Brewer Continues to InvestDespite Changes to Economic Landscape

which are driven into the mud), galvanizedsteel framing, and 3 x 10 tongue and groovepressure-treated wood. A three foot gap at thebottom of the wall allows water to free-flowbetween the marina and the surrounding bay.

“In the spring of 2007 we had a storm thatresulted in 4 to 5 foot cresting waves insidethe marina,” says General Manager, ChrisRuhling. “It was devastating. We sustainedapproximately 4 million dollars in damages.We knew we had to do something. We’vebeen planning this project since then; sincelong before the economy slumped.”

As with all of its 21 properties, Brewer YachtYards has consistently reinvested in itsGreenwich Bay property since its acquisition.“Since we acquired this yard in November of2005, we’ve made one improvement afteranother,” says Chris. “We’ve put in a newbulkhead, cleared out debris to expand thestorage space, graded the parking areas,

continued on page 3

At a time when most have put capitalexpenditures on hold, Jack Brewer recentlymoved forward according to plan. In January,in a “bullish” manner - to borrow from marketlingo - he pulled the trigger on a $1.9 millionwaterfront improvement project and a$750,000 facilities improvement project atBrewer Greenwich Bay Marina. Both projectswere completed this spring, in time for the boating season.

In the South Yard, a custom designed, carefullyengineered, 450’ wave screen and fixed pierwas constructed, replacing an old waveattenuator and floating dock. At the sametime, a building was erected, tying an existingpoolside pavilion and picnic area to a brandnew facility housing heads, showers, vendingmachines, and laundry, as well as an outdoorshower. In the East Yard, these same poolsideamenities were also built, less the outdoorshower, but with the addition of a small marina office.

The new South Yard facilities provide shoreside conveniences for boaters utilizing the morethan 400 adjacent slips. The new large vesselpier accommodates vessels up to 200’ and thenew wave break provides substantial protectionfor the marina. The wave screen is constructedof 110’ steel pilings (approximately 95’ of

BYY CONTINUES TO INVEST

Despite Changes toEconomic Landscape

AT THE HELM

A Letter from the President

BYY IMPROVEMENTS

FUEL GIVE-AWAY

12-METRE TROPHY

ON DECK

Steve Wachter&

‘Junie’ Albertson

BYY LOCATION MAP

STAY YOUNG, GO BOATING

BYY PROJECTS

BOAT YARD DOG

TIPS FROM THE CREW

BYY MECHANICAL SEMINAR

SELLING YOUR BOAT IN A

CHALLENGING MARKET

INSURANCE

CT CLEAN MARINAS

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EditorKristin Peterson

Brewer South Freeport Marine

Director of MarketingDouglas Domenie

Brewer Dauntless Shipyard & Marina

Design and ProductionTina Kelsey

Communications ETC

Tide Watch is a newsletter created in-housespecifically for Brewer Yacht Yard customersand staff. With the exception of specialeditions, it is published twice a year. Over15,000 copies of each issue are direct-mailedin May and October, at the open and close ofeach boating season. We welcome feedback,contributions, questions, and ideas for stories.

While we do enjoy sharing our stories withyou, we also have an interest in hearing yourstories. If you cruise between Brewer YachtYards this season, let us know where you’vebeen and how you’ve spent your time. Feelfree to enclose pictures; we may include themin a future edition.

If you have technical questions relating tomechanical, electrical, rigging, fiberglass, car-pentry, or finish issues, drop us a line. We’llpose your questions to our BYY staff and printthe answers in upcoming newsletters. Ourcrew - of over 350 service technicians - is awealth of information. We are eager to shareour expertise with you, so fire away.

Write or e-mail:Kristin PetersonTide Watch Editorc/o Brewer South Freeport MarinePO Box 119South Freeport, ME 04078(207) 865-3181tidewatch@byy.com

At the HelmA Letter from the President

Dear Fellow Boaters,

On a lovely February day this winter, I took a short walk around Post RoadBoat Yard. I was amazed at the temperature - 63 degrees. Children wereplaying in a nearby park – sounds of spring! This was a welcome respite inthe midst of a beautiful but cold season.

Many would say winter felt extra long this year, since we have all beenhurt by the economic malaise. Yet many of us have so much to be gratefulfor. Family, health, the ability to enjoy a beautiful day – these are thingsthat are important. Also important is the feeling that we are working hardto do the very best that we can. I saw a sign once that sums it up very well– “The Quality of a Person’s Life is in Direct Proportion to TheirCommitment to Excellence, Regardless of Their Field of Endeavor”. Youget a tremendous feeling of satisfaction out of doing a job well – no matterwhat the job.

Nothing could be of greater importance this year. Whatever your profession – businessman, teacher, banker, attorney, accountant, politician,government employee, housewife – the one thing we all can take pride inis that we are doing our best. Even if we have had the misfortune to havelost a job, we can derive a good feeling by making every effort we can tofind another position.

At Brewer Yacht Yards, we believe strongly in hard work and in doingevery job to the best of our ability. We are fortunate to have expanded over the years by providing very nice facilities and excellent service.Despite the current state of the economy, we continue to invest in ourproperties. We have done dredging projects at Fiddler’s Cove, Bruce &Johnson’s, and Post Road. We have constructed a wonderful new storagebuilding at Pilot’s Point. We have installed new floats at Greenport andDauntless. There are new bathroom facilities at Greenwich Bay andDauntless. And we have constructed a new bulkhead at Stirling Harbor.

In March, we held a two day seminar for more than 70 technicians.Outside speakers taught about a variety of mechanical and electrical topics.Sometimes people ask why we do this. It is very costly to take 70 techni-cians away from the work force for two days and lose over 1100 hours ofbillable time. But we do it because we want to provide the best possibleservice for you.

Thanks for supporting our company over the years. Enjoy your boat thisseason. Your boat presents an opportunity to enjoy family and friends in anexceptional setting. It can provide you with a wonderful “escape” from theworld around you. As a customer once said to me, “I’d rather pay for theboat than pay for a psychiatrist.”

Thanks for your time, trust, and patronage.

Sincerely,

office: (914) 698-0295cell: (914) 659-0066e-mail: jack@byy.com

improved the lighting and signage, et cetera. We’ve had somany positive comments from our customers! I’m proud to beable to offer these new amenities, despite the economiclandscape,” says Chris. “These projects not only improve thefacilities for our members and add a necessary level ofprotection, but they demonstrate that Brewer Yacht Yards is afiscally fit company. This lets boaters know they can count onconsistency and continued quality. Clearly we don’t cutcorners to save a buck.”

Chris sites Brewer Yacht Yards’ ability to continually moveforward as a significant reason for his own longevity with thecompany. “Our ability to regularly take on projects and makeimprovements like this is one of the reasons I’ve worked forJack Brewer for 25 years,” he says. “I’m excited about my jobevery day.” Chris thinks customers are similarly inspired byBrewer’s commitment to its facilities and infrastructure.

“Customers have confidence in Brewer Yacht Yards. Theyknow our equipment is well maintained. They know ouremployees are well-trained. They know their boats are beinghandled by reliable machines and skilled people. They alsoknow, and assume, our facilities and properties will becontinually improved and upgraded as time goes forward, tobetter serve them. They know Brewer Yacht Yards will be heretomorrow. And that gives everyone peace of mind.” H

In an effort to help out local Soup Kitchens during thesetough economic times, Brewer Yacht Yards invites allBYY members, as well as the general public, to Stuff aBoat! On July 11th and 12th, Brewer Pilots Point Marinawill offer an additional five cents off per gallon, at thePilots Point fuel dock, for all who participate in “provi-sioning” a boat with canned goods. “A boat will be set upon land to collect the canned good contributions,” saysKaty Russell, Dockmaster at Brewer Pilots Point Marina.“We want to fill up the boat with food donations andbring attention to the needs of Soup Kitchens duringthese difficult times.” H

STUFF A BOAT

Brewer Continues to Invest, continued from page one

“ ”3

To read more about capital improvement effortsat all Brewer Yacht Yards, see page four.

4

Brewer Yacht Yards continually invests in its properties. Tohighlight Brewer Yacht Yards’ commitment to this effort,here’s a sampling of recent improvements made at each site:

Brewer Yacht Yard at Greenport continued their floatreplacement program this winter, on “C Dock”, by installingnew Sullivan Floatation slips with Ipe wood decking. The newdocks are serviced with all new plumbing, wiring, and electricpower pedestals. The float replacement program will continueon “B Dock” next season.

