’re all a little bit different. And then we have spin-casting, net-casting, fly-casting, boat-handling trailer, backing, and landing, we have them gaff grapefruits. On Sunday we have the optional charter fishing, we give them choices, sometimes it’s the choice of a drift boat, a sport fishing boat or an inshore boat depending on the area that they’re in—different parts of the states have a different kind of fishing.
SB: What do you love most about what you do?
BB: The most wonderful part of what I do is enabling and empowering women to enter fishing, to give them the excitement, the knowledge, the skills, and give them a sport that they can enjoy with their families and their friends.
SB: What can we expect from you and your organization in the future?
BB: Since then we’ve added some international trips because once they’re out there and fishing they still want to go with a group and find fishing in other parts of the world. We’ve been primarily Florida but we’ve had some wonderful fly fishing seminars in Colorado, we’ve had some private companies that have hired us to do fishing programs with their female clients.
We have recently added the option to invite male guests or teens, to include the whole family—the focus is still on women but some women want to learn with their significant others, so one can remember what the other one forgets. We’re starting a nonprofit foundation. It’s the “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!” Foundation, we wanted to take it nonprofit, even though we’ve technically been nonprofit for years, that enables our donors to donate to a charity, the mission is to provide opportunities and education for women and families to learn fishing and conservation skills.
SB: Have you received any recognition for your work?
BB: I belong to the Florida Outdoors Writers Association, I was recently honored by the Bass Pro Shop Pass it On Award, and I’ve been honored by the American Sportfishing Association as “woman of the year.”
SB: What do you like to fish most?
BB: My favorite is kite fishing for sailfish.
SB: When you’re not fishing what are your other hobbies?
BB: Working! I did horseback riding until I got thrown from my horse and broke my ankle a couple of years ago. I like camping, boating, travel.
SB: Any most memorable moments with “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!”?
BB: It’s exciting to see women from their teens to their 90s attend, all different ages and incomes, but in the room, they’re all equals. We’ve had three generations attend a seminar, grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter.
I get emails from ladies that didn’t know how to fish and pictures of them catching fish in The Bahamas—they do go on and [continue to] participate in the sport. Our sponsors and donors are very important because without them we couldn’t do it. Last year we lost the support of the FWC, which was a potentially huge blow to the program, however, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation came in, Fish for Florida came in, NMMA and the RBFF [Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation] helped us.
SB: How many women have gone through your program?
BB: Eight thousand! That’s a lot considering that it’s hands-on.
SB: What sets you apart from other fishing programs?
BB: It encompasses an entire weekend and it’s all the elements, the social, the hands-on and the classes, and the fishing experience. It’s quite laborious; I don’t know who else is willing to give up their time to do a program like this. I donate a lot of time to it.
SB: If you’d like to add anything, please feel free.
BB: I’d like to mention the conservation and how important the industry organizational support is to the program. We’re very grateful for it and some people have been with us for many years, and they provide products and that allows us to show many more kinds of fishing equipment that we could afford to buy.
Tru-Design Ball Valves from Raritan Engineering can be assembled to a thru-hull, eliminating the need for a bonding system. They are suitable for use on all hull types, aluminum, steel, wood or FRP. Designed for marine applications above and below the waterline, the Tru-Design Ball Valves are IMCI approved to ISO standard 9093-2 (put to the test for leakage when subjected to internal water pressure). The ball valves are offered with or without position monitoring. Position monitoring allows remote monitoring of the ball valve’s position making it easy to know if the valve is opened or closed. The body of the valve is made of a glass-reinforced nylon composite with high tensile strength resulting in a lightweight unit, free from corrosion and electrolysis issues. The valves are also UV resistant. Available in six sizes ranging from 3/4″ to 2″. MRSP $74.80 for the 3/4″; raritaneng.com
Florida-based bay boatbuilder Kevin Barker makes wishes come true for customers and strangers alike. Barker recently teamed up with Make-A-Wish Foundation to supply 17-year-old Dylan Dykens with a custom tower for his 22′ Sea Hunt BX BR. Dykens, who was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in June 2014, is going through chemotherapy treatment at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. A boating and fishing enthusiast, Dykens will now be able to go fishing for redfish, snook and tarpon, as well as participate in fishing tournaments. Meet Kevin Barker.
SB: Tell us a bit about yourself.
KB: I was born in Savannah, Georgia, and grew up on Hilton Head Island just north of Savannah in South Carolina. Barker Boatworks’ first model was named the 26 “Calibogue Bay” because my earliest fishing memory was with my grandfather in Calibogue Cay just west of Hilton Head Island. My first boat was a Boston Whaler when I was 13. My 14-year-old son and I just finished completely renovating his first boat, a 15′ Boston Whaler. I attended Syracuse University on a football scholarship where I played for five years.
