THIS NEW YEAR, MAKE WAVES
MARINEMAX LIFESTYLES
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
SPRING 2017
Bill McGill President, Chairman, CEO
Welcome to MarineMax Lifestyles
As many of you already know, I’m a water enthusiast. I grew up waterskiing and was fortunate enough to compete professionally. Still today, there is seldom a weekend that goes by that I’m not on skis in the water with my family – and barefoot skiing, running the slalom course, and trick skiing.
The boating lifestyle has taught me many life lessons and values. Most importantly, it taught me about the importance of teamwork. Our team and family of boaters know that being part of the MarineMax family is the ultimate team sport that connects family and friends. This is why I love boating and being on the water so much, as well as my job at MarineMax.
When MarineMax became a public company 18 years ago this past June, it didn’t take me long to fully appreciate how much I would come to depend on those around me in order for our team to be successful. The MarineMax Team is passionate about their company and our family of boaters. Without a doubt, they are the best of the best! Every team member’s role is for a common goal –to unite people with themselves and others on the water.
We strive to make MarineMax’s passion and services second to none. We offer our customers access to a wealth of options to match them with the perfect boat from our unparalleled diversity of brands and models. In addition, we provide world-class service, financing and insurance, educational programs, access to Getaways!® trips, and MarineMax Vacations. Please communicate with us on how we can better serve your needs to help you continue enjoying our great recreation.
We sincerely thank you for allowing our team be part of your family!
MarineMax, Inc. is the largest recreational boat retailer in the United States, with over 50 retail stores and service centers nationwide. MarineMax sells new and used pleasure and recreational boats for leisure, fishing, watersports and yachting, and provides customers with free boating classes, Getaways!® trips and more to help customers get the most from the boating lifestyle.
Total Integration
Developed, manufactured, and serviced by one company.
For the engineers and designers at Volvo Penta, innovation is the force that drives us forward. Whether it’s an electronic interface or a complex drive system, every piece of Volvo Penta equipment is designed to work together with you in mind – enhancing integration, simplicity and intuitiveness to make your life on the water more relaxing and enjoyable than ever before.
Easy Boating
Director of Marketing Abbey Heimensen
Editor Jim Pieretti
Copy Editors Mark Kellum, Amanda Ward
Creative Director / Editor Jeff Cooper
Graphic Designers Michael Lukus, Chris Moore
THE MANY SUBCULTURES OF THE
FISHING LIFESTYLE
ON THE COVER
Sea Ray's All-New SLX 310 Outboard
A host of intelligent features combine in a sleek, stylish package that exceeds all expectations. You'll want to stay out all day - and with Yacht Certified capacity, you'll want to invite all your friends along, too.
Confident To The Core
Boston Whaler designs boats that inspire confidence from the inside out
Two worlds collide to build a legacy
The guy with endless talent and personality that endeared him to fans of all ages
Sea Ray has established itself as America's favorite brand, with good reason
The Foy family upgraded their boat to enjoy time on the water with more friends
Chef Paul Tison shares his passion for culinary arts and indulging recipes
Family and friends explore the crystal bluegreen waters of Bimini, Bahamas
The perfect opportunity to rekindle old friendships and make memories
Alexander
A yacht designed for privacy, luxury and intimate entertaining
The Azimut Verve 40 is the ultimate Italian weekender
Seakeeper's technology makes life aboard more comfortable, and boating more accessbile
Brad Kendell— from the ER to the podium at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
MarineMax supports boat owners with a team of experts who are your boating resource
Changes In Latitude's Getaways!
A MarineMax Getaway! in the British Virgin Islands
Aquila 36
A highly social animal that plays well with a crowd
Check out the hottest boats and yachts currently available
Making Waves
Galeon Yachts is set to make a splash in your neck of the woods
ALABAMA
MarineMax Gulf Shores
Biloxi Boat Show
Mississippi Coast Coliseum
February 10-12
The Wharf Boat Show
The Wharf Marina, Orange Beach
March 23-26
Mobile Boat Show
Mobile Convention Center
March 31 - April 2
Boston Whaler Demo Days
Lulu’s Gulf Shores
May 6
Sea Ray Summer Event
Lulu’s Gulf Shores
June 3
CALIFORNIA
MarineMax San Diego
Sunroad Boat Show
Sunroad Resort Marina, Harbor Island
January 26-29
Newport Beach Boat Show
Lido Marina, Newport Beach
April 27-30
San Diego International Boat Show
Spanish Landing Park East
June 15-18
Women On Water® Class
MarineMax San Diego
First Saturday of each month
FLORIDA
MarineMax Clearwater
MarineMax St. Petersburg
Gasparilla Getaways!
Tampa Marriott Waterside
January 27-29
2017 Superbowl Getaways!
South Seas Island Resort
February 3-6
Women On Water Class
MarineMax Clearwater
February 8
Charting, Plotting, Navigation Class
MarineMax Clearwater
February 25
Women On Water Class
MarineMax Clearwater
March 8
MarineMax Fort Myers
Winter Docktail Party!
MarineMax Fort Myers
February 10
Open House Parade of Boats
MarineMax Fort Myers
March 24-25
Winter Docktail Finale!
MarineMax Fort Myers
April 7
Spring into Summer Docktail Party
MarineMax Fort Myers
June 9
MarineMax Jacksonville at Beach Marine
70th Annual Jacksonville Boat Show
Prime Osborn Convention Center
January 27-29
Wahoo Fishing Seminar
MarineMax Jacksonville at Beach Marine
February 1
St. Augustine Getaways!
St. Augustine
March 24-26
Southeast US Boat Show
Metropolitan Park
April 21-23
MarineMax Inshore/Offshore Slam!
MarineMax Jacksonville at Beach Marine
May 13
MarineMax Miami
Miami International Boat Show
Collins Ave. & Virginia Key
February 16-20
Miami Open House
MarineMax Miami
February 25-26
Haulover Dayaway for Scout Boats
Miami March 19
Spring Ocean Reef Getaway!
Ocean Reef Club
April 7-9
Memorial Bimini South Dayaway
Bimini, Bahamas
May 26-29
MarineMax Naples Yacht Center
Luxury Yacht Showcase
MarineMax Naples Yacht Center
February 2
Boca Grande Getaways!
Boca Grande Marina
February 24-26
Doggie Getaways!
South Seas, Captiva Island
March 3-5
Spring Fling Getaways!
South Seas, Captiva Island
March 17-19
Memorial Day Getaways!
South Seas, Captiva Island
May 26-29
MarineMax Orlando
Orlando Boat Show
Orange County Convention Center
February 3-5
River Ranch Getaways!
Westgate River Ranch
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Cinco De Mayo Poker Run
Silver Glen
May 7
Florida Boat Show
Halifax Harbor Marina
May 19-21
MarineMax Palm Beach
Miami International Boat Show
Collins Ave. & Virginia Key
February 16-20
Open House
MarineMax Palm Beach at PGA Marina
February 26
West Palm Beach Boat Show
West Palm Beach
March 23-26
Open House
MarineMax Palm Beach at PGA Marina
April 2
Women On Water Class
MarineMax Palm Beach at PGA Marina
May 13
MarineMax Panama City Beach
Emerald Coast Boat and Lifestyle Show
Aaron Bessant Park, Florida
March 3-5
Free Fishing Seminar: Catching Cobia
MarineMax Panama City Beach
March 11
Boston Whaler Demo Days
MarineMax Panama City Beach
May 13
Women on Water Class
MarineMax Panama City Beach
May 20
Demo Days! Sea Ray Summer
MarineMax Panama City Beach
June 16-17
MarineMax Pensacola at Bahia Mar
Biloxi Boat Show
Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Mississippi
February 10-12
The Wharf Boat Show
The Wharf Marina, Alabama
March 23-26
Mobile Boat Show
Mobile Convention Center, Alabama
March 31-April 2
The Wharf Getaways!
The Wharf Marina, Alabama
May 5-7
Boston Whaler Demo Days
MarineMax Pensacola at Bahia Mar
May 20
MarineMax Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale
Yachts Miami Beach Boat Show 2017
Miami Beach
February 16-20
Palm Beach International Boat Show
West Palm Beach
March 23-26
Ocean Alexander Rendezvous
Valentine’s Resort, Harbour Island
April 6-9
MarineMax Pompano
Open House
MarineMax Pompano Beach
February 25
Open House
MarineMax Pompano Beach
April 1
Key West Getaways!
Key West
April 29-May 7
Memorial Day Getaways!
Key Largo
May 26-29
MarineMax Yacht Center
Yachts Miami Beach Boat Show 2017
Miami Beach
February 16-20
Experience Luxury Event
MarineMax Pompano Yacht Center
February 25
Palm Beach International Boat Show
West Palm Beach
March 23-26
2017 Esposizione Azimut Event
MarineMax Pompano Yacht Center
Aprril 22-23
Azimut Owners Gala
Check MarineMax.com for location and date
MarineMax Sarasota
SuperBowl Getaways!
South Seas Resort, Captiva
February 3-6
Suncoast Boat Show
Marina Jack
April 21-23
Sea Ray Summer Sandbar Party
Snake Island
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Key West Rendezvous
Key West
May 31-June 6
MarineMax Stuart
Palm Beach International Boat Show
West Palm Beach
March 23-26
Women On Water/Boat Show Demo Day
MarineMax Stuart
April 1
Abacos Getaways!®
Abacos, Bahamas
June 14-25
MarineMax Venice
Roland Martins Getaways!
Roland Martins, Clewiston
January 30-February 3
Mystery Lunch Cruise
Locations are a surprise 2nd Tuesday of each month January–April
Dirty Dogs Sandbar Party
Stump Pass
May 13
MARYLAND
MarineMax Baltimore, MarineMax at Bay Bridge Marina
Baltimore Boat Show
Baltimore Convention Center
January 26-29
Open House
MarineMax Bay Bridge
May 13
Yacht Expo
Baltimore
June 9-10
Annapolis Getaways!
Baltimore
June 24-25
Demo Day
MarineMax Bay Bridge
Check MarineMax.com for date
MASSACHUSETTS
MarineMax Russo Boston, MarineMax Russo Danvers, MarineMax Russo Hingham, MarineMax Russo Wakefield
Providence Boat Show
Rhode Island Convention Center
February 3-5
New England Boat Show
Boston Convention & Exposition Center
February 11-19
Worcester Boat Show
DCU Center
March 17-19
South Shore In-Water Boat Show
Hingham Shipyard Marina
April 29-30
MINNESOTA
MarineMax Bayport, MarineMax Excelsior, MarineMax Rogers
Spring Yacht and Brokerage Sale
Bayport Marina
Check MarineMax.com for dates
River Getaways!
