|
Old Saybrook, CT is the newest addition to Brewer Yacht Yards
By now, we're all accustomed to welcoming new sites to our ever growing family of Brewer Yacht Yards. Nevertheless, with the addition of each new yard comes a little excitement and an awareness of new possibilities. This is true, even as we welcome the nineteenth boatyard to our fleet.
Nestled in a cove, two miles up the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, Brewer Ferry Point Marina is nicely situated. It lies between Brewer Dauntless Shipyard in Essex and Brewer Pilots Point Marina in Westbrook, making it easily approachable by land and by sea. The new property consists of five acres, 146 slips, and winter storage accommodations for up to 200 boats ranging in size from 20 to 50 feet. "Because of its location, this is a yard best suited for power boats," says Brewer Yacht Yard owner Jack Brewer. "And, because it's up river, in an extremely well protected basin, it's a great hurricane hole." But Jack intends for the Brewer Ferry Point Marina to become more than just any port in a storm.
His vision for the yard includes a complete revitalization of the service facilities on site, and full employment of the yard's 30-ton travel lift, 20-ton hydraulic trailer, and 10-ton crane. Though the property needs some work, Jack's plan is to first gradually convert the site to a standard Brewer operation with mechanical, paint, and fiberglass services. Over the last several years the yard has relied heavily on subcontractors to handle the bulk of the work, but Jack hopes to reestablish the yard as an independent full-service facility.To meet this goal, Jack has asked Dave Cronin, formerly of Brewer Deep River Marina, to manage the Brewer Ferry Point Marina. Dave brings over 20 years of experience to the operation, having worked his way up from dockhand to yard foreman at area marinas. Dave is a licensed captain and crane operator with a degree in economics and business management. He has done everything from marine construction to the handling of hazardous materials and is currently studying for a master's degree in "port and harbor management". Dave's unique background and variety of skills make him an asset to Brewer Yacht Yards and Brewer Ferry Point Marina.
|
Brewer Yacht Yards' newest location in Old Saybrook, Connecticut is the nineteenth addition to the Brewer family of yards. |
Plans for transforming the Ferry Point site include redefining the parking lot with fresh stone, erecting new white picket fencing in place of old chain link fencing, installing a pump out station on the fuel dock, and opening a pool on site next season."We've already made a lot of progress," says Dave. "When we took over there were 34 'dead boats' on land; now there are only four. There were more hayfields than grass; now we've got landscaped areas." With just a few changes, Brewer Ferry Point Marina has already made a clear entry into the Brewer Yacht Yard family. "I think, initially, we'll get a lot of overflow from Pilots Point and Dauntless," says Dave, "but, as word gets out, I think we'll become a destination, primarily for sport fishing boats. This is a nice area and there are local restaurants within walking distance."
Editor's Note
Believe it or not, this issue marks the tenth edition of Tide Watch since 1997, when we began, in earnest, to provide Brewer Yacht Yard customers with a consistent source of yacht yard information. Since then, however, we have realized that Tide Watch does more than simply keep our customers informed. It also keeps our managers and staff in touch with one another as the company rapidly grows and expands.
Over the last five years, Tide Watch has allowed us the opportunity to admire the work of neighboring Brewer facilities and to follow the adventures of our slip neighbors as they have voyaged to new ports and new Brewer Yacht Yard locations. Tide Watch has not only given our staff the opportunity to provide maintenance tips, but it has allowed those behind the scenes to share their stories about their own involvement in boating.Establishing a new line of communication through Tide Watch has been an enjoyable challenge for us. We are grateful that you have responded positively to our efforts. We're also glad to know that Tide Watch has made us more accessible to you. We appreciate the efforts you've made to give us your feedback and to share your cruising stories. We can only hope that this new form of correspondence is just the beginning. Since many of you ask for the next edition of Tide Watch between issues, we can only assume that interest is continuing to grow and that, one day, publishing a newsletter twice a year will not be enough!
While we don't know what future changes Tide Watch may undergo, we can assure you that we are committed to providing you with interesting, useful, and timely information as it relates to your boating experience. In typical Brewer Yacht Yard fashion, we are also committed to doing so in a high quality format.
