OnBoard Magazine - Issue XIII - 2021 Season

I f one thing is for certain, it is that the last year has been one that most of the world would like to forget. The pandemic, lockdowns, economic uncertainty and political unrest have been some of the prominent themes of the new decade. For those of us in the boating industry, we have been fortunate to be able to provide reprieve from the events that preoccupied our minds. If there was one positive thing that came out of 2020, it was that the boating lifestyle renaissance was reignited! People rediscovered the joy and respite of spending time with loved ones on the open water. Seasoned boaters untied their dock lines to find fish or visit destinations, while new families jumped into boating for the first time. Marinas are filling up, the waterways are bustling, and it is a glorious time to be a part of the boating community. Even though it has been an unusually busy year for Bluewater, it has not kept our company from continuing to adapt, build and grow. The large influx of new boaters entering the market, along with the unique challenges of COVID made us rethink the way that we do business. Suddenly, customers started engaging with us online more than ever, from watching our countless digital videos, interacting with us on social media, shopping online, and even touring boats virtually through their phones. This surge in business also allowed us to expand our workforce, adding younger talent to complement our solid team of industry veterans. Bluewater has been paving the way for the next generation, investing in training through partnerships with the Yacht Broker Institute, along with mentorship programs to provide hands-on experience to those new to the industry. We are proud to say that every member of our administrative team has become certified in their roles, along with many of our new Sales Professionals. Along with the expansion of our staff, we were also fortunate enough to open two new locations to further elevate our presence in the Mid-Atlantic. The first location at the South Annapolis Yachting Centre in Downtown Annapolis, opened in December of 2020 and is home to a full-service facility, our financing and documentation department, along with a growing number of Sales Professionals. At the time of this writing, the second new office is preparing to open along Wilmington, North Carolina’s downtown Riverwalk at Port City Marina. Both locations offer our customers easier access to Bluewater’s signature support in these areas, along with tremendous opportunities for our company’s growth. We look forward to showcasing our lineup of brands in these thriving boating communities. As you will see in the following pages, our manufacturing partners and affiliates have also been hard at work over the recent months, and we have seen no shortage of innovation from our colleagues. We hope you enjoy reading about the latest news from our brands, the stories of our customers, and the emerging trends in our industry. As always, we are grateful for the support of our customers and friends, and we look forward to a great year of boating! Randy Ramsey Beaufort, North Carolina Chris Hall, Sr. Hampton, Virginia Earle Hall Hampton, Virginia Jud Black Yorktown, Virginia BLUEWATER PARTNERS