Bayport
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Open House
MarineMax Rogers
February 4-5
MarineMax Excelsior Grand Re-Opening
MarineMax Excelsior
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Dare to Compare
Maynard’s in Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka
May 20-21
Spring In Water Boat Sale
Maynard’s in Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka
June 2-4
MISSOURI
MarineMax Lake Ozark,
MarineMax Osage Beach, MarineMax Table Rock Lake
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow
America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome
January 26-29
Overland Park Boat Show
Overland Park Convention Center
January 26-29
Lake Life Expo
Springfield Expo Center
February 10-12
St. Charles Boat Show
St. Charles Convention Center
March 9-12
NEW JERSEY
MarineMax Brick, MarineMax Lake
Hopatcong, MarineMax Ship Bottom, MarineMax Somers Point
New York Boat Show
Jacob Javits Center, New York
January 25-29
Atlantic City Boat Show
Atlantic City Convention Center
March 1-5
New Jersey Boating Safety Class
MarineMax Brick
April 15
New Jersey Boating Safety Class
MarineMax Somers Point
April 22
New Jersey Boating Safety Class
MarineMax Ship Bottom
April 22
Skylands Stadium Boat Show
Skylands Stadium
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Docking for Men
MarineMax Somers Point
May 7
Lake Hopatcong Block Party
Lake Hopatcong
May 13
Demo Days
MarineMax Brick
May 20
Open House
MarineMax Ship Bottom
May 20
Docking Class
MarineMax Ship Bottom
June 3
Kick Off Summer BBQ
MarineMax Somers Point
June 3
Molly Pitcher Inn Getaways!
Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank, NJ
June 23-25
Demo Days
MarineMax Lake Hopatcong
June 24
Demo Days
MarineMax Somers Point
June 24
NEW YORK
MarineMax Copiague, MarineMax Long Island, MarineMax Manhattan
New York Boat Show
Jacob Javits Center
January 25-29
Adult First Aid/CPR Certification
MarineMax Long Island
February 25
Long Island Boat Show
Grumman Studios, Bethpage
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Americas Boating Course
MarineMax Long Island
April 1
Kids in Boating
MarineMax Long Island
May 6
NORTH CAROLINA
MarineMax Wrightsville Beach
St. Patrick’s Day Getaways!
Downtown Wilmington
March 17-19
Sport Boat Lunch Cruise
Southport
April 15
Beaufort Getaways!
Beaufort
May 9-14
Father’s Day Getaways!
Bald Head Island
June 16-18
OHIO
MarineMax Port Clinton
Maintenance Seminar
MarineMax Port Clinton
March 4
Electronics Seminar
MarineMax Port Clinton
March 18
Catawba Island Boat Show
Catawba Island Club
April 28-30
Great Lakes Boating Festival
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
May 19-21
RHODE ISLAND
MarineMax Newport, MarineMax Warwick
Providence Boat Show
Rhode Island Convention Center
February 3-5
New England Boat Show
Boston Convention & Exposition Center
February 11-19
Worcester Boat Show
DCU Center
March 17-19
South Shore In-Water Boat Show
Hingham Shipyard Marina
April 29-30
TEXAS
MarineMax Dallas Yacht Center
Shrimp and Lobster Raft Up
Check MarineMax.com for location and date
Spring Yacht and Brokerage Show
Pier 121 Marina, Lewisville
April 14-15
Women on Water® Yachting Class
Getaway Island, Pier 121 Marina
Check MarineMax.com for date
MarineMax Houston
Mardi Gras Getaways!
Galveston, TX
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Southwest In-Water Boat Show
South Shore Harbour Marina
April 6-9
Galveston Moody Gardens Getaways!
Moody Gardens Marina
Check MarineMax.com for dates
Lake Charles Getaways!
Golden Nugget Casino & L'Auberge Casino Resort, Lake Charles, LA
June 8-11
MarineMax Lake Texoma
Spring Yacht and Brokerage Show
Highport Marina
Check MarineMax.com for date
Customer Appreciation Bash with Highport
Highport Marina
Check MarineMax.com for date
FISHING LIFESTYLE THE MANY SUBCULTURES OF THE
There is no one fishing lifestyle. How you fish and what you fish for is defined by location, the environment, the aquatic resources and targeted species. Even how fishermen perceive themselves, what they wear, the tackle, the style varies dramatically. Serious tournament level offshore fishing participants head out, sometimes for days at a time, a hundred plus miles off shore, and measure their success by hundreds to thousands of pounds, while the tournament bass fishing professional with their NASCAR inspired outfits hope to catch a 12–pound or better fish.
WRITTEN BY MARK KELLUM
SALTWATER FISHING
Offshore, nearshore, inshore, deep sea, big game and other types of saltwater fishing are determined by what region of the country you are fishing. Loosely defined, offshore fishing is over the horizon (more than 14 miles) typically 30 – 100+ miles away from land. Nearshore is within sight of land but outside the protection of bays, inlets and shelter islands. Inshore is saltwater fishing within the shelter of inlets, bays and shelter islands, such as fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Nearshore Fishing
Some of the species that are typically found inshore spend a significant amount of time nearshore chasing baitfish in and out of inlets and around shelter islands. Fish like cobia, amberjack, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and barracuda fall into this category. Smaller sportfishing, center console, and dual console models anchor near structure such as a jetty or an inlet using spinning rods and casting towards the structure with live bait like pinfish or artificial baits and lures. Boston Whaler, Scout, Sailfish, Sea Pro and Grady-White make boats appropriate for nearshore fishing. Nearshore fishing can be done in smaller boats with equipment tackle and bait that are a bit less costly.
Offshore Fishing
There are even sub-subcultures in offshore fishing. There are those who troll their bait, lures and teasers attempting to bring up some speedy pelagic predators. They use different tackle and techniques than those who bottom fish offshore targeting everything from red snapper to goliath grouper. There is also drift fishing for sharks, jig fishing for tuna and kite fishing for sailfish. Each involves unique techniques and equipment. Typical boats are large sportfishing center consoles, opens, or convertibles. Boston Whaler, Scout, Sailfish, and Grady-White make boats appropriate for offshore fishing.
Inshore Fishing
The protected waters of inlets, bays and the Intracoastal Waterway offer those with smaller boats an opportunity to fish side-by-side with the big boys. Gamefish ambush their prey so they tend to lurk in structures that hide them. Structures can be bridges, docks, underwater anomalies such as sudden depth changes. Boston Whaler, Scout, Sailfish, Sea Pro and Grady-White make boats appropriate for inshore fishing.
FRESHWATER FISHING
Freshwater fishing is the most popular type of fishing. More than three times as many people fish in freshwater than in saltwater. There are freshwater lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams and rivers across the country and each holds a variety of fish species.
Bass Fishing
Bass fishing is the most popular form of sportfishing on the planet. In the United States approximately 40% of freshwater fishing is for black bass (largemouth bass, small mouth bass and spotted bass). There are professional bass fishing leagues with sponsorships. Bassmaster tournaments have been a part of Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (B.A.S.S.) since 1968 and host dozens of professional tournaments across the country. Today, B.A.S.S. has clubs in 46 States and organizations in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Fly Fishing
Fly fishing has been growing in popularity for years. The art of placing a fly (handmade lure designed to look like a common bug or bait) right over a fish takes lots of skill and patience to learn. Fly fishing anglers fish for everything from trout in Wyoming to sailfish in Guatemala.
Noodling Flatheads
Noodling, or “Hillbilly Handfishing,” is just what it sounds like. In shallow water the fisherman enters the water, locates likely catfish dens and with friends spotting reaches into the “hidey hole” bare handed and allows the flathead catfish to chomp down on his hand. Using the second hand to grab the gill opening, they wrestle the fish out of its lair to the surface and into the boat. Flatheads range in size from 20 to 50 pounds and more. It’s not for everyone, but it is very sporty.
5 TIPS TO GET THEM HOOKED!
1. START WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG
It is never too early to start your children enjoying being on the water. But make it in small doses. Children have a short attention span and quickly need a new distraction. Keep them out of the sun and comfortable.
2. PRACTICE AT HOME
Set up a casting game where you can challenge your children to cast the furthest and the most accurate. Mark the casting location with a length of rope then mark the furthest cast with short length of rope that can be moved each time it is exceeded. At ten feet out take a length of rope and make a circle to cast into. This can be made smaller and moved further out as skills increase. Make it fun, constantly encourage and praise.
3. CATCH FISH
This seems obvious, however, nothing gets children more excited than landing that first fish. Take them to a spot where you know they will be successful. Who cares if it is a crappy, bluegill, flounder or catfish. It’s all good to your child. Our boys loved to throw a line off the boat in our marina and catch bottom feeding catfish. They would count to ten, and they would have a fish on. They were entertained for hours.
4. Touch and Smell
Allow your children to feel the slime and touch the scales. Show them how to hold the fish safely. It is widely known that the olfactory system (the sense of smell) creates lasting memories. Along with all the new smells from the bait and the boating environment, the slightly sweet smell of a freshly caught fish will be forever associated with the fun day and the first catch.
5. Have Fun
Another obvious one but often overlooked. If your child isn’t having fun or does not want to fish, don’t force the situation. Children often get bored with fishing, but later will come back to fishing when they are older. And, keep in mind that not everyone will become a fishing enthusiast.
CONFIDENT TO THE CORE
BOSTON WHALER DESIGNS BOATS THAT INSPIRE CONFIDENCE FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Since its founding almost 60 years ago, Boston Whaler has conceived and built peerless designs that meet boaters’ diverse and changing needs. It began with founder Richard Fisher’s innovative construction method, devising a foam-injected hull that literally would not sink — not even after being sawed in half, in a stunt that earned the company its nickname, “The Unsinkable Legend.” But Fisher’s vision was only the beginning, and his spirit of challenging the status quo continues today with a storied lineup of boats ranging from 11 to 42 feet.
Yes, Boston Whaler has come a long way since that first resilient runabout. In 2015, for example, Whaler’s flagship 420 Outrage debuted to great acclaim from the boating media and customers alike, earning titles including “European Powerboat of the Year” and Boating Magazine’s “Boat of the Year.” The 420 heads up a family of boats that also includes the new 230, 250, 280 and 330 Outrages, each a formidable fishing machine and comfortable entertaining platform in its own right. In the Conquest series, the highly capable 345 Conquest earned an Innovation Award for its effortlessly convertible Dynamic Cabin System. Other
acclaimed Whaler series include the dual-console Vantage family, ranging from 23 to 32 feet; and the multi-functional Dauntless family, from 17 to 27 feet. Both provide active boaters with the versatility and confidence to pursue water sports, fishing and cruising with ease.
With every model it introduces, Boston Whaler pushes the envelope, featuring advances in manufacturing, design, navigation and propulsion technologies. The company holds patents for a variety of systems and features, including the Multi-Position Lounge found on every Vantage model; the Marine
Dive Patio on the 270 Dauntless; the Dauntless family’s Multi-Purpose Boat Tower option; a proprietary Bow Thruster and more.
“Boston Whaler endeavors to instill ‘Core Confidence’ through boats that are fully trustworthy, easy to use and easy to enjoy,” explains Jeff Vaughn, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.
“Our goal with every single boat is to empower our customers, to eliminate worry and enhance comfort, freeing them to more fully enjoy every outing.”
Core Confidence starts with Whaler’s unique variable-deadrise V-hulls, which are precision-
engineered to anticipate and harness the forces of water. Further, the company’s exclusive Unibond ™ construction process uses closed-cell foam, injected between the hull’s inner and outer liners to create a single, unbreakable unit. Not only does this result in the boats’ unsinkability, but also produces a noticeably softer, smoother, more stable ride than its competition.
In addition, every Boston Whaler comes equipped with Mercury ® FourStroke or FourStroke Verado ® engines, precisely power-matched to each boat, with a variety of upgrade options including double-, tripleand quadruple engine configurations. Breakthroughs including Mercury’s Joystick Piloting make it possible to maneuver in any direction and allow for virtually effortless docking; Mercury’s Digital Throttle & Shift provides for smooth, predictable and quiet shifting, as well as ultra-responsive throttle control. An industry leader in its own right, Mercury delivers superior performance and continues to challenge the limits of possibility.
