Spring 2012 Drive Whatcom

The

and the

S&H Auto Parts is back in the Zylstra family.

See C10 inside

&

Spring 2012

Drive

WHATCOM

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What’s Inside...

A supplement of the

present

Imhof Automotive puts classics back on the road......................... C4

2012 Hyundai Elantra earns North American Car of the Year Award ........ C8

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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2012 Passat models are available with financing as low as 1.9% APR for 60 months. Excludes TDI models. So what are you waiting for? See your local VW Dealer for this and other great Passat deals. *APR offer good on new 2012 Passat models. Excludes TDI models. Example: For 1.9% APR, monthly payment for every $1,000 you finance for 60 months is $17.48. No down payment required with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit. Not all customers will qualify for lowest rate.(2) 2012 Jetta models are available with financing as low as 0.9% APR for 60 months. Jetta TDI Clean Diesel Sedans Only. So what are you waiting for? See your local VW Dealer for this and other great Jetta deals. *APR offer good on new 2012 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel Sedan models. Example: For 0.9% APR, monthly payment for every $1,000 you finance for 60 months is $17.05. No down payment required with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit. Not all customers will qualify for lowest rate.(3) 2012 Tiguan models are available with financing as low as 0.9% APR for 60 months. So what are you waiting for? See your local VW Dealer for this and other great Tiguan deals. *APR offer good on new 2012 Tiguan models. Example: For 0.9% APR, monthly payment for every $1,000 you finance for 60 months is $17.05. No down payment required with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit. Not all customers will qualify for lowest rate.(4) 2012 Golf models are available with financing as low as 1.9% APR for 60 months. Excludes TDI models. So what are you waiting for?

See your local VW Dealer for this and other great Golf deals.*APR offer good on new 2012 Golf models. Example: For 1.9% APR, monthly payment for every $1,000 you finance for 60 months is $17.48. No down payment required with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit. Not all customers will qualify for lowest rate.

Offers end April 2, 2012. See dealer for details or, for vehicle information, contact 1-800-DriveVW. Offer valid in US only. ©2011 Volkswagen of America, Inc. (1)

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

Motor Trends' top picks for 2012: VW Passat car, Ford F-150 truck At the end of 2011, Motor Trend magazine announced its choices for 2012 Car and Truck of the Year. And the winners are ... Volkswagen Passat among cars and Ford F-150 among the trucks.

The latest generation of the Passat has only been on sale in the United States for a few months. Motor Trend said the Passat is “less boring than it looks” and represents “100 percent German driving.”

According to Car and Driver, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat that is sold in the U.S. is longer than the outgoing model, and its back seat has more legroom than other affordable midsize cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Cars in consideration for the award undergo a battery of tests performed by Motor Trend editors. The field of contention was the biggest ever in 62 years of the selection, with 35 models in the running, 55 with variants.

“The 2012 Passat came out on top because it fulfills six specific criteria: advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value and performance of intended function,” wrote Autoblog. “Motor Trend specifically cited the vehicle’s roomy interior and wide

The award-winning 2012 Volkswagen Passat is sold at Roger Jobs Motors in Bellingham. — Lynden Tribune | MITZE KESTER

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C3 range of powertrain options as reasons that it won the top nod.”

The redesigned Passat, which is built in Chattanooga, Tenn., offers two gasoline engines and the segment’s only diesel engine, which is capable of achieving up to an EPA-estimated 31/43 mpg city/ highway with a manual transmission, and 30/40 mpg with an automatic.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat starts at $19,995, while the diesel-powered TDI starts at $25,995.

On the truck front, this year’s field of competitors consisted of four all-new or significantly revised trucks or vans.

Those were the Ford F-150, the Ram HD Laramie Longhorn, Nissan NV commercial van and Toyota Tacoma.

The big news from the Blue Oval boys for the F-150 was new engines and powertrains. Motor Trend said, “From top to bottom, all of them are impressive, with class-leading power and torque in their segments.”

