Anchors Aweigh

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Learning from the Pros Episodes 1-5 Mar 14, 2017

Show notes

I learn so much in every episode, it is sometimes hard to keep track of it all! Every once in awhile, I'll do a little recap. The first five episodes featured Dan Glickberg, CEO of Dan Glickberg Food; Lisa Almeida, owner of Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville; John Giglio, President and CEO of Freedom Boat Club; Barry Slade, VP of International Sales, Regal Boats; and David Karpinski, President of Taylor Made Products. Here are some great tidbits on equipment, destinations, boats, and advice if you are thinking about getting into the boating lifestyle!

Equipment:

My guests are very focused on safety which is great! Being a safe boater definitely makes it a more enjoyable experience. John mentioned a PFD (personal flotation device) as the best investment anyone can make. He also recommended a handheld GPS, something that can make sure you get out safely and get back in safely. Dan made a great point about protecting your eyes and making sure all your senses are operating well with a good pair of polarized sunglasses. He also suggested a couple of his favorite fishing manufacturers, Ugly Stik and Penn reel. Barry talked about the importance of a cell phone and something to charge it. Some of the apps he uses are Navionics and Garmin, and Windfinder. Lisa also mentioned Navionics, which I can tell you we recommend to all our members. He also discussed going offshore and having a float plan and a ditch bag, which has many things that you would potentially need in an emergency. Lisa went the fun route and introduced us to Maui Mats! They are a blast, check them out. She suggested Being a BoatUS member and a Sea-Tow member as well. Dave let us know about the importance of having properly sized fenders for your boat to protect the important investment! They've continued to innovate in color with their new line called Storm Gard.

Boating Destinations:

Hearing about where my guests have boated and want to boat is one of my favorite parts of doing this. I know I have a lot of new places I want to check out! Dave started on the Sacandaga Lake in upstate NY and has been all over for his job but remembers very fondly a great fishing trip with his son to Ft. Lauderdale catching sailfish. Barry has traveled the world - Singapore and Hong Kong, the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Mexico, the Carribean, and more. They are all so unique and special, he recommends them all! A few places he would like to get are Croatia. Fiji and Bora Bora. Dan grew up fishing in Montauk and loves to fish in the Florida Keys for Tarpon - his favorite activity. He hasn't been but would like to go to the Bahamas for bonefishing. John loves his Florida boating with his family and cruises through Lemon Bay and to Don Pedro State Park. Through his job he has loved boating in the Carolines, the Great Lakes, the West Coast of the US, every time he's on the water he thinks it's the most beautiful place, til the next trip! Lisa likes her boating events and wants to go to Put-In-Bay in Ohio and the Columbus Day Regatta in Miami, where thousands of boaters come together. The connectivity of these events is her favorite part of boating. She also loves boating around Fort George Island where it's like a party of your 500 best friends.

Advice for would-be boaters:

Boating is an activity that appeals to lots of people who dream about it but can't get off the fence. There are many perceived barriers to entry. I love to find out what kind of advice the guests have for these would-be boaters. Dan and Lisa say to stop thinking about it and do it! It doesn't have to be a dream. Just make it happen, make the decision, there's no time like the present. Lisa, Dave, and Barry all suggest starting with a visit to Discoverboating.com. John and Barry both point out the importance doing your research on what type of boating is the right fit – buying, renting, joining a club. And take a class to make sure you're comfortable! Barry also suggests researching your local dealers as a resource. Across the board, the biggest thing they all want potential boaters to know is that joining the boating lifestyle is a decision that will lead to great experiences, memories, and something that will make you very happy!

Boats, boats, boats!:

Our guests have been fortunate to have experiences on all types of boats, and still themselves dream of their 'next' boat. Barry was a first mate on a Hatteras and now has access to Regal boats through his work. He loves the idea of a trawler style and points to Nordhavn as a manufacturer to check out for this type of boat. Dan got his start on a 25 foot Mako fishing boat, and is ready for a Claude Torres fishing boat of his own like the one he later fished on as a child with his dad. While John has a fleet of over 450 boats in his club and a 14' side console for his kids to learn on, he thinks for his lifestyle a 23-25 foot center console with a 4-stroke outboard is a perfect boat. Lisa got started on the family Glastron, and later a Wellcraft. She currently cruises in her 32 Monterey cruiser with twin Mercs and her 22 Sea Ray Sundeck. Because you know one is never enough! Lisa daydreams of upgrading to a 46 or 48 sedan bridge to enjoy the views from up top! Dave's first experiences were on a 1969 Glastron IO boat that came with the family lake cottage. He currently has a 22 Regal bowrider which is great for his family boating activities.

Random Notes and Quotes:

Lisa:

It was always a mindset of, 'of course you can do this!' It's really not that hard, I believe it's more of a mindset that women can do it. It's really just about pushing through the fear of the unknown, of the not doing, and if you've got someone there coaching you, teaching you, and letting you just be like, it's okay you made a mistake, then gaining experience and confidence is just what it takes.

It's really fun to bring your animal on board, but you also want to remember that you're in charge of them. You want to make sure they're safe, so number one - your dog should have a life jacket that fits them well and makes them comfortable. Also, when you're coming down to the dock you want to have them on a leash because if it's a floating dock they might feel wobbly and uncomfortable. Then definitely you have got to have water and a water bowl for them.

John:

There are a lot of technological advances now, specifically with marine electronics. The electronics companies have really started focusing on customer experience.

There's been a huge focus on trying to engage minority boaters. They are cultures that didn't necessarily grow up boating but that is a huge opportunity for our industry. What you are going to see over the next several years, as the baby boomers age out of boating and the industry continues to look for the young people to get engaged in the industry, people are going to focus a lot more on bringing those new markets into the boating industry.

Boating should be fun. The people on the boat should have a fun time and a safe time. With the training that we offer and with some training the industry is going to be coming out with, hopefully that will solve a big part of the attrition with boat buyers moving out of the industry. If they're going to make that leap and buy a boat or join a club, we want them here for a long time.

