News from Rivertown

NEWS

from Rivertown

By Heather Lake Office Manager, Cheboygan

We look forward to it each year: longer days, warmer temperatures, and bright, sunny skies. The arrival of springtime is good for the soul, offering a sense of renewal as everything in nature reawakens and the blanket of snow is cast off until next year. Each spring, we see the excitement on the faces of our customers as they eagerly await another season of relaxation on their boat, but perhaps the greatest thrill of all is experienced by children.

Children possess a sense of wonder which can make a somewhat ordinary event seem almost magical, and their enthusiasm is often contagious. When Tom and Mary O’Hare’s boat was launched, it was a family affair with their children and grandchildren present. The grandkids were fascinated as they witnessed the Travelift lowering the boat gently into the water. Then came the thrill of going aboard for the first time of the season!

They were treated to a trip to Mackinac Island, which is eight-year-old Jack’s favorite destination. The kids sometimes get to sit with their “Pipi” as he captains the boat, and he’ll tell them things they can do to help, such as turn on the blowers, start the engines, and turn on the batteries. Six-yearold James affirms, “But we can’t touch the buttons!” (Unless given permission to do so). James likes the way the waves rock the boat back and forth at night and thinks it’s fun that one can prepare meals in the galley while the boat is underway. The boys enjoyed sitting with their cousins on the bow of the boat, traveling down the Cheboygan River, through the locks, and out into Lake Huron for their Mackinac Island adventure, and the memories of those moments spent with family will likely resonate well into the future as they anticipate subsequent outings.

Those personal stories are reminders to us of why we do what we do. We want to help create memories. We enjoy learning about our customers, whether they have been with us for year or even decades, are new to Walstrom, or perhaps traveling the Great Loop and just passing through for a single season. We appreciate the opportunity to be part of their story, helping to get them on their way as quickly as possible when service needs arise, welcoming customers for dockage and storage, and making modifications and upgrades to boats to transform the owners’ visions into reality.

2021 UPDATES

In 2021, some of our more noteworthy accomplishments were an extensive “Phase One” paint job on a 1974 75' Burger,

entailing paint work on the hull, fly bridge, and cabin house. In 2022, “Phase Two” will include finishing the cabin, fly bridge, and the top side. Our technicians have also been busy with multiple Seakeeper installations, and some complete updates of new electronics. We’ve welcomed new technicians to our staff, and they continue to receive online training and to attend in-person training in order to be educated about new techniques and new products on the market.

Our storage buildings filled sooner than ever before for 2021. Just days into June, we began a waiting list for heated storage which grew to include over forty boats. We were only able to accommodate a few people on the waiting list, with boats being sold that had already been under contract. Watch your email in early 2022 for storage contracts for the 2022/2023 season, and return them as soon as possible to ensure that you will have a space to store your boat with us next year.

As we begin our 35th year of operation at our Cheboygan location, we look forward to continued growth, and the opportunity to be part of your boating experience and stories.

Approaching the Cheboygan lock.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL MIDNIGHT!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL MIDNIGHT!

Launch day for the O'Hares.

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227 East State St. • Cheboygan

2 blocks east of the State Street Bridge

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