For the purposes of the 2012 test, Motor Trend focused on the 5.0-liter V-8 and the talk-of-the-town 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. “It’s hard to beat the 5.0’s musclecar soundtrack, except when you’re talking about the EcoBoost’s astounding 420 lb.-ft. of torque. With sales of V-6-powered F-150s outpacing V-8s, it seems truck buyers are warming to Ford’s high-tech vision of the truck future faster than many expected,” Motor Trend said.

The 2012 Ford F-150, which gets 14 to 23 mpg, lists for the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price $22,990 to $51,995.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Vintage car Restification Imhof Automotive puts classic American cars back on the road with modern technology Jenny Rose Lara for the Ferndale Record FERNDALE — Though the original farmhouse is no longer quite where it used to be, drive down Imhof Road between Douglas and Slater roads, and you will be traveling what was once the driveway of Don Imhof’s family farm. Now the owner of Imhof Automotive & Restifications, Dan and his wife Robin live a few miles away from the former site of his grandfather’s farmstead. Still, this is where they raise their own cattle and where Imhof breathes new life into some of America’s most wellloved antiques.

Imhof coined the term “restification” more than two decades ago, he said, and he has watched the word spread as more people use it to describe the dual process of restoration and modernization of classic cars.

“I love antiques and I love street rods,” he said. “And restification is about preserving the cars of yesterday and adding all the conveniences of today’s models.”

Swapping out antiquated mechanics for updates like fuel injection, modern suspension systems and power brakes and steering, Imhof marries the aesthetic of the antique with modern technology. All this can make a half-century-old car drive, he said, like a new Cadillac or Ford.

“Some folks want to have that car they had in high school,” he said. “So they buy a classic. Then they realize how much work it is to keep it going.”

And then they come to Imhof.

“I’ve been doing automotive repair my whole life,” he said. Hired to wash cars at Ferndale’s Pioneer Ford lot at age 18, he was asked to do an oil change one day when the service department was shorthanded.

“They never let me out of the shop after that,” he said. “I was happy – I had always wanted to be in the shop.” Eventually Master Certified in heavy truck and auto-

motive repair, he gained his knowledge through hands-on experience, buoyed by a natural aptitude and a true fascination with mechanics.

“I enjoy all things mechanical,” he said. “If you asked my mother she would tell you I was always taking everything apart. I wanted to see how it worked.”

Imhof’s first car was a Model T Ford he began building by hand when he was 13 years old. His father, who worked at a Ferndale service station and fixed cars as a hobby, traded lumber for the wooden frame and front axle.

“It started out as just a pile of parts,” Imhof said. More than 30 years later, he still considers it unfinished, without upholstery or paint, but drives it every year in the Pioneer Days Old Settlers Parade.

“There is a classic car community in Ferndale, and we help each other out,” he said. For instance, Imhof doesn’t typically do body work and paint, so he will refer that job to someone else. “We all work together,” he said.

Imhof doesn’t belong to car clubs, he but knows many members and attends several classic car shows every year. He ran the Pioneer Days car show for a decade before becoming president of the Whatcom County Old Settlers Association in 2006; he has been a trustee of the association for the last 16 years.

Though he has been fixing cars for friends and relatives for most of his life, Imhof was of two minds when it came to opening his own shop. It seemed that every time he came close, he said, a good job opportunity would appear and pull him in another direction. With two children in college — a daughter at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and a son at Central Washington University — he was reluctant to turn down employment. What finally prompted him to open Imhof Automotive last year was, ironically, the foundering economy.

“Work at my day job got so slow, I

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

Like looking at a time capsule: A classic car carries nuances from when it was manufactured. As a result, tracking down parts is a major piece of restification work. A wide net is sometimes needed to get the needed parts to overhaul an old engine or transmission.— Courtesy photo

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started to feel like I was just standing around,” he said. “But people were still calling me to have their old cars restored.” In a town where most shops won’t work on classics, Imhof carved a niche for himself with his “restifications” and conventional light-duty automotive repair.

The few vintage auto mechanics left in the area, like Imhof, seem to have little trouble staying busy, said Fred Byrum of Bellingham, who owns three antique autos.

“You would marvel at the number of people out there who have classic cars,” Byrum said.