Another project took place just south of the Dock Office. An old office space was turned into a customer lounge.“The lounge includes seating, tables, a television, and a

laptop computer station,” says General Manager, Mike Acebo.“This provides a spot for boaters to catch up on weatherreports, check e-mail, and meet guests.”

Brewer Stirling Harbor Marina replaced 200’ of bulkhead,last summer, by the service dock and travel lift area. “Theground had settled about one foot, and an old derrick, concrete slab, and storage trailer had made the space less than user-friendly,” says General Manager, Jesse Gaffga. Thiswinter, bulkhead work continued by “D Dock”, where a formerly non-useable bank was leveled to provide a flat, useable grassy space.

Brewer Yacht Yard at Glen Cove also completed a long-termfloat replacement program. All of the marina docks are nowuniform Radisson floats with modern conveniences. Otherrecent improvements include additional paving in the parkinglot, to better protect both cars and boats; maintenance dredging, to preserve water depths; and new riprap along the embankment behind “F Dock”, to minimize erosion.

Brewer Capri Marina recently obtained permits to replaceTahiti West and East Docks, as well as piers and bulkheads onthe west side of Capri West. “We anticipate final approval forthese projects in the near future,” says General Manager,Steve Wachter. “For now, we have three new ramps in placefor the East Marina and Tahiti Docks.” Pier, float, and rampreplacement programs are ongoing. Meanwhile, landscapingand fencing upgrades have further improved security and thegeneral visual appeal of the property.

Brewer Post Road Boat Yard installed three new furnaces inservice buildings this winter to better heat the storage shedand rigging shop. A significant dredge project was also com-pleted, removing 6,880 yards of bottom material from the sliparea. As a result, eight to ten feet of water depth is now foundat MLW. “We began the dredge permitting process in 2006,”says General Manager, Paul Muenzinger. By the time the project commenced, about half of the marina was too shallowfor sailboats. “Some slips were down to four and five foot draftat mean low water, and approaches were down to two to fourfeet,” says Paul. “Seven of our slips were completely blockedat low tide, even for boats with outdrives and outboardmotors. We’re pleased to have regained adequate water depthand we’re grateful for the patience shown by the affected boatowners.”

Brewer Yacht Haven Marina replaced ramps and the boardwalk around the Inner Basin at Yacht Haven East.

Brewer Stratford Marina tackled general maintenance onthe docks and throughout the yard, ensuring that all docksideconveniences and amenities are in good working order.

Brewer Bruce & Johnson’s Marina completed a mainte-nance dredging project in mid February. “Last year, the dockswere all new in the West Yard, now we have deep water too,”says General Manager, John McMahon. In addition, the yard’susual emphasis on spring clean up and landscaping is now evident, as the season begins in manicured style.

Brewer Pilots Point Marina, South recently purchased anew concession trailer as yet another customer amenity. “Now we’re able to provide breakfast and lunch foods conveniently, allowing customers to grab a quick bite to eat on site,” says Dockmaster Katy Russell.

Brewer Yacht Yard Improvements

5

Perhaps a more obvious addition, if driving through the yard,is a newly erected 250’ long, five-bay building. Specificallyconstructed to meet the increased demand for indoor winterstorage, the building is easily accessed by the yard’s 70-tontravel lift. Very impressive 30’ x 40’ hydraulic doors allow formaximum height clearance at each bay entrance. During thedesign and construction process, a great deal of effort wasmade to make this building as energy efficient and as environmentally friendly as possible.

Brewer Ferry Point Marina replaced a 40 year old lift wellthis winter. New timbers and pilings were installed, replacing80 year old telephone pole piles which once served the localutility company. “We also improved the walkways on bothsides and put in a new steel beam,” says General Manager,Tom Wicander.

Brewer Dauntless Shipyard & Marina replaced two maindocks this winter, upgrading electrical service, adding cableTV, and installing new power pedestals, fuel lines, and a newpump out system. “As part of this effort, we realigned thedocks to provide a better fairway approach between ‘A and BDocks’, and to allow for 45’ fingers on the north side of ‘ADock’,” says General Manager, Doug Domenie. “In addition,we modified and rebuilt the old restrooms. The new heads arelocated in the north portion of the Chandlery Building. Thenew layout includes laundry facilities and suite-style restroomsfor the ladies.” Access is provided on the water side.

Brewer Deep River Marina improved security by installingnew chain link fencing in the North Yard, while the MainYard was dressed up with decorative wood fencing and newentry gates. On the comfort side, air conditioning wasinstalled in the heads and showers.

Brewer Yacht Yard at Mystic installed new sewer pumps andbegan the permitting process for future phases of their dockreplacement program. Taking advantage of quieter winterdays, the crew also spruced up the marina offices with freshpaint, keeping up appearances Brewer Yacht Yard style.

Brewer Wickford Cove Marina added an articulating boom liftto the yard’s equipment fleet, erected a new flag pole, andinstalled a new septic system. The boom lift supports the yard’sframing and covering work, rigging program, and travel lift andbuilding maintenance efforts.

Last season, mega yachts took advantage of Wickford’s newlarge vessel slip accommodations. This season, the new floatswill continue to serve transient traffic, as well as the usualmarina and boat yard service activity.

Brewer Yacht Yard at Cowesett hooked up the marina bathrooms and pump out station to the city sewer system thiswinter. This improvement better supports facility demands.

Brewer Greenwich Bay Marinaimproved customermarina amenities, particularly in theSouth and East Yards,and made a signifi-cant investment in anew protective wavescreen. Please see feature article formore details.

t Yard Improvements

continued on page 6

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Brewer Cove Haven Marina installed a custom cement patio,with a grill and tables, for all to enjoy this season. They alsospruced up the yacht brokerage office building “The exteriorwas freshly stained and new red cedar decking was installed,”says Yard Manager, Dave Smith. “We also modified the base-ment area to create additional office space.”

Brewer Sakonnet Marina upgraded the gazebo in the NorthYard and landscaped the area with a beautifulstone patio. Grills and tables now welcome boaters ashore. In the South Yard, wave deflectorswere beefed up and refastened to provide betterwave protection. Throughout the facility, heads,showers, and parking areas were spruced up.Though not as visible, the main storage shed wasalso reroofed.

Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina completed a major maintenance dredging project this winter, returning theentrance channel to its original seven feet at MLW. Dredging was last done in 2001. “After a lengthy permittingprocess, we removedapproximately 500cubic yards of material,which the Town ofFalmouth took forbeach nourishment,”says General Manager,Fred Sorrento. “Thematerial was mostlysand that had silted in from neighboringbeaches.”

Brewer Plymouth Marine welcomed a new tenant in January.Union Studio, a storefront artist’s studio, is making use of a1,000 sq. ft. retail space, formerly occupied by Boater’s World.This artist’s co-op is home to a photographer, a food stylist,and a graphic artist. The three work collaboratively, as well asindependently, on food-related creative projects, producing thekind of images found in food magazines and recipe books, aswell as in ads and brochures, and on product labels. Uniquely,

the studio houses a professional, functioning,kitchen that supports the work of each artist.In addition, photo restoration, customretouching, print services, and cooking classesare available. “The primary business is pho-tography for food-related advertising,” saysGeneral Manager, Tim Moll, “but they doportraits of loved ones and of boats too.”

Other improvements on site include a new entryway gate andbrick walkway. “The nasty chain-link fence has been replacedwith an attractive vinyl fence,” says General Manager, TimMoll. “We also rebuilt, reshingled, and dolled-up the utilitybuilding that houses all the marina power distribution equip-ment; and we replaced 14,000 sq. ft. of roofing material on ourtwo storage buildings.”

Brewer South Freeport Marine rehabbed a 1965 Internationaltractor this winter which has been in service at the yard forover 40 years. With a new coat of red paint, and a thoroughlyserviced mechanical system, the tractor will be back to workthis season. The yard’s 35-ton travel lift was also formallyinspected this winter, making it ready to handle boats with thegreatest of care throughout the launching and hauling season.Finally, a new layer of blue crushed stone was spread to refreshand regrade the boat storage and parking areas. H

Brewer Improvements

Last year, to ease the burden of higher fuel prices, Brewer Yacht Yards gave away fuel coupons valued at $100 to hundreds of BYY Club Members. Through weekly drawings, approximately $35,000 dollars worth of fuel was given away!

