You may choose marinas based on its pretty view, pool, proximity to your house or favorite boating grounds, ship’s store, or other services, but it’s the people who run the place that connect you to it and keep you renewing your slip year after year. You can learn a lot about a place by asking the people who work there questions about their jobs. We called a half dozen Chesapeake Bay marina managers and owners and asked them to respond to five simple questions. Their answers revealed that each marina was unique and that marina managers work hard in all seasons. They go out of their way to make sure their customers enjoy their boating lives. Marina managers tend to love their work. The top word they used to describe their marinas, customers, and coworkers was “family.” And they shared some funny moments, too…
1. Ken and Karen Knull Yankee Point Marina in Lancaster, VA
What makes your marina special? We have a peaceful, family-oriented marina with all of the amenities of a large operation. It is situated in an absolutely beautiful and protected setting that is minutes away from great sailing, boating, and fishing.
What’s the biggest challenge of marina work? Keeping up with the changing needs of the boating community whether it is the latest social media or how the public wants to incorporate boating into their lives. Our society is changing, and the sheer speed of day-to-day life seems to be driving people away from sailing and boating in general and certainly from family boating. Trying to get the Millennials to see the value of family time on the water is a major challenge.
What do you wish slip holders knew about your job? That a marina operator can’t fix what he isn’t aware of. marina owners want their slip holders to be a part of the family and that includes letting the owners know if there is a problem developing or if there is an opportunity to provide a greater service.
What’s the strangest or funniest situation you have faced at work recently? Late last fall we watched a small osprey, obviously a fledgling, as it drifted up our creek sitting atop what was obviously its nest which had somehow become dislodged from its base. The osprey calmly watched us as it drifted first up-creek and then down-creek, all the time looking at us with an attitude of “What are you looking at?”
What’s the best part about your job? Looking out the window at the flag flying in the gentle breeze and the boats resting at their slips and knowing that this place brings so many so much joy.
Anything else you’d like to share with PropTalk readers? Boating does not have to be expensive. A weekend on a boat can bring a family together through shared experiences and bringing out the best in each member. It is camping on the water but so much more. Take time to just enjoy the water. Let the sun warm you, catch your breakfast, and use your skills to master your little piece of the universe. Try it out here with us at Yankee Point Marina!
2. J.D. Olienyk Chesapeake Harbour Marina in Annapolis
What makes your marina special? We are a family of four marinas we have three Annapolis locations and our newest facility located on Nabbs Creek in Glen Burnie. We offer our yacht butler service at no charge. This provides our customers with a turn-key boating experience.
What’s the biggest challenge of marina work? The biggest challenge of marina work is the off season. We perform all of our major upgrades in a few short months. It is also very tough not to have the customers around… you find yourself talking to boats.
What do you wish slip holders knew about your job? One thing that slip holders need to know about my job that even on those long hot summer days, hurricanes, and blizzards, I love it. There’s nothing better than getting to work in a marina.
What’s the strangest or funniest situation you have faced at work recently? About a month ago, I was showing a slip to a potential client. She asked me, “Are you pet friendly?” My reply was, “of course.” The next question she asked was: “Can you show me where I can walk my two pet Tortoises?” I replied “like turtles?” She said, “Yes. I’ve had them for 30 years.
Anything else you’d like to share with PropTalk readers? I would like all the readers to know that I got the chance to be in the booth next to the PropTalk crew at the Baltimore boat show. The whole staff is an awesome bunch and a lot of fun.
3. Mike Bonicker Tidewater Yacht Services in Baltimore
What makes your marina special? Our commitment to our customers. We stand behind every job that we do. We have invested in the best equipment, facilities, and personnel in Baltimore so that we can provide the highest level of service and quality to our customers and their vessels.
What’s the biggest challenge of marina work? As we are more of a boatyard than a marina, so our biggest challenge is coordinating techs, job requests, and customers’ schedules.
What do you wish slip holders knew about your job? That I can commiserate with them about upkeep and repair costs, especially those that are unplanned, as I own several boats myself.
What’s the best part about your job? Working on the water and being around people with a common interest.
Anything else you’d like to share with PropTalk readers? If they know anyone in the 18-24 age group who might be interested in working in the boating industry, please have them contact the Marine Trades Association of Maryland to find out about the internship possibilities that are available through the EARN Maryland grant. Our industry is in short supply of young workers to fill well-paying jobs in all facets of boating.
4. Melissa Clark Hidden Harbour Marina in Deale, MD
What makes your marina special? Our marina is family owned and operated, and we take pride in knowing each and every one of our customers and their families.
What do you wish slip holders knew about your job? That we truly strive to keep each and every slip holder satisfied and provide them with what they request in order to make their time at our marina the best time.
What’s the best part about your job? Being able to see the happiness of our customers and to provide a family-friendly marina and atmosphere for them to enjoy, while working creek side. You couldn’t ask for a better atmosphere.