Dan:

I learned by doing it. To me there's no trick, it takes a little time, a little experience, but once you do it often being on a becomes second nature. It's really about putting in the time.

Being out on the water is really about the people you are with and the stories you tell. It's really a time when you can put everything else going on in your life away, put your cell phone away, and detach and focus on being in the moment.

Salmon is probably the easiest fish to cook. You can just put some olive oil, some lemon juice, and some fresh herbs on it. Put it on the pan, brown both sides, and put it in the oven for 5-10 minutes depending on how big a filet it is. With any fish, especially if the skin is on it, put the skin side down first, and then flip it to the filet side and you want to cook them for about the same amount of time. If you cook it well enough on the skin side, you can actually eat the skin. It tastes pretty good, very high in protein and Omega-3's.

David:

At their younger age, everything is about respecting the boat, the people around you, the experience, the safety requirements. You can add on the lessons about navigation and tying knots but everything up until now is - we do it right and we do it safe. They'll grow up to love boating, but they'll have the base of knowledge and respect of the craft to do it right.

The first piece of advice was from my dad – docking is the hardest part, have good fenders! His comment to me which I still take to this day is to take it slow. People don't realize there aren't brakes on a boat. When he taught me, he said do it deliberately, take your time, there's no hurry to get into the spot, do it right and do it once. The other thing which is instilled in me is the entire safety component. Don't drink and boat. Don't be unsafe in the way that you boat, and respect the others around you and it will be a good day!

Barry:

The first thing that is really apparent in the market is the trend towards outboards. They're becoming immensely popular. The surf market, the tow boat market, is also one that continues to grow and attract boaters.

We want to connect with the emotional side of boats and boating. It's a big discretionary item, there's a lot of emotion involved. It's also a memory making machine. We look at our boats as things that families will use to create memories that they'll have for a lifetime. The younger generation still has that opportunity. Albeit they're being introduced to a lot of different ways to come into boating. There's boat clubs like the Freedom Boat Club, there's the sharing economy through other vehicles, but once you're there and you've had that experience, we're all the same. The emotion is an integral part of boating.

Over a Century of Boating Solutions with David Karpinski Mar 10, 2017

Show notes

David Karpinski, recently named President of Taylor Made Products, has been boating since he was 10 years old. Dave is a graduate of Syracuse University at Utica College where he earned a BS degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He joined Taylor Made Products in 1993 as Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager; responsible for growing the brand's market share with the territory's two-step distributors and marine retailers. From 1994-1997, he served as National Sales Manager of Taylor's Hardware Division. He was in the role of Vice President of Sales & Marketing from 1998-2016, where he has directed worldwide independent rep organizations, created branding and advertising programs, and managed new product and category introductions. He currently serves as a board member on the National Marine Distributor's Association, as Chairman of the Capital Region Salvation Army Board and as Executive Director of the Parkhurst Field Foundation, a non-profit foundation he formed. He still boats on the Lake he grew up on with his wife Amanda, and two children, Michael & Elise who themselves are avid boaters.

Dave took me on a tour of the Taylor Made factory where I got to see where all the magic happens and the products we use day in and day out on our boats, and on our docks, get made. I was really impressed with the people, the processes, and the culture of Taylor Made. Dave shared with me some of the secrets to their success, showed me some of the new products they are developing, and let me know about how Taylor Made, after more than 100 years, is still growing and innovating. I was particularly moved by the pride the workers have in their craft, one employee noting when Dave pointed out their near flawless shipping record, he himself had just wrapped up a perfect year with zero mistakes! Hope you enjoy my conversation with Dave.

On boating in his youth…..Some of my best memories are boating. I grew up here in Gloversville, where the Taylor Made facility is. My parents bought a cottage on the Sacandaga Lake when I was 10 years old. With that cottage came a 1969 Glastron IO boat. At about 10 years old I got my first taste of boating. We would pack up our house 10 miles away and move up there for the summer. No TV, no radio, no internet, no nothing. We just went up there and enjoyed the outdoors.

On learning to boat…..I got my license when I was 16, as soon as I could. I took the safety course, learned how to navigate. At 16 I'm riding around on this beautiful boat with a 120 horsepower I/O Merc. It was one of the fastest boats on the lake so I was king of the lake. Driving the boat came with a lot of responsibility and conditions from my parents. We would take it over to a local beach, slide it right up on to the sand, spend the day at the beach. It was certainly a great part of my childhood. The operation of the boat was my dad, the rules of the road was dependent on the course.

On family boating now…..On the same lake I've got a 22 Regal bowrider. My son loves to tube and my daughter is just getting into it. We'll spend all day out there going from a restaurant to tubing, visiting my dad who still lives on the lake. It's a good family experience. Especially, my children, being able to unhook from their electronics and spend a day with family and enjoying the outdoors.

On teaching kids to boat…..At their younger age, everything is about respecting the boat, the people around you, the experience, the safety requirements. You can add on the lessons about navigation and tying knots but everything up until now is - we do it right and we do it safe. They'll grow up to love boating, but they'll have the base of knowledge and respect of the craft to do it right.

On destination boating…..Given my job here at Taylor, I've had a lot of great experiences in boating but the best I had with my son. I took him on a 10-year-old trip. It was something passed on to me from a colleague long ago. He said when your child turns 10, take him on a business trip, show him what you do, give him an experience he'll remember for a lifetime. His choice was to go to Ft. Lauderdale and go fishing offshore. I've got a friend who runs StarBrite. He took us out for the day and we happened to get two sailfish. First time ever for either of us. Here he is, 10 years old bringing in a sailfish. Needless to say I've got two sailfish mounts in my house! Someday he'll have that on the wall of his house and he'll tell his children and remember how grandpa went out with him.