This season, to ease the burden of an uncertain economy, Brewer Yacht Yards will once again give away $100 in fuel at each marina. Special coupons will be issued to the lucky winners on a weekly basis. H

BYY Fuel Give-Away, Back by Popular Demand

7

Top: Senator Kennedy and Herb MarshallLeft: Jerome Mello, Brewer Cove Haven’s Head Carpenter.

One of the most significant, yet unlikely, pieces used in thefinal assembly is an old wooden spool donated by a formerConstellation crew member. “Constellation sank years ago, so it’s amazing that we actually have pieces from all of theAmerican, full-keel, 12-Metres,” says Herb. “The piece fromConstellation is pretty neat; it’s a wooden spool that was used to wind up the running tails.”

Last summer, the completed trophy was unveiled and chris-tened The Kennedy Cup, at the Nantucket 12-Metre Regatta.The cup will be formally awarded for the first time, in SenatorKennedy’s name, this September in Newport. From now on, itwill bear the names of the Traditional/Division C winners, andwill continue to be awarded, every two years, for generationsto come. The cup will remain on permanent display at the 12-Metre Yacht Club in the Clark Cooke House in Newport.

Nearly 25 yachts are expected to compete in the international-caliber race in September. The four-day event will draw competitors from all over the world. PastWorld Championship Regattas have been held in Germany,England, and France. This is the second time since 2001 that Newport has played host. The Brewer Cove HavenMarina team is proud to have made such a permanent contribution to the event. H

12-Metre TrophyCan you imagine a championship sailboat race without a trophy?Unthinkable! That’s exactly what Herb Marshall, co-founder ofAmerica’s Cup Charters in Newport, Rhode Island, thought.Herb, a longtime customer of Brewer Cove Haven Marina -where his company stores two of their 12-Metre yachts, Intrepidand American Eagle - is also Vice President of the Americas Fleetfor the International 12-Metre Class. Wanting a trophy worthyof competition to award to the Traditional/Division C winners of the 12-Metre World Championships - to be held in Newportthis September - Herb approached U.S. Senator Ted Kennedyfor help.

“Senator Kennedy has been a terrific ambassador and friend ofsailing for many years,” says Herb. “Since he has a great fondnessfor the classic 12-Metres, I asked him if he’d like to sponsor acup. He agreed.” Herb then approached Jerome Mello, BrewerCove Haven Marina’s Head Carpenter with an idea.

“I gave Jerome a bunch of pieces from six of the 12-Metre classics - Weatherly, American Eagle, Columbia, Easterner,Nefertiti, and Constellation - and asked him to create a wood trophy base, to go with a pewter and copper cup I’d already had fashioned,” says Herb. “Since I have a long relationship with the crew at Brewer Cove Haven, I knew I could rely onJerome’s expertise and creativity.”

Jerome, who has participated in replankingand restoring many of the 12-Metre yachtsstored at Brewer Cove Haven Marina overthe years, gladly accepted the challenge.Faced with a pile of historic pieces of wood,and a unique opportunity, Jerome decidedto collaborate with Cove Haven’s rigger,Frank Chaves, and fellow carpenter, MarkBrynes, in the creative process. Usingselect pieces from old decks, booms, frames,and winch bases, the Cove Haven teamcarefully crafted the trophy base, to bringHerb’s vision to life.

8

Steve Wachter played in dinghies at age 3. At age six, he sailedcompetitively in junior yacht club programs. At age nine, hebaited traps aboard a friend’s lobster boat, and at age 13 he hadhis own lobster license and took orders from neighbors for weekend parties. By age 16, he had a job at the Sea Cliff YachtClub, in Glen Cove, New York. A year later, he obtained his first USCG captain’s license.

After a couple seasons running and maintaining various yachtclub launches and mooring fields, he set sail with members of the Roosevelt family, delivering a 44’ ketch to Florida. Thusbegan a lifelong career on the water.

Raised in Oyster Bay, on Long Island, Steve Wachter, GeneralManager of Brewer Capri Marina, has had an attraction to thewater for as long as he can remember. Perhaps it was instilled inhim by his father. “My dad was a jock; every year he took us foran Easter swim. Apparently he thought it was a good idea to takeus swimming in March and April,” he laughs. “It was a familytradition.” Another Wachter family tradition: sailing acrossOyster Bay on New Year’s Day. “We had a 16’ Hobie Cat that wesailed,” says Steve. “I still have it today, 35 years later.” And it’sno wonder. Steve’s upbringing, work, and education have alwaysrevolved around the waterfront and boats.

As mate and captain aboard a 59’ Columbia sailboat, Steveattended business events, in New York City, and cruised as far asPetit Manan off the coast of Maine with the boat’s owners. Later,as a student at the State University of New York at FortSchuyler, Steve pursued a degree in marine engineering. In 1979,following graduation, Steve began shipping out. He servedaboard older naval vessels (crewed by civilians) in theMediterranean.

Working for the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Stevetook part in replenishment operations for active naval vessels, forboth US and NATO forces. “We were underway, maintainingcourse, doing night operations,” says Steve. “It was really some-thing to have an aircraft carrier on the starboard side, taking onaviation fuel, lube oil, et cetera, for eight to ten hours, while250-foot plus escort ships, like destroyers and amphibious vessels,one after the other, came and went on the port side, all in thesame eight to ten hour time period; all while underway, holding acourse.” Such thrills held Steve’s interest for three six monthtours before he decided yachts were just more fun.

In pursuit of more fun and new adventure, Steve took a job running boats for John Thomson, a well-known sailboat racer. “I worked for Thomson from 1982 to 1990. I ran the tender, thesupport vessel, for his many race boats, including his last boat, a50’ custom IOR sailboat, Infinity. The tender I captained was a65’ Hatteras, a long-range cruiser, which he called Affinity.”Though Steve’s primary job was to captain the support vessel, healso participated in some racing. “We did SORC (the SouthernOcean Racing Circuit), the Newport/Bermuda Race, theMiami/Nassau (Bahamas) Race, and Key West, Edgartown, andBlock Island Race Weeks, along with all of the New York YachtClub summer races,” he says. “John Thomson was a strong com-petitor, so we brought home a lot of ‘silverware’. It was a blast,

Steve Wachter

On Deck

whether wewere winningor losing, butthankfully weusually won!”

In 1990, thebirth of his sonbrought Steveashore. Bythen, Steve’s boss had already focused some of his businessinterests on marina operations, which allowed him to continueto employ Steve, even after Steve ‘swallowed the anchor’.“Thomson bought Capri Marina in 1982. He bought the WestYard, then the East Yard, and continued to grow the operation,”says Steve. “I started as the Special Projects Manager. Sixmonths later I became his General Manager.” In 1999,Thomson sold Capri to Jack Brewer.

“This year marks Brewer Capri Marina’s 10th Anniversary,” saysSteve proudly. “It has been a wonderful evolution. I went frombeing a stand-alone guy at one marina, to having access to thisincredible network, all in-house, as part of the Brewer YachtYard group. It’s beneficial to us and to our customers. Theresources are endless. The knowledge within is huge!”

Since Capri Marina has become a Brewer yard, Steve has over-seen the continued improvement of the facility and its variousamenities. He has orchestrated the arrival of a new waterfrontrestaurant, a sailing school, and new and used yacht brokerages.“We now have the Waterview Restaurant, the Port SailingSchool, Bay Watch Yachts yacht brokerage, and Strong’sMarine, which brokers new boat lines for Pursuit and Cobalt,”says Steve. In addition, Steve and his Capri team have developed and extended the parts and service departments,improved landscaping, updated signage, replaced floats, piers,and ramps, and upgraded customer amenities.

“The goal is to make sure Capri always feels like a place for ourmembers to unwind and relax,” says Steve. “What I like mostabout this job is seeing people and families enjoying their ves-sels. I love to help people plan cruises and then see the delight,excitement, and satisfaction they have when they return, to thecomfort of their home port, to share their experiences. Andthere’s nothing better than seeing the marina buzzing like a beehive, with seasonal and transient customers, on weekends.”