SB: Tell us about your involvement with the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and Dylan Dykens. How did it come about? What inspired you to act?
KB: A family friend who is on the Sarasota board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation contacted us about Dylan’s wish. As parents all we want is to keep our kids healthy, safe and do all we can to raise them into becoming good men and women. I can’t imagine what the Dykens went through and are still going through with Dylan. When we were asked to help, I didn’t think twice. To be able to help put a smile on his face was the reason we did it.
SB: What was the process for creating the custom tower and Dylan’s involvement?
KB: When I met Dylan and his dad, Doug, for the first time I knew very quickly that Dylan had a specific design he wanted. During the next couple of meetings he even put together a book with all of the lights, rod holders, footrests, and hardtops he wanted to incorporate in the tower design. He would come to the shop once or twice a week in between treatments to oversee the progress. He even helped out when he could. All I wanted was to build exactly what he wanted, and I think we accomplished that.
SB: How did you get into the boating industry?
KB: I have always had a passion for boating and fishing. In the mid 90s I fished in an average of 15 kingfish tournaments every year in 34 and 36 Yellowfins. I was hired by Yellowfin Yachts to run the inshore division, which I did for 10 years. Until now it was my first and only job in the marine industry.
SB: Tell us about your company.
KB: Our company builds the most innovative bay boat in the industry. We took all the features that customers asks for and incorporated them into the design of our first boat, a 26′ bay boat. We designed the boat to have more offshore capability. We did this by building a boat that has more beam than your typical bay boat and by increasing the freeboard and adding some “Carolina” flair to allow the boat to be much drier than the competition. We designed a console to be able to accept large MFDs (up to 19″) and be completely finished on the inside to be able to accommodate a marine head. We go the extra mile to produce a boat with “yacht quality” fit and finish.
SB: How has your company developed and changed over the years?
KB: Our company is only 16 months old, so we’re still fairly young. We are growing at a fast pace but not so fast that we sacrifice quality. I tell customers, “We may take a little longer but you will definitely be happy with the final product.”
SB: What do you love most about what you do?
KB: I get up every day and talk about our company, boating and fishing. To be able to get up and be excited about getting to work is something not too many people can claim. There is no dollar amount you can put on that. I truly enjoy dealing with the customers. They all have a different view on how they will use their boat. Every customer has different ideas on options, some of which we’ve even adopted and named after them.
SB: What type of boating/fishing do you enjoy personally?
KB: I enjoy boating with my family most, going to our local sandbars and islands, setting up camp, and just hanging for the day. My wife will tell you I sometimes go a little overboard bringing tents, a grill and all the beach toys you would ever need. I love cooking out on the beach after a fun day relaxing with family and friends. Now that our kids are getting older, my wife (Sarah) and I also enjoy going out for dinner on the boat as well. On the fishing side, I still enjoy tournament fishing and try to include my 14-year-old son as much as I can. We recently fished in a couple of kingfish tournaments on the east coast and had a blast. My two daughters also like to fish, so you can call us a fishing family.
SB: Have you been on the water with Dylan?
KB: I have not been out on the water with Dylan yet, but we plan to, soon. I was recently at a party in St. Petersburg, and when he and his family idled up in the boat I cried like a baby!
SB: If there’s anything you’d like to add, please feel free.
KB: I’m so happy that I was able to be a part of making Dylan’s wish come true. There are several other companies that were involved in this project and I would like to personally thank them:
Expanding on their popular Ocean Skiff 27, Ocean Master presents the new Ocean Skiff 296, ideal for a family yet tough enough for the avid fisherman. Whether pulling kids on an inflatable, looking for a great snorkeling spot or simply cruising, the Ocean Skiff 296 has plenty to offer as a semi-custom boat built to your requirements.
Many opt for the convenience of an enclosed head with holding tank, freshwater deck shower and generator, while others require the console to be shortened for smaller helmsmen. Custom hard and soft tops, isinglass enclosures, bolstered seating, padded sundecks, swim platforms, and ladders are just some of the options available to add to the boat’s family-friendly appeal.
The Master Skiff 296 is great for boating with children and pets as the flaring V-hull provides a smooth, comfortable, dry ride, and the high gunnels offer security (especially with bow rails added). The Master Skiff 296 is built to take on grueling conditions as it is overbuilt using full-height stringers glassed into the 20-layer laminated hull, and the inner liner deck is permanently fused to the bottom. The boat can also be rigged with a single outboard for enhanced fuel economy.