Core Confidence comes from other attributes as well. The features and amenities on a Boston Whaler are purposefully chosen for the way people actually use a boat. Whaler conducts extensive customer
research, gathering feedback from longtime owners and dealers to inform each new model and iteration. The result is boating that feels like second nature. Storage compartments are large, accommodating and strategically placed. Leaning posts and rod holders are tailored for convenience. Seating is plush and durable, and laid out so that every passenger has a comfortable place to sit, at anchor as well as underway. Helm consoles are intuitive and feature the latest navigation and propulsion technology, so driving is more than easy — it’s also downright fun.
In addition, Boston Whaler enjoys partnerships with the best component manufacturers in the industry, offering features including JL Audio ® stereo and speaker systems, YETI® coolers, Raymarine ® navigation equipment, Sunbrella® canvas and more.
The aforementioned Mercury engines on the back of every Whaler ensure strong, reliable performance and incredible fuel efficiency.
From a heritage of unsinkability to a future carved out by confident, empowered boaters, Boston Whaler doesn’t just stand the test of time; it passes with flying colors.
WRITTEN BY AMY WIDEMAN
GRADY-WHITE
TWO WORLDS COLLIDE TO BUILD A LEGACY
Glen R. Grady and Don F. White were very dissimilar with different upbringings and cultures whose lives would become entwined by fate and their common obsession. A native of Wisconsin, Grady grew up in the North Woods that lay along Green Bay where roaring gale force winds in the fall and winter brake on the rocky shoals.
Glen Grady started his career in boat building working for Racine Boat Works and later working for the iconic Chris-Craft. After Chris-Craft Grady went to work for the Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing Company in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Thompson Brothers became Cruisers Yachts in 1993 and continues today. Ray L. Thompson recognized Grady’s passion and energy and promoted him from foreman of the painting department at Cruisers to a sales manager where he thrived.
Adopted at an early age by a wealthy farmer and his wife, Don White grew up in Vanceboro, North Carolina. White grew up near the Neuse River which gives way to the shallow, choppy waters of Pamlico Sound and then onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Having attended both East Carolina University and the University of Florida, Don White became
an entrepreneur starting with a hardware store in Vanceboro, expanding to several automobile dealerships, real estate development, and eventually a boat dealership. White became a Cruisers distributor for Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The two men’s lives converged and in 1958 when they formed a partnership, G&W Boats, Inc. which shortly became Grady-White Boats. It was a family affair, with Don White as president and Glen Grady serving as vice president, Enid White, Don’s wife, as treasurer and Corrine Grady, Glen’s wife, as secretary. They brought in a designer and engineer, Ronald Peterson from Cruisers and began building beautiful and rugged lapstrake boats suitable for the waters that they all respected. The company was formed in Greenville, North Carolina in Warehouse Number 2, a former tobacco storage facility.
Initially they produced two models. By the mid 1960s the company had 13 different models up to 27-feet, including offshore models. However, lacking the basic understanding of how to price product, the company was floundering and on the brink of bankruptcy.
WRITTEN BY MARK KELLUM
They needed a white knight and they found it in Lexington, KY businessmen Eddie Smith, Sr., known as George, and his son Eddie Smith. Eddie, was growing bored working for the family’s business, National Wholesale, a mail order enterprise selling panty hose and stockings founded by his father, George.
Doug Allen, a friend of Eddie’s and Don Whites partner in an automobile dealership, asked Eddie if he could fly him from Lexington to Greenville where he was having a problem. They met at the Grady-White factory and spoke plainly in front of Eddie. Understanding where they were financially, Eddie and George decided to buy the company’s assets and set up Eddie to run Grady-White.
Eddie heard of an engineer and manufacturing expert at the Empire Brush Company in town who was looking for a new challenge. Wiley Corbett was exactly the right person at exactly the right time for Grady-White.
Wiley learned that the company was pricing boats based on what the competition was selling boats for instead of what it really costs to build. In an era when computers were unheard of in the industry, Wiley hired a computer expert to set up a standard cost system and to design a material requirement plan to measure and track all materials. He also invested in time and motion studies to measure the efficiency of the build processes.
Back then, Grady-White did not have a good reputation with their dealers. Warranties were paid late if not at all and dealers were not happy that Grady would not switch to the new fiberglass construction process. Eddie Smith did not have the same aversion to fiberglass and began the transition to fiberglass.
A gregarious salesman, Bing Fishman, was about to leave Grady-White for another boat company. Eddie convinced Bing to stay and with Wiley Corbett running the show at the plant, together they hit the road to convince dealers to stay on, come back or to engage new dealers.
With Wiley’s penchant for efficiency and Eddie’s drive for perfection along with a couple of key new hires and valuable holdovers, Eddie and Wiley, in 1972 were able to get the company into a new facility that was built specifically for efficient boat building.
In 1975 Wiley Corbett hired a young production clerk, Kris Carroll. She would prove to be the most important hire for Grady-White, the Greenville community and the industry as a whole.
In the 1980’s Eddie and Wiley listened to their dealers, sales professionals and customers and refocused GradyWhite to a larger family friendly offshore fishing brand.
1985 a worker found that a fiberglass overlay was delaminating from the wood. Eddie and Wiley immediately assigned a team to check 400 sold boats for the same issues. Every boat with the problem was shipped to the plant and the hull was replaced then returned to the owner free of charge. It was expensive but it turned out to be the right thing and enhanced Grady-White’s reputation.
In 1987 Eddie Smith stepped down as president and named Wiley Corbett to the role. He advanced Kris Carrol to run engineering, Doug Gomes to run the plant and Edgar Bryan to manage accounting, they all were named as vice presidents.
They key to Grady-White’s ultimate success is the strong dealer network that Eddie Smith and Bing Fishman initiated. Grady-White dealers are very loyal to the brand and what it stands for.
Kris Carroll was promoted to executive vice president and general manager in 1992. In 1993 Wiley Corbett decided it was time to retire, and because of her collaborative energy and team building talents, Eddie and Wiley decided to promote Kris Carrol to lead the company forward. She was the first woman ever to hold the position in a major manufacture.
Today Grady-White is thriving with many new models, winning countless awards and honors under the ongoing tutelage of Eddie Smith and Kris Carroll.
SHAUN MURRAY
THE GUY WITH SEEMINGLY ENDLESS TALENT AND A PERSONALITY THAT ENDEARED HIM TO FANS OF ALL AGES
Back in 1995, Shaun Murray was a 19-year-old kid from Missouri, trying to sell his parents on letting him take a semester off from college to try his luck on the pro wakeboard tour. Fast forward 20 years and that unknown kid with the big tricks and 90210 sideburns is now arguably the most popular rider in the history of the sport. His resume justifies the acclaim. Multi-time National Champion. Fourtime World Champion. The namesake behind a popular video game. But it’s not the titles, but Murray’s engaging personality that likely cemented his spot at the top. Playing goofy characters in early videos that drove the sport’s growth, approachable and friendly at contests and industry events, Murray was the guy with seemingly endless talent and a personality that endeared him to fans of all ages.
That kid is now 40, and finally stepping away from competition. But though the average day may no longer include time spent fine-tuning a weekend trick run, it doesn’t mean he’s stepping away from the sport.
“It was a little weird, because you look at that moment before you get there and it seems scary,” Murray says of drawing the curtain on his competitive career. “But now that I’ve been through it, it’s honestly been a great experience. My career in wakeboarding is not done whatsoever. Competing was a big piece, but just because it’s not there doesn’t mean I’m not involved in it. In fact, it seems like I’ve got more going on these days.”
More indeed. From appearances to demos, clinics to photo and video shoots, the now-married father of two still finds himself fully immersed in the sport. Not that other interests haven’t muscled their way into the routine. Four mornings a week he commits to training on his backyard jungle gym, something he built to avoid the boredom of indoor workouts. The passion has grown to the point that Murray now competes on the popular television series American Ninja Warrior. But away from trying to make himself what he calls “monkey strong,” he admits to spending time considering just how to keep a middleaged, former National and World champion relevant in a sport dominated by younger riders. Part of that effort includes daily interaction with fans on social media, and dreaming up ideas for pictures, videos, or instructional pieces. Another part of the equation is coaching. Murray is the marquee instructor at the Orlando Watersports Complex, where he works with students both behind the boat as well as on the park’s infamous cable.
And that’s not even taking into account one of the more interesting things on
Murray’s resume — his involvement in Product Design & Development (PD&D) at longtime boat-sponsor Nautique. Evolving from sponsored rider to PD&D was a natural transition. Over his career, Murray helped design countless wakeboards for sponsor Hyperlite, gaining in-depth knowledge of how water works and affects hull design. That experience played a key role in the development of Nautique’s marquee G Series. Extensive time inside the cockpit also prompted input on Nautique’s interiors, specifically seating configuration. It was Murray who asked why wake boats still positioned passengers sideways. His suggestion for backward-facing seating debuted on the Super Air Nautique 220, and would later become a cornerstone of the G Series.
“Hull design, interior design, it was kind of a natural transition for me and I love being a part of it. We talk about different ideas, different ways to maximize the experience for customers. I spend quite a bit of time in the boat, so I try to be the voice for the people.”
What designs is he currently most excited about? “It may seem weird that I
would say something other than our G-Series boats, but honestly the new GS is really impressive in the sense that it really is a multi-sport boat,” he says. “It works great for families, for people who want to do a little bit of everything. If you want that big G wake that no other boat company is putting out then get into the G series, but as far as multi-sport this new GS is a great new addition to the Nautique family.”
But when the topic shifts to what’s coming down the road, the openness stops. “We’re always working on something,” he says with a grin. “That’s all I can say.”
Murray does, however, have a few things to say about the sport he still obviously loves, and the impact on it from the latest trend — wakesurfing. “I’ve seen surfing take off and be a real big success because it’s what I call low risk, high reward,” he explains. But he cautions prospective enthusiasts not to write off wakeboarding as high reward, but high risk. “I really try to teach people that it’s different than that. People don’t realize that you don’t have to learn super hard tricks to have a good time, but that’s how we’ve viewed it because we really don’t know otherwise.”
Instead of urgimg his students to strive for that next monster trick, Murray urges them to first build a proper foundation. Cornerstones of this approach are proper body position, and riding with less effort but more efficiency. Years ago he released several well-received instructional videos. Today, that same instruction is available in an app, Wake MD, available for both iOS and Droid.
Ultimately, however, he urges riders of any discipline to remember why they started in the first place. “Too often we rank ourselves as to our level, how we compare to friends, or what are the hardest tricks we can do. It becomes a way to prove ourselves or to get accolades from someone else. I encourage people to not look at the list of tricks that you think would get you high fives from your friends, but go out there and do something that challenges yourself that you think is fun. Forget what other people are thinking. Go out there and enjoy the feeling of it.” Sage advice...from a man who hasn’t stopped having fun yet.
WRITTEN BY JEFF HEMMEL BOATING MAGAZINE
NAUTIQUE GS20
Today’s watersports family has a lot of activities to choose from, whether it’s a slalom pass at dawn, an air-infused wakeboard run midday, or a soulful evening surf session. But while there are boats tailor-made for each, few excel at all three. The Super Air Nautique GS20 separates itself from the pack by combining elements of the brand’s world-record setting Ski Nautique and industry-leading G-Series into that rare, multi-sport crossover.
