Posts mit dem Label Sarasota werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Posts mit dem Label Sarasota werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Montag, 3. April 2017
Sarasota gets a new West Marine Flag Ship store
It has taken some time to build, but I have been watching the new West Marine store rising like a Phoenix, from the ashes of a failed retail giant. The building had been hulking empty for about a year, when workers started its make over.
We begin with a cavernous empty shell, and it doesn't take long, before the transformation starts to take shape. Floors are repaired, ceilings drop in places, are painted, and lighting is installed.
Fixture crews appear, along with large trucks, and a store starts to take shape. Every fixture is accompanied by paper work, that describes its layout, for the stock yet to come.
A huge electronics section in the middle of the store is assembled, along with a curved hardtop, that is featuring "top of vessel" electronics, and the Garmin radar array will draw your attention, because it will actually be spinning.
And the merchandise starts to arrive, and I mean a lot of merchandise arrives. A small army of West Marine staffers spend several weeks stocking the shelves, and putting the final touches on the store. New employees are being trained, and new systems are being put into place. Work is wrapped up on the exterior, and the parking lot gets resurfaced, and re-striped.
The big opening day arrives, and the store gorgeous. More than three times larger than the old stores. The sales floor is 21,000 square feet, and heavily stocked. I'm not sure of the exact amount of items, but I would guess that there are about 15,000 in the store. The breadth of merchandise is impressive, especially in the basic items I buy every day.
The store is also the new west coast of Florida's Port Supply depot. This means, if I need something that isn't in the store (a lot less likely now), it will be available in the store when it opens the next day. On opening day, I was wandering around with a colleague, and he needed two shims for a specific Harken cam cleat, and there they were on the shelf. Odds were, in the old store, they would be in the warehouse, and would have to be shipped in. Not the case with this store.
The store is also the new west coast of Florida's Port Supply depot. This means, if I need something that isn't in the store (a lot less likely now), it will be available in the store when it opens the next day. On opening day, I was wandering around with a colleague, and he needed two shims for a specific Harken cam cleat, and there they were on the shelf. Odds were, in the old store, they would be in the warehouse, and would have to be shipped in. Not the case with this store.
There is now a very large fishing department, and all of the watercraft, inflatables, and motors are on display.
A full service engine department, to help you keep your motors running, is in the back of the store, and there is a huge apparel department in the front of the store, with new brands, emphasizing West Marine's commitment to women boaters, and my favorite, real changing rooms.
The end result is terrific, two smaller stores in the area were shuttered, and replaced with an impressive destination store, with a massive inventory, and most importantly, at least to me, is a staggering array of operational marine electronics on display.
Above is my friend Wayne Seel, the general manager of the new Sarasota Flagship store in a moment of exuberance, and he deserves it. Many West Marine employees worked very long hours, for many weeks to make this happen, and it was all worth it. Wayne said, "My vision of what West Marine should be in Sarasota has been fulfilled." Good job Wayne, and West Marine.
Sonntag, 29. Januar 2017
Sarasota slamming adventures
Gordon Daniher's fishing team the "Dirt Draggers" are the most audacious, and hardest working lot I have ever encountered. He had entered the Sarasota Slam fishing tournament in the billfish division, and he had devised an epic plan.
The Contender center console triple Yamaha powered is ready. Endless hours have been spent by the crew prepping bait and gear. Wasabi, check. Soy sauce, check. Bean bag chairs for less than luxurious sleeping accommodations, check. Fueling the boat..... that's next.
The plan is to load up extra fuel, in two fifty gallon drums in the back, and a fuel bladder sitting the bow.
They are going to leave Sarasota right after the captains meeting, and shoot straight across the gulf to Venice Louisiana, about a 450 mi trip as the crow flies. Refuel the boat, ice up, and fish for billfish, tuna, dolphin, and wahoo in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Lots of floating platforms, and rips to work.
A quick check of systems, radar, weather, and the Contender's crew heads out of Sarasota. The first waypoint is set, and off they go into the dark Gulf of Mexico on a Tuesday night for several hard days of fishing, and physical deprivation. You gotta love this sport, and they do.
They have good nav gear, and know how to use it. A Garmin 7212 with the GXM51 weather module, the GMR 18 HD radar, GSD 26 chirping sounder, and the bad boy Airmar 25 element R599LH transducer, all installed by myself.
Using radar they made it to Venice LA non stop, and from their black and white track you can see they made it back. The expeditionary fishermen's trip was marked by swells that slowly built to 6 feet, with occasional 8 footers being spun off from hurricane Ernesto.
They caught a huge amount of fish, and on any other trip it would have been a resoundingly successful voyage. But unfortunately no billfish were found at all despite all of their experience and efforts, and what they were catching was only marginally tournament grade. Gordon suspects that it might have had something to do with hurricane Ernesto's presence to the south, but we will never know exactly why no billfish were found.
I caught back up with the Dirt Draggers at the dock in Sarasota at Marina Jacks. The boat was somewhat cleaned up and the gas barrels and bladder were gone. Beers had been snapped open and were being used to add some enthusiastic vigor to the fish stories.
