BLUEWATER CUSTOMER KICKS OFF AN AMBITIOUS RETIREMENT STARTING THE BUCKET LIST “It started getting serious three years ago,” Mike Steele recalls. “A buddy of mine and our wives all flew to Miami for the boat show and then visited the Florida Keys. As we looked over the turquoise water enjoying drinks, I thought, ‘some day!’” Steele is no stranger to boating adventures. Growing up along the Mississippi River in Rock Island, Illinois, he learned how to ski from a jon boat at ten years old. Boating through his teenage years and through college, Steele eventually bought his first boat: a 17’ Bayliner. He and his girlfriend, Angie, (now his wife) made a big trip traveling 250 miles north on the Mississippi in 1992. “We were boating by day and rough camping with our dog at night.” Steele explains, “We would cruise the Mississippi and then find an island before nightfall and pitch a tent, have dinner, a few drinks and get some rest to get back after it the next morning.” The adventure consumed four days heading north against the current and three days on their return. Over time, Steele moved up through several Chaparral boats and eventually to a 26-footer. His job transfers also took him from Rock Island to Iowa City, Iowa, and eventually to Richmond, Virginia, where he still keeps the boat on a lake. IT’S TIME “I have been planning a big boating trip to Florida for nearly twenty years,” Steele recalls. When their friends who accompanied the Steeles on that Miami trip asked when they would be going back —they made it clear they meant by boat— not flying. Steele got to work researching and learning about the ICW, when it is best to run offshore, where to anchor, and the marinas to stop at based on the boat’s range. “This is when I finally decided to get a much bigger boat,” Steele recalls. “I own and operate an epoxy flooring construction business,” Steele explains. “I met Hank Sibley back in 2005 in the construction business—before he sold boats.” So, when it came time to research a bigger boat, Steele knew just who to call. “Hank and I looked at several boats and then this boat came along through the AMI Kids program,” Steele says. AMI (American Marine Institute) Kids is a foundation introducing at-risk youth to the subjects of boating, diving, fishing, marine construction and mechanics. Part of their program involves AMI taking boats on donation for tax deductions to the giftor, but the boats must be leased by the non-profit for three years. “We found this boat by chance,” Steele explains. “The boat was donated in Annapolis but then wound up stranded with running gear damage in Norfolk, and that is when we found the boat listed.” Sibley helped Steele strike a deal for his 1/3rd share, and the 47’ Fairline Targa, Meditrina, was hauled and repaired by AMI. After everything checked out, Steele took possession of her on Memorial Day Weekend 2022. PREP WORK Steele and his wife enjoyed that summer with weekend trips around Chesapeake Bay. “It was a big upgrade from 26-feet to 47-feet,” Steele exclaims. While working to get used to their new 47’ Fairline, Steele was also working to promote management fromwithin his business so he could retire from working on December 31, 2022. In planning the big trip to Florida, Angie was uncertain about being on the boat for the entire trip to South Florida from Hampton, Virginia where they keep the Getting a first look at Meditrina 46 BLUEWATER
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