At 20’, the GS20 is easy to both stow and tow. With the tower folded, it will even fit into a standardsize garage. Step aboard, however, and you’ll find a surprisingly roomy cockpit with seating for 12 passengers split between a squared-off bow cockpit and main cockpit highlighted by a generous perimeter lounge. At the helm, the driver enjoys a massive 12.4” touchscreen control display. Two additional seats are molded into the transom, perfect whether you’re gearing up to ride or just enjoying a post-ride, engine-off swim. Subfloor ballast (1,850 pounds total) keeps the storage compartments reserved for everyone’s gear...not space-hogging bags.
Nautique borrowed from two flagship designs to create the perfect crossover. The bow is influenced by the Ski Nautique 200 to run at a level attitude at speed for flat and soft ski wakes. Amidships, hull shape is adapted from the G-Series to shape impressive ramps for wakeboarding. Aft, that same G-Series shape, along with the Nautique Surf System with WAVEPLATE (extendable transom plates tooled into the transom), create a massive wave for surfing with a long pocket and an abundance of push. The Nautique Configurable Running Surface completes the picture, with a large center plate that both delivers faster planing and sharper turning under heavy loads, as well as further fine tunes waves and wakes.
AQUILA 36
A HIGHLY SOCIAL ANIMAL THAT PLAYS WELL WITH A CROWD
The all-new Aquila 36 shares the genetics of the well-established Aquila brand. The Aquila 38, 44 and 48, are widely recognized for being designed, engineered and manufactured to provide open water cruising capability, adding all the comfort features and amenities that make them ideal for entertaining. Like its siblings, the Aquila 36 is a power catamaran that blends plentiful live aboard space and qualities perfect for socializing with rugged strength and control for voyaging in safety.
The Aquila 36 is designed to be versatile. Offering all the conveniences of a large yacht including the topside summer kitchen, the Aquila 36 is always up for a party. The 14’ 7” beam can be enjoyed by a crowd with cockpit seating for over two dozen, or as the perfect platform for a weeklong cruise for four with two comfortable cabins with private en-suite heads.
The Aquila 36 also comes complete with a hardtop that is available with or without an opening sunroof.
Powered by efficient twin 250 horsepower Mercury Verado outboards, the Aquila 36 provides spirited performance. Step up to optional twin 300 or 350 horsepower outboards and she becomes a thoroughbred performer. With open water capabilities, wide stance and twin sponsons, the boat is remarkably stable making it exceptionably comfortable at speed or while at rest.
“The Aquila 36 is the perfect blend of space for entertaining and cruising performance,” explained Harry Mountain, Aquila Brand Manager. “It has the seating space of most 50-foot yachts. The extraordinarily quiet outboards allow for easy
maintenance and the catamaran configuration allows for operating in relatively shallow waters. The Aquila 36 effectively has 20-percent less draft than comparable monohulls.”
The Aquila 36 is ready to play, offering tons of storage for all the water toys anyone might bring aboard. Waterskies, wakeboards, towels, rafts, chairs, coolers, all disappear into commodious spaces keeping the deck clear for socializing.
“The Aquila 36 utilizes a hull design that provides exceptional storage, a huge amount of social space and excellent fuel economy. In addition, the large retractable swim ladder provides easy water access. All of these attributes, along with her shallow draft, comfortable ride and a respectable top-end make her a remarkable power cat. Space, comfort, performance and efficiency, you get it all with the Aquila 36,” expounded Mountain.
The cockpit can easily be entered from port or starboard through opening doors on each side or via the large aft deck with stainless steel gate. On port is L-shaped bench seating facing forward with center seating, which is easily convertible to forward or aft facing configurations. Moving forward, the cockpit blends seamlessly into the convertible dinette and summer kitchen with a smokeless grill, sink, refrigerator and cooler storage. The helm is replete with twin seating. Moving onward to the forward cockpit there is fore and aft facing bench seating for eight adults that also converts to two large sun pads.
WRITTEN BY MARK KELLUM
AMERICAN CLASSIC
SEA RAY HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS AMERICA’S FAVORITE BOAT BRAND, WITH GOOD REASON
When you think of boating in America, you think of Sea Ray. The brand is everywhere, from lakes to rivers to the ICW to open ocean. If you’re on the water in the United States, Sea Ray is ubiquitous. And that’s no accident. The Knoxville-based builder has formed one of the strongest brands in the industry by turning out a wide range of high-quality products packaged with an aspirational marketing strategy that simply appeals to the American buyer. Let’s take a closer look at some of Sea Ray’s most popular boats to uncover more about what makes this company so very successful.
SPX Series
Sea Ray’s entrée class into the world of boating is the sporty, fun SPX line. The boats come in four models: the 190, 190 OB, 210 and 210 OB, (OB stands for outboard) each of which has something special to offer. The boats are all open bow, which means they can carry relatively large loads of people while also letting all onboard commune with the nautical environment — one of the simple joys of owning a smaller boat. Optional upgrades are available for upholstery, wood grain finishes and LED lighting. And perhaps best of all, the SPX series starts right around $30,000. If you’re in the market for a first boat, or just want something fun and zippy to cruise around on, the Sea Ray SPX line is a great place to start.
WRITTEN BY KEVIN KOENIG POWER & MOTORYACHT
SLX Series
As one of Sea Ray’s most popular lines, SLXs are fun, versatile, well priced and they look good too. The line includes a 230, a 250, a 280, a 310 and a 350. Both the 310 and 350 are available as either inboards or outboards, while the rest are all inboards. This sport cruiser line is built for fun, be it towing wakeboarders behind you or hosting a party onboard. With features like biminis, wakeboard towers, wet bars and Sea Ray’s Dynamic Running Surface, which helps dial in the boats running attitude while also aiding with stability. The boats also have exceptionally large cockpits to allow your guests some room to breathe as they enjoy their time on the boat. If you’re serious about boating, and serious about fun, then the Sea Ray SLX line is the line of boats you need to see.
SDX Series
You can think of the SDX Series kind of like a bigger SPX line. Like the SPXs, all the boats here have open bows that are so great for socializing (not to mention the best seats in the house when you’re underway.) With models ranging between a 220 and a 290, there’s no shortage of choices. Even better, Sea Ray designed these boats with extra stowage for all your toys, plus large swim platforms that make getting in and out of the water a breeze. Not only that, but the boats’ deep-V hulls and wide beams that carry far forward help give them stable, wave-slicing rides that you won’t soon forget. When you take into consideration all the features Sea Ray imbued this line of boats with, it becomes pretty obvious that they were built for some serious fun.
Sport Cruisers
For a step up in luxury from the smaller builds, Sea Ray offers its Sport Cruiser line—ranging from 260 to a 370. Ergonomic helms, spacious cockpits and relatively large swim platforms are par for the course here. Great care has also been given to the engineering. Sea Ray uses robotic components when measuring, cutting and drilling during engine placement to ensure that the engines are installed within four thousands of an inch to where they are meant to be. The result is a uniformly balanced ride across the Sports Cruiser line. Hulls are also a point of pride here. They are deep-V with 21 degrees of deadrise at the transom. Simply put, the hulls on these boats will grip the water snugly through turns and slice right through whatever chop Mother Nature kicks up for you.
Sport Yachts
The Sea Ray Sport Yachts and Yacht collection is a breed of boat that isn’t just fun. It will get you noticed. This range of boats goes from a 400 to a 540, all of which are available in both sport-cruiser and flybridge versions except for the 540. The Sea Ray Sport Yachts are notable for the amount of onboard space devoted to entertaining, particularly with the flybridge versions. These boats come with all the amenities you can think of, and can also be outfitted with either Cummins V-drives or a super-maneuverable Zeus propulsion system with integrated joystick control and integrated autopilot that will allow even relative novices to feel confident when at the wheel. What’s more, the fit and finish onboard these boats is truly yacht quality. When you’re inspecting your next boat, make sure to check out the stitching on the leather, the way the wood fits together and the solid feel of the drawers and cabinets when they shut. It’s that kind of attention to detail that sets these boats apart from the rest.
L-Class
Once you’ve reached the L-Class, you’re truly at the height of yachting luxury. This line of boats includes the L550, L590, L590 Fly, L650 and L650 Fly. One of the things Sea Ray concentrated on with these models is the propulsion system, which is as high-end and sophisticated as any you’ll find in this class. For example, the L650 Fly comes with dual Raymarine radar/GPS/chartplotters, standard bow and stern thruster controls, autopilot, and more. Whether you choose to drive your boat or you decide to hire a captain, the person at the wheel will have the utmost control over the boat. What’s more, the L650 Fly comes with a standard Seakeeper gyroscope, which, if you’ve never experienced a Seakeeper in action, suffice
to say you’re in for a treat. The device reduces roll by up to 90-percent and is an absolute game changer when it comes to boating. The Seakeeper helps to make the L-Class exactly what Sea Ray designed these boats to be — true yachts, for discerning yachtsmen. Well played.
It’s no secret why Sea Ray is an American classic, and why so many serious boaters have owned and loved one of these boats at one time or another. The company builds a wide range of high-quality, seaworthy, and good-looking boats. This brand truly has something for everyone, and if you’re not already familiar with its products, right now is an absolutely fantastic time to learn more.
THE MORE, THE MERRIER
THE FOY FAMILY’S QUICK UPGRADE TO A BIGGER BOAT ALLOWS THEM TO ENJOY TIME ON THE WATER WITH MORE FRIENDS
"Our kids were getting older, and we realized now is the time to enjoy the lake."
John Foy and his wife, Peggy, grew up boating on the lakes of Wisconsin, and they’ve taken their four kids back to the family lake house in Wisconsin for vacations over the years, making memories in both an older Sea Ray 185 and a pontoon boat.
In early 2015, the family — which lives near Lake Lanier north of Atlanta — decided to stop waiting for family vacations to make memories on the water, and they went shopping at MarineMax Georgia. “Sea Ray was top of mind as I was very familiar with the brand and know their boats to be fun and dependable,” Foy says.
“We bought a 280 SLX and loved it.”
His sons Wil, 19, and Hudson, 17, love to wakeboard, while daughters Gracie, 14, and Savannah, 12, enjoy tubing.
But three months later they traded in the 280.
“We were using the boat a lot more than I expected,” Foy explains. “The kids were bringing lots of friends out, and my wife and I wanted to invite more friends. We enjoyed the 280 so much that we wanted more space.”
And so they went back to see MarineMax sales consultant John Powell, who helped them upgrade to a 350 SLX.
“I can’t say enough good things about John Powell and Captain David Ludwig. The sales experience with John
was an easy process — not a hard sell — with multiple test drives. When Captain Dave delivered the boats, he was so helpful in teaching my wife, my sons and I about all the features,” Foy says.
“We love the SLX line. The 350 has lots of room and all the bells and whistles,” he adds. “Its great for dragging the kids on their tubes and wakeboards and perfect for entertaining.”
Foy admits he was a little intimidated by the idea of driving the 35-foot boat, but says it is very easy to maneuver. “The 350 has a joystick, which is revolutionary in boating,” he adds. “It is fantastic for docking or backing into a slip at the marina. You can move side to side or turn 360 degrees. It takes the anxiety out of docking with an audience."
The 350 SLX also features Skyhook technology — a virtual anchoring system that allows the boat to use GPS coordinates to maintain location at the press of a button. “When we’re going to a restaurant and there’s congestion at the marina, we can wait comfortably while other boats pass.