But it’s the experiences that the waterfront and boats providethat move Steve and keep his interest and passion alive. “I wasfortunate to have these experiences growing up and my kidshave too. My son worked on a waterfront estate before he had adriver’s license, so he commuted to and from work by boat onesummer. That’s pretty cool.”

When Steve isn’t tending to the marina, or enjoying timeunderway, he loves to hit the slopes. “I love to ski, especiallywith my son and daughter; it’s something I really enjoy. It’s niceto have a sport in the off-season; it gives me a chance torecharge.” H

9

“If it wasn’t for the boat yard, I would have been dead years ago,” says JunieAlbertson. At 80 years young, Junie is the eldest member of the Brewer YachtYard team. “I love it; I absolutely love it,” he says. “It keeps me young.”

Junie has been a Stirling Harbor Marina fixture for decades. His history withthe yard is personal and pre-dates Jack Brewer’s acquisition of the facility bymany years. One of three original partners, Junie helped establish the firstboat yard at the Stirling Harbor site, founding Stirling Harbor Inc. in 1967.“It was marshland then,” he recalls. “We were just three fellows - a craneoperator, a carpenter, and a bulldozer operator. We had a business idea and ahot dog stand out front.” After a year and a half in the partnership, Junie soldhis share in the business and started another boat yard, Albertson’s Marine,just down the road from Stirling Harbor. He ran his marine business from1968 to 1980, while simultaneously pursuing local real estate and businessinterests, becoming a jack of all trades in the process.

Nearly two decades ago, in his initial retirement, Junie and his wife sold theirhome and moved aboard their 40’ Silverton. They began wintering in Floridaand summering, dockside, at Stirling Harbor Marina. As a live-aboard, Juniebecame involved, once again, with the operation of Stirling Harbor whileassisting the marina through a transition period. (By way of inheritance, theoperation had fallen into the hands of someone unfamiliar with the busi-ness). “I was happy to help out, but at that point I didn’t want the keys or theheadaches,” says Junie. “I just wanted to share my knowledge and skill.” Thearrangement proved beneficial to both parties and Junie began what turnedout to be a retirement career. When the marina was purchased by JackBrewer in 2002, Junie was an informal part of the acquisition package.Suddenly a member of the Brewer Yacht Yard family, when most his age hadlong-since retired, Junie continued to make significant contributions to theBrewer Stirling Harbor Marina team effort.

“Junie has been instrumental in assisting with the development of theStirling Harbor site,” says Jesse Gaffga, General Manager of Brewer StirlingHarbor Marina. “He knows the sheds, the equipment, and the history of the property intimately. He has the entire underground memorized. Heknows where every water pipe and electrical wire is. This knowledge hasbeen extremely helpful as we’ve run new water and electrical service and renovated the site.”

According to Jesse and the Stirling Harbor crew, Junie runs circles aroundpeople less than half his age. “He’s honest, outgoing, cheerful, and enthusiastic; he gives 150 percent all the time. We just try to keep up,” they say. “He’s such an inspiration. He helps people in any way he can. He brings positive energy wherever he goes. He has a joke for all occasions.He makes people laugh.”

But perhaps what Junie’s co-workers appreciate most about him is his willingness to share his knowledge. “I’ve learned so much from Junie over the years,” says Yardman Jimmy Stulsky, who has worked alongside Junie fornearly 20 years. “I’d like to know half of what he has forgotten! We’re all better people as a result of working alongside him. His knowledge is

‘Junie’ Albertson

unbelievable. He’s hands on, in an old-schoolmanner. He doesn’t have any formal training, yethe’s multi-faceted, from A to Z,” says Jimmy. “Andeven on days when Junie isn’t working, he’s at theyard for coffee break. He’s Mr. Stirling Harbor.”

Junie is a punch-list man. He manages everythingfrom changing light bulbs to repairing docks.When needed, he also diagnoses and trouble-shoots mechanical issues for customers in order torefer jobs appropriately to the Stirling serviceteam. “I’ve always been a bit of a mechanic, but,when you own a boat yard, you learn to do a littleof everything,” says Junie. “Selling. Fixing. Andeverything in between.”

As Junie prepares to ease into retirement, again,he reiterates that it’s the boat yard that keeps himyoung. Today, he and his wife keep their 34’Silverton, Sunchaser, at Brewer Stirling HarborMarina’s “E Dock”. “It’s a very social dock; afriendly bunch,” says Junie. “I have tables andchairs set up by my boat; it’s a gathering spot witha family atmosphere. We have parties and we goto each other’s homes. I’ve made very good friendson ‘E Dock’. I think Jack Brewer envisionedStirling Harbor becoming a pleasure yard when he bought it. It is. It’s a friendly place and now it has the amenities to go with it.” H

On Deck

10

1 BREWER YACHT YARDAT GREENPORT500 Beach RoadGreenport, NY 11944Manager: Mike Acebo631/477-9594 • fax 477-1150gre@byy.com

2 BREWER STIRLINGHARBOR MARINA1410 Manhanset AveGreenport, NY 11944Manager: Jesse Gaffga631/477-0828 • fax 477-0552bsh@byy.com

3 BREWER YACHT YARDAT GLEN COVE128 Shore RoadGlen Cove, NY 11542Manager: Mark Friel516/671-5563 • fax 674-0113bgc@byy.com

4 BREWERCAPRI MARINA15 Orchard Beach Blvd.Port Washington, NY 11050Manager: Steve Wachter516/883-7800 • fax 944-8770bcm@byy.com

5 BREWERPOST ROAD BOAT YARD155 East Post RoadMamaroneck, NY 10543Manager: Paul Muenzinger914/698-0295 • fax 698-6203prb@byy.com

6 BREWER YACHTHAVEN MARINAFoot of Washington BlvdStamford, CT 06904 Manager: Bruce Fournier203/359-4500 • fax 359-9522byh@byy.com

7 BREWERSTRATFORD MARINAFoot of Broad StreetStratford, CT 06497 Manager: Rod Swift203/377-4477 • fax 375-8879std@byy.com

8 BREWER BRUCE & JOHNSON’S MARINAMAIN YARDSouth Montowese Street Branford, CT 06405Manager: John McMahonWEST YARDManager: Jeff McMahon203/488-8329 • fax 488-5010bjm@byy.com

9 BREWER PILOTSPOINT MARINA63 Pilots Point Drive Westbrook, CT 06498NORTH YARDManager: Bob Connell860/399-5128 • fax 399-8720EAST YARDManager: Bruce Chappell860/399-6421 • fax 399-9562SOUTH YARDManager: Rives Potts/Jeremy Maxwell860/399-7906 • fax 399-7259ppm@byy.com

10 BREWERFERRY POINT MARINA29 Essex RoadOld Saybrook, CT 06475 Manager: Tom Wicander 860/388-3260 • fax 388-0502bfp@byy.com

11 BREWER DAUNTLESSSHIPYARD & MARINA37 Pratt Street Essex, CT 06426 Manager: Doug Domenie SHIPYARD • 860/767-0001MARINA • 860/767-8267bds@byy.com

12 BREWER DEEPRIVER MARINA50 River LaneDeep River, CT 06417Manager: Jim Brown860/526-5560 • fax 526-2469drm@byy.com

13 BREWER YACHTYARD AT MYSTIC56 Roseleah Drive Mystic, CT 06355Manager: Ned Ahlborn860/536-2293 • fax 536-6560mys@byy.com

14 BREWER WICKFORDCOVE MARINAReynolds StreetWickford, RI 02852Manager: Larry Colantuono401/884-7014 • fax 294-1541wcm@byy.com

15 BREWER YACHTYARD AT COWESETT100 Folly Landing Road Warwick, RI 02886Manager: Chris Ruhling401/884-0544 • fax 885-5620cow@byy.com

16 BREWER GREENWICHBAY MARINA1 Masthead Drive Warwick, RI 02886NORTH & EAST YARDManager: Dave McGhie401/884-1810 • fax 737-3227SOUTH YARDManager: Greg Bartoszuk401/884-1810 • fax 884-4751bgb@byy.com

17 BREWER COVEHAVEN MARINA101 Narragansett Avenue Barrington, RI 02806Manager: Michael Keyworth401/246-1600 • fax 246-0731chc@byy.com

18 BREWERSAKONNET MARINANarragansett Boulevard Portsmouth, RI 02871Manager: Jay Burns401/683-3551 • fax 683-9188bsm@byy.com

19 BREWER FIDDLER’SCOVE MARINA42 Fiddler’s Cove Road North Falmouth, MA 02556Manager: Fred Sorrento508/564-6327 • fax 564-6724fcm@byy.com

20 BREWERPLYMOUTH MARINE14 Union Street Plymouth, MA 02360Manager: Tim Moll508/746-4500 • fax 746-2883bpm@byy.com

21 BREWER SOUTHFREEPORT MARINEP.O. Box 119 South Freeport, ME 04078Manager: John Brewer207/865-3181 • fax 865-3183bsf@byy.com

ENJOYENJOYNortheastNortheastthe

At Brewer Yacht Yards, we value and support what boatingmeans to people, what boating represents and what it provides.We’re dedicated to serving boaters, not just today, but for alifetime. From guiding people through a boat purchase, toensuring the enjoyment and maintenance of a vessel, BrewerYacht Yards is there. From providing people with a sense ofmembership and belonging, to managing a final boat sale,Brewer Yacht Yards is there.

