Virginia

Donald L Blount: 1935 - 2022

Donald L. Blount, an international esteemed technical expert in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 87.Donald was driven all his life to do one job: design high-speed powerboats that could comfortably and efficiently run through rough water. His fascination with hydrodynamics began when he was a Virginia Tech co-op student working at the David Taylor Model Basin, the Navy's premier hydrodynamic research facility.Donald’s research contributions…

Mercury Marine Partners with High Schools for Technician Training

Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation, has provided its Mercury University curriculum along with 90hp FourStroke outboard engines and tools to high schools in Florida, New York and Virginia to help prepare the next generation of marine service technicians and address the industry’s workforce shortage.In a survey conducted by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas prior to the pandemic, more than 85% of boat dealers suggested they had multiple positions in their businesses that were unfilled…

Suntex Acquires Seahaven Superyacht Facility

Marina properties owner and operator Suntex Marina Investors on Tuesday announced it has acquired Seahaven Marina located in Dania Beach, Fla.Broward County’s premier luxury protected harbor for superyachts, Seahaven Marina’s location offers an unparalleled yachting experience by land and by sea, Suntex said. Mere minutes from Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Seahaven provides easy, drawbridge-free access to the Atlantic Ocean for vessels up to 250 feet. The marina touts the region's most discreet and secure yacht harbor…

Suntex Marinas Acquires Faro Blanco in Marathon in the Florida Keys

Marina owner and operator Suntex Marina Investors, LLC announced today its first acquisition within its new partnership with Centerbridge Capital and Resilient Capital Partners: the Faro Blanco Marina located in Marathon in the Florida Keys.Faro Blanco is a first-class marina that offers safety, privacy, entertainment, activities, parking, convenient fuel and pump out services, dockside hookups and a resort-owned restaurant facing the marina, all in a setting with magnificent sunsets and expansive views. The Marina consists of 74 slips and accommodates vessels between 35- and 140-feet.

Sea Hawk Paints Adds New Distributor

Sea Hawk said Paxton Company is its newest authorized distributor servicing the company’s wholesale marine customers from facilities in Virginia and North Carolina. With products being in stock since mid-December, Paxton is already providing customers with Sea Hawk’s portfolio of premium quality antifouling paints, primers and marine coating products.“Through the last several months of developing a relationship, it’s easy to see that Paxton is an ideal addition to the Sea Hawk family of distributors,” said Tommy Craft, Sea Hawk Vice President of Sales.

Annapolis Yacht Sales Welcomes Nesbitt

Annapolis Yacht Sales (AYS) has announced another addition to the Kent Island Sales Department. K.T. Nesbitt joins the AYS sales staff with over twenty years of sales and marketing experience and comes to AYS from Johnson Automotive- DBA Porsche of Annapolis, where he excelled in the sales of high-end performance vehicles.Nesbitt is a husband and father of seven children who has always been an avid boater; spending as much time as possible on the water.Nesbitt will be selling new Edgewater, Steiger, Four Winns and Cruisers as well as brokerage boats.

Marine Travelift Mid-Atlantic Opens

Marine Travelift has announced it is expanding its operation with the addition of Marine Travelift Mid-Atlantic. Marine Travelift Mid-Atlantic is located in Ashland, Virginia, and now offers boat handling equipment support from New Jersey to South Carolina.“The goal of this expansion is to provide our customers in the Mid-Atlantic area with the best possible access to Marine Travelift equipment locally. This includes genuine OEM parts and high-quality service with factory support…

Perfect weather for Miami Yacht Show

While Wednesday was quite blustery and rainy, the Miami Yacht Show opened to clear skies on Valentine’s Day, for a gorgeous weekend of luxury boats and sun. In its new location, crowds seemed smaller, although lines for Uber frustrated some commuting by car from the Miami Boat Show on Virginia Key to the Miami Yacht Show’s two locations on Watson Island and One Herald Plaza. There was no wait for water taxis.Some prevailing themes stood out among the nearly 500 yachts in the brokerage show between the Venetian and Rickenbacker Causeways.

Two Valentine's Day Boat Shows in Miami

If you love boats, there’s no better way to enjoy Valentine’s Day than in Miami, Fla. among 2,000 of the world’s most spectacular yachts and pleasure craft. With temps forecasted in the mid 70’s F, Miami welcomes the world to two different boat shows in three locations, Miami Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show, amid breathtaking views, exotic sports cars, beautiful, stylish women and hand-rolled cigars.In its first year downtown on Miami’s Biscayne Bay, the 31st annual Miami Yacht Show takes place February 14 -18. Many yachting veterans will miss the show’s location on Collins Ave.