The technology in the boat makes it so easy to navigate,” Foy says. “And the automated Windlass makes it easy to anchor.”
The 350 SLX has all the room you could want in a bowrider, seating 18 people while in motion. It also features an automated platform off the back of the boat; when anchored, the Foys and friends sunbathe or enjoy a drink while relaxing on the platform or in the lounge seats that unfold off the back of the boat. “There’s lots of room to stretch out and sunbathe,” Foy says.
WRITTEN BY JAIME LACKEY
There is a small temperature-controlled room with a couch-like seat and TV, if someone needs to warm up, cool off or check the football scores. “There’s even a bathroom, which is nice if we’re out for the whole day,” Foy adds.
“The boat has brought our family together. We are fortunate; we’ve gone to a lot of ballgames and concerts, but the kids have different interests. All six of us love being on the boat and spending quality family time out on the lake. We pack food and drinks and spend the day at a new cove or island, picnicking and splashing around. At Lanier, we can pick a new spot every weekend and never run out of places to explore,” Foy says.
He and Peggy enjoy inviting friends out for the day or for waterfront dining at local favorites like Fish Tales Lakeside Grille or Pelican Pete’s Bar & Grill. Wil and Hudson are both great drivers and like going out on the water with their friends.
“I love that we all use the boat so frequently,” Foy says. “It’s been a great purchase.”
“The boat has brought our family together. We are fortunate; we’ve gone to a lot of ballgames and concerts, but the kids have different interests. All six of us love being on the boat and spending quality family time out on the lake..."
Chef Spotlight: SOUTH SEAS ISLAND RESORT
CHEF PAUL TISON SHARES HIS PASSION FOR CULINARY ARTS AND INDULGING RECIPES
With over 20 years of experience as a chef in the kitchens of prestigious Florida resorts, hotels and restaurants, Chef Paul Tison prides himself on creating unique, memorable dishes incorporating the freshest and most high quality ingredients. From contemporary fare to fine American cuisine, to Floribbean and Mediterranean specialties, Chef Paul has perfected the art of preparing culinary masterpieces.
Now the executive chef at South Seas Island Resort, a 330-acre destination beach resort and wildlife preserve in Captiva Island, Chef Paul continues to bring exquisite and innovative dishes to guests.
Showcasing the bounty of Gulf seafood caught locally in the waters surrounding Captiva Island, Chef Paul presents some of the most desired delicacies in the world. At the resort’s Harbourside Bar & Grill and The Pointe, Chef Paul and his staff even prepare fresh fish that guests have caught themselves in local waters. He also takes special and personalized care of families that have children with allergies.
“Each and every day, I take great pleasure in preparing dishes presenting the finest cuisine from the Gulf of Mexico,” he said. “We are pleased to offer our guests an exclusively fresh — and unforgettably delicious — selection of seafood.”
SMOKED FISH DIP
Directions
Season cod with salt, pepper, oil, liquid smoke, and bake until fully cooked at 300 degrees in a preheated oven. Cool fish and shred with gloved hands, removing any skin or bones. In mixer with paddle attachment, add remaining ingredients and puree until smooth, adding additional mayonnaise to desired consistency.
Eat right away or, chill and store in airtight container under refrigeration.
Ingredients
2 Lb. Cod fillet
1 Cup mayonnaise
½ Cup Boursin Cheese
½ Cup cream cheese, softened
½ Cup yellow onion, small diced, softened
¼ Cup chives, chopped
¼ Cup parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp. thyme, chopped
1 Tbsp. thyme, chopped
1 Tbsp. hot sauce
1 Tbsp. liquid smoke
Freshly ground black pepper and Kosher salt to taste
WHOLE GRILLED SNAPPER WITH ISLAND RICE
Directions
Ingredients
1 - ½Lb. whole red snapper, gutted and descaled
1 Tsp. blackening seasoning, if desired
½ Cup dry white wine
1 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 Tbsp. butter, unsalted
4 Sprigs fresh thyme
Oil or pan spray for grilling
Freshly ground black pepper and Kosher salt to taste
Island Rice Ingredients
1 Cup. basmati rice
2 Tbsp. coconut flake, toasted
1 Tbsp. cream of coconut, or coconut milk
½ Cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp. diced fresh mango
1 Tbsp. diced fresh tomato
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
Freshly ground black pepper and Kosher salt to taste
Season the snapper with salt and pepper or blackening seasonings. Preheat the grill to 400º Fahrenheit. Grill both sides of the fish over high heat. Use a long, firm metal spatula to flip the fish. Remove the fish to an oven safe pan or dish, add remaining ingredients and place on the unlit side, and cover grill. Cook at 400º for approximately 15 minutes.
Island Rice
Cook, and cool basmati rice, or rice of your choice, following standard recipe on packaging. For most commercial basmati rice, that will be 1 cup of rice, rinsed, to 1 ¾ cups of water. Bring the water and rice to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low, and allow rice to cook for about 15 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Add remaining ingredients in a large non-stick pan over medium heat, stirring with a non-stick plastic spatula to prevent burning. Serve with grilled snapper and vegetables of your choice.
190 OCTANE
Directions
Add ingredients and ice into a blender. Blend smooth and pour into glass. Garnish with an orange wedge, pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.
Ingredients
1 ¼ Oz. Bacardi 151
½ Oz. creme coconut
1 Oz. orange juice
2 Oz. mango puree
LOBSTER BASH GETAWAY!®
MARINEMAX TAKES FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO THE CRYSTAL BLUE-GREEN WATERS OF BIMINI, BAHAMAS
After an early morning call, guests boarded their yachts to caravan to the Resorts World Bimini, following MarineMax captains from ports in Miami, Pompano and Stuart, Florida. Guest Nancy Olsen made the three-hour trek solo riding the wake of Captain Chris Finck, on her 17-foot Boston Whaler, the Pushy Cat. Other captains choose to meet the group in the Bahamas.
For those who weren’t comfortable driving their boat in international waters, or just needed a little help docking, MarineMax staff were on hand to help with whatever was needed to make sure guests got into port safely and comfortably – because the beachside infinity pool, and cool cocktails were waiting.
The first evening, guests cast off their weekday masks and put on their disco shoes for a brief shuttle ride to Fisherman’s Village and an evening cocktail reception and dinner. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the thumping tunes of DJ Vybes, setting the tone for a wacky evening and “Anyone But You” costume party.
The MarineMax family pulled out the stops and brought the fun with some really clever get ups. Three generations of Johnsons arrived in star-studded fashion as the flamboyant, heavy make-up wearing, 70’s rock band, KISS. Bruce and Jodi Johnson have been coming to MarineMax events for years, most recently aboard their 85 Ocean Alexander Yacht, Por Da Zino.
Keeping to the weekend’s lobster theme, Guy and Heather Amico and family, who traveled to Bimini aboard their Sea Ray Sundancer, Let’s Boogie, dressed as lobsters, and started a conga line between the tables.
The crew from Gilligan’s Island made an appearance, as did the Flintstones, and a number of 60’s inspired hippies, including a Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band member.
After a rockin’ evening, the first full day of activities was relaxed, with guests opting for sunning at the pool or lounging at the nearby Paradise Beach. Those that wanted more excitement tried their hand at catching lobster or fishing.
A large group of guests boarded boats for a caravan to the wreck of the Sapona, a concrete cargo vessel with a colorful past that includes two world wars, rum-running and a plan for a nightclub. A hurricane in 1926 wrecked the ship and it is now a top destination for thrill-seekers who jump 30 or so feet to the sea, or dive the mere 20 feet to snorkel in and around the hull, where abundant and colorful sea life live.
After exploring the Sapona wreck, the group went swimming with stingrays at Honeymoon Harbor, and tested out the SEABOB, a high-tech water toy that is like an underwater jet ski.
Guests did a bit of boat hopping during the day in order to test out the latest Seakeeper, a stabilization gyro that keeps vessels from rocking sideways. After experiencing the pitch and roll without the Seakeeper, it was unanimous to turn the device back on for the duration of the trip.
In the evening, the MarineMax team hosted a dessert and champagne ‘docktail’ yacht hop reception, showcasing some of the latest luxury boats on the market from Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, and Azimut.
The next morning brought more fun and an island history lesson with the first ever Lobster Bash Scavenger Hunt. Armed with a camera, a golf cart and a bathing suit, teams found the oldest church on the island, ruins of an island landmark, a traditional Bahamian bakery and even the Fountain of Youth. The hunt was a timed island adventure where one team may, or may not, have bribed a local to give them the answers.
The signature event for the weekend was the annual lobster BBQ and fireworks show. Dressed all in white, guests grooved to the sounds of DJ Vybez, before feasting. The spectacular fireworks show sponsored by Sea Ray left everyone speechless and was the perfect ending to a spectacular weekend.
WRITTEN BY SUE RODMAN
ST. MICHAEL’S GET AWAY!
GET AWAYS! ARE THE PERECT OPPORTUNITY TO REKINDLE OLD
AND MAKE NEW LIFELONG
St. Michael’s is a quaint waterfront town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and a favorite destination for boaters. The easy accessibility and quiet luxury of the St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa, as well as the down home hospitality of the local shops and restaurants make this one of MarineMax’s most popular Get aways! , and a perfect way to wrap up the boating season.
The long weekend in St. Michaels began with a cocktail party where boaters rekindled old friendships, often recognizing boat names before first names, but no worries, a quick re-introduction and time between visits disappears. For new boaters, this is a soft introduction to the MarineMax family, a low-key, get-to-know-you, which often is the start of lifelong friendships.
Boaters ease into their first full day on St. Michael's with a Bloody Mary bar. Just like the choice of vodkas and various flavored mixes on the bar, the choices for daytime activities are varied and flexible. The morning mixer is a time to solidify plans and recruit accomplices, or just hang out and enjoy the scenery and idle pace.
For the adventurous, Aaron Kelly, a MarineMax sales consultant at Bay Bridge Marina, led a group out on an early morning fishing excursion in the Chesapeake Bay aboard a Scout 320 LXF Center Console boat. At first, the fish were as sleepy as the gently rising sun, but after a few hours, the group found a football field wide group of flutter fish, and the excitement began. Guests John and Laura Antonelli, who own a Scout Boat 255 LXF, and Peter and Jennifer Daly, who captain a Sea Ray 44 Sundancer, couldn’t get their lines in the water fast enough, catching more than 70 rockfish in about an hour.
Several attendees took a lesson in slow living from Lilly, TJ and Jill Roses' pet golden retriever, who enjoyed basking in the warm sunshine. TJ is the general manager of MarineMax’s Maryland stores. MarineMax and St. Michael’s are pet-friendly and several boaters brought their four-legged friends to enjoy the destination with them.
FRIENDSHIPS
MEMORIES.
A group of ladies chose to explore St. Michael’s charming boutiques on a girl’s day out shopping trip. Another popular excursion was sampling the local beer on tap at the Eastern Shore Brewery, where owner Jay Hudson remembers past Get away! participants by name. Old friends, cool tunes, and cold microbrews made it a perfect afternoon.
One of the most popular pastimes was simply riding bikes around St. Michael’s picturesque harbor town, with it’s red brick sidewalks, and Victorian homes. St. Michael’s has a mix of British, as well as nautical influences that date back to the mid-1600’s.
In addition to being a favorite with MarineMax customers, St. Micheal’s was also named one of the Top 10 Best Small Coastal Towns in America by USA Today.