On the success and longevity of TaylorMade…..The Taylor success is rooted in its culture. It's new product innovation and quality. A lot of us are boaters, we know the industry, we live it. When you put something out in the marketplace, you want it to be new, innovative, different, to make the day on the water a much better experience for the consumer. It's what you would want to use and how you would want to use it. A quality piece that the company stands behind. We're known for our lifetime guarantee in fenders long before any other fender company would have thought of doing such. I think we're known for quality and innovation.

On what you might not know about Taylor Made…..What I would want people to understand more is the scope of what we can do in just in time. Meaning almost a custom made product. Take boat covers for example. I've got a Regal 2200, I need a boat cover for that boat. You can go to our website or to any of our customer's websites, find that exact boat cover, order it from Taylor, and have that made in 3 days and drop shipped to your house in black, or burgundy, or specifically what you need. You go to any of our customer partners and you see things that are in the stores or in the catalogues or in the dealers but you probably don't realize the scope of what we do that is special ordered and drop shipped immediately to all boaters across the country.

On the newest product innovations…..Well there are two that are hitting the market this year that we are excited to introduce. One is a patented color technology in fenders. When you think about PVC fenders for the last 50 years, originally, they were white, blue, and black. Taylor innovated and added colors to it. Well we've taken it a step further and we've actually patented the use of a pearlescent additive to the PVC formulation. It took four years to get the formulation right. But think about a clear coat on a car - it's not just a flat, basic color. There's depth to the color. The same thing is happening with gelcoat and accent stripes on boats. Now, we're able to make it in silver, or gold, and we're able to color match the gelcoats to take it to the next generation. The days of flat PVC colors are gone. As a company that makes everything from the boat cover to the bimini to the fender what you want is consistency in the color. From one manufacturer, we can be consistent and it's not a mismatch of what's on your boat. We came out with a product line called Storm Gard that we introduced it in. The second is we introduced an entire line of solar LED dock lighting. Until now it's been repurposed garden lighting. We're introducing a whole line of innovative, motion sensing, wired expandable packs, all with soft white lights and solar powered. It's the warm white light that you'd expect from a nice setting like a dock.

On the Fishing University partnership…..Charlie and Ray approached us and I took them through the tour and they were blown away by our capabilities. They said we need to design specific fishing products that people would be looking for. They helped us come up with a spot marker. You can take our same soft vinyl and come out with a guaranteed for life hotspot fishing marker. Or a boot that goes over the prop of your trolling motor. Out of the same PVC we've come up with a boot. Very specific designs for everyday problems. I go back to the comment about extending the day on the water, enjoying it more, and taking some of those nuisance problems and having a solution for them. That's been a great partnership.

On the best boating advice received…..The first piece of advice was from my dad – docking is the hardest part, have good fenders! His comment to me which I still take to this day is to take it slow. People don't realize there aren't brakes on a boat. When he taught me, he said do it deliberately, take your time, there's no hurry to get into the spot, do it right and do it once. The other thing which is instilled in me is the entire safety component. Don't drink and boat. Don't be unsafe in the way that you boat, and respect the others around you and it will be a good day!

On efforts to get more people on the water…..We, as members of the industry, sit on boards that have the mission to make it easier to do business and to get more consumers into the category. I won't point much further than the Discover Boating initiative. It's key to make it easy for people to have that first boating experience. If you're a young couple looking for a leisure activity, you've got choices. What we want to do it make it easy for people to understand what the life is going to look like. If you go onto Discover Boating you'll see 'Find the right boat for me' and you'll see a lot of lifestyle pictures. The key is to let them picture themselves in that business. We fully support all those efforts in order for people to get outdoors and on the water and enjoying that lifestyle.

On advice for someone thinking about boating…..The biggest misconception is the barriers to entry. It's too expensive or it's too much of a pain or I'm too much of a novice. The first thing I'll do is invite them out for a day. Once they experience it they'll be hooked.

On who he would spend a day on the water with…..The answer for me is family. If I could get any one of my family out for a day, to me the biggest moments are with family!

Innovation at Home and Overseas – Boating Around the Globe with Barry Slade Jan 31, 2017

Show notes

Barry Slade is currently the VP of international sales for Regal Marine, where he is responsible for sales and marketing efforts supporting 72 international dealers in 51 countries. Barry has overseen over half a billion dollars of boat sales in his career and has been involved in every aspect of the boat business – starting as a First Mate, running a charter boat, and a variety of roles and responsibilities at some of the top boat manufacturers.

Barry's illustrious career includes stops at Anchor South Management where he oversaw management of multiple facilities featuring over 1500 slips and 74 houseboats; Sea Ray Boats as Director of International Operations and Global Brand Management, coordinating sales activities for Sea Ray and Boston Whaler brands; Baja Marine as VP of global sales; Director of Sales at Azimut where he helped launch Azimut USA; and Hatteras as International Sales and Marketing Director.

Barry's experience as a licensed captain as well as a recreational boater and industry leader on the manufacturing side provided the opportunity for a wide ranging and incredibly educational and fun conversation. It is the first and I'm gonna guess last time Stinger Missiles are mentioned on the podcast, and we cover things like manufacturer building trends, how he learned to boat in the Caribbean, differences boating internationally, and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

On getting started in the industry…..Following college, I had taken some trips to the Bahamas on a raggedy old 65' ketch with 16 or 18 college kids on it. It was my first time in blue water and following some experiences early in my childhood it all came together. I just knew that's where I wanted to be. I was in the auto industry, I turned in my car, sold my house, and moved to the Virgin Islands. I got my captain's license and started in the charter business. After a season, I came back to the US and got a job with Hatteras as a first mate on their demonstrator. I feel fortunate and blessed to be in a business that I love with a product that I just can't get enough of.

On boating memories from his youth…..I had one defining moment. On my ninth birthday, I remember vividly my father waking me up and saying, 'You're not going to school today, we're going fishing.' We went out on about a 70' head boat out of Carolina Beach, and I was sick as a dog all day long but I had the best time. I remember the Coke, I remember the saltines, and we caught fish. We had a great day and I fell in love with big water and the ocean.

