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Tag Archives: Chesapeake VA

DETAILING…It’s all in the details.

02 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in From the helm, Marine Services

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America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association, Atlantic Yacht Basin, Beaufort Docks Marina, Beaufort NC, Belhaven NC, BoatUS, Bridge Marinas Urbana, Bridge Tender Marina, Cape Charles Town Docks, Cape Charles VA, Chesapeake VA, Coinjock Marina & Restaurant, Coinjock NC, Cruising the Chesapeake, CruisingTheICW, Detailing, Details, Dowry Creek Marina, Eastern Shore, Georgetown SC, Hampton Municipal Piers Marina, Hampton VA, Harborwalk Marina, Life, Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, North Carolina, Onancock VA, Onancock Wharf and Town Docks, Portside Grill Urbana, Preparation, Reflections, Slow Dance, Southport Marina, Truth, Urbana VA, Waxing, Wrightsville Beach

July, 2 2019.  Urbana, VA.  The most serious part of cruising is in the details — the preparation to be on the water for weeks, not hours.  Each spring since we got Slow Dance, we’ve done our “due deligence” and prepped the old girl to take us port to port safely and securely.  But this year we were in for a surprise.

Each year, Aaron Vickers, of Oil In A Day’s Work, services the main engine, transmission, and generator including new zincs and impellers.  Our motto is, “If it’s needed or questionable, do it.” Last year it was time for new electronics, so electronics guru, Jeff Sechrest of Tidal Marine Electronics outfitted Slow Dance with new Garmins and radar at the upper and lower helms.  “Admiral” Carolyn gets the credit for details related to provisioning.  If not for her, I’d be eating beans and living in the same clothes the entire trip!  Never underestimate the importance of the “Admiral’s” cruising details!

In marinas and along the waterways, people never see Aaron, Jeff, or the “Admiral’s” work, but they sure see the work of the person that “details” the exterior — and salt water, air, and sand take a toll on fiberglass, gelcoat, and paint.  Enter David Vickers, owner and operator of NAVY Details, Hollywood, FL.

Three weeks before leaving on this summer’s cruise I stopped by the boat to drop off a few things.  Walking down the dock I noticed a man and woman detailing a big Navigator a few slips down from ours.  When I came out of the cabin to start home, the man approached me.

“I love your boat.  I used to maintain one identical to it in Fort Lauderdale,” he said.

“Really,” I replied.  “Who owned it?”

“A fellow named Patrick O’Brien.”

I smiled, pointed to the name, Slow Dance and said, “Meet Slow Dance, formerly known as Irish Rover.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket and said, “I’ve got to send Patrick a picture of you and the boat.”

A few minutes later Patrick called me.  “Dick, are you going to let David detail the boat?  He’s the best there is!  Honest!  He was the only one I’d let detail Irish Rover and the only one I’ll trust to detail my new boat.”

Needless to say, David agreed to stay in Charleston another week to detail Slow Dance. One week turned into about ten days as a couple of other owners in the marina wanted him to do their boats.  That is a testament to his beautiful work and attention to detail.

What separates David from the vast majority of other detailers?  He’s the consummate professional.  He hired a local young woman to polish the bright work, but David personally compounded, polished, and then waxed the boat — a time consuming three part process that left Slow Dance looking like it just came off a showroom floor.  And he literally detailed every square inch of the exterior, minus the canvas and Eisenglas, which are in need of replacement.  He cleaned and polished everything on the upper helm — which other detailers have ignored.  The biggest shock came when he called to ask about turning off power to the boat.  When I asked why, I was told he needed to defrost the large freezer on the upper helm so that he could clean and wax it — not done by previous detailers.  On a visit to the boat, his helper was cleaning shore power cords, the freshwater hose, all eight large fenders — again, not done by previous detailers.  After he finally finished detailing Slow Dance, he thoroughly washed and dried her.

I’m writing this post from Bridge Marina, in Urbana, VA.  So far we have overnighted in Georgetown, Little River, Southport, Wrightsville Beach, Beaufort, Belhaven, Coinjock, Hampton, Cape Charles, Onancock, and Urbana.  In every port people in the marina have been amazed Slow Dance is a thirteen year old boat.  For that I give full credit to master detailer, David Vickers, owner of NAVY Details.

Even calm water reflects off Slow Dance’s sparkling hull.