Most vintage auto owners he knows are over 50 and have savings to invest in auto restoration, said Byrum, a retiree.

Imhof recalls one of Byrum’s cars, a 1947 Ford convertible, as one of his most memorable projects.

“That was a yearlong project and it was a fun one,” he said.

The Ford arrived at Imhof’s shop with a coolant leak that revealed a cracked head gasket. The original engine, though it had been cleaned up nicely, said Imhof, was just worn out. Since a major part of restification work is tracking down parts, Imhof cast a wide net.

Eventually he found a collection of castings and parts the French government had sold to the U.S. as leftovers from military vehicles

C5 in the 1990s, and he was able to rebuild the engine. He also overhauled the vintage transmission.

“All I did was take the car out to him and pick it up a year later,” said Byrum. “And if I ever needed any more work to be done on my cars, I would most certainly take it to Don.” Imhof always has at least one car, and more often three or four lined up at his shop. Along with a 1977 MG, a Jeep Wrangler and a 1972 Chevelle he began working on a decade ago, his current projects include a 1966 Ford Mustang brought in by its original owner for general repairs, updates and touch-ups. The Mustang still has most of its original paint, and even the original spare tire, still holding air.

“It’s like looking at a time capsule,” said Imhof.

Imhof retains the fascination with mechanics he has always had.

“Even if I’ve pulled out a broken part to throw it away, I’ll still take it apart just to see how it works and why it broke,” he said.

“It’s something I’ve always loved.”

Imhof Automotive is located at West 63rd Lane off Olson Road and can be reached at 393-8938 and by visiting www.restifications. com.

Email Jenny Rose Lara at jennyroselara@gmail.com.

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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The time traveler’s car Towing company owner recalls impounding 'time latrine' Contraption was blocking Bellis Fair entrance in 1988 Brent Lindquist Lynden Tribune WHATCOM — Towing may sound like a routine job, but as in any occupation, there can definitely be some crazy happenings.

In 1988, Daniel J. Johnson Sr., owner of Horton’s Towing and Johnson’s Towing in Bellingham, had an experience that gives credence to the notion that even the towing business can provide some off-thewall days.

This true story took place just a few years after time travel films like “Back to the Future” and “Star Trek: The Voyage Home” hit theaters, and Johnson believes it was such entertainment fantasy there that inspired the figure at the center of his story.

“We find our hero at Bellis Fair Mall,” Johnson wrote in an e-mail detailing the experience. “He is in an AMC Pacer, silver in color. Mounted on top of the Pacer is a stainless steel toilet complete with an amber rotating beacon and two exhaust tubes of some sort. This is where our hero, Captain Ozone, is riding.”

A toilet-adorned car is just a prop without the missing warp capacitor, according to a man named Captain Ozone. The tow from Bellis Fair mall in 1988 led to an interesting letter of protest to Horton Towing company. — Courtesy photo | DAN JOHNSON Add to this spectacle that Captain Ozone is wearing tights and a cape and is flanked by two other gentlemen dressed in similar garb.

“Witnesses say they drove up to the front doors of the food court and parked the Pacer on the cobblestones, smoke spewing from the tubes, amber beacon lit and rotating,” Johnson said.

Captain Ozone and his cohorts had parked the Pacer just feet from the doors leading into the mall’s food court, completely blocking the entrance. So Bellis

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Fair security called Horton’s Towing to request an impound. The company did the requested job, but the story did not end there.

“The next morning on our porch was a letter from Captain Ozone stating who he was, his purpose in the 20th century and how upset he was that we impounded his vehicle,” Johnson said. “You see, Captain Ozone is a hero from the future who had traveled back in time to save our planet.

His time travel vehicle was appropriately named a “time latrine.”

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Captain Ozone’s letter went on to explain that, in the future, all of the trees on Earth will have been cut down and the planet’s oxygen supply dangerously limited. The time-traveling hero had traveled back to show Earth’s denizens the error of their ways. He went on to warn Johnson and his company about a device on the vehicle called a “warp capacitor,” obviously a take-off on the DeLorean’s flux capacitor in “Back to the Future.”