On his time as first mate…..We learned to sail, learned to work lines, anchoring techniques, navigation. Coming back in to Government Cut in Miami from the Bahamas was always an experience. It was fun but also a great learning experience. Some things come easier than others but by and large I felt like there are others who have come before us and done it so I can too.

On personal boating…..We are fortunate at Regal that there are some boats that we have access to occasionally. Some of it is product testing, some is enjoyment. One of the great things about Regal is many of the employees are avid boaters so by using boats we can be better critics and offer suggestions that make our boats better. My kids have grown up on boats, I honeymooned on a yacht in the Virgin Islands. Boats have been an integral part of my life and especially the enjoyable times in it.

On favorite places to boat…..I've boated in Singapore and Hong Kong, the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Mexico, lots of places. They're all unique. They all have something to offer and are wonderful in their own way. If I had a favorite it would most likely be the Caribbean only because I've spent so much time there and have many memories. There are a few places I'd like to boat. One is Croatia. I've heard some of the islands are just breathtaking, simple, take you back in time boating. The other is Fiji and Bora Bora. They are overwhelmingly beautiful and seem like they would be good places to cruise and dive.

On building boats for the overseas customer…..There are some differences. We as a manufacturer have to cater to those differences. There are a lot of places where they need enclosures. The weather is cold and the seasons are short so they like a pilot house enclosure even on small boats. Mooring is quite different. Most of your international marinas, particularly for boats over 10 meters, you have what's called a Mediterranean moor. You're anchored on the front and tied at the back and as a result you have a passerelle which is a boarding gangway.

On differences boating on big boats…..Your mistakes get a whole lot more expensive! It's really just anticipating what's ahead. With a large boat, you have a lot of momentum, a lot of mass. It's a spatial orientation. Understanding where you are and where you want to go, and how the forces of nature and your engines and thrusters can all work in concert to move you in that direction.

On design and building trends in the industry…..The first thing that is really apparent in the market is the trend towards outboards. They're becoming immensely popular and we're up to a full family of boats with outboards. Starting at the 23 OBX, we've got a 26, a 29 and a 33. We've got a full complement of beautiful outboard boats. The surf market, the tow boat market, is also one that continues to grow and attract boaters. We've developed a family of surf boats that we believe are among the best in the non-traditional tow boat segment. Using Volvo Penta's Forward Drive we've been able to create a surf system that creates an extremely good wave but also allows the boat to do all the things it was originally built to do. It cruises well, it handles well, it docks easily, great fuel economy. Everything about the boat that made it a terrific all around boat gets the benefit of now being able to surf. We've moved into the fly bridge market with the recent introduction of our 42 Fly. We've traditionally been a Coupe builder, along with the 42 Fly we've got the 42 Grand Coupe. Large retractable sunroof, single level, and beautiful state rooms below. Were always monitoring what's out there, what's selling, what the competition is doing and trying to be ahead of or in the mix with the competitive forces in the market.

On reaching out to new markets…..We want to connect with the emotional side of boats and boating. It's a big discretionary item, there's a lot of emotion involved. It's also a memory making machine. We look at our boats as things that families will use to create memories that they'll have for a lifetime and we want those to be good memories. They call it pleasure boating for a reason and if it ceases to be a pleasure, then we've not accomplished our mission. You'll see in some of our video the emotion that's a part of boating. The Dreaming With You video connects back to the childhood emotion that I identify with as a kid, that 9 year old with boats and boating. That's what bonds us all. The younger generation still has that opportunity. Albeit they're being introduced to a lot of different ways to come into boating. There's boat clubs like the Freedom Boat Club, there's the sharing economy through other vehicles, but once you're there and you've had that experience, we're all the same. The emotion is an integral part of boating.

On what stands out at the Regal factory tours….The people. We have an incredibly tenured team. Some real dedicated and fantastic boat builders that love it when people come through the plant. They love to show their art, their trade, their expertise. The thing I recall from my first visit was what I call 'Seeing boats doing what boats were meant to do' – that is, floating and running. Most of our boats go into a test tank where systems are run while they are floating. They see what a boat is gonna do when it gets out into the real world. The larger boats go into a test track where we can essentially give it a sea trial.

On Barry's retirement boat…..I'm more attuned to a trawler style. They offer some great benefits of extended range, offshore capability, something with redundant commercial grade systems. A pilot house boat, something with side decks, something with good launch and retrieval capabilities for tenders and toys, a cockpit of some kind is a must. Nice access to the water because I'd want to dive and be on or close to the water much of the time. You look at the market and there are a number of people building good boats like that. One of them that comes to mind is Nordhavn.

On what he would never go on the water without….If I'm just going out local it would be a cell phone. You can do a lot with a cell phone, you've got charts, the phone, the weather. So, a cell phone and a way to charge it. If I'm going off shore the two things that are essential are a float plan and a ditch bag, which has many things that you would potentially need in an emergency. Its designed so that you can ditch it. The bag itself is designed to float with the contents in it which would include things like flares, a VHF radio, EPIRB, dye, comfortable life jackets. I even carry a set of wooden plugs so if you ever spring a leak you have something that's tapered and fits right in. A mask so if you ever need to see something on the outside of the boat you are all set.

On boating apps…..A good weather app, there's a ton of those. Something that allows you to see the detail in the storm, allows you to see the lightning. Navionics and Garmin, some of these guys have really good apps that tie in with their electronics. There's one that's called Windfinder that I really like. There are tide apps if you're coastal boating. A lot of the glass cockpit technology that you see in the modern boats they have that same functionality.