In between the activities planned by the MarineMax staff, there was plenty of time for guests to relax by the Harbor Inn pool, schedule a pampering
at the spa, or explore on their own. Kurt and Tracey Kaufman of Fredricksburg, Va. found St. Michael’s the perfect place to try out the new kayaks they had recently purchased to keep on their boat, a Meridian 441, Wild Hare Yacht.
Of course a highlight of the trip is talking shop with like-minded friends. A MarineMax Get away! is the perfect confidence builder for a new boater, or a chance to fine tune knowledge for the experienced captain. Service personnel are on hand to chat maintenance and even take a look under the hood. Guides can help boaters learn the specifics of their craft, navigate the channels, or simply make sure the boat is tied up correctly.
MarineMax staff make sure customers are comfortable getting out on the water, and whether veteran waterman or a newbie, Get away! guests often comment on how the weekend has given them more confidence, as well as new ideas and new ways to experience their yacht.
For those looking to upgrade, or just dream a little, MarineMax brought the new 2017 Sea Ray L590, with it’s sophisticated joystick propulsion system to the party. The luxury craft was docked for the weekend and open to tours. Seeing the boat on the open water, versus in a showroom was a treat for many.
The best part of the MarineMax St. Michael’s Get away! was the awesome relationships forged within the MarineMax family. The laid back weekend gave everyone the chance to relax, get to know one another, and get to know their craft a little better. The peaceful atmosphere was a chance to recharge, while experiencing the best the boating lifestyle has to offer.
As the orange and yellow sun lazily sets over the water, the long weekend of festivities wrapped up at a St. Michael’s landmark, and locally owned family establishment, The Crab Claw restaurant. Guests told fish tales from the weekend over a traditional Eastern Shore dinner. Some they will share with friends outside the boating family, others are best told with a wink and a nod at the next MarineMax Get away!
WRITTEN BY SUE RODMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BILDAHL
CHANGES IN LATITUDES GET AWAYS! ®
A MARINEMAX GET AWAY! IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Submerge yourself in an unbelievable adventure on a new kind of MarineMax Get away! – a Changes in Latitudes Ge taway! It’s your familiar MarineMax Get away! , but this time, with a magnificent twist. On this adventure you’ll leave your personal boat behind and take the helm of a fully equipped luxury Aquila power catamaran in the British Virgin Islands from our MarineMax Vacations fleet. And all in the company of your local MarineMax store, family, friends and guests on a flotilla unlike any other.
You’ll be cruising in luxury exploring the breathtaking waters and phenomenal island destinations in the Caribbean. Here your bonds with friends and families are strengthened, your love of the water and travel is invigorated and your senses are indulged in a beautiful change of scenery. All while your passion for boating is quenched year-round.
The Changes in Latitudes Get away! flotilla of yachts cruises throughout the
Caribbean, exploring island destinations full of unique land and oceanside offerings. Each night, the flotilla will be in a different harbor, whether on mooring balls or on the docks of a luxury resort. Plus, there’s always a plethora of excursions from kayaking, snorkeling and fishing, to relaxing, shopping and sightseeing. You’ll also enjoy the array of lively MarineMax Get aways! events you are accustomed to enjoying with your MarineMax family, but this time surrounded by the beauty of the Caribbean sky, sandy beaches and crystal clear water.
THE FLEET
The MarineMax Vacations power fleet exclusively features the award-winning state-of-the-art Aquila power catamarans that are the pinnacle of the industry. Ranging in size from 38 ft. to 48 ft. they offer 2, 3 or 4 cabin spacious layouts and are customized power boats with details and comfort amenities alongside operating systems well-beyond any other
charter fleet, and just what you would expect from MarineMax. All indoor and outdoor spaces have been intentionally designed to make living aboard a true pleasure while providing outstanding efficiency and ease of operation. You’ll quickly appreciate all of the spacious living areas and comfort amenities you are accustomed to enjoying, and then some!
THE PLANNING
Your local MarineMax team will work with the expert team at MarineMax Vacations. Together they will plan your store’s Changes in Latitude Get away! From planning the itinerary to help in provisioning your yacht with your favorite drinks, food and water toys, it’s our pleasure as part of the MarineMax family to help create your lifelong memories of incredible adventures and amazing sights that deepen the connections with your family and friends.
With the comfort of a lead boat and local
Vacations Team members on hand through the adventure, you'll have a cruising confidence for navigation questions as well as a technician to assist you with all of your boating needs.
THE DESTINATION
The British Virgin Islands includes more than 60 gorgeous islands to discover, each with their own ambiance and beauty. With the year-round warmth in the air and the beauty of the electrifying crystal clear waters, the British Virgin Islands offer a remarkable vacation experience every time you visit. Combining the natural beauty with the seemingly endless amount of activities, from the cultural, to the adventurous, to the indulgent, each vacation is unique in its own way. There’s something for everyone in your family to enjoy, whether that is relaxing on secluded beaches or snorkeling through famous reefs and shipwrecks.
THE MEMORIES, FRIENDSHIPS AND BONDS
Your Changes in Latitudes Get away! is waiting for you. Contact your local MarineMax store for information on their next Changes In Latitudes Get away! and to make your reservation. You don’t want to miss the adventure! For more information visit us at: www.marinemax.com/latitudes
OWNERSHIP
GET PAID TO OWN
Experience the pride of owning a new luxury Aquila power catamaran within the MarineMax Vacations Charter Fleet.
Owning in the Yacht Ownership Program allows you to enjoy stress-free, simple yacht ownership with incredible year-round destination boating while we take care of everything else, including operating and management expenses.
You simply enjoy your time aboard with family and friends and let us cover your cost for more connection time, more memories, more exploration. Available models include the award-winning MarineMax 443 and MarineMax 484 power catamarans.
CHARTER YACHT OWNERSHIP OWNER BENEFITS
• Year-round destination boating
• Reduced purchase price
• Receive a 9% return regardless of charter activity
• Zero operating expenses
• Professional MarineMax management and yacht maintenance
• Financing available. Trade-ins considered
Please visit www.marinemaxvacations.com for more information and proformas or call 813-644-8070.
WRITTEN BY JODY KREBS
MAKING WAVES
ALREADY WELL KNOWN IN EUROPE, POLISH BUILDER GALEON YACHTS IS SET TO MAKE A SPLASH IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS
If you live in the United States there’s a good chance you have yet to hear about Galeon Yachts. However, that won’t be for long. Galeon is a very well established Polish brand that was founded way back in 1982. Its products are popular and well respected in Europe and other parts of the world, and as the company makes a push into the Americas market, the same is almost certainly about to happen here. And that’s because Galeon builds well designed, well engineered boats that keep an eye on the big picture while focusing intently on the smallest details. Let’s take a closer look at this unique European builder.
Galeon offers a whopping 30 models between 30 and a 82-feet long. The company is able to have such breadth in its range because it employs over 700 people, all of whom are experts in their given field. It also has roughly 288,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities, so space is not a concern. The boats are built almost completely inhouse, with Galeon being able to handle responsibilities for modeling, metalworking, woodworking, assembly, laminating, engine installation, and more. The capacity to do all of these things on their own, without farming the work out to contractors, allows Galeon to do two
things. First, it obviously helps to keep cost down. And secondly, it allows the company to have complete control over nearly the entire manufacturing process, allowing them to build the boats specifically to their rigorous standards.
One very happy result of the latter of those two benefits is that Galeon is known industry wide for high levels of onboard fit and finish. Wood grains match one another, upholstery is nearly flawless and everything aboard typically fits snugly, with very little rattling. Put simply, Galeon builds very solid boats.
Galeon is partners with MarineMax in the U.S., and MarineMax now offers 10 different models between 38 and 66 feet to customers. These exciting builds are having great success in the domestic market as Galeon’s reputation for performance and quality precedes it.
Two hard-top models that should be of interest to potential U.S. buyers will be the 385 HTS and 445 HTS. Both boats are exceptionally sleek and have large salon windows that provide nearly 360-degree views from the helm. This feature not only makes the boat’s interior very well lit, but the windows also make the boat safer as the captain has excellent sight lines. As far as layout, the 385 has a spacious accommodation level with a forepeak master cabin as well as a guest cabin aft.
Additionally there’s a saloon with a galley and a private head —not bad at all for a boat this size. Something we really like about the 445 is her cockpit area with its settee and sundeck, not to mention retractable glass doors that separate it from the salon. This boat’s garage comes in optional sizes, so you can scale down your tender if you’d rather have more seating aboard the big boat.
The 660 Fly is the largest offering in the company’s flybridge range and she does not disappoint in the slightest. In fact, she’s quite impressive. This boat is an excellent party platform. She has multiple different onboard areas that are perfect for socializing. One of our favorites is the large bow sundeck area, easily accessibleby the
WRITTEN BY KEVIN KOENIG POWER & MOTORYACHT
wide sidedecks. Those sidedecks of course are also super-helpful when it comes to docking. Another highlight for this boat is the large hydraulic swim platform at the stern, which makes getting in and out of the water a piece of cake should you decide to go for a dip.
The third type of Galeon that MarineMax is offering is the Skydeck line, in a 430, 510 and 560 version. These boats are somewhat of a hybrid between the Flybridge and HTS models, and retain very sporty lines while also having a slightly smaller bridge deck up top. It makes for a nice mix of worlds. The Skydecks are half sportboat, half motoryacht, and all fun. They all have wide sunroofs so even when driving indoors the captain can get some wind in his hair. Galeon also made sure to have plenty of forward facing seats onboard. That’s a staple of the company’s experience. If you’ve ever been in a rougher
than flat calm seaway trying go somewhere at a decent clip, you know that forward facing seats can be worth their weight in gold. One last feature worth mentioning onboard the Skydecks is that the boats have automatic, drop-down ladders that allow passengers to easily get in the water without taking up any precious cockpit space. That’s a nice little design trick that Galeon understands well due to is more than 30 years of existence. There’s simply no accounting for experience when it comes to smart boat design.
And that’s a key selling point for this brand. The company has been around for a good long while and has most certainly learned a thing or two (much more than that actually). Boats from Galeon have been plastering smiles all over European faces for years now. So it should come as no surprise when you start seeing Galeons dotting the U.S. waterways very soon. They’re simply too well designed, too well built, and heck, too much fun not to become the next big thing out on the water. Just you wait.
A YACHT DESIGNED FOR PRIVACY, LUXURY AND INTIMATE ENTERTAINING OCEAN
OCEAN ALEXANDER 112
Ocean Alexander says it has taken its alliance with designer Evan K. Marshall to a new level with the Ocean Alexander 112 — designing a yacht that “lets light pour in, opens interiors in entirely new ways, and beautifully reflects how owners and their guests really use a boat: for privacy, luxury and intimate entertaining.”
It’s one of few motor yachts in this size range to offer a 5-stateroom layout and full-beam master suite, a split level on-deck owners’ stateroom. The 112 accommodates 10 people and six crew in its original configuration, but the company has made it highly adaptable for owners to enjoy the boat depending on the way they entertain.
The 112 represents a shift for the more than 30-yearold company to modernize and update its fleet. Ocean Alexander emerged from unlikely beginnings when Alex Chueh loaned a friend seed money for a boat manufacturing yard. When the friend couldn’t repay him, he asked that Chueh accept the yard as payment. In 1977, Chueh met with well-known naval architect Ed Monk, Jr., and realized that Monk’s knowledge and skills in boat design was the perfect fit for his vision.