“Without the warp capacitor, the time latrine is just a prop,” the letter reads.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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When he went out to locate the warp capacitor, Johnson discovered that it had disappeared overnight, obviously stolen by someone who had jumped the storage lot fence.

Johnson said the toilet-laden AMC Pacer was eventually sold at a public auction for $300.

“As for Captain Ozone,” Johnson said, “we never heard from him again.”

Johnson has kept the letter and a few photos of Captain Ozone’s time latrine over the years as mementos of the strange occurrence in the life of a towing company.

“I’ve never been one to say, ‘Now I’ve seen everything,’ but in this case, it will take a lot to beat it,” Johnson said.

Email Brent Lindquist at sports@lyndentribune.com.

The Optima Hybrid features a redesigned grille and new headlight lenses. — Lynden Tribune | ADAM LEWIS Not quite back to the future: "Captain Ozone" took issue with the interruption of his critical mission that apparently involved a broken-down time latrine and a villain on the hunt for the time-hopping vehicle. To the right is a scan of the letter sent to Dan Johnson by the vehicle's owner. — Courtesy photo | DAN JOHNSON

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Hyundai Elantra earns 2012 North American Car of the Year award Sales are hot with Bellingham dealer, apparently all over Mark Reimers Lynden Tribune WHATCOM — Earning a major industry award is a big deal and the 2012 North American Car of the Year award is certainly worth crowing about. But the biggest feather in Hyundai Elantra’s cap may instead be the customer response, which has been electric.

“We can’t keep them in stock,” said sales representative Seth Timmerman, of Hyundai of Bellingham. “It’s out of control. I get two in on Sunday here and they roll out on Tuesday. They are presold before they even land.”

Timmerman’s Iowa Street dealership is run by the Rairdon Dodge owners, who also have Hyundai locations elsewhere in the

The 2012 Elantra comes only in a sedan configuration but the 2013 model will feature a wagon touring edition. This year's car has been praised for its winning style, performance, safety and efficiency. — Lynden Tribune | MITZE KESTER

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

Elantra's sleek styling extends to the car's interior as well. Many high-end features are also included in "base models." — COURTESY PHOTO

state. All of them tell the same story about the 2012 Elantra.

“It’s the same all over the country,” Timmerman said. “People want a car that is not going to give them any trouble. It’s reliable, safe, with good fuel economy.”

Reliability is becoming one of the Hyundai hallmarks since the company began employing some of the best engineers in the industry.

For example, all of the latest Hyundais feature timing chains instead of belts. The result, Timmerman said, is a repair shop that has it very easy compared to many other dealers.

“Seems like we just change the oil,” Timmerman said. “No recalls or major customer complaints.”

The stellar reliability record belies an industry-leading warranty offered for most Hyundai vehicles.

That, combined with very competitive pricing, has put Hyundai on a winning trajectory for the last decade.

But low prices aren’t due to cutting corners, Timmerman said. It just so happens that Hyundai is one of the biggest importers of recycled metals in the world, helping the company innovate and keep manufacturing costs down.

With any of the current Hyundai cars, customers can expect to get over 40 highway miles per gallon.

In addition, each vehicle comes standard with the latest in safety features — no upgrades required.

C9 That means customers buying the latest Elantra can expect to pay about $18,000, which is less than many other cars in the compact class, and still come out ahead in tech and safety features. Small upgrades are available, however.

All of the Elantra models are four-door sedans. The 2013 model will feature a touring wagon edition, Timmerman said.

Competing as finalists against the Elantra in this year’s industry awards were the Volks­wagen Passat and the Ford Focus. The last Hyundai win came in 2009 with the Genesis.

In a press release Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik touts the recognition as validation for the Elantra’s direction.

“Elantra speaks to the success of our recipe of bold design and great fuel economy,” Krafcik said. “In a year with some truly breakthrough competitors, we are honored that the jury recognizes Elantra’s farreaching impact on the industry.”

Timmerman agreed, noting that he has worked with many other makes and models in his sales career.