On advice for someone thinking about getting into boating…..You're about to embark on a very wonderful stage of your life. You should do your homework and investigate the different ways to expose yourself to boating. Make the investment to learn about boating and boats. Find a good dealer in your area that can help you through the process. You can go to Discover Boating. There are a lot of ways to boat and a lot of different kinds of boats and you want to have a good experience with a boat that matches your needs.

Propelling the Industry Forward – John Giglio on Making Boating More Accessible, and Fun! Jan 19, 2017

Show notes

It was a real treat speaking with John Giglio. John is President and CEO of Freedom Boat Club, the world's largest and oldest private boating club in the nation now celebrating its 27th anniversary. With 15,000+ members in 115+ locations in the US and Canada and sporting a fleet of more than 1200 boats, Freedom Boat Club offers an attractive alternative to boat ownership and delivers memories that last a lifetime.

John, his wife Lisa and two daughters live in Venice, FL where the corporate headquarters are based. John purchased Freedom Boat Club in 2012, having previously worked for the company for several years in both senior level operations and sales capacities. Freedom Boat Club has doubled its growth since he took the helm. The company has received multiple recognitions both within and outside the marine industry. It has been named to the Entrepreneur's Magazine "Top 500 Franchisees" for the past five years, as well as being ranked in the Inc. Magazine's "Top 5000 Fastest Growing Companies." Boating Industry Magazine named John to its roster of "Top 16 Movers and Shakers" in 2013.

John has a unique perspective on both boating and the boating industry. His experiences as a recreational boater, as the owner of a 450-boat fleet, and as a leader in the evolution of the boating industry all combine to make him an incredible resource and someone I have been able to learn a lot from. In this conversation, we cover things like learning to boat later in life, passing that knowledge onto your children, great places to boat and day trips in FL, industry trends and insight, who he would love to spend a day on the water with, and more. Enjoy!

On getting into boating…..I did not grow up boating but my wife did. Our first date was on a friend's boat where we did some water skiing and our second date was on her waverunner. After those two fun events I was hooked, I knew that the boating lifestyle was something I wanted to be a part of.

On learning to boat…..When I moved down to the west coast of Florida, my boss at the time had a big 42' Hatteras. We would go out just about every weekend, either diving, or I got into spearfishing. They also had a few smaller boats so we would take those boats out. Just show up at my boss's house, hop on one of the little 17' Whalers, and run around for a little while. That's where I got my one on one instruction from my wife.

On teaching his daughters to boat…..I have a fleet of over 450 boats and I vowed I was never going to buy a boat personally….but then I had kids! I bought a little 14' side console to teach them how to operate. I made them take the Florida boating class so we can take them out on the boat and they can drive while I'm sitting right next to them. It's been great teaching them how to operate a boat and getting them out on the water from a young age.

On favorite family activities…..We do a lot of inshore fishing, knee-boarding, tubing, and skiing. And then just general cruising. Where we are there are lot of waterfront restaurants and little beaches, a little place called Snake Island that we like to go to. It's great family fun.

On his favorite place to boat…..We have a great area south of Venice called Lemon Bay. You've got a mixture of no wake zones, open areas. There's great fishing. There's a little place called Ski Alley. And then just further South there is a place called Don Pedro State Park which is a great place to go dock the boat and head down to the beach. We see dolphin, we see manatee, we sometimes see sea turtles. It is the perfect little Florida trip down the west coast.

On fishing offshore…..We take the boats between 20 and 25 miles offshore. There's great grouper fishing, snapper when they're in season, and amberjacks. So there's a great variety and diversity of fish that you can catch offshore. But if the wind is blowing a little bit and the Gulf's choppy, there's also great recreating and fishing inshore. It's just a beautiful area to go boating.

On boating all over the country…..The Carolinas are beautiful, the Great Lakes are beautiful, the West Coast of the US, beautiful. That's one of the major benefits of this job, when I'm traveling and visiting the locations, I get to go to really really nice places. And every time I go someplace and I'm out on a boat, I think to myself 'this is the nicest place I've been to.' It goes to show you the lifestyle and how boating affects people because everywhere, regardless of the type of boating or the type of boat you're on, you're still on the water and it's still a phenomenal experience being out there.

On his dream boat…..The more I know about boats, and with some of the boats being built now, I think for my lifestyle, a 23-25 foot center console is a perfect boat. That's a boat that could stay inshore as well as go offshore. It's cost effective. You can put a nice 4-stroke engine on the back of that and you're not killing yourself in fuel.

On essential equipment for beginners…..The best investment anybody can make is some type of PFD (personal flotation device). From a safety standpoint that's the biggest. From a boating standpoint, a second recommendation is that you pick up a handheld GPS, something that can make sure you get out safely and get back in safely.

On boating innovation…..There are a lot of technological advances now, specifically with marine electronics. The electronics companies have really started focusing on customer experience. Now they have 3D technology, so if you're out there fishing you can actually get a 3D side scan reading and you can watch fish swimming by your boat. They have a lot of interactive electronics now so that all of the electronics on the boat operate the systems on the boat. You can pull up an app on the phone and you can see how hot the engine is running, you can get speed, diagnostic information. The engine manufacturers as well as the electronics manufacturers and boat manufacturers have really worked well the last few years so that it is as simple as it can possibly be for someone to take a boat out and operate it.

On changes in the industry…..There's been a huge focus on trying to engage minority boaters. As the population base of the US changes dramatically, the demographics are changing dramatically. They are cultures that didn't necessarily grow up boating but that is a huge opportunity for our industry. What you are going to see over the next several years, as the baby boomers age out of boating and the industry continues to look for the young people to get engaged in the industry, people are going to focus a lot more on bringing those new markets into the boating industry.

On new market outreach at Freedom Boat Club…..We really solve a lot of the industry's problems. When you look at those markets, they're people that are not traditional boaters so the club concept fits very well into their lifestyle, at least to begin getting them engaged in boating. We offer training, we offer a variety of boats, and those are two major hurdles when you're bringing someone new into the industry. We get them comfortable and hopefully we create lifetime boaters.