Perhaps no two people know this better than Marty andChrys Stark. The Starks, each approaching the age of 90,have been Brewer Yacht Yard members for over 30 years!Since the early 1960s, they have summer-stored theirboats, dockside, at Brewer Yacht Haven Marina, and, sincethe mid 1970s, winter-stored at Brewer Bruce & Johnson’sMarina. Brewer Yacht Yards has been home port to everyStark family boat along the way. First, to their woodenChris Craft 34 and wooden Trojan 42, later to theirbrand new, fiberglass Trojan 44, and, eventually, to their1998 Jefferson 48 - the boat that saw them through totheir retirement from the pastime they love so much.

Indeed, for three decades, until their recent retirementfrom boating, the Starks have turned to Brewer YachtYards for all their boat yard and marina needs. Fromdockside amenities, to service, storage, and yacht brokerage, Brewer Yacht Yards has been a significant part of Marty and Chrys Stark’s boating experience.

“Marty and Chrys are two of the most upbeat peopleI’ve come in contact with,” says John McMahon,General Manager of Brewer Bruce & Johnson’sMarina. “They’re always very positive, even whenthey have problems. They’re great people to dealwith. And Marty is probably the most prepared,organized, boater I’ve ever met. I think he has spareparts for just about everything on his boat.”

At the close of last season, as the Starks preparedto put their vessel on the market and formally headfor shore, a large group of family, friends, and fellow yachtsmen gathered at Pons Yacht Club torecognize the Starks for their dedication to the sport and for

Dear Jack,

Finding you and Mrs. Brewer at our party on Saturday was a wonderful surprise,

and Chrys and I really want to thank both of you for taking the time to come. I’m

quite sure that you and I have spoken on the phone and had other contacts, but

this was the first person-to-person. Thanks again.We have stayed at many of your marinas while travelling, and it was always a

real pleasure. You should be proud of the organization you have developed.However, as you know, our primary contacts have been with Yacht Haven for

summer dockage and Bruce & Johnson’s for winter storage.I talked on Saturday at some length (perhaps too long) about our history with

Yacht Haven, but I want to add our appreciation for the improvements we have

seen there, particularly in the last year or two. It has become better and better. I

credit these not only to Bruce’s management, but also to the effect that Mihran

and Jason have had. Wonderful!And, I really want to be sure that you know about our relationship with John

McMahon and his family. We have been at Bruce & Johnson’s for winter storage

almost as long as we have been at Yacht Haven, and it has certainly become

much more than just a business arrangement.I don’t have to tell you about John’s management skills. They are great!But, as a family person, he really goes to the top of the list. When we first knew

John and Chery, their children were small. We had our children with us then,

and we would often meet them at McDonald’s when we were having Sunday

breakfast. Our relationship has grown closer and closer through all the years, and

we regard it as one of the greatest things that boating ever brought to us.Again, many thanks, to you and Mrs. Brewer, for taking the time to come on

Saturday, and for the opportunity for us to meet both of you.Most Sincerely,

Marty Stark

their contribution to the boating community. Naturally, theparty attendees were considerably younger than the Starks;many of them were friends from Pier 11 at Brewer Yacht HavenMarina, East.

Jack Brewer was among the attendees, along with JohnMcMahon and other members of the Brewer Yacht Yard team.Marty and Chrys were showered with toasts and presented withBYY soft goods, including a set of tumbler cups and his/herfleece jackets embroidered with the BYY logo. Marty addressedthe crowd, with his own show of thanks, acknowledging allthat the boating community, Brewer Yacht Yards, and the sporthas done for him, his wife, and his family.

“If it hadn’t been for boating, we wouldn’t be in as good ashape as we are,” he said. “Boating has kept us young, by allow-ing us to spend time on the waterfront with younger people.”

Following the event, Marty wrote a letter to Jack Brewer:

Stay Young, Go Boating

Top: photo (circa 1999) includes from left to right, Marty Stark, grandson Michael, granddaughter Kate, wife Chrys Stark, and daughter Nancy

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Brewer Yacht Yard ProjectsOur technicians, finish specialists, and shipwrights service vessels of all sizes. From routine preventative maintenance,to highly technical special projects, our team takes greatpride in offering top-notch results. Here’s a look at somerecent projects managed by our skilled team:

Brewer Yacht Yard at Greenport built a sturdy, waterproof,functional, and attractive custom storage box for a 33’Rampage this winter. “We built the box out of strong, light-weight NIDA CORE,” says General Manager, Mike Acebo.“The box is practical, fits well with the style of existing equip-ment on board, utilizes unused space, and provides easy accessto PFDs in an emergency. The safety factor of having PFDs inan accessible location cannot be overemphasized,” says Mike.The Greenport staff is very skilled with custom fabricationusing this yacht quality material. In fact, some of the crew’sother recent work, utilizing NIDA CORE for ice boat construction, is featured on the NIDA CORE web page at this link www.nida-core.com/english/nidaapp_marine.htm.

Another project highlighting this crew’s commitment to theircraft is the recent restoration of a classic Pearson Ensign. “Wetake pride in our ability to relate to classic, small boat repairs,”says Mike. “We have restored numerous ‘vintage’ small boatsand apply the same care and attention to detail on these boatsas is typically provided their larger cousins. If a small boat is inyour future, and a new boat doesn’t fit your needs, we would behappy to work with you to bring an older boat back to life.”

Brewer Stirling Harbor Marina replaced 12’ sections of ruband toe rails, and rebuilt the anchor locker aboard a 46’ Hylasthis winter. “The rails needed repair following a collision thatoccurred during a summer cruise; and the anchor locker, having been sealed shut at one time, needed attention where a wood cavity had delaminated and an odor problem haddeveloped due to water migration,” says General Manager, Jesse

Gaffga. The crew also replaced steel fuel tanks on a 36’ GrandBanks, after rust had formed around the fuel fill area, creatingthe potential for leaks. “Tank replacements aren’t easy jobs,”says Jesse. “In this case, the tanks had to be cut into smallerpieces for removal and the new tanks barely fit back in theboat.” Other work this season included duplicating a woodenbowsprit for the restoration of on a 56’ Ta Chiao, and strip-ping the bottom of a 45’ Jeanneau before applying Interlux’sInterprotect with a multi-season bottom paint.

Brewer Yacht Yard at Glen Cove replaced the fuel tank on aJ-44 while repowering the boat with a new Yanmar enginethis winter. The crew also recored the deck on a Cape Dorypower boat; refinished the cabin top, superstructure, anddecks on a 36’ sailboat; repaired several hulls that sufferedstorm damage last season; and applied performance bottompaint to both power and sailboats using Pettit Vivid with barrier coat. Brightwork and other routine maintenance alsokept the crew busy on indoor storage boats.