Marine Insurance: Protect Your Yacht, Yourself

All my life, I grew up around boats. My dad was a captain for 23 years, and I would travel on his ships throughout the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. My first job out of college was in San Francisco, so naturally I bought a 30-foot sailboat and lived on it on the San Francisco Bay. In more recent years, I have enjoyed yachting with my family on the inland lakes of Virginia. No matter where you have launched your yacht, boating is an exhilarating experience. It can also be dangerous and fraught with risks.

Suntex Appoints Carter As Chief Operating Officer

Marina properties owner and operator Suntex Marina Investors, LLC (Suntex) announced the appointment of Rich Carter to the position of Chief Operating Officer.In his new role, Carter is primarily responsible for the overall service experience at all Suntex Marinas. Defining and enhancing company culture, Carter is charged with efficient and effective deployment of Home Office resources and processes across the Suntex portfolio of properties.Prior to joining Suntex, Carter was a division president for Troon, the world’s largest third-party management company for golf and club related assets.

Disabled Sailboat Towed to Safety

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous and Coast Guard Cutter Richard Snyder towed a disabled sailboat with two people aboard to safety Tuesday.The crew of the sailing vessel Gaia became disabled after being demasted and losing all electrical power. The crew activated an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which notified the Coast Guard that the crew was in distress approximately 37-miles off Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City launched a HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew and lowered a handheld radio to the crew of the Gaia Sunday night.The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous…

Suntex Acquires Hurricane Marina

Suntex Marina Investors, LLC (Suntex) announced the acquisition of Hurricane Marina, located on Center Hill Lake in Silver Point, Tennessee. With the change in ownership, Hurricane Marina received a new 25-year lease with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and also extended the lease of the existing restaurant tenant, Blue Water Grille. Hurricane Marina lies on a natural, protected harbor approximately 70 miles east of Nashville, and consists of 600 wet slips (48 of which were built in 2015), 40 personal watercraft slips and 25 enclosed boathouse slips.

Annapolis Yacht Sales Enhances Organizational Structure

In order to keep up with demand generated through rapid infrastructure growth and expansion, Annapolis Yacht Sales (AYS) is excited to introduce a new director-facing model of operations; driven by inside personnel promotions and a reimagined organizational structure. Chris Humphreys, Rob Taishoff and Tim Wilbricht purchased AYS five years ago with the intention of growing the company exponentially, and the new structuring comes as a direct response to the success in meeting that goal. AYS' new Virginia Beach location is the most recent result of this expansion effort.

AMI Welcomes Affiliate Partnership with WMA

The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) has welcomed the Wisconsin Marine Association (WMA) as its newest membership partner. Now all WMA marina members will receive the additional benefit of being members of AMI in conjunction with their WMA membership. This means WMA members will now have access to all AMI services, products and benefits in addition to those they already receive from WMA. The WMA was launched in March 2009 with the planning and support of several WI marina operators, the Wisconsin Harbor Towns Association, and funding support from the Wisconsin Department of Administration's Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.

Suntex Marinas Acquires Kentucky Location

Suntex Marina Investors LLC (Suntex), an owner and operator of marina properties, announced today the acquisition of Wolf Creek Marina on Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. The purchase comes on the heels of the recent addition of State Dock Marina, also on Lake Cumberland, to the Suntex portfolio. With the change in ownership, Wolf Creek will see exciting reinvestments in the coming months, including new dock construction and additional merchandise offerings within their marine store. “It is an exciting time for the Suntex brand,” said Chris Petty, head of operations of Suntex Marinas.

M2000 Marine Forklift to Debut at Miami Boat Show

Marine Travelift Inc. has announced that it will officially introduce its new M2000 marine forklift featuring hydrostatic drive at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show, scheduled for February 11-15. The forklift will be on display at the show’s new venue on Virginia Key. According to Jason Johnson, Marine Travelift’s North American Director of Sales, the new M2000 will showcase innovative technology that the Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin-based manufacturer is incorporating it into its Marine Travelift forklift product line. “The M2000 featuring hydrostatic drive is unique to Marine Travelift,” Johnson said.

Virginia's Marine Industry Hosts Annual Conference

The Virginia Marine Trades Association’s (VTMA) fifth annual conference was held on the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's campus in Gloucester Point, Va. The conference is held each year to give those working in the marine industry a chance to learn from national and local experts as well as their peers. With more than 60 in attendance, this week’s event exceeded crowds from past years. This year's speakers were from national groups such as the Marine Retailers Association of America, National Marine Manufacturers, American Boat and Yacht Council, MYMIC Marine Technologies and NJ Sea Grant.

High School Students to do Semester at Sea

SSV Oliver Hazard Perry Partners with Ocean Classroom , High School Semester-at-Sea Offered for Winter/Spring 2016. A limited number of spaces are available for SSV Oliver Hazard Perry’s High School Semester-at-Sea program scheduled for the Winter and Spring of 2016. This voyage will be conducted by Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) in partnership with Ocean Classroom, the non-profit organization based in Portland, Maine that has a 20-year tradition of offering transformative voyages under sail.