Anything else you’d like to share with PropTalk readers? We intend to continue the transformation of the marina with upgrades and new amenities on a yearly basis. Come by and check out what is new each year.
5. Jake Glover Ferry Point Marina in Trappe, MD
What’s special about your marina? Our marina is one of the most, if not the most comprehensive in the area. Offering a 50-ton Travelift, fuel dock, ship’s store, pump out, and ABYC-certified technicians to take care of all your boat’s service, maintenance, and repair items. Not to mention if you’re looking for a brokerage service, vessel upgrades, renovations, or customized projects, our sister company Composite Yacht, LLC is just a stone’s throw away.
What’s the most challenging part of your job? For our particular situation, the most challenging aspect of our work is managing the large number of renovations and upgrades. We are attempting to do so while not limiting our current clients’ services or accommodations. We have been very fortunate to have a clientele that has been very patient through what has already been 18 months of constant renovation.
What do you wish your slip holders knew? Our slip holders have been very patient. I think in every business, you do the best you can to provide all clients proper service. The old saying goes: “You can’t make everybody happy all of the time.” However we try our very best.
What’s the funniest situation you’ve faced at work lately? We are a very tight-knit group and once employees and some customers have been settled in, they tend to acquire nicknames. It can be comical to have clients stop in and ask for employees by those nicknames such as, “The Bull,” “Tattoo Tom,” “Wee Duncan,” “Crane Legs,” or “Bry-Bry”… and customers such as “Wave Runner Randy”!
What’s the best part of your job? Working with co-workers that are family, coming to work every day on the Choptank River, and helping clients enjoy their boats as best as possible as we try to ourselves.
What else would you like to share with PropTalk readers? Renovations Still Underway! Open House April 2.
6. Andy Gurkin Dandy Haven Marina in Hampton, VA
What makes the marina special? Our staff and subcontractors are experienced, knowledgeable, and caring. We are a Mercury Premier Service Dealer, with extensive parts inventory, Master and Certified technicians for Outboard, and Mercruiser Stern Drive/Inboard since 1968. Our Clean Marina accreditation is well earned, with closed-loop recycled water for power washing. Filter cloths and dustless sanders are provided free for routine bottom prep. The harbor is well protected, with many boats coming from other marinas for named storms.
What’s the biggest challenge of marina work? Time management as in most other fields. Knowing what is the appropriate amount of energy to earnestly invest with every customer, employee, subcontractor, vendor, Government Agency, and volunteer group is very tough to balance. While some victories are easily seen, others take decades of effort. All are worth it!
What do you wish slip holders knew about your job? The amount of investment in time and money to ensure adequate and safe infrastructure. Since 2008, we have spent nearly $1 million in capital maintenance and upgrades to be as viable as possible for our boating customers.
What’s the strangest or funniest situation you have faced at work recently? I had just completed a “Marina Pro” Train the Trainer course for small powerboat handling the previous day when, coincidentally, a very new boater called to be “rescued.” He, his girlfriend, and another young couple had spent a cold March night in six inches of water, well outside of the channel. I was able to spend a couple of hours informally training him for his next adventure. I would conclude that taking the state-mandated online test is not enough for some! Also, last August we had a first time visitor: a manatee! It hung around for a couple days.
What’s the best part about your job? Knowing that when we return a boat to service, the customer can be assured that their pride and joy is in the best condition our staff can make it: reliable and as close to budget as possible.
Anything else you’d like to share with PropTalk readers? We and the rest of the recreational boating industry appreciate the boating public and recognize the options available to them with their time and money. Please get out and enjoy the many wonderful experiences on the water and share them with others.
7. JoAnna Goldberg Fairwinds Marina in Annapolis
What makes your marina special? What makes Fairwinds Marina special is that we're not just a place to store boats, we're a community. Our team has created a second home for small boaters on the Magothy through the exceptional service and events we host year round.
What's the biggest challenge of marina work? The biggest challenge of running a marina is the breadth and depth of knowledge required. I've been boating since before I could walk, and I still spent my first six months learning how much I didn't know. My biggest challenge is also one of my favorite parts; I've learned volumes since I began with Fairwinds Marina, but there is still so much to master.
What do you wish slipholders knew about your job? I sling blocks and clean boats. Not every day, but as president, I would never ask anyone to do something I wouldn't do myself, and I'm ultimately the one who makes sure what needs to be done is taken care of.
What's the strangest (or funniest) situation you've faced at work recently? The strangest situation, absolutely not funny, was during the middle of our Memorial Day party in 2015, one of our customers started sinking. In the middle of the party, each member of the Fairwinds team jumped into action, working together and doing what they do best to save the boat without any planning or explicit communication.
What's the best part of your job? I love providing a happy place for individuals and families. My slipholders come here to enjoy quality time on the water. It makes for an incredibly positive, fun atmosphere.
Anything else you'd like to share with PropTalk readers? Fairwinds Marina strives to be a fun place where customers can choose their boating experience; selecting from a menu anything from do-it-yourself to completely-hassle-free.