Brewer Capri Marina recently added two new employees totheir shipyard staff, to keep up with yacht service demand.This winter’s projects included installing a new Kohler gensetand a new washer/dryer on a 65’ Viking Gulfstar. “The oldunits had to be disassembled to get them out of the vessel,”says General Manager, Steve Wachter, “and the new unitshad to be both disassembled outside and reassembled insidethe yacht just to get them into the boat.” In addition, thecrew handled two gas repowers, using remanufactured enginesfrom Mercruiser, and, for the first time, installed an automaticbattery fill system, which uses a reservoir to keep batteriestopped off at the appropriate levels. Replacing numerousimpellers, belts, and hoses was part of the usual yacht maintenance program, as was the continued use of Propspeedto coat props, struts, rudders, trim tabs, and thru-hulls. “Wecontinue to see excellent results on the vessels we coat withPropspeed,” says Steve.

Left: beforeRight: after

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Yard ProjectsBrewer Post Road Boat Yard managed fiberglass and Awlgriprepairs on two storm damaged boats, a Cambria 46 and an X-Yacht 412. The crew also tackled a number of projectsaboard an Eastbay 38, including paint repairs, a new bow rail, a new windshield, as well as fresh brightwork for the toe rail.Installation of new electronics aboard a lightening damagedBristol 56 was also completed this winter. Transmissions wererebuilt on a Tiara 31 and a Hatteras 58, while three new lowerunits and one new power head were installed on a Fountain 38.Twin power heads were also installed on a 27’ Aquasport.

Brewer Yacht Haven Marina tackled a long list of repair andmaintenance issues aboard a 1987 Viking sportfish this winter.After the boat owner complained of vibration problems, theYacht Haven crew removed the props and shafts and found thestruts to be ‘toed’ in. “We reconditioned the props, replacedunevenly worn cutlass bearings, and had the props scanned andtuned by Pitch Perfect, our on-site prop shop, using Prop-Scantechnology,” says General Manager, Bruce Fournier. “We alsoinstalled pyrometers to measure the dry exhaust gas tempera-ture. The information provided by the pyrometers will be usedto adjust the throttles to the most fuel efficient settings whilecruising to fishing grounds.” Other upgrades for this boatincluded the installation of new throttle cables and blockheaters.

The Yacht Haven crew also did extensive work aboard anEastbay 54. “Prior to painting the boat, we did extensive sea tri-als to determine performance criteria and noise reduction pro-grams,” says Bruce. “For the sea trials, the bottom was stripped,faired, and coated with Vinylester surfacing primer to improvetop end speed and performance. At the same time, the propswere scanned and tuned by Pitch Perfect. This boat alsoreceived extensive attention to vibration and sound reductionin concert with Soundown Corp.” Ultimately, the engines wererelocated and an Evolution Marine Shaft System was installed.

Brewer Stratford Marina repowered a 26’ marine survey vesselfor Sound Survey this winter, replacing an old Volvo with anew 5.0 GL engine. “The new package is more dependable andprovides improved economy and performance,” says PartsManager, Josh Twidwell. The crew also installed a crane-styledavit system aboard a 45’ Hatteras to accommodate a centerconsole tender. “This installation required a bit of ingenuity,”says General Manager, Rod Swift. “It’s a large tender and cranefor a small deck.” Other work this winter included the replacement of a 10KW Westerbeke generator on a 48’ Ocean.The new generator came with full sound shield. “To make roomfor this installation, we cut away part of a bulkhead,” says Josh.“This required replacing the bulkhead with a removable structural support. The new support is also being used as amount for the fuel filter assembly and the coolant recovery bottle. By relocating these, the owner gains easy access formaintenance.”

Brewer Bruce & Johnson’s Marina finished the superstructureon a 47’ Viking and the hull on a 49’ Eastbay, both withAwlgrip. Top quality varnish applications, as well as annualengine and systems maintenance on a wide range of storageboats was also performed in the usual full-service manner.

Brewer Pilots Point Marina, South recently completed afacelift on a 72’ Burger, replacing teak decks, the main enginesand drives, and the air conditioning system. “Twin 1300 hp V10 MANs with Arenson drives are not quiet by nature,” saysPilots Point Marina’s Master Shipwright Hans Zimmer. “Greatcare was taken to keep the noise level low. We contractedSoundown, a company specializing in noise suppression, toassist with a design that would limit engine noise to the greatest extent possible.”

This winter, with Hansleading the charge, thePilots Point crew alsobuilt a custom, 34’ luxury lobster yacht.“The owners hadlooked at numerousoptions for productionand semi-custom builtvessels,” says Hans,“but without any luckfinding their boat.”After a ride aboard a30’ Calvin Beal designboat, built and ownedby Hans, the coupleopted to have a similar34’ hull built with afew additions and modifications. Atlantic Boat produced thehull; the Pilots Point crew took it from there. Preliminary sea-trials took place in December, proving successful the minorhull modifications and non-conventional engine placement.“A 370 hp, common rail injected, diesel engine moves her at atop speed of 24 plus knots, with comfortable cruising at 18 to20 knots,” says Hans. “This is the best running power boat ofits kind I have ever experienced!”

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In the paint shop, gel coat was removed on a 55’ Viking inpreparation for refinishing, while a 46’ Harbor, a 53’ KrogenExpress, a 74’ Hatteras, and a 60’ Jefferson were also repainted.

Brewer Pilots Point Marina, North replaced teak decks on aHans Christian 52, repainted topsides on both a Little Harbor38 and a Dawn 41, and refinished the spar for a J-44 with afresh Awlgrip application. At the same time, the mechanicalteam replaced an old Westerbeke engine on a Bristol 40 with a new Yanmar 3JH4E, installed a new Panda 4200 generatoraboard a Sweden 45, and installed a new bow thruster on anAlbin 38 trawler.

Brewer Ferry Point Marina installed a Norpro generator anddid extensive varnish work aboard a 42’ Grand Banks.Significant varnish work was also done on a 29’ Dyer. In addition to transom assembly and transmission work on various mid-size vessels, two stern drive engines were alsorepowered.

Brewer Dauntless Shipyard & Marina had a busy paint shopthis winter. “Brushes and paint guns were going full tilt,” saysGeneral Manager, Doug Domenie. “We sprayed a 32’ sailboat,as well as four boats over 45’ with Awlgrip; we also refinishedAwlgrip decks on a 42’ race boat.” Brightwork maintenance wasperformed on twenty-three boats, while the mechanical teaminstalled stabilizers on a 46’ Grand Banks, as well as a total ofthree bow thrusters, and one hydraulic dinghy lift on variousother boats. A sailboat was also repowered with a new engineand fitted out with a new refrigeration unit.

Brewer Deep River Marina fabricated a sundeck extension ona 32’ Island Gypsy, replaced fuel tanks on a 28’ Bertram and a32’ Trojan, applied barrier coat to the bottom of a 33’ Nonsuch,repowered a 35’ Silverton, and repainted the cabin sides on a28’ Legacy.

Brewer Yacht Yard at Mystic hunkered down with a fleet ofboats in storage this winter. The crew focused on annual maintenance details and prepared boats for a trouble-free boating season.

Brewer Wickford Cove Marina prepared Power Play, a J-105,for the 2009 regatta circuit with a VC offshore racing bottom.At the same time, a Swan 431 was prepared for overseas cruis-ing with many systems upgrades, a new electronics package,and an electrical conversion that will allow the boat to acceptEuropean shore power. The crew also replaced a wet anddegraded core on the deck of a 42’ Krogen trawler, and repairedthe fractured deck on a 45’ Freedom which suffered a collisionwith another vessel while moored last season. “We alsorepaired the deck core at the radar arch base mounts,” saysGeneral Manager, Larry Colantuono. “This required a gooddeal of cosmetic gel coat work.” Marine Metal Fabricators builta new radar arch for the boat, which the Wickford teaminstalled.

Brewer Yacht Yard at Cowesett installed a bow thruster on a40’ Cape Dory and, following a thorough soda blasting,recoated the bottom and applied a new boot stripe. The crewalso soda blasted and epoxy coated the bottom of a 32’ catama-ran, and refinished the hull of a 30’ Catalina with Awlgrip.Brightwork aboard a 41’ Island Trader was completely woodedand recoated, while the cabin house and coaming were alsorefinished with Awlgrip. Other projects included extensiverepair, complete rewiring, and installation of a new gensetaboard a 38’ power boat that had taken on water as a result of ahard grounding last season. Finally, a Mercruiser engine, trou-bled by water injection issues, on a 34’ Cruisers was replacedand the exhaust reconfigured, per Cruisers specs, while a 36’Tiara was repowered with a CAT 3208.