“Elantra is a driving force,” Timmerman said. “It’s a Civic/Corolla type of car that gets five miles better to the gallon. You get Euro-look styling without paying a fortune for it.”

Email Mark Reimers at reporter@lyndentribune.com.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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S&H Auto Parts is back in the family On the other hand, the store never really left the Zylstra family through a series of changes Tim Newcomb Lynden Tribune LYNDEN — The family business needed just a bit more family in it, so Tom Zylstra, 41, purchased what was once his dad’s shop — S&H Auto Parts — and has continued to grow the Guide Meridian Road business.

The story of Zylstra’s move to ownership really serves as a story of his life.

Tom’s father, Ron “Doc” Zylstra, owned S&H Auto Parts for about 35 years, meaning Tom more or less grew up in the shop formerly located in downtown Lynden on Front Street.

While Tom was in college, Doc needed his son’s help to get through a rough patch managing the store. That was 21 years ago.

Tom never left.

When Doc looked to retirement about eight years ago, Tom wasn’t interested in taking over, so the store was sold to Carquest and Tom stayed on to run the op-

eration. But within a year, Carquest sold S&H to Mark Hinton, owner of Hinton Motors of Lynden, who then built the store’s new 6,500-square-foot location south of his Guide dealership and moved the store there.

For seven years, Hinton owned S&H and Zylstra managed it. But now married — his wife, Bridget, is heavily involved in the bookkeeping side of the business — and with kids, Tom approached Hinton about the idea of purchasing it. That happened last year.

“I think all along he hoped some day I would want to buy it,” Zylstra said.

Taking ownership of S&H hasn’t been a major change for Zylstra, but the success of the business — and its constant growth — has kept him hopping.

Now with 13 employees, the most the store has ever had, four daily delivery runs to Bellingham and five vehicles running constantly during the day, S&H has combined general auto parts with niche prod-

Tom Zylstra began working for S&H and his father 21 years ago while he was in college. — Lynden Tribune | TIM NEWCOMB

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Don’t keep the heap — donate it to charities

S&H Auto Parts has become a fixture in Lynden over the years. — Lynden Tribune | TIM NEWCOMB ucts to keep business brisk.

While Zylstra still “flies the Carquest flag,” with most of S&H’s general parts from that brand supplier, his independent status allows Zylstra to mix in a variety of other products, including performance pieces and his best-selling item: Baldwin Filters.

“We sell a lot of filters,” he said while looking over an entire upstairs loft — it is the largest filter selection north of Everett — filled with oil, fuel and air filters for everything from lawn mowers to tractortrailer trucks. “While some other places were downsizing, we leapt and got bigger.”

As S&H got bigger, Zylstra ensured there was a focus on service, which is not difficult with the staff’s combined parts experience of about 150 years.

That staff helps walk-in customers, those roughly 25 businesses on the daily routes, and the other businesses that keep stock items on hand. For example, LTI Inc. has its own repair shop and Zylstra makes a trip once a week to take note of what in-

ventory needs replenishing.

S&H’s ability to focus on the parts needed for larger rigs has helped the store enter the dairy and berry farm world, ensuring that a diversity of customers keeps at least one aspect of S&H growing at all times. “When one part may be struggling, another is booming,” Zylstra said. “We set it up that way.”

As Zylstra looks to continue the upward swing, he hopes to improve his welding offerings and become “Lynden’s welding shop.” Already, S&H offers welding supplies and gases and tractor parts to service the vast welding needs of Lyndenarea farms.

While the transition to ownership has been busy, Zylstra said he is thankful for his staff. “Everybody stayed on board and the workers have all been helpful,” he said.

“That makes it fun. We have a fun atmosphere in here.”

S&H has a practice of rotating a new car through its showroom-like window every three weeks or so. That keeps the locals

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enthused about the shop and the waiting list to be on display is 100 deep. Among all those car enthusiasts filtering through the shop all day, one visitor — Doc — still comes faithfully every morning to pick up a free coffee for his wife.

“Having run (S&H) for the last eight years and having watched my Dad do it, there is not a whole lot different,” Tom said.

“It is a blessing to have him be a part of this and be able to bounce things off him.”

