OnBoard Magazine - Summer 2015

IN 1984 Dick Pond bought a new 46’ Viking Convertible from a dealer in Virginia Beach. The dealership however, had no facilities or means to provide service, so Pond took his new Peanut Patch to Bluewater Yacht Sales in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1968 by Chris Hall, Sr., Bluewater Yacht Sales took root and flourished amidst the traditional seafaring trades of the Hampton waterfront. Fueled by a yachtsman’s passion and a lifetime of cruising, racing and fishing, the company grew. After a few turns on the powerboat racing circuit, brother Earle joined the company to head up the service division. With the acquisition of some additional waterfront facilities, Bluewater’s scope of operations underwent continuous expansion as their reputation spread up and down the coast. When Peanut Patch arrived, it fell to a young Earle Hall to phone the Viking Yacht Company and navigate the warranty process. On that first call he was put through to the warranty administrator, another young man whose name was Patrick Healey. In the due course of forging the bonds of mutual service, in the shared language of boat enthusiasts, a friendship bloomed between the Viking and Bluewater families. Finally Pat Healey asked Earle Hall, “Why don’t you sell our boats?” Earle and Chris discussed the possibilities and soon Viking Vice President of Sales Tom Carroll flew down with Patrick Healey to meet with the Hall brothers and see what they had to offer. And so, in 1985 Bluewater became the new area dealer for Viking Yachts and began a long and productive partnership—and some colorful history. DIVING RIGHT IN ChrisHall ruefully remembers the veryfirst Viking Yacht Bluewater ordered. The client was a Virginia Beach accountant and was a personal friend to Chris. The prospective sale had everyone pretty excited. The customer requested one of the two possible layouts and that his boat have the option that included the full dinette. When the order confirmation came through, it indicated it would be a “Plan C” layout. Chris remembers that they took a look at it and everyone thought that “C” indicated a convertible. Since that was what they had ordered, they returned the confirmation and their first Viking was in the works. The months rolled by until they were at the plant with their friend and customer to take delivery and bring it home. “So there we were, all jacked up about our first Viking delivery,” Chris relates. “The new owner-to-be stepped up and slid the salon door open, said calmly, ‘this isn’t my boat’ and slid the door back closed. That caused quite a stir at the time.” Turns out the “Plan” designation was actually indicative of the specific layout and it should have been a “Plan B.” Pat Healey remembers the story as well and reminisced fondly, “After the commotion settled down I thought to From its earliest days, the Viking Yacht Company was known as a very service oriented organization. Chris and Earle Hall and the Bluewater group also had a reputation for taking good care of its customers. As a young, aggressive and growth focused team, the Bluewater boys did everything to satisfy the people who brought their boats in for service. These customers used their boats and relied on Bluewater for repairs, maintenance and upgrades to better enjoy their time on the water. Many of their customers were offshore fishermen who enjoyed the tournament scene, scouring the canyons and fishing their way into the Winner’s Circle. This is why Viking was eager to form a relationship with Bluewater that has spanned 30 years. When you look back in the Mid-Atlantic region, probably no one has done more to promote sportfishing in this territory than what Bluewater and Viking have done together, and I look forward to the next 30 years. Viking and Bluewater make one great family. PATRICK HEALEY BLUEWATER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF TEAMWORK WITH VIKING YACHTS 20 BLUEWATER