Brewer Cove Haven Marina addressed off-season, preventa-tive maintenance on numerous storage boats this winter,inspecting fuel filters, zincs, propellers and the like. Duringthese inspections, a service project for one boat led to anunfortunate discovery, providing a reminder for why annualmaintenance is so important. “We split a pair of Mercury BravoTwo gear cases to clean out the water passages and discoveredthat, not only had the engines overheated, but the outdriveshad as well,” says Service Manager, Pat Peck. “We had toreplace all the bearings in the drives and clean and reseal thedrives as well. This was an expensive exercise and somethingthat could have been avoided if the boat had been part of anannual maintenance program.”

Brewer Sakonnet Marina replaced windows and frames on aHunter 44 and a Tiara 39. “On the Tiara, we had to recore thewindow areas as well as tackle some major gel coat cracks andpatching,” says General Manager, Jay Burns. “We did the sameto the decks and cockpit areas with nice results.” The crew wasalso busy this winter with a few bow thruster installations, for a Beneteau, a Tiara, and a Cruisers, as well as a long list of outdrive service work.

Brewer Yacht Yard Projects

15

Boat Yard DogAustin, a loveable, old Golden Retriever, has been a fixture at Brewer Deep River Marina for the last 12years. “He has been coming to work with me since hewas a puppy,” says General Manager, Jim Brown.“He’s the perfect boat yard dog.” Today, Austin servesprimarily as the greeter in the office, where he signsfor all UPS deliveries, in exchange for doggie treats.In his younger days, Austin’s job was to chase geeseoff the lawn, and to cruise the yard as a friendly security and public relations liaison.

Please note: though dogs are welcome, they must be leashed while on BYY property, as a courtesy to those who may/may not be comfortable around animals. In support of our dog-friendly policy, dog owners are asked to clean up after their pets.

If you know a BYY dog who should be recognized, send a brief profile (and photo) to Kristin Peterson, Tide Watch Editor,c/o Brewer South Freeport Marine, PO Box 119, South Freeport, ME 04078, or e-mail the information to tidewatch@byy.com.

Yard ProjectsBrewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina repowered a 24’ Rampage anda 38’ Magnum this winter. The Rampage was completelyrewired and fit out with new accessories as well. The crew alsoinstalled a new Imtra stern thruster aboard 36’ Sabreline;installed new rub rails and teak engine box panels aboard a 31’Bertram; and refinished the salon window trim aboard a 50’Alden Express, along with complete systems, varnish, anddetailing maintenance work. Decks were refinished on a 31’Bertram and a 44’ custom Ted Hood sloop, while a new wind-lass and electronics package was installed on a 29’ Blackfin.

Brewer Plymouth Marineremoved and resealed chainplateson a 34’ Pacific Seacraft and a37’ Tartan, repainting therepaired sides of both boats. Thecrew also repaired a rotten cock-pit floor and Awlgrip-finishedthe topsides on a Pearson 323,while they stripped, faired, andpainted the rub rails andinstalled a new Westerbeke gen-erator on a 50’ Hinckley. In addi-tion, Awlgrip non-skid wasrenewed on a 42’ Little Harbor,while technicians upgraded thegalley aboard a 36’ Sabre Express with a new electric range andfridge. Finally, new Lewmar deck hatches were installed on a29’ Crosby Canyon Sportfish, after the cabin top was freshlycoated with Awlgrip.

Brewer South Freeport Marine did extensive reconditioningaboard a 1987 Baltic 43 after a hard grounding initiallybrought the boat ashore for keel repair. This project requiredthorough inspection of the keel, keel bolts, and enginemounts, as well as custom design and installation of new TidesMarine rudder bearings. Cabinetry work and repair of the com-panionway ladder was also addressed. “In addition, we installeda new electronics package at the nav station, retrofit the rawwater pump to facilitate easier impeller changes on the Yanmar4JH3E, fabricated custom engine access doors, replaced an old

stainless steel holding tank with anew plastic tank, and fit the boatwith its first anchor windlass sys-tem,” says General Manager,John Brewer. These projects notonly helped to recover the boatfrom its grounding incident, butalso turned a beautiful old raceboat into a true racer-cruiser.

Other recent jobs completed bythe crew include refinishing anEastbay 38 with Awlgrip, repow-ering a 1977 Allied Seawind 35with a new Westerbeke 35DAThree, installing a stern thruster

on a new Sabreline 42, and tackling extensive deck corerepairs on a 1972 Swan 40. “The deck and non-skid on theSwan were finished with Awlgrip; the hull and bottom werefinished with Micron 66,” says John. “A new balanced rudderwas also installed, as a 2009 trans-Atlantic is in the works.”This will be the owner’s second crossing. H

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Analog to Digital TV:As we all know by now, all over-air TV transmission signalshave been switched from analog to digital. “When the switchwas made, most people didn’t have to worry at home, but manystill haven’t thought about how this affects their boat,” says KipWiley, Service Manager at Brewer Pilots Point Marina.“Though digital cable continues to work dockside, wherevercable is provided, the old analog signals are no longer foundaway from the dock (using the old ‘rabbit ear’ and UFO-styleantennae) without the addition of a digital converter box.Since the new converter boxes are AC powered, a 12 volt TVwith a 12 volt amplified antenna is no longer an option at acozy anchorage on a stormy night,” says Kip. “But AC powercan be provided by a small inverter dedicated to the converterbox. It can also be provided by a full-size inverter/charger, sopopcorn or hot coffee can be enjoyed too.” Talk to your BrewerYacht Yard Service Manager for more information. Meanwhile,if you are a sailor and never use the TV antenna on your mast,Kip says it’s probably time to eliminate the extra windage andhave the antenna and mount removed.

Air Conditioning Output:“If you notice a decreased output from your air conditioningunits, the trouble could be caused by something as simple as adirty or clogged air intake. Cleaning or replacing the intake filter is sometimes all you need to do to restore the proper output,” says Dave Johnson, Service Manager at BrewerPlymouth Marine. “If the intake is clean, it might be time tohave your Brewer air conditioning & refrigeration certifiedtechnician give the system a complete inspection to make sure it is performing to proper manufacturer’s specifications.”

Rising Temperatures:If you’re experiencing overheating and shutdown of your ACunits, or if you’ve observed a gradual rise in temperature in yourengine or generator, you might consider talking to your Brewertech about treatment options. “Our mechanical team has seenoverwhelming results using a marine descaler under the productname RYDLYME,” says Larry Colantuono, General Manager atBrewer Wickford Cove Marina. “We have used this productwith great success in clearing out the passages of air condition-ing units, as well as heat exchangers, and outboard engines.It’s not every day that we see a product that works so effectively.” For more information, and product testimonials, go to www.rydlyme.com. Meanwhile, don’t ignore rising temperatures, call your Brewer yard to discuss service and treatment options today.

Overheating:Almost everyone who has spent any time on the water hasexperienced overheating as the result of an engine problem.

Overheating can be caused by a number of things, including aclogged thru-hull or outdrive pick up, a bad impeller or waterpump, or a fouled manifold or riser. But annual, preventativemaintenance will minimize the likelihood of encountering overheating issues.

“Since there are so many factors that can contribute to an overheating issue, it’s is one of the hardest problems to diagnoseand resolve,” says Pat Peck, Service Manager at Brewer CoveHaven Marina. “In addition, one of the most overlooked aspectswhen an engine overheats, is the fact that if the engine has overheated, the outdrive or transmission has likely overheatedtoo. Because the same, single water loop cools both engines andoutdrives and transmissions, it’s critical to check whether or notdrives or transmissions have been damaged whenever an enginehas overheated,” says Pat.

“We recently split a pairof Mercury Bravo Twogear cases, to clean outthe water passages, anddiscovered that theengines and outdrives hadboth overheated. We hadto replace all the bearingsand clean and reseal thedrives. This was anexpensive exercise thatcould have been avoided with annual maintenance,” says Pat.Outdrives should be checked yearly, and split at least every otheryear, if not annually.

“The hose that carries cooling water from an outdrive, throughthe intermediate housing, and on to the engine is another areato check,” says Pat. “Water passage narrows with buildup, rightwhere these hoses pass through the intermediate housing.Therefore, hoses should be changed every three to five years; and sooner if problems arise.” The bottom line? Set up a maintenance schedule and stick with it.