Email Tim Newcomb at tim@lyndentribune.com.

FORMER OWNERS: S&H Auto Parts was started by Simon Wesselius and Henry Hoving in September 1932 in downtown Lynden. Doc Zylstra started a machine shop in S&H and later became a partner and bought a share of the business. Jerry Faber and Ted Linde were part-owners at one time too, until Zylstra eventually became the sole owner.

Son Tom Zylstra took over S&H in October 2011.

The economy is showing signs of recovery, despite the rising cost of gas. Many people who held on to a car during the recession are now looking to replace it with a more fuel efficient one.

If you are one of those people, you have to figure out what to do with your car. If your vehicle does not get good gas mileage, has a lot of miles, is more than five years old or is not in good condition, the dealership won’t offer you much for it as a trade-in. A car dealer may not want it because there is little demand for it. The car may be difficult to sell it privately for the same reason.

One alternative is to sell it for a couple of hundred dollars to a junk yard.

A better alternative is to donate your car to charity. Cars4Charities gladly takes old cars, no matter what shape they are in. In return for your generosity, you will get a tax deduction of at least $500.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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SPRING DRIVE WHATCOM

Breakwater Marine gains momentum entering year two in Ferndale Goal is to fill current boating suppliers gap Jenny Rose Lara for the Ferndale Record FERNDALE — In 2008, scores of boat dealerships in Washington and across the nation were closing up shop as the recession hit the luxury industry hard. Yet for one fledgling company, the rapid decline presented a unique opportunity to capture the market with a new and broadbased business.

“When a lot of Washington boat dealers went out of it, it left a gap,” said Breakwater Marine U.S. General Manager Jason Burks. “We wanted to capture that market.”

Breakwater Marine provides services that years ago were readily available in Whatcom County, he said. With a sizeable and devoted local boating community, there appeared to be an untapped local market for a full-service dealership and parts supplier.

“We sell everything from 16-foot aluminum boats to 70-foot yachts to first-

UP N SIG DAY! TO

time buyers and seasoned boaters,” Burks said.

Fred Moore of Seattle and Aaron Fell of Surrey were former directors at Olympic Boat Centers, the world’s largest privately owned marine dealership, up until filing bankruptcy in 2008. The pair founded Breakwater Marine and opened the doors to their first store in Surrey on Jan. 1, 2009.

Since then, they have opened four additional locations and have plans to open a fifth in Seattle’s Lake Union area in April.

In its second year in business, after opening in October 2010, the Ferndale Breakwater Marine store offers a full parts and accessories department, repair services, consignments and trade-ins.

Already the largest dealer of Larsen sport boats in the world, the dealership recently began offering Carver and Marquee cruisers at all three Washington locations.

Burks credits the Ferndale store’s success in large part to the retailer’s diversity.

“The neat thing about us is that we sell everything from spark plugs to cleaning supplies to every kind of boat you can imagine," said Burks. “We do financing and we do repairs. It’s a one-stop shop.”

While a robust recovery is slow in

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Breakwater Marine U.S. General Manager Jason Burks is proud of the company's one-stop shop capability for boat enthusiasts. — Ferndale Record photo

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SPRING DRIVE WHATCOM coming, Burks recognizes a need to “just have fun” and shake off the worries of a still shaky economy. And customers are taking him up on the offer. Whatcom County’s multitude of rivers, lakes and island passages give customers every reason to explore the nautical outdoors.

“We are expanding in a down market and that really says something,” he said.

Breakwater Marine is located at 5330 LaBounty Dr. and is open for business daily. For more information, visit www. breakwater-marine.com or call 384-5418.

Email Jenny Rose Lara at jennyroselara@gmail.com.

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Sharpen driving skills for spring’s arrival Practice safety whether you’re commuting or on vacation break Spring is in the air. The days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising. Before you know it, summer will be here along with all the joys that come with it — like summer vacations.

But before you dust off those suitcases and head for the shore, you need to put in some crucial hours at the ol’ 9 to 5 and really earn that relaxing getaway. So, in the meantime, follow these important tips to help make your daily commute as worry-free as possible, or travel safely anywhere.