This is your publication! If there are questions you want answered, tips you want to hear, or stories you want us to share, please write to us. We really do enjoy hearing from you! Please let us know if there are ways we can improve our newsletter.
Write to:
Capt. Kristin Peterson
Tide Watch, Editor
c/o Brewer South Freeport Marine
PO Box 119, S. Freeport, ME 04078
Brewer's Preferred Insurance
Today, thousands of Brewer customers take advantage of the customized insurance package. "About 80 percent of those who inquire about the program sign up for the package," says Carter Gowrie, President of Brewer Preferred Insurance. "That's a real testimony to the close ties customers have with Brewer Yacht Yards," he says, "but it's also a testimony to the strength of our program. The coverage enhancements that we offer make this absolutely the best insurance protection a boat owner can buy," he explains. "We also include features that are not usually included in other yacht insurance policies, like fuel spill liability."
The direct connection that Brewer Preferred Insurance has to Brewer Yacht Yards is unusual. "It is an advantage we have over other providers," Carter says. "The interface between us and the boatyards is automatic. Our relationship is established. This allows us to get right to the business of helping the customers we have in common."
Another unique advantage of working with Gowrie, Barden, and Brett is that the members of the staff are personally involved in boating. "We know boats and, therefore, we can speak the language," Carter explains. "That helps us get the job done and successfully represent our clients. If you ever have a claim to file, you can be sure that the person on the other end of the phone will know what you're talking about and be equipped to get you back in action," he says. "Our reputation is based on professional and prompt service."
For more information on how to better protect your boat, contact the Gowrie, Barden, and Brett Brewer Preferred Insurance division at 1-800-282-8868 or log on to byy.com and simply click a button for a direct link to Brewer Preferred Insurance services on line.
Tip's from the Brewer Crew
As the summer season comes to a close, many boaters begin to think about projects to undertake during the long winter months. The Brewer Yacht Yard staff offer the following tips for putting your boat away and addressing off-season check lists.
Servicing Winches:
"Winches should be stripped down and completely serviced every three to five years," says Mike Hale, Brewer South Freeport Marine's Head Rigger. "If you found your winches hard to work this season, try hand-spinning each one before putting the boat away. By listening to the sounds that the winches make, you can determine their condition," he explains. "A tinny, metallic sound is an indication that the winch is too dry, while a dull sound means that there is too much grease inside."
Each Brewer Yacht Yard crew is equipped to accommodate proper winch maintenance and Mike encourages boaters to take advantage of the opportunity for professional service. "Winches should be disassembled, cleaned, greased, and reassembled during the winter months, when the boat is not being actively used," he says. "Once fully serviced, a periodic dab of light winch grease on just the bearings and gears will keep them lubricated and operating properly. Just remember that the pawls and springs should never be greased," he warns. "A lot of people make that mistake and grease is what causes winches to stick open and fail!"
Test Running Engines:
Brewer Dauntless Shipyard encourages customers to request an annual test run with a mechanic to thoroughly test all operating systems. "Ideally, this test run is done mid-season or before the boat is hauled," says General Manager Doug Domenie. "The idea is to bring any performance glitches, that may have developed over the summer season, to the attention of a mechanic." If problems are detected, work orders can be issued to address the problems during the off-season.
For each boat that is test run, the Dauntless mechanical team runs a series of drills designed to uncover potential problems before they manifest themselves. "By warming up the engine and running it wide open, we can test the condition of cooling systems and propellers," Doug explains. "Running the boat at full-throttle, for example, may expose the need to clean the heat exchanger," he says. "Obviously, people rarely run an engine at full throttle, so this kind of test can point out problems that otherwise go unnoticed, running at cruising speed, until it's too late." Interested in this kind of complete check up for your boat? Ask your yard manager to send a mechanic aboard for a test run.
Winterizing Outboard Motors:
When it's time to put the boat away for the season, don't neglect to properly service and winterize your outboard engine. "Generally, it's a good idea to have a mechanic look over an outboard engine to check for anything that looks or sounds unusual," says Bob Gerwig, Head Mechanic at Brewer South Freeport Marine. "It's also important to have the lower unit drained and refilled. This gives a mechanic an opportunity to check the gear case seal and make sure that no water has gotten inside the lower unit," he says. "In addition, the carburetor, the cylinders, and the pistons should be coated with storage fogging oil to keep the innards lubricated during the off-season." Proper winterization of an outboard at the end of one boating season means that the engine will be in good running condition at the beginning of the next.