Clogged Holding Tanks:“Clogged holding tanks are a common problem,” says DaveSmith, Yard Manager of Brewer Cove Haven Marina. “Afterevery trip, a holding tank should be pumped and cleaned. Afterthe first pumping, the tank should be half filled with water; thehead should be flushed several times; and the tank should bepumped dry again. This will stop sludge and calcium from build-ing up in the tank. After the tank has been cleaned, an eightounce bottle of Sealand Holding Tank Deodorant & Cleanershould be poured into the head. The head should then be cycled,until the chemical is flushed through to the tank; this will helpcontrol odors.” H

TIPS FROM THE CREW

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In March, Brewer Yacht Yards held its annual MechanicalSeminar at Brewer Pilots Point Marina. This year’s theme: electricity. Representatives from Xantrex, Balmar, Northeast, Beb, Guest, Maretron, and Berkshire gave presentations aboutinverters, alternators, batteries, panels, charging systems, and wireto the 70 BYY technicians who gathered for the two-day event.

Michael Keyworth, General Manager of Brewer Cove HavenMarina, welcomed the group. As one of the event organizers, hereminded attendees that this annual seminar not only representsan opportunity to learn from vendors, but an opportunity to learn

from one another as well. He pointed to the incredible talentgathered and noted the advantage this wealth of informationprovides BYY when used as an in-house resource. Jack Breweralso addressed the group with a message emphasizing the impor-tance of good customer service. Ultimately, he told the group,“The customer is our employer.”

Finally, an event highlight was a special presentation made inrecognition of Brewer Sakonnet Marina’s, Jon Lapointe, for hisrecent accomplishment for attaining Master Tech status withMercury Marine. H

BYY Mechanical Seminar

EPIRBsIf you haven’t already upgraded your old analog-styleEmergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), it’s

time! After a nine year transi-tion period, satellites no longerprocess signals from analogEPIRBs transmitting on 121.5 or243 MHz. The Coast Guard andother search and rescue teamsnow receive distress transmis-sions from digital EPIRBs only;these transmit on 406 MHz. H

Above: Brewer Yacht Yard mechanics attend seminar.Right: Jonathan Lapointe holding his Mercury Master Tech plaque.

Jonathan is the first Mercury Master Tech within the BYY group.

Photo from Wikipedia showing first generationEPIRBS as published by NOAA.

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No doubt these are tough economictimes, however, if you are interestedin selling there is a market. Homes,automobiles and stocks have experi-enced a reduction in market value.And, yes, your boat has too. But all isnot lost. A competitive edge, a realistic ask-ing price, and a firm understanding of sellingexpenses will move your boat in today’s economy.

Quite simply, one of the keys to selling is a realistic askingprice – a boat priced too high will not get a response.Additionally, ownership expense (slip, storage, and insurance)adds up. Thus, the more realistic the selling price, the faster aboat will sell. Brewer Yacht Sales offers programs that helpsellers with some of these expenses. To learn more, contact aBrewer Yacht Sales representative.

Another obvious consideration is to keep your boat neat,clean, and tidy. Appearance goes a long way. In a buyer’smarket, it’s the small things that make a difference. Empty the lockers, clean the head, bilge, and engine room, and make sure the boat doesn’t have a holding tank odor. If asmell persists, contact your Brewer Yacht Yard to resolve the problem. A boat that is on land will look spiffy with a coat of bottom paint - it’s a competitive market, so putting yourbest foot forward is one of your best marketing tools.

To launch or not to launch? A boat always shows better in thewater. If launched, a boat can also be used and enjoyed until itsells. But, if not launched, a boat can still be shown on thehard to good effect, and a buyer’s survey/sea trial will be lessexpensive.

The Brewer EdgeNo boat brokerage has the reach and depth of Brewer YachtSales and the support of 21 marinas. With an 18 yacht brokerteam, ready to show all Brewer listings, at any of our 21 yards– Brewer Yacht Sales brokers direct prospects to Brewer listings first. And Brewer Yacht Sales brokers work together,between yards, allowing any boat to be shown at any of ouryards, quickly, on a moment’s notice. Having the power of 18brokers working for you, instead of just one or two, can makethe difference between a sale and a drive by.

Our marketing efforts result in concrete measurable responses,making Brewer Yacht Sales tops in New England. BrewerYacht Sales is on the internet, displayed in magazines, and

participates in boat shows. We’ve sold thousands of boatsover the years. We have a unique ability to draw on our vastcustomer base for potential sales. Brewer Yacht Sales canalso give you an accurate assessment of the value of yourboat. Give us a call for a free market evaluation. Our main business is brokerage boats.

If you are buying or refinancing your boat, financing is readily available at very attractive rates. Brewer Yacht Saleseven has programs for paint jobs, repowers, and refits thatcan be bundled into the financing. Call your Brewer YachtSales broker for details.

Brewer Yacht Sales is a member of the Yacht BrokersAssociation of America (YBAA). Several of our brokers sit on the board of directors of YBAA. And many of our brokers are Certified Professional Yacht Brokers (CPYB).CPYB brokers are considered the most knowledgeable andwell trained professionals in the industry.

If you’re thinking about buying a boat, the time has neverbeen better for inventory variety and excellent financingrates. Visit our web site, www.breweryacht.com, look around, and meet our brokers in the team section ofthe site. H

SELLING YOUR BOATIN A CHALLENGING MARKET

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Mandatory Fuel Reformulation

• Make sure your specified navigation area and lay-up period aligns with your 2009 boating season plans • Insure your boat for the current market value, not for more• Consider not filing small claims to ensure you keep your loss-free discount and avoid premium increases that

can result from a claim• Take a boating course (with USPS or USCGA) to improve your boating skills and qualify for a safety discount• Take advantage of the better pricing offered to people with higher credit ratings• Pay your premium upfront to avoid payment plan fees • Set higher deductibles to lower your premiums• Notify your agent if you have made boat upgrades that qualify you for an insurance discount

(such as re-powering to diesel or adding a GPS) • Consolidate your boat, home, and auto insurance with one insurance company to realize bundling discounts• Work with a marine insurance agency who can comparison quote your insurance with multiple marine insurance

companies to get you the best rate for the best coverage

Working with a marine insurance specialist like the Gowrie Group ensures that you do not have to implement these cost saving strategies yourself; we do it all for you.

The Gowrie Group is proud to be the only marine insurance agency that is endorsed by Brewer Yacht Yards and to be credited for bringing the Brewer Preferred Insurance program to the Brewer network. For years, Jack Brewer has counted onthe marine insurance experts at the Gowrie Group to insure, protect, and service all 21 Brewer marinas and yacht yards.Hundreds of other Brewer customers and yard managers also trust the Gowrie Group to protect their boats, homes, businesses,and lifestyles. Contact the Gowrie Group for an insurance review.

Get the cost effective and comprehensive protection and account servicing you deserve. H

I N S U R A N C ESmart Ways to Get the BestInsurance Coverage at the Best Rate

Brewer Yacht Sales, Inc. introduces the Fathom 40, a fast expeditionyacht.The Fathom 40 cruises comfortably from displacement speeds to the high teens and is one of the most efficient yachts on the water.The Fathom 40’s wide beam provides stability and enormous interiorspace. $577,082 MSRP, please call Brewer Yacht Sales, Inc. at 866-399-6213 or contact us by e-mail at breweryacht@byy.com. H

FOR SALE

BREWER YACHT YARDS

63 Pilots Point DriveWestbrook, CT 06498

PRST STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDALTOONA, PA

PERMIT #150

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)recently recognized Brewer Pilots Point Marina, at a ceremony inWestbrook, for obtaining its Clean Marina designation. This certification recognizes Brewer Pilots Point Marina for goingbeyond regulatory compliance in an effort to keep Connecticutwaters clean. It further acknowledges the facility’s willingness toparticipate in voluntary pollution prevention measures that alsogo above and beyond standard compliance.

Other Brewer facilities soon to be recognized as Clean Marinas byConnecticut’s DEP include, Brewer Dauntless Shipyard & Marina,Brewer Yacht Yard at Mystic, and Brewer Stratford Marina. Watch for BYY’s involvement in the Clean Marina Program to be featured in more detail in a future edition of this newsletter. H

CONNECTICUT CLEAN MARINAS