The first boat was a 40-foot yacht built in 1978, says spokeswoman Salley Doleski. “The 58 and 64 models were the most popular models, with over 100 of those being made between 2000 and 2011,” Doleski says. “In 2012, we took a look at the market and decided to concentrate our efforts on larger sized yachts.”
The 112 is the result of that focus, with a “tremendous” amount of light in the salon, according to Steve Gale, the Ocean Alexander brand champion at MarineMax. A large aft deck features a staircase up to the flybridge,
and electronically-operated doors that will allow visitors into the salon with a push of a button. A service bar with refrigerator and a drop-down TV — which folds up flush with the ceiling when not in use — is part of the “bright, comfortable dining area on the aft deck,” Gale says.
The yacht features side deck entry and wide walkarounds to the back. Inside the salon is custom walnut woodwork with satin finish. A dining table seats eight, and a sliding door arrangement and side door opens flush to feature “a beautiful view from the dining table” when folded down, Gale says. A spacious galley offers a large oven, full-sized refrigerator, microwave and trash compactor, as well as large and deep pantries for plentiful storage. Crew has access to the kitchen through a side door to make provisioning the galley easy, and the formal dining area is equipped with a full wet bar, builtin wine cooler, a smaller fridge and an ice maker.
Passing a day head, a staircase leads to the VIP accommodations. “What everyone’s been asking for is an elegant, on-deck master stateroom,” Gale says. “The visibility is spectacular.” The owners’ suite has a smaller head, dubbed a “night head,” at portside, and leads down to formal heads with two large walk-in closets, a Roman tub, dual vanities, and a glass-enclosed head with bidet. Four large cabins feature ensuite heads and can accommodate eight guests.
The lower foyer features a huge laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer, and a staggering amount of cabinet space and appointed linen closets, as well as a refrigerator to accommodate thirsty guests.
The sky lounge of the tri-deck motoryacht has an aft deck bar, a barbecue grill, more refrigeration and icemakers, making it “ready to entertain,” Gale says. The sky lounge offers a sectional sofa, chairs, a large-screen TV, and a game table with four chairs, as well as access to the day head and a stainless staircase that leads to the lower level. “All the stainless is done at the factory” in Taiwan, Gale says. A 3,000-pound crane allows the yacht to accommodate a large dinghy.
The pilothouse has Garmin controllers that can operate everything on the multiple screens — the Furuno radar, the closed-circuit TV cameras, bow and stern thrusters, engine control and Simrad autopilot. Two 2,600 horsepower MTU 16V 2000 M94s provide power, allowing the 112 to achieve top speed of 26 knots and cruising speed of 17 knots. Electrical systems are controlled by OptiPlex systems. The helm console offers a desk for the captain and a lounge for the owners to “hang out and watch the action,” Gale says.
The pilothouse leads to port and starboard wing stations via pantograph doors that open to a Portuguese bridge featuring a built-in settee with table. The third level of the 112 features a “beautiful deep hot tub,” as well as lounges on the port and starboard sides.
WRITTEN BY REAGAN HAYNES SOUNDINGS TRADE ONLY
SUCH VERVE!
THE AZIMUT VERVE 40 IS THE ULTIMATE ITALIAN WEEKENDER
The ever popular Italian boatbuilder Azimut is known for a lot of things, large luxurious motoryachts, eco-friendly trawlers, mid-size cruisers, all, of course, replete with that certain Italian style. But now for something a little bit different — something that takes verve. Quite literally in this case. Azimut has recently debuted the Verve 40. She’s a totally different vessel for the builder, and one that promises to change the way you view a weekender-style boat.
First things first, the Verve is a walkaround. That’s a common type of design stateside, but in Europe, not so much. And that’s one of the reasons the verve is so exciting. She takes what is a trusted, and indeed almost workmanlike layout, and imbues it with Italian elegance. If you’re not excited about that, you should be.
When the boat debuted at the Newport International Boat Show, it was to much fanfare. And there’s no surprise why. Like all walkarounds, she has plenty of usable
deck space. Her cockpit was designed for socializing, and includes a settee that can be configured either as an L- or U-shape. There’s also an electrically actuated dining table that can convert the settee into a relatively large sunpad — how Italian. And if you weren’t already convinced that the cockpit was designed for entertaining, check out the list of amenities it has: a large refrigerator, bar, icemaker, two grills and an optional wine cooler. Like to entertain? Because this is a decent place to start.
As with any sport boat, the helm station is key. On the Verve, the space is inspired by the automotive world. There are no analog displays to be found here, everything is digital. The twin helm seats are designed to be both comfortable and ergonomic, even, or perhaps especially, at high speeds. And when you really get going, the overhead skylight can be opened up to provide that wind-in-your-hair thrill that so many boaters rightly crave. However, if you prefer shade when you stop the boat, there’s
a SureShade bimini top that can electrically extend to cover the cockpit as well.
As we mentioned, the Azimut Verve is a sport boat, and to that end, her top speed is a white-knuckle inducing 44 knots with the hammer down. A sizzling cruise speed of 37 knots is also on the board. Those impressive numbers should come as no surprise since the boat is outfitted with easy to maintain, triple 350-horsepower Mercury Verados. That’s a lot of power for a boat this size. But Azimut’s design expertise ensures that the hull provides a soft ride even at top speed. The hull was developed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a process more commonly seen when designing offshore racing hulls. It focuses on placing the most strength where the hulls see the most stress, but without adding excess weight. Strong but still light? That’s called a winwin. And it’s a quality every boater should be able to appreciate.
WRITTEN BY KEVIN KOENIG POWER & MOTORYACHT
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT
SEAKEEPER’S REVOLUTIONARY GYROSTABILIZERS MAKE LIFE ABOARD EXCEPTIONALLY MORE COMFORTABLE, AND BOATING MORE ACCESSIBLE
Have you ever been sea sick? If you have, you surely (and unfortunately) remember it well. The rolling swells that just won’t stop. Up and down and up and down and up and down. You concentrate on the horizon, you stand at the back of the boat, you try to get some wind in your face. And sometimes, it’s all for naught, and your day on the water is ruined. But have no fear, Seakeeper can change all of that.
The Maryland-based company builds gyrostabilizers that nestle in the hull of your boat, and once spinning, use physics to minimize your boat’s roll to an incredible degree — between 70 and 90 percent according to Seakeeper. If you’ve ever been on a rolling boat at the moment the captain flicks on the Seakeeper, well, that’s another experience you’re likely not to have forgotten. The boat, for lack of a better term, simply seems to stick in place. Waves, one of nature’s most powerful and unstoppable forces, are essentially rendered to be moot points — afterthoughts for your day on the water. It’s a marvel. And it should come as no surprise that having a Seakeeper onboard has become one of the hottest trends in boating over the past decade or so. Many boaters who have owned the company’s products simply can’t imagine life without them.
As Seakeeper’s Sale Representative—Nick Dwyer puts it, “Seakeeper’s gyrostabilization technology is truly changing the fundamental human experience on the water, it makes boating more enjoyable for everyone from the veteran boater to the first timer.”
The high quality of this product is no accident. The company has a serious marine-industry pedigree.
It was founded in 2003 by Shepard McKenney and John Adams for the purpose of creating motion control devices for yachts under 230 feet. McKenney of course, was the former owner of iconic Hinckley Yachts, and was instrumental in introducing the company’s Jetstick technology. Adams was the owner of Marine Dynamics, the world leader in motion control for highspeed ships. Together the duo was nearly unstoppable. McKenney, Adams and their team researched the technology behind what would become their gyroscope for five years, and then began peddling their wares in 2008. Business picked up very quickly thanks to a hard-driving marketing approach that focused on actually getting people onboard boats with Seakeeper technology. “Our motto here is ‘Feeling Is Believing,’” says Dwyer. “It was a new and innovative technology, customers didn’t quite know what to expect at first. But once we got people onboard, all of their questions seemed to clear up pretty quickly.”
Currently, the company’s product range includes the Seakeeper 3DC for boats up to 10 tons, the Seakeeper 5 for boats up to 20 tons, the Seakeeper 9 for boats up to 35 tons, the Seakeeper 16 for boats up to 70 tons, the Seakeeper 26 for boats up to 100 tons, and the Seakeeper 35 for yachts up to 140 tons. Dwyer says that the company’s real bread and butter currently is between 40 and 70 feet, but that Seakeeper is also excited to be bringing stabilization technology to boats that were previously thought too small. Seakeeper has launched, in effect, a stabilization revolution. And once you get onboard a boat with a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer, you’ll understand exactly why that is.
NEVER SAY NEVER
HOW THE BOATING LIFESTYLE HELPED PULL BRAD KENDELL FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO THE PODIUM AT THE RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES
The wind shear struck Bruce Kendell’s twin-engine Piper Navajo as it entered its final approach into Clearwater Airpark, in Clearwater, Florida on a storm-tossed September day in 2003. Kendell, (56) was travelling back from a business meeting in St. Augustine, and his son Brad (now 35) and Brad’s friend Daniel Griffith Jr. (24) were onboard. All three men were pilots, and all three knew that they were in serious trouble when the plane’s nose punched radically skywards: the Navajo crested its apex and its wings stalled, banking the plane hard and sending it on an unrecoverable trajectory towards Earth, roughly a half-mile shy of the runway.
Brad watched in horror from the cabin’s second row as a driveway on Greenlea Drive filled the plane’s windshield; seconds later, darkness washed his conscience.
The plane erupted in flames, and Brad awoke to a wall of pain. Instinctively, his hand found his seatbelt buckle, freeing him to crawl—broken and bleeding— from the wreckage. Citizen-heroes helped pull him to safety moments before the plane exploded.
Bruce and Daniel were killed upon impact, but Brad— en route to Tampa General Hospital in a helicopter—had begun the bare-knuckle fight that would redefine his life.
Flash-forward 13 years and Kendell found himself boarding a flight with teammates Rick Doerr and Hugh Freund for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where they would compete in the sailing portion of the Games in the threeperson Sonar class. The trip was uneventful, but Kendell’s road to Rio involved 25 surgeries, including bilateral
WRITTEN BY DAVID SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILL RICKETSON
above-knee leg amputations and open-heart surgery, and countless hours of jaw-clenching physical therapy just to walk; learning to be a competitive Paralympic sailor took three Paralympic “quadrennials”. Yet while Kendell’s life was touched by tragedy, he regained his compass bearing thanks to his family, friends and boating-centric lifestyle, which has always provided his gravity and inspiration, and earned Paralympic glory.
In the spring of 2003, Kendell was finishing his undergraduate degree in communications at the University of South Florida (USF) at Tampa. Mostly, he was enjoying the finer points of collegiate life and racking-up hours towards his big-picture goal of becoming a commercial pilot.
Five months later, this carefree life was shattered. Kendell was unconscious when the life-saving decision was made to amputate his legs, but—despite 45 days’ worth of heavy sedatives—he was painfully aware of the follow-up surgeries and the agony of mastering his prosthetic legs. Kendell was 6’2” and weighed 198 pounds when he boarded his Dad’s Piper Navajo, and he left Tampa General for Healthsouth Rehabilitation Center “a little shorter” and 115 pounds. While Kendell’s USF contemporaries were beginning careers, he invested his rookie year (re)learning to walk. “I compare it to buying a brand-new pair of shoes and having blisters and getting used to them, but 100 times worse,” said Kendell about his prosthetic legs. “It’s a process, but the more you practice and the more you’re on the legs, the skin toughens-up and the better you get.”