Bob also suggests that special attention be given to the position in which an outboard engine is stored. "Outboards should be stored in the upright position whenever possible," he says. "Some can be laid down, but a lot of people don't realize that many, like the four-cycle ones, have to be laid down on a particular side so that oil doesn't leak out of the oil sump and create a mess."
Finally, Bob recommends that any gasoline left over at the end of the season be used over the winter, by burning it in a snowblower or snowmobile. If the tank is not portable, and the gas will be used again next season, then the gasoline should be stabilized with an additive.
Brewer Landscapes
Brewer Bruce & Johnson's Marina has been recognized by the Branford Garden Club several times. Why? Because the town of Branford, Connecticut appreciates the effort Brewer Bruce & Johnson's Marina makes each year to improve and beautify the marina site and, thus, the town. To those who are unfamiliar with Brewer 
Yacht Yard marinas, it may seem strange that a boatyard would consistently draw the attention of a garden club, but to those know what to expect of a Brewer Yacht Yard, this probably comes as no surprise. Brewer Yacht Yards take a great deal of pride in site presentation. While other boatyards may contain the clutter of past and present projects, on otherwise flat and barren surfaces, Brewer Yacht Yards are well kept, highly groomed, and carefully landscaped marinas.Brewer Yacht Yards add visual interest to marina sites by using landscaping to add height, depth, and color. At each Brewer Yacht Yard location, the entrance is warm and inviting and boatyard activity is surrounded by the gentle touch of a gardener.
About ten or fifteen years ago, Brewer Yacht Yard owner Jack Brewer started to realize that nice people are attracted to nice places. "In the beginning our interest in landscaping was for selfish reasons," says Jack. "We wanted to attract good customers. We thought if our yards are nice, our customers will be nice, so we started to dress up our yards with flowers. Then we started landscaping and adding green spaces." The trend has continued. "Now we're adding gazebos and picnic areas and creating little parks where people can enjoy themselves while at our marinas," says Jack. "Landscaping has made our boatyards much more appealing. You'll see that other yards today are being dressed up," says Jack, "but that's really something we started."
Today, when a new yard is acquired by Brewer Yacht Yards, landscaping is one of the first areas of focus. "The landscaping seems to help encourage respect for our yards, the surroundings, and for the environment in general," says Jack. In fact, a Brewer Yacht Yard site isn't considered to meet Brewer Yacht Yard standards until the site is softened by planters and green spaces."Another thing we like to do is plant bulbs in recognition of spring," says Jack. "Tulips and daffodils pop up each year and remind us and our customers, that the boating season is going to start soon," says Jack. "That's always encouraging after a long winter."
Cove Haven's Pneumatic Door Project
At Brewer Yacht Yards, we find that difficult projects involving a team of players, give us the
opportunity to push beyond the basics of yacht maintenance. Such projects take us outside the box, challenge our staff, expand our knowledge, and keep us on the cutting edge of an ever evolving and increasingly technical industry. It is these projects that help move us forward and keep us one step ahead of the competition.In previous issues of this newsletter, we have offered you a taste of the projects that have been tackled by our talented craftsmen, including everything from the common service job to the unusual and highly complex refit. While in other issues it has been our routine to offer you a glimpse of several projects that have taken place at each one of our boatyards, in this issue, we have highlighted a single project from a single boatyard. This project is an unusual one, but it is one that exemplifies the kind of effort and skill that is associated with the work of the staff at all Brewer Yacht Yards.
Yard: Brewer Cove Haven MarinaLast season, boat owner George Michel decided that is was time to make boarding easier and storage space more available on his Chance Design 53. He approached the staff at Brewer Cove Haven Marina with his ideas. Yard Manager Dave Smith worked with Mr. Michel and the two agreed to add a three foot section to the stern of the boat. Joining forces, the Brewer Cove Haven crew, the boat owner, and the original boat builder, John Merrifield, sketched their ideas for the new transom. John provided full-sized CAD drawings of the original boat. "By referring to the original drawings, we were able to add three feet to the stern, blending the new section with the original transom," Dave explains.