On boating attrition (54% of boat buyers in 2005 are no longer boating)…..I can almost guarantee that the majority of those people aren't boating today because they had a couple of really bad experiences when they started. Boating should be fun. The people on the boat should have a fun time and a safe time. With the training that we offer and with some training the industry is going to be coming out with, hopefully that will solve a big part of the attrition with boat buyers moving out of the industry. If they're going to make that leap and buy a boat or join a club, we want them here for a long time.

On recommended reading…..I know its state specific but there is a Florida safe boating handbook. I think that from an educational standpoint, get some type of resource that's going to explain the basics of boating before you get out on the water. The Florida safe boating handbook is something that I give to everybody whether they are considering the club or considering buying a boat.

On spending a day out on the water with anyone (besides his wife and kids)…..I would have to say Bill Belichik. I'm a huge Patriots fan and I think if you're going to try to get some time with Bill Belichik, it probably needs to be on a boat where there aren't any distractions. I think he's a brilliant coach and a brilliant motivator and I'd love to pick his brain for a few hours.

On advice for someone thinking about getting into boating…..Do your research on whether buying a boat, renting boats, or joining a boat club are going to fit your lifestyle. And before you get on a boat, take a classroom class and a hands-on training class to make sure you're comfortable. If you're comfortable the first time, you'll be comfortable beyond that.

We covered much more in our conversation. The hardest part of recording this episode was narrowing down what to talk about given his participation in so many different parts of the boating industry. Leave any questions or comments below!

Saltwater In Her Veins – Lisa 'The Boatanista' Almeida and Her Lifelong Passion for Boating Dec 13, 2016

Show notes

Wow, I had so much fun recording this episode with Lisa 'The Boatanista' Almeida. Born and raised a Floridian, who claims to bleed salt water when she gets cut, Lisa turned a successful career in Sales and Marketing into her current role as the Owner of Freedom Boat Club, Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Before owning her Freedom Boat Club locations, Lisa rose to Director of Marketing for the nine state Bellsouth region. During her tenure, she was continually recognized for her innovative, creative problem solving, and her ability to engage an audience with her speaking skills. In 2007, when she took an early retirement from Bellsouth to make a career change, she followed her passion for being on the water. Lisa is a member of the Captains Club, The Jacksonville Power Squadron, The Jacksonville Marine Association, and serves on the City of Jacksonville's Boating Committee. As an Aquaholic she has done many charity boat rides for underprivileged children, and was instrumental in saving the Jacksonville lighted boat parade. In 2016 Boating Industry included Lisa in their list of Women Making Waves, recognizing women in the boating industry who have made large contributions to its success, propelled its growth and led their organizations into the future. Lisa has been a distinguished franchise owner winning several national awards including Marketer of the Year and Brand Champion.

Lisa's passion for boating and enthusiasm is inspiring. We covered so much - how she boated at 3 weeks old, 'boat-gating' at Jaguars games, advice for boating with pets, empowering women boaters, essentials for beginners, following her passion into a fulfilling career she loves, and more. Enjoy the conversation!

On getting her boating start…..I like to say that boating is a part of my DNA and I didn't really even have a choice because my parents were competitive water skiers and they competed all over the states. They actually competed at Cypress Gardens. My mom kept waterskiing with me until she was six months pregnant. Then three weeks after I was born she said they would put me in a carrier and tie me up underneath the bow, I would go to sleep when the engine started. When the engine would stop I would wake up and then they would feed me, and then the engine would start and I'd go back into slumberland.

On her first boating memory…..I remember being at a tournament and I was three years old. My mom used to ski in a tutu and she would be on one ski skiing backwards and there's a picture of me three years old with a ski rope in front of me, and I had a little bathing suit with a tutu and I'm standing there with my leg out back trying to imitate my mom. I just remember it being such a loving atmosphere, and fun, and everybody was having a great time and that's what boating actually means to me.

On the first boats she was on…..I know that it was a Glastron, and another one of the first boats that my dad had was a Wellcraft. There's also another picture of me like four years old sitting at the helm staring at the wheel, and my dad said you're staring at it thinking 'when do I get to drive.'

On learning to boat…..I was about 8 or 9 when I started learning to drive the boat. And then at 14 or 15 I was driving it with no problem. Later on, when I bought my first boat, my dad came up and really spent a lot of time with me and teaching me about the lines, and currents, and wind, and trailering. He has a great method called push/pull, learning how to spin on yourself with just one engine. He taught me about the throttle, and putting it in and out of gear, and just practicing and making it okay if you didn't do it right the first time.

On whether boating was intimidating…..Never, and I think it's because my dad had three girls and so because he wanted to ski and he always wanted to go boating, we all had to learn how to drive, back the trailer, etc. It was always a mindset of, 'of course you can do this!' It's really not that hard, I believe it's more of a mindset that women can do it. It's really just about pushing through the fear of the unknown, of the not doing, and if you've got someone there coaching you, teaching you, and letting you just be like, it's okay you made a mistake, then gaining experience and confidence is just what it takes.

On the feeling of being a confident boater.....I will tell you it is really really fun when I'm in my 32 Monterey and I am driving and I pull up to somewhere and pull it right in, and there's a guy standing there and many times he's going 'wow that's pretty impressive.' One of my favorite stories was in Fernandina Beach. They have a shrimp festival every year. It's a three day event with bands and music and food. I had a girlfriend and two guys on the boat with me and I was driving my 30 Sea Ray and it was pretty tight and we were coming in and I heard somebody on the dock say 'watch out, there's a lady at the helm.' We came in, I spun it around and backed up, and they gave me a standing ovation. It was awesome!

On her personal boats.....I have a 32 Monterey cruiser with twin Mercs on it which I absolutely love. I have a 22 Sea Ray Sundeck which is an awesome boat. Because you know one is never enough!