Located on the Ortega River in Jacksonville, Florida, Lamb’s Yacht Center began in 1936 and, with the exception of the past 12 years, has been owned and operated by the Lamb family. The marina is now back with the Lambs who are proud to call it their own again. PeggySue Lamb Williams recently re-purchased the marina and is now hard at work along with her three daughters and staff to reawaken the marine center and operate the family-founded marina in the “good old-fashioned way,” she says it was always known for.
Lamb’s Yacht Center offers 242 wet slips accommodating 15-foot to 90-foot boats, transient docking for up to 120-foot, as well as a covered and uncovered storage facility. The marina also provides a full service department boasting a 100 metric ton lift to accommodate haul-out and bottom jobs for all makes and models. Their service department is comprised of skilled painters, experienced mechanical repairmen and repower experts, as well as talented carpenters who can perform repairs both large and small—they can also provide complete refit and refurbishing services including classic and antique boat repair.
Located within the “Jacksonville Marina Mile,” the marine center is among the largest concentration of recreational boating services in the region and is proud to recycle and make an effort to keep waterways clean. Less than five miles from downtown Jacksonville, boaters will find all the additional services for their traveling needs (groceries, restaurants, post office, shops, etc.) within historic Avondale district and its tree-lined streets.
Amenities
• 242 wet slips
• Transient docking for up to 120-foot
• Covered/uncovered storage facility
• 50 Amp/30 Amp/120 V power available
• Two 30 ton hoists/one 40 ton hoist/one 100 ton hoist
• Warranty service center for Yanmar, Cummins and Mercruiser
• Warranty service dealer for Mercury and Evinrude
• Carpentry/paint/fiberglass services
• Concierge service
• Wi-Fi
• Pump-out
• Showers
• Restrooms
• Laundry facility
Contact:
Lamb’s Yacht Center
3376 Lake Shore Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32210
(904) 384-5577 lambsyachtcenter.com
If cruising America’s Great Loop is on your bucket list, look for Birdsong Creek’s flashing light and the sign at MM103.7 marking the Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV Campground. Located on the south side of Birdsong Creek, 1.5 miles in the deep buoyed channel from the scenic Tennessee River—halfway between the dams on Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Pickwick—seats the 58-acre recreational complex, family-owned and operated since 1961. Revel in true southern hospitality away from the daily grind while enjoying the greatest of the outdoors in western Tennessee’s Birdsong Marina.
Onsite boat sales, engine repairs, prop sales, 140 covered slips—daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rates are available—ship’s store, and boat rentals are among the marina’s offerings. The resort also includes 26 cottages and lodges furnished with all the amenities of home. Transient cruisers may use the resort’s “courtesy car” for a trip into town for groceries or dinner with a vast choice of restaurants. Catering services (southern style barbecue, country breakfast and more) can be accommodated and served on site under the open-air pavilion—or delivered to your rental units.
Revel in activities including fishing on the Tennessee River, home to more than 100 species of fish and famous for its crappie, bluegill, catfish, stripers, sauger, largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Artificial fish attractors marked by buoys have been built near all major creeks holding at least 10 feet of water. On land, stop by The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm and Tour to learn about North America’s only freshwater pearl-culturing operation and shop for some unique jewelry.
Amenities
• 140 slips
• Overnight docking for five boats up to 80′
• 65′ x 65′ lighted, concrete launching ramp
• Citgo gas and diesel
• 30-50 amp electrical service
• OMC, MerCruiser, Volvo Onan engine repairs
• Prop sales and prop repair service
• Emergency towing and underwater divers on call
• Ice, cold beer
• Hot showers
• Laundry room
• Bait, tackle and nautical supplies
Electrical connections are vital for the safety of a boat. Hubbell Marine’s 50 Amp Shore Power Cable Set features a thermoset contact carrier that is arc and heat resistant as well as waterproof. Copper crimp barrel terminations provide tighter connections and a longer life. A bullring brings strain relief on the terminals, while a molded-in flex feature controls the angle of cord entry and keeps water out. The cord’s nickel-plated brass shell and contacts help prevent corrosion. A metallic threaded ring provides a watertight seal when mated with the shore power inlet, while the lip protects the plug/receptacle connection from moisture. Some of Hubbell’s 50 amp cords feature two bright LEDs. A green light indicates Power On and red designates Incorrect Wiring at the power source—both are visible even in bright sunlight. MRSP from $450; hubbell-marine.com
By Nathalie Gouillou, Southern Exposure, September 2015