Staff: Dave Smith, Yard Manager
Boat: s/v "Windstar V", Chance Design 53
Owner: George Michel, Palm Beach, Florida
Because the new design called for two 48x30 inch transom doors, unusual for a sailboat, Dave spent a great deal of time brainstorming with others on how the doors would function. In fact, while in the early stages of the project, Dave found himself talking to Cove Haven customer, Charles Carter. During their visit on the docks, Charles suggested making the doors function pneumatically. As President of Air Inc. of Franklin, Massachusetts, he was familiar with the possibilities and suggested that Dave allow the Air Inc. staff to engineer this part of the project. The two proposed the idea to Mr. Michel and, with all in agreement, the project commenced.While the Brewer Cove Haven fiberglass crew, led by Joe Palmieri, built the plug and the mold for the new transom, the engineers at Air Inc. worked up a plan for the pneumatic doors. The team installed a
silent air compressor to power the air driven doors, employing two stainless steel cylinders to withstand the salt water environment. With all systems go, the boat was launched in time for this year's boating season."The result is an extra three feet of standing room aft, with a swim ladder, a shower fixture (with hot and cold water), a life raft mount, and boat access that doesn't require a step up when boarding from the stern," Dave says. "The overall increase in storage area satisfies the project goal, while the new elongated lines of the boat give it an updated and more modern look."
Uniquely, the transom doors can be operated by remote control, while the air compressor also allows the owner to inflate everything from a dinghy, to boat fenders, to the grandchildrens' bike tires!
On Deck
Bill Sorensen
"In the sixth grade I chose to build an eight foot pram for an industrial arts class," says Bill Sorensen, the Head Carpenter at Brewer Bruce and Johnson's Marina. "The teachers frowned upon the idea, but I managed to complete it and from then on I kept building boats." By the time Bill was 20 years old he had built five or six boats, up to 18 feet in length. With a continued interest in wood working, Bill furthered his skills at a state technical school.Following his schooling, Bill did six years of service in the military, got married, and then went to work at a small Connecticut boatyard, installing engines and assisting with fiberglass and wood work. From there he went to work for a New York airport limousine company. "For two years, I did all of the engine work for a 108 car fleet," he says. "I had a handle on mechanical things, because I was raised on a farm and grew up building race cars as a hobby."
By 1972, however, Bill no longer felt challenged by servicing limousines. He decided to take a job at Brewer Bruce and Johnson's Marina and signed on as both a mechanic and carpenter. "At the time the Head Carpenter was a real boat builder from Denmark," Bill recalls. "He was a tough guy to work with, but I learned a lot from him. Over two years, I helped him with a couple of major projects. Then he left and I was asked to run the wood shop. I've been at it since 1974!""Working with [General Manager] John McMahon over the last 20 plus years has been a great experience," Bill says. "He's probably the fairest person I know. Working at a Brewer yard has also been a good experience. Looking at the overall picture, for employees and customers," he says, "no one beats a Brewer yard."
Though Bill works with boats everyday, he also plays with boats during his free time. He belongs to an antique boat club and restores antique boats for himself and for other people. "The entire family is involved," he says. "I have a 1947 varnished Chris Craft speedboat, my son has a 1941 Chris Craft, and together we've recently restored a 1946 racing runabout, also by Chris Craft. It's a rare boat, hull number one, the one that Chris Craft ultimately used to base all of their future boats on." To support their hobby, Bill and his son have converted some of the buildings on the old family farm into work shops. "It's a nice diversion from the typical marine work. You have to be extremely meticulous and read up on the old boats," he says. "It's a lot of fun."
Jeremy Maxwell
Born in London, Jeremy Maxwell grew up on the east coast of the U.K. sailing and racing on the English Channel and the North Sea. After completing his formal education, Jeremy earned a Yacht Master's Certificate and then followed his interests to a job as a sail maker and eventually a boat captain. By age 21, his connections in the sailing industry had given Jeremy the opportunity to complete one transatlantic delivery and to race in the Admiral's Cup.