On her dream boat…..I'd really love to have a 46 or 48 sedan bridge because it is really nice to get up top on the sedan. The views are different, you can see things different and it's really fun when you're anchored out and everybody's hanging out up top.

On boating to Jaguars games…..That is so much fun. It is one of my favorite things for my members to experience, even friends who have never done it. The stadium is on the river and right across from the stadium is the city Marina, so we don't tailgate, we boat-gate. Just like tailgating, everybody brings food, we put a tent on the dock, and it's really awesome when we're going underneath the bridge and you see the bumper-to-bumper traffic and we don't have any. Why go by car when you can go by boat?!

On her boating destination bucket list…..I want to go to Put-In-Bay in Ohio and I also want to do the Columbus Day Regatta in Miami, where thousands of boaters come together. Put-In-Bay has the round bar and a bunch of boats rafted up together. That's really when my heart is the most open and it's the most fun, when we're all rafted up together and there's all different kinds of boats and everybody is just one big happy family. It's just that connectivity. You don't ever meet a stranger, but you meet tons of strangers and that's the best thing for me about boating.

On her favorite boating activity…..Now my favorite thing really is going to the beach and rafting up with folks - swimming, enjoying activities, having kids around, bringing them up in the boating world. We have an island here called Fort George Island that is a big barrier island. The beaches are gorgeous and everybody just goes and rafts up together and anchors and it's kind of like you took your boat to the beach with a party of your 500 best friends.

On a new favorite piece of gear.....Maui Mats! They are 6 feet wide by 20 feet long. You can walk on it, you can put coolers on it, you can put chairs on it, kids love, it, and adults love it. It's really fun to just hang out on the Maui Mat, swim on it, jump off it, and walk on water.

On essentials for beginners.….I think definitely Navionics or something like that on your iPhone is a must. Being a BoatUS member and a Sea-Tow member, I recommend both because they each bring different things to the table, is also very helpful. There is so much you can learn from reading your BoatUS magazine, getting online, seeing their feed on Facebook. Anytime I get the magazine I'm pulling out articles on really cool tools to have on board, places to go, and things about boating. I think both of those things are really really important.

On her favorite boating 'book'..…I don't really have a boating book other than my West Marine catalog! My friends do tease me that I would rather go to West Marine and walk around than go to the mall and it is the truth!

On her career change…..I went on an African safari and we were touring this mud hut, and 8 people slept in it and they were gracious and happy and I had an epiphany moment. I came back and decided to leave Bell South. Freedom Boat Club interviewed 12 people (11 men and me) and I got the job. Now I understand the difference between loving what you do and having a passion for what you do. I work all the time and I never feel like I'm at work. Even when I'm on my boat on the weekends at Fort George, in the morning and night I'm on my laptop working but it doesn't ever feel like work. I want to do it. I love doing it. I want everyone to get on the water and experience the joy of boating with your friends and your family!

On boating with pets…..It's really fun to bring your animal on board, but you also want to remember that you're in charge of them. You want to make sure they're safe, so number one - your dog should have a life jacket that fits them well and makes them comfortable. Also, when you're coming down to the dock you want to have them on a leash because if it's a floating dock they might feel wobbly and uncomfortable. Then definitely you have got to have water and a water bowl for them. They make a bottle that actually has a ball on it that the dog can lick and water will come out of it. There's lots of different things that you can buy but definitely have to keep them hydrated because when they get in the water they're going to drink, and if it's salty that's not good for them.

On success in the boating world..…I think of Carl Blackwell from Discover Boating and the reason that he comes to mind is because his whole goal is to make people aware about boating and learning about boating. Their website and their facebook page has a plethora of information. Of course I think about John Giglio, CEO and President of Freedom Boat Club. Many of our members leave and buy their own boats. They fall in love with boating which is great. We're putting product on the water for people to see and those people are taking friends. It's giving boating so much exposure. John's done an amazing job growing the business, we're at 120 locations.

Final advice for someone thinking about boating..…Stop thinking about it and do it! It doesn't have to be a dream. Just make it happen, make the decision. If you're unsure if you're a boating family, rent a boat. If they like the rental boat and you're still not sure about wanting to buy a boat, join a boat club. If you feel like you already know you're a boating family go to Discoverboating.com, read about the different kinds of boats, go to a boat show and see what kind of boat you think you want to buy. Just make the decision. There's lots of support out there, there's lots of help out there, just do it! Rent, join a club, or buy. Put one foot in front of the other and just make that decision and get your family out having so much fun. They're not on their iPhones, they're not on their iPads, they're laughing and joking and you are creating family memories that are going to last forever!

I can't wait to join Lisa on a boat-gate to a Jaguars game someday. Leave questions or comments below.

Pod-Casting a Line with Dan Glickberg – Fish Tales with Seafood Expert Nov 20, 2016

Show notes

This was such a fun conversation to record. Dan is one of my oldest friends and the person who introduced me to boating. Dan was on boats before he could walk and it wasn't long after that he was fishing. My earliest boating memories are on Jinx, the Torres fishing boat Dan's dad would take us out on in Montauk.

Dan is currently CEO of Dan Glickberg Food, a venture capital family office and media company, and a partner at Rodeo CPG, an advisory services and venture capital fund.

Previously, he was the fourth-generation founding family member at Fairway Market. This is where Dan truly became THE expert on fish and seafood as Fairway had one of the top seafood departments in the country. At Fairway he quickly earned the nickname "the face of Fairway Market." Dan took an active role in promoting the company through his cooking demonstrations, both in the stores and on TV. He also lent his expertise on "At The Table" segments on WOR Radio's Joan Hamburg Show and on "To The Market" segments on WOR Radio's Joe Bartlett Show.

With Dan Glickberg Food and Rodeo CPG, Dan is actively engaged in venture capital opportunities and consulting in the food industry. He was also an investor and star on the Food Network series Food Fortunes and was named one of Gotham Magazine's Top 100 bachelors in New York City in October in 2014.