Slow Dance illuminated by an Onancock sunset

Slow Dance and the “Admiral” enjoy a Cape Charles sunset.

When David left Charleston with his camper, he was taking a slow journey up the east coast to Connecticut, where he will spend the summer — detailing boats of snowbirds that are among his Florida clients.  As he says, Connecticut is much cooler than Florida in the summer, and he has an established client base awaiting him there.  In late September he will start back south, and sometime in October he will put another coat of wax on Slow Dance, and that should hold her until he next spring when he will again detail her during his 2020 northern journey.

David Vickers is a detailer extraordinaire.

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If I Owned a Marina…

22 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in From the helm

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Tags

Boat, Boats, Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake VA, Cruising, Cruising the Chesapeake, Dog friendly, Hospitality, Integrity, Marina attitude, Marina service, Marinas, Memories, Reputation, Respect, Sincere warm welcome, Slow Dance

Sunday, July 22, 2018

During my years as head of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, I would often look down the mountain toward Raleigh, and think, “If I was director of tourism for North Carolina, I would…” Governor Jim Martin gave me that opportunity in 1989. When appointed, I was only the second destination marketing professional to hold the position.  The first time that I met Governor Martin, he asked one thing of me. “Dick,” he said, “as long as you serve in my administration, there is only one thing I will ever ask of you, and that is to always do the right thing.  If you do the right thing, the politics will take care of itself.”  To me, the same holds true for owning or managing a marina, except if you do the “right” thing, the success of the marina will take care of itself.

After twenty-four days in marinas, I have had more than enough time and experiences to say, “If I owned a marina, I would…” My travel industry career began in the hotel business.  There was a time that hotel, restaurant, and attraction owners didn’t recognize the fact that they were also in the HOSPITALITY industry.  Too often marina operators think they are only in the boating business, without realizing their potentially profitable transient customers have expectations that local boaters may not have.

During our visits to marinas along the way, three things have made the strongest “first impressions.”  As the old saying goes, first impressions are lasting impressions.  Since I have no doubt we may again visit some of these same marinas, I am not attaching marina names to any negative observations.  My intent is not to embarass, but to provoke thought, and to give much deserved credit where I feel it is due.

If I owned a marina, my top three priorities would be;

  • “Love at first sight” — Outward appearance to approaching boats.
  • Condition and cleanliness of all facilities, but especially bathrooms, showers, and laundry
  • Attitude and training of staff

“Love at first sight”

At a marina, NOTHING is more unsightly than abandoned boats, or liveaboards that are not maintained.  If I owned a marina, lease documents would clearly state that all boats must be clean and in good repair, at least above the waterline, AND any alterations to the boat’s original appearance must be approved by the marina.  Household window airconditioners and cheap plastic tarps would not be allowed to be used on any boat.  Torn, faded canvas and flags would not be allowed. The slip rental agreement would state that any boat not kept clean by the owner would be cleaned by the marina, at the boat owner’s expense.

img_6380

At Belhaven Marina the bath/shower facilities had ambiance, not to mention complimentary towels, bathmats, soaps (multiple), a hair dryer, air conditioning, AND A SUGGESTIONS BOX!

Condition and Cleanliness of Marina Facilities

Designated marina staff should be responsible for the cleanliness of all marina facilities.  Every marina owner, general manager or dock master should do daily inspections of bathroom and shower facilities.  Are they as clean and in as good of repair as the bathrooms in your home?  If not, why not?  They are being used by your paying guests.  I would also suggest that a female staff member — or the owner’s wife — also do a periodic walk-thru.  Women inherently have a better sense of cleanliness and the condition of such things as shower curtains, shower heads, and other amenities.   Absentee owners should at least do a quarterly, facilities inspection.

The reality is that some shower and bath facilities we used on our Chesapeake Bay trip were good, and some were bath/shower facilities were so poorly maintained and equipped that we chose to shower on the boat.  The shower facilities of one were so far from the docks that we will never use the marina again.