"My first off shore race was the 1979 Fastnet race," Jeremy says. "It was baptism by fire! After that I worked on racing boats, ran deliveries and spent time on the Maxi circuit. I competed in Antigua, the Clipper Cup in Hawaii, the San Francisco big boat series, the Maxi Worlds in Sardinia, various Bermuda races, and the Sydney Hobart race," he says. As a boat captain Jeremy was responsible for everything from boat maintenance to a delivery from Europe to Florida.Not surprisingly, with all of his experience, Jeremy eventually took a job as a yacht captain aboard a 55' racer/cruiser that he helped deliver to New England in 1986. For six years, he based the boat in Connecticut, running it out of Brewer Pilots Point Marina. During this time, Jeremy became very familiar with the Pilots Point operation and eventually "swallowed the anchor" and joined the Brewer organization as a Service Manager.
"Because of my experience as a yacht captain and a customer, [General Manager] Rives Potts recognized that I knew how to work with boat owners and boat systems," Jeremy says. "He figured I'd be able to apply my skills as a Service Manager. "Now I'm responsible for everything that happens, service-wise, in the South Yard. I like it. It's challenging and always different."
Over the last few years, balancing work with play, Jeremy has had the opportunity to become involved with competitive sailing again. Most recently, Jeremy has won the Block Island Race, his division at Antigua Race Week, and this year's edition of the Swan American Regatta. "I'm involved with two different boats," Jeremy explains, "one of which raced in Europe this year, ending the season strongly with a division win and an overall second place in this year's Fastnet Race." When not racing or running the service department at Pilots Point South Yard, Jeremy goes to the mountains to ski.
"I try to get out west or to Switzerland once a season to ski with friends, who of course all sail and race! I'll always love to sail, but, skiing is a great escape from boats."
S/V Ciao
When Doug and Leslie Rothkopf set sail aboard their Tartan 31, they don't limit themselves to Brewer Yacht Yard destinations. Nevertheless, they enjoy having the option of using their Brewer Preferred Customer Club Card status. "We don't plan our trips around Brewer yards, but we do make use of the locations that happen to be where we're going," says Doug. "Brewer yards offer a comfortable feeling. When we stay at a Brewer yard, we receive consideration and accommodation. It's nice to be able to count on that."
This summer, Doug and Leslie made a voyage from Brewer Yacht Yard at Glen Cove, in New York, to Belfast, Maine and home again. "We had a wonderful trip," says Doug. "This is our third season with the boat and it's our first sailboat!" he says proudly. "To make the trip, I had a friend help me with the first leg. He 'abandoned ship' in Boston where my wife flew in to meet me. From there, Leslie and I sailed together."The voyage was relatively uneventful, until reaching Kennebunkport, Maine. There, Doug and Leslie encountered the United States Secret Service. "President Bush was in town," says Doug, "and the Secret Service was in full force. As we entered the harbor, Coast Guard boats came up alongside us and really checked us out. I guess they deemed us a non-threat, because they let us enter the harbor."
Later that night, however, when Doug awoke at two o'clock, he stepped into the cockpit for a look around. To his surprise Doug was suddenly bathed by search lights. "I guess they hadn't forgotten about me," he laughs. Though under heavy surveillance, Doug and Leslie enjoyed their unique visit to Kennebunkport before setting sail in the direction of Brewer South Freeport Marine.
Soon after leaving port, however, Doug and Leslie were troubled by minor mechanical
|
Once again Brewer Yacht Yards have been selected the "Best of the Northeast" by readers of Offshore magazine. In this year's survey, conducted by Offshore editors, readers say that ANY Brewer Yacht Yard will suffice as a "Favorite Marina for the Season". The results, published in the June 2001 issue, are also accompanied by a brief marina profile of our very own Brewer Plymouth Marine in Plymouth, Massachusetts.With all systems again in order, Doug and Leslie continued to Brewer South Freeport Marine and then east to Belfast, Maine. "We're both lawyers, so we had to leave the boat in Belfast, with friends, while we went back to work," Doug explains. After checking in at the office, Doug and Leslie returned to Belfast and continued their cruise on a homeward course.
"We love to cruise, but we're always glad to get home too," Doug says. "We love our Brewer Glen Cove diesel mechanic, Chip, and our rigger, Steve. We also think our new yard manager, Kevin, is great!"