This episode features some great fishing stories, practical equipment advice, and culinary tips you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

On starting to boat…..I've been on boats since before I could remember. I started out on the docks, in Montauk where my dad was an avid fisherman. By the time I could walk he took me out on the water and I've been hooked ever since.

On the first boat he was on.....It must have been a 25 foot Mako fishing boat. My dad had already bought a couple of used boats before that but the Mako was his dream boat and once he got that, we were out fishing all the time.

On his earliest memories…..My first memory was catching a striped bass. This was back in 1990 and striped bass had not made their big comeback yet so catching a striped bass was a big prize.

On learning to boat…..When I first started off my father was pretty protective of me so I started by tying lines, doing odds and ends, obviously cleaning the boat. As I got older and I mastered all the things around the boat, my father took us out of the inlet and after a couple minutes said 'your turn to steer the boat.' We switched seats and I learned by doing it. To me there's no trick, it takes a little time, a little experience, but once you do it often being on a becomes second nature. It's really about putting in the time.

On fishing in Montauk…..We were usually fishing for striped bass, fluke, porgies, and sea bass. We would go out for tuna once or twice a summer. The Atlantic Canyon, where the continental shelf is, seems to be a great place for not only tuna, but also Mahi Mahi.

On catching tuna…..We'd go out there, we'd fish for mahi for a couple hours. They tend to hang around lobster pots and buoys. We'd spend the whole night chunking for tune. We'd get them to bite sometime after midnight and we'd spend the morning hours pretty much non-stop fish. It was an amazing experience.

On time spent on the water.....Being out on the water is really about the people you are with and the stories you tell. It's really a time when you can put everything else going on in your life away, put your cell phone away, and detach and focus on being in the moment.

On his favorite place to fish…..I love the Florida Keys. I love backcountry fishing. I really enjoy sight fishing where you see the fish you want to catch and you throw your bait in the line you think that fish is gonna go. We'd go tarpon fishing, bone fishing. We'd go fishing for snook. If I could only go fishing one place the rest of my life, that would be it. Catching a tarpon is something that, if you haven't done it before, you go out and do it. It's similar to tuna except they jump and they have nowhere to go but straight out.

On where he hasn't fished but would like to…..The Bahamas, that's supposed to be the epicenter of bonefishing. The bonefish are so thick that you don't even have to go in a boat, you can actually just wade by the shore and you have schools of hundreds of fish coming by every five to ten minutes.

On his most embarrassing moment on the water..…I was seven or eight, we were coming back to shore from a shark tournament, and we caught this huge thresher shark, over 200 pounds. As we hit the inlet, you're supposed to call the dock and tell them what you caught. My dad told them I caught it. So as we're pulling into the dock, everyone is cheering, we had this huge shark, and I would not come out of the cabin. I was hysterically crying and my mom had to come onto the boat to get me to come out of the cabin.

On his dream boat…..My dad had a boat maker down in the Keys named Claude Torres, and obviously his boat was called a Torres. That was really his first heavy duty fishing boat. He went through two or three of those, 38 feet. They took to the sea really well. I have way too many childhood memories on that boat to want anything else.

On boating as part of his family lifestyle....It has to be. The water is too big a part of my life. I can't imagine my life without boating. I'd do the same thing, as soon as my kid can walk I'd get him or her a life jacket and get out there learning at a young age.

On boating equipment…..One thing people might forget, and to me it's the most important item that you can have when you're out on the water, is a good pair of sunglasses, definitely polarized. I think you tend to forget how much the sun reflects off the water. Do not leave the dock without a good pair of sunglasses.

On essential fishing gear…..If you're getting started, you have to have a good rod. For the pole I like an Ugly Stik, and for the reel I like a Penn reel.

On seafood.....Most of the seafood I ate growing up was caught that day. We'd go out, catch a bunch of fish, and then eat it that night. So I was always really into seafood. It's a great source of protein, very healthy. Because fishing and seafood were such a big part of my life growing up, it seeped into the family business and we had one of the best seafood departments in the city, if not the country.

Favorite fish to eat…..It changes from season to season and it depends on what part of the country I'm in. I definitely like local seafood, if it's line caught even better. In New York my favorite fish is fluke or flounder. Very mild, love the flavor. You don't need much more than butter and fresh herbs and lemon. If I'm going out on the West Coast I'll probably do something like halibut. Down in Florida my favorite fish is yellowtail.

Easiest fish to cook…..Salmon is probably the easiest fish to cook. You can just put some olive oil, some lemon juice, and some fresh herbs on it. Put it on the pan, brown both sides, and put it in the oven for 5-10 minutes depending on how big a filet it is. With any fish, especially if the skin is on it, put the skin side down first, and then flip it to the filet side and you want to cook them for about the same amount of time. If you cook it well enough on the skin side, you can actually eat the skin. It tastes pretty good, very high in protein and Omega-3's.

On what to drink with fish..…What I love, especially in the summer, is we have this somewhat new brewery called Grimm. I'll take a good, light Grimm Sour Ale. With fish you definitely don't want anything that's too big. If you want to go with wine you could definitely go with white wine or if you want to go with red wine you could do something like a Pinot Noir from Oregon which tends to be on the lighter side.

On lessons learned on the water..…I think being aware of your surroundings is very important. It's always important to be safe. That's something I've carried with me, always being aware of my surroundings and what's going on in the world around me. As we've gotten older and we have more and more technology, being able to unplug and disconnect from the outside world and enjoy being in the moment is extremely important.

On success in the boating world..…Frank Mundus (passed away 2008). He was a fisherman in Montauk, best known for being the #1 Great White fisherman in the world. He was the basis for the captain in JAWS.

Final advice for boaters…..If you are thinking about getting out on the water, definitely go and do it. There is no time better than the present!

I had a great time speaking with Dan and remembering some of our best times on the family boat…and can't wait to go bonefishing in the Bahamas with him! Leave any questions or comments below.

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