While the physical therapy took grin-and-bearit gumption, re-engaging life presented different challenges. Flying was out as a career, and Kendell had also lost his hero and mentor. Bruce Kendell was a world-class sailor who sailed away from New Zealand in
the early 1970s aboard Jim Kilroy’s then state-of-the-art ocean-racing sailboat Kialoa II as the boat’s professional captain, a gig that would take him and his soon-to-be bride Patti (Brad’s mother) around the world, while allowing him to compete in many of the world’s great offshore races, including the 1975 Sydney to Hobart Race, during which Kialoa III set a course record that stood for 21 years. “My brother Sean and I grew up on the water,” recalled Kendell about a childhood spent fishing, surfing and learning to sail at the Clearwater Yacht Club. “I knew I had to get back out.” While Sean had to carry his big brother down to the family’s powerboat those first few trips, the medicine proved strong. “[Boating] was a huge part of my healing,” said Kendell. “The help of family and friends is the reason that I’m here today.”
Family friends suggested that Brad consider Paralympic sailing, so, at their behest, Kendell traveled to nearby St. Petersburg and sailed Sonars with Jen French and JP Creignou. While a refresher was needed, by day two Kendell felt himself slotting back into a familiar groove that was noticed by French and Creignou, who were recruiting a third sailor for a 2008 Beijing Paralympics campaign. Kendell accepted their invitation, and while the team proved capable, they placed third at the U.S. Paralympic Trials—good, but not good enough.
French and Creignou matriculated to the two-person SKUD-18 class, where they eventually won a silver medal at the 2012 London Paralympics, but Kendell got a call from veteran Sonar skipper Rick Doerr asking if he was interested in joining his Sonar team. Doerr (56), a New Jersey-based surgeon, was sailing with Hugh Freund (28), a Maine-based architect and graphic designer, and together the trio began training.
“We were the number-one team leading up to it, but we didn’t sail well at the [2012] Trials,” recalled Kendell. “I’m actually glad it didn’t work out as we [sailed] in a much more beautiful place in Rio.” Easy words now, but it was a hit that saw Kendell leave the boat and pursue a career in commercial construction while raising his daughter, Piper (now 6), and investing time into his Never Say Never Pirates Camp.
Given the center-stage role that boating has always played in his own life, Kendell was interested in using sailing to help disabled children learn to overcome their adversities. The idea of starting a sailing-related camp took form, and Kendell and his co-organizer, Danny Deeds, soon discovered of another Florida-based group that had a similar idea and an identical moniker (Never Say Never). The two groups joined forces in 2011, and the first Pirates Camp happened in 2012. “The first year we had maybe 15 kids, and it’s doubled [every year] since,” recalled Kendell. “We’re now up to about 60 kids. We fly in their families, we feed them breakfast, lunch and dinner, and we do activities on the water and on land, too.” Funding, he explained, happens through sponsorships, fundraising and golf tournaments, and the camp takes place over a long weekend each year. “There’s not much hesitation,” chuckled Kendell about the campers’ attitudes, “they want to get out on the boats.”
While time ashore allowed Kendell to go boating and fishing—his other passion—with his family and friends every weekend, he knew he had unfinished business. Doerr and Freund kept sailing Sonars and rotated several other middle trimmers (Kendell’s position) through the boat, but the crew-chemistry didn’t kick. The three kept talking, and Kendell rejoined the team in 2014. “They’re a couple of my best mates,” said Kendell. “I always try to remind them that we’ve got to have fun—that’s the only way to win.”
Together with coach Mike Ingham, the three started training with the total-commitment goal of qualifying for—and medaling at—the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
“More time in the boat, a great coach, and we had our minds set,” said Kendell about the team’s evolution. “We travelled a lot, and we did as many international regattas as we could.”
In January of 2015, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) dropped the heart-wrenching news that sailing would be dropped from the Paralympics starting with the 2020 Games, meaning that Rio would be the team’s last shot at winning a Paralympic sailing medal. The pressure ratcheted, but the team calmly earned their berth to Rio by winning U.S. Paralympic Trials.
Talk of water-quality issues, the Zika virus, and a looming presidential impeachment chocked the Rio newsfeed, but, says Kendell, the team ignored the hype and had focused on the racecourse, where they proved themselves fast, finishing six out of their ten races in the Top Five. Appropriately, the Americans won the regatta’s final race, earning a proud silver medal—the highest honor earned by any U.S. Olympic or Paralympic sailors since French and Creignou’s silver medal at the 2012 London Paralympics.
“It [ranks] right after the birth of my daughter,” said Kendell. “It was a huge accomplishment, certainly, but family always comes first.” Like many Paralympians, Kendell had to win two races to experience the winner’s podium—recovering from his accident, then learning to compete at an international level—and he wasn’t shy about pointing to the higher hurdle: “Winning the silver medal was hard work!”
While the IPC’s decision to drop sailing closed one door, it simultaneously opened different avenues. “I plan on enjoying more family time, and time with friends,” said Kendell, who recalled some milestones he missed while off campaigning. Boating, of course, will play a central role as he teaches Piper to fish and sail, and as he transitions to big-boat sailing. “There’s talk of doing a Heineken Regatta,” said Kendell, his excitement audibly registering. “Everyday above ground is a good one!”
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2017 Azimut 72 Flybridge
2017 Azimut 55S
2017 Ocean Alexander 100 Motor Yacht
2017 Sea Ray L590 Fly
2016 Sea Ray L650 Express
2017 Azimut 54 Flybridge
2017 Galeon 660 Fly
2017 Nautique Super Air Nautique G23
2017 Galeon 430 Skydeck 2016 Azimut Atlantis 50
Scout Boats 350 LXF
Azimut Atlantis
Find a MarineMax location near you.
ALABAMA
Gulf Shores
3829 Gulf Shores Pkwy Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 981-1113
CALIFORNIA
San Diego
2540 Shelter Island Dr San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 294-2628
CONNECTICUT
Brookfield Bay Marina 476 Candlewood Lake Rd Brookfield, CT 06804 (203) 740-2628
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507 Danbury Rd New Milford, CT 06776 (860) 350-2515
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130 Water St Norwalk, CT 06854 (203) 831-6311
Westbrook 627 Boston Post Rd Westbrook, CT 06498 (860) 399-5581
FLORIDA
Cape Haze
7090 Placida Rd Placida, FL 33946 (941) 485-3388
Clearwater
18025 U.S. 19 North Clearwater, FL 33764 (727) 536-2628
Cocoa 1410 King St Cocoa, FL 32922 (321) 636-3142
East Florida Yacht Center 490 Taylor Lane Dania Beach, FL 33004 (954) 926-0308
Fort Myers
14030 McGregor Blvd Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 481-8200
Jacksonville at Beach Marine 2079 Beach Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32250 (904) 338-9970
Miami
700 NE 79th St Miami, FL 33138 (305) 758-5786
Naples 1146 6th Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 (239) 262-1000
Ocean Reef
2 Fishing Village Dr Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 367-3969
Orlando
455 S. Lake Destiny Rd Orlando, FL 32810 (407) 660-2628
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Panama City Beach 3605 Thomas Dr Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 708-1317
Pensacola at Bahia Mar 1901 Cypress St Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 477-1112
Pier 66
2301 SE 17th Street
Pier 66 Marina Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 779-1905
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700 South Federal Highway Pompano Beach, FL 33062 (954) 783-9555
MarineMax Yacht Center
750 South Federal Highway Pompano Beach, FL 33062 (954) 618-0440
Sarasota 1601 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 388-4411
St. Petersburg 6810 Gulfport Blvd St. Petersburg, FL 33707 (727) 343-6520
Stuart 2370 SW Palm City Rd Stuart, FL 34994 (772) 287-4495
Venice 1485 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34285 (941) 485-3388
GEORGIA
Buford
5800 Lanier Islands Parkway Buford, GA 30518 (770) 614-6968
Cumming
1860 Bald Ridge Marina Rd Cumming, GA 30041 (770) 781-9370
MARYLAND
Baltimore
1800 S. Clinton St Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 732-1260
Bay Bridge Marina
337 Pier One Rd, Suite 103 Stevensville, MD 21666 (410) 827-7371
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
24-R Ericsson St Boston, MA 02122 (617) 288-1000
Danvers
10 Hutchinson Dr Danvers, MA 01923 (781) 395-0050
Hingham 335 Lincoln St Hingham, MA 02043 (781) 875-3619
MINNESOTA
Bayport
200 Fifth Avenue South Bayport, MN 55003 (651) 351-9621
Excelsior 141 Minnetonka Blvd Excelsior, MN 55331 (952) 346-4857
Rogers 20300 County Rd 81 Rogers, MN 55374 (763) 428-4126
MISSOURI
Branson
611 Rock Lane Rd Branson, MO 65616 (417) 739-2500
Lake Ozark
3070 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO 65049 (573) 365-5382
Osage Beach 4543 Osage Beach Parkway Osage Beach, MO 65065 (573) 348-1299
NEW JERSEY
Brant Beach Service Center 20 W. 44th St Brant Beach, NJ 08008 (609) 494-2838
Brick
101 Riverside Dr N Brick, NJ 08724 (732) 840-2100
Channel Club Marina 33 West St Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750 (732) 874-7196
Lake Hopatcong 134 Espanong Rd
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 (973) 663-2045
Ship Bottom 214 West 9th St
Ship Bottom, NJ 08008 (609) 494-2102
Somers Point 600 Bay Ave Somers Point, NJ 08244 (609) 926-0600
NEW YORK
Copiague
750 Montauk Highway Copiague, NY 11726 (631) 842-5900
Hampton Bays 36 Newtown Rd
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 (631) 728-2266
Huntington 155 West Shore Rd Huntington, NY 11743 (631) 424-2710
Long Island – Lindenhurst 846 S. Wellwood Ave Lindenhurst, NY 11757 (631) 957-5900
Manhattan Chelsea Piers, Pier 59 West 23rd and Hudson River New York, NY 10011 (212) 336-7873
NORTH CAROLINA
Southport Marina 606 West St
Southport, NC 28461 (910) 515-4122
Wrightsville Beach 130 Short St
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 (910) 256-8100
OHIO
Port Clinton 1991 N.E. Catawba Rd Port Clinton, OH 43452 (419) 797-4492
OKLAHOMA
Grand Lake 451107 E 320 Rd Afton, OK 74331 (918) 782-3277
RHODE ISLAND
Newport 10 Bowen’s Wharf Newport, RI 02840 (401) 782-9100
Wakefield
Silver Spring Marina 362 Pond St Wakefield, RI 02879 (401) 783-0783
Warwick 1 Masthead Dr Warwick, RI 02886 (401) 886-7899
TEXAS
Dallas 1490 N. Stemmons FWY Lewisville, TX 75067 (972) 436-9979
Dallas Yacht Center 1481 E. Hill Park Rd Lewisville, TX 75056 (469) 293-9095
Houston 3001 NASA Parkway Seabrook, TX 77586 (281) 326-4224
Lake Conroe April Plaza Marina 17720 Highway 105 West Montgomery, TX 77356 (936) 228-4165
Lake Texoma
Highport Marina 120 Texoma Harbor Dr Pottsboro, TX 75076 (972) 529-0011