Examples of Good Facilities

  • Baths and showers in reasonable proximity to docks.
  • Working locks on bathroom and/or shower stall doors.
  • Clean, painted showers and toilet facilities.
  • Fiberglass shower stalls in good condition — no cracked floors or walls.
  • Clean shower heads that provide a strong, even spray.
  • Some type of non-skid in showers.
  • Some type of mat outside shower, so that you’re not stepping out of the shower and onto a dirty or slick floor.
  • Adequate lighting in bathroom and shower.
  • Shower facilities should be air conditioned or at least well ventilated.
  • Shower curtains should go all the way to the floor, rather than being too short and allowing shower spray onto the outside floor.
  • If the shower stall does not have a light in the ceiling, DO NOT use a dark shower curtain that blocks light from outside the shower.
  • Shower faucets should in good repair. (In one handicap shower that I used, the hot water faucet was so loose and wobbly that I wondered if it could fail and allow a handicapped user to be seriously burned.)
  • Adequate hooks should exist for hanging clothes and towels.
  • All shower and bath facilities should be maintained and secured in a way that guests feel safe when using them!

 

Attitude and Training of Staff

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”  Sir Winston Churchill

At a well-known marina, Carolyn found the shower water to be cold.  When I went to shower, I found the same cold shower in the men’s room.  I dressed, walked back to the dockhouse and brought the fact that water in both the men’s and women’s showers were cold to the dockhand’s attention.

“That’s funny,” he said, “I was just up there and the water was piping hot.”

“You found hot water in both the men’s and women’s showers?” I asked.

“Yes sir,” was his reply.

“That’s strange,” I said, “The men’s shower was completely dry before I turned the water on.”

“We always dry the showers down after we check them.” He said with a smirk. “You must have turned the knob the wrong way.”

“Neither my wife nor I turned the knob the wrong way,” I replied, and walked off.  That dockhand’s attitude was 180 degrees from the attitude we’ve experienced at the Atlantic Yacht Basin, where we’re now docked.  Family owned and operated since 1936, the attitude we’ve experienced by every member of staff has been exemplary.

If the young man at the other, well-known marina had been my employee, he would have been fired on the spot.  We did not visit the showers again, and will never visit that marina again.  A marina designed in such a way that boaters must walk at least three hundred yards to the bath and shower facilities is a very poorly designed marina.

The best attitudes and service we have found on this trip were at the smallest marina we’ve visited, the largest marina we’ve visited, and the docks of a municipal marina in Virginia. At all three, we found attitudes and service beyond our expectations!

But that’s what attitudes and service are about.  Years ago in Asheville, Dick Bromley, whose company was reopening a long closed, downtown hotel called me at home on a Super Bowl Sunday.  I can’t recall our entire discussion, but I’ll never forget one thing he said when we were discussing attitudes and management.   “The fish always stinks from the head, Dick. The fish always stinks from the head.”

AYB

“Slow Dance” was one of the smallest boats at Atlantic Yacht Basin, an outstanding Chesapeake, VA boat yard that has been operated by the same family since 1936. You would think the family wrote the book on customer service and hospitality. Though we were one of the smallest boats, we felt the entire ABY crew treated us with the same warm welcome and respect as captains of the yard’s largest yachts.

One thing is for sure, the best marinas we have visited on this trip were run and staffed by people with a smile, positive attitude, and commitment to service and hospitality.  They had pride in their product and service.  We could all learn from their example.

Fair winds and following seas

NOTE:  Readers are encouraged to share their “best ideas and suggestions for marinas.”

 

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“Follow In My Wake”

Captain Buck's Port Chef James Kohler
Captain Buck’s Port Chef James Kohler
Southport Marina
Southport Marina
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Bridge Tender Marina
Bridge Tender Marina
Sullivans Island skyJPG
Starboard sunset
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
An early sunset casts a warm light on the "Next Chapter," a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
An early sunset casts a warm light on the “Next Chapter,” a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
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Boatyards

  • Atlantic Yacht Basin

Destinations Along the ICW

  • Beaufort, NC
  • Beaufort, SC
  • Belhaven, NC
  • Chesapeake, VA
  • Elizabeth City, NC
  • Georgetown, SC
  • Golden Isles, GA
  • Hampton, VA
  • Little River, SC
  • Morehead City, NC
  • Southport, NC
  • Swansboro, NC
  • Wilmington, NC
  • Wrightsville Beach, NC

Great Boating Magazines

  • BoatUS Magazine
  • Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors
  • MarinaLife Magazine
  • PassageMaker Magazine
  • Power & Motoryacht Magazine
  • Soundings Magazine – Real Boats, Real Boaters
  • Southern Boating & Yachting

Marinas

  • Atlantic Yacht Basin
  • Belhaven Marina
  • Harborwalk Marina
  • Isle of Palms Marina

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