The team's odyssey had covered 1150 nautical miles over three and a half days, with a good chunk of it traveling at night. The radar was invaluable, they had no difficulties locating hazards, and there were many to be steered clear from. The northern portion of the Gulf of Mexico is littered with oil wells. There are over 4000 unmanned rigs alone, and large numbers of servicing, and fishing vessels are plying the waters. Unlike Motel Six, they don't always leave a light on for you, so watch out.
By the way it was a fishing tournament, and there was fish galore all on the larger scale. The Sarasota Slam is both a fishing tournament, and a Home Builders Association of Manatee and Sarasota fund raiser.
This years charity is the Sarasota Boys and Girls club. In addition all of the caught fish is donated to local food banks, and this years total I understand was about a very fresh 750 lbs.
A Hann 50' center console came into dock while I was there. Although they are built in Sarasota, I had never seen one. The boat with six people on board looked empty. Their market is primarily military, and law enforcement organizations, but they do build very rugged off shore fishing versions. It is a substantial center console to say the least. What was just as impressive was the captain gracefully squeezing it into a 51' space.
So it was a busy day. Lots of stories, some controversy over tournament rules, docks jammed with boats trying to offload monster fish, and beer everywhere. But this was strictly for medical re-hydratation purposes. A beer costs just about as much as some bottled waters, and under the right circumstances it's tastier.
A damp micro pore cloth will make this mucky and oft used Garmin 7212 display spotless. Although when its on, you hardly notice it. It was clean when Gordon's boat left, but after nearly 1200 continuous miles of fishing, it did get a little dirty.
So for this tournament it just worked out okay for Gordon, and his Dirt Dragger's team. But Gordon is smart, works hard, has an experienced crew, and he is stubborn as all get out. I'm putting my money on him for next year. As you can see, they can really catch the big ones like this 206lb warsaw grouper from last year hanging next to team member Jason Boyll.
Sarasota boating news
Sarasota Boating news July round up
In an effort to crack down on the epidemic level problem of recklessly speeding boaters leaving wakes behind their boats, local constabulary are testing the use of helicopters equipped with radar guns. With the dramatic expansion of Manatee zone's, most local water speed zones are now confined to 25 mph in the Intercoastal waterway, and idle speeds outside the ICW.
Signage in miles per hours were posted for the Sarasota area because of concerns that "Most boaters here don't understand that nautical mile thing" stated a local official, and we don't either. We just know that we get extra revenue if they are going 25 kts instead of the slower 25 mph. Authorities have been pleased with the results to date.
Brokers Bonanza
Local boat brokers are reporting record sales in the aftermath of tropical storm Debby. "With dozens of easy fixer uppers entering the market opportunities abound", said an enthusiastic local broker. "Look at this listing for a 24' day sailor, I sold it in two days for $2000. Drag it up onto shore, pump it out, buy a blue blazer, and you're ready to go boating. I have over a two dozen of these quality listings. Yachting has never been cheaper."
Flying high
Sarasota's own "High Flyers" paragliding team was caught on film attempting a world record first, a "parachute barrel roll". Team captain Doug Corrigan, lamented from his hospital bed "that it was immediately apparent they needed a lot more altitude to make the trick work, and they would try it again." His still unconscious partner Scott Acorne was mute on the subject. The MIR staff will be on hand with a video camera to film the next attempt.
So it's always time to set down that Tervis Tumber full of Captain Morgan on occasion, and take a look around. And if you turn the tunes down a bit, you can probably hear the frantic screaming also.
Sarasota's own "High Flyers" paragliding team was caught on film attempting a world record first, a "parachute barrel roll". Team captain Doug Corrigan, lamented from his hospital bed "that it was immediately apparent they needed a lot more altitude to make the trick work, and they would try it again." His still unconscious partner Scott Acorne was mute on the subject. The MIR staff will be on hand with a video camera to film the next attempt.
Tourist rental boat season is back!
Like lemmings migrating off a cliff, the boat rental season is in full swing, and all local boaters should be on the lookout. These colorful, and often slightly shabby vessels emblazoned with large phone numbers and logos are apt to accidentally end up on occasion in the intercoastal waterways. Boaters should give these craft a very wide clearance due to their unpredictable "crazy ant" like driving behavior.
These boats are devoid of any navigation equipment, and are packed with sun burnt tourists. All boaters are reminded of the need to assist if they get in trouble. We suggest you give them Seatow 's number.
And finally safety first
As this unfortunate boater found out, some of the ICW markers are actually made out of steel I beams instead of those easily broken off wooden posts.Like lemmings migrating off a cliff, the boat rental season is in full swing, and all local boaters should be on the lookout. These colorful, and often slightly shabby vessels emblazoned with large phone numbers and logos are apt to accidentally end up on occasion in the intercoastal waterways. Boaters should give these craft a very wide clearance due to their unpredictable "crazy ant" like driving behavior.
And finally safety first
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