• Put the cell phone down. Your car is not a mobile office.

Cell phones are distracting. Designate your time in the car as “quiet time.” If you must talk on the phone, get a headset — as now required in many states, including Washington — so that both your hands remain on the steering wheel.

• Stay focused on driving to protect yourself and others on the road. Trying to multi-task while driving is dangerous for you and the other drivers out there.

• Make sure you can hear auditory driving cues. Listening to the radio loudly can drown out car horns, emergency sirens and bicycle bells.

• Avoid taking your eyes off the road. Turning around to talk to passengers and flipping through radio channels can cause you to steer out of your lane or miss important visual cues.

• Check your tires often. Make sure they’re properly inflated, rotated and otherwise in good condition. After all, your tires are the only things between your vehicle and the road.

• Make sure your car is in good condition underneath the hood. Your favorite auto care service center can carry out your vehicle’s scheduled maintenance and assist you with any prob-

Warmer weather means more traffic on the roads, requiring extra caution from drivers. — Courtesy photo lems that come up in the interim.

• Wear comfortable attire. Before setting off, select a pair of comfortable driving shoes, and remove inhibiting layers.

• Make sure the driver’s seat is adjusted to a comfortable position. This is especially important if you share the car with family members. And don’t forget to check your mirrors and adjust them if necessary.

Work can be stressful enough. Don’t add to the hassle by inviting distractions behind the wheel. Keep your commute stress-free, and you’ll find that those summer plans of yours will be here before you know it. Safe travels!

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

Price versus value: When does a product upgrade make sense Don’t scrimp on quality motor oil, proper wiper blades

The importance of "minor" parts like wiper blades shouldn't be underestimated. — Courtesy photo In today’s economy, people want to know how they can keep their vehicles on the road for longer periods of time.

Frequent maintenance will keep your car in good health, ensuring you get the most out of all those expensive-toreplace parts, according to the Car Care Council.

But when does it make sense to up-

grade to a premium automotive product? That’s a question that stumps a lot of people when confronted with the wide range of prices for seemingly comparable products.

Here are a few tips on common automotive product categories to help you make informed decisions.

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use a particular grade/octane of gasoline. While some auto manufacturers specify using a high-octane gasoline, some consumers purchase the higher octane gasoline based on the assumption that it’s better for the car. However, there is no benefit in using a higher octane than recommended by the manufacturer.

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SPRING DRIVE WHATCOM In fact, if you paid 40 cents a gallon extra to purchase super premium gas as opposed to regular, that would cost you an additional $320 a year (assuming 12,000 miles driven and 15 miles per gallon).

The bottom line: Don’t use a higher octane rating than recommended by the car’s manufacturer.

Motor oil: Lubrication technology has seen significant improvement over the years. The longer oil life of highperformance synthetic motor oil allows for extended oil drains, saving time and money, and reducing the impact on the environment.

Additionally, some high-performance synthetic oils have been reported to improve mileage as much as 3 percent or more. Three percent may not seem like a substantial amount, but it can result in hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of a year.

The bottom line: Upgrade to a highperformance synthetic motor oil for extended oil drains and improved fuel economy.

Wiper blades: Where you live is the critical factor in determining the value of upgrading to a premium wiper.

There is a noticeable performance difference in low-cost wiper blades versus those specifically designed for rainy and snowy climates. Premium wiper blades are considerably sturdier and more durable than low priced blades.

The bottom line: Rainy and snowy climates justify spending a few dollars more for premium wiper blades.

Oil filters: Inexpensive filters are typically made with the 3,000-mile interval in mind. These filters often use low-quality paper media for filtration and deteriorate rapidly after 3,000 miles.

A new generation of highperformance premium oil filters from manufacturers allows for extended oil drain intervals.

These filters also provide an increased level of protection due to the density of the filtration.

The bottom line: Upgrade to a premium oil filter if you plan to extend oil drain intervals or if you operate your vehicle in extreme conditions such as dusty environments or cold weather climates.

SPRING DRIVE WHATCOM

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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SPRING DRIVE WHATCOM

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