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April 2016
"Sharing Your Passion for Boating Since 1946"
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Spanning the Decades
An Historical Look into Walstrom Marine - The 1970s
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Enjoy this section as we explore the previous seven decades of the history of Walstrom Marine with Ward Walstrom, Jr.
In 1971, Walstrom Marine became a dealer for Hatteras Yachts, a high quality boat company in North Carolina. By 1981, Walstrom Marine sold two 61' Motor Yachts, a 56', several 53's and a few smaller models to become the coveted "Hatteras Dealer of the Year." Bertram Yachts were also sold.
The Roe building (now the Walstrom Marine Sales Center) was completed in 1970. Another 1970s milestone was the construction of the first off-the-water storage building built on Hoyt Road.
In 1972, Ward Walstrom, Jr. replaced Charles Hollerith on the Board of Directors and joined the company full time in sales. With a degree in business from Michigan State, Ward Jr's focus was on sales and operation of the company.
The boats sold by the company during the 1970s were not limited to power. In the 50s and 60s, Pearson sailboats were sold. Responding to the oil embargo of 1979, the Morgan line of sailboats was taken on. Later, Nonsuch was another sailboat line handled. Smaller boat lines handled in the l970s were Sea Ray, Donzi, Slickcraft, and Carver.
Service was (and still is) the key to Walstrom becoming one of the oldest, most reputable marinas on the Great Lakes. Boaters would travel from as far as Chicago or Detroit to have their boats serviced by Walstrom Marine.
In 1975, water levels reached an all-time high. In the summer months, the water was so high that it covered the main floor. The mechanical and carpentry shop downtown were flooded most of the time and everyone wore high rubber boots to get around. The closet door has the water levels recorded.
From 1977 to 1981, a major building project was undertaken downtown. The original covered boathouse was torn down and new 50' treated southern yellow pine was driven for the new covered slips on the main dock. The old entrance from the alley between the Pier Restaurant and the office was replaced with a new entrance with an overhead door to the west. A new sales office was also built with new showers and bathrooms to the west.
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New Inventory, In Stock and On Order
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Walstrom Marine is GROWING!!
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As we celebrate our 70th Anniversary this year, we are excited at the prospects for the future at Walstrom Marine. To that end, we are working to fill a few key positions on the Walstrom Marine Dream Team. Please review the available positions listed below and contact the appropriate manager. Bring your "A" game and join us at one of the most amazing businesses in the marine industry.
Service Department Office Assistant - Full Time Seasonal
The ideal candidate will be upbeat, personable, and outgoing with experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher preferred. Daily office duties will include answering the phone, greeting customers, and helping various departments in a variety of marine related projects. Please send resume and cover letter to email contact below or call (231) 526-9663 to learn more about the position.
Marine Technician, Cheboygan
Applicants should be familiar with the marine industry and boats over 30 feet and have a working knowledge of marine propulsion systems and running gear, marine electrical and electronic systems, generators and inverters, hydraulics, marine sanitation and water systems, and vessel construction and design. Additional skills should include the ability to drive boats, work alone, multitask, and be well versed in the use of smart phone, tablets, laptops and email. The position requirements include working on weekends or being on call during the summer months, working with other Walstrom Marine departments and locations and work related travel. Benefits include year-around employment, paid holidays, 401K, paid vacation time, health insurance, and bonus opportunities.
Sales and Marketing Administrator
This newly created position offers the enthusiastic and creative candidate an opportunity for growth within our dynamic, award winning Sales Team. The ideal candidate will exhibit the ability to organize administration, supporting yacht sales, marina activities, and events. This year around full-time position will coordinate all of the organization's marketing programs including, social media, e-business, website presence, and other promotional activities. This position requires the ability to learn software systems including cloud based programs used in today's modern marine businesses.
Qualifications include,
BA/BS Business-recent graduates encouraged to apply, h
ighly organized/task oriented, s
trong customer service skills, s
elf starter with effective time management skills, and e
ffective verbal and written communication skills.
Sales Intern
Again this year, we are looking for a seasonal intern to assist the Sales Team. This individual needs a boating background and an outgoing personality. They will be involved with all of the activities of the Sales Team, including sales, communications, and events.
Dock Assistant, Dockside Detailing, Fuel Dock
A summer job at Walstrom Marine has been one of the most coveted positions for college students for decades. This year, it will be even more so. With Walstrom Marine celebrating our 70th Anniversary this summer, the activity levels at all of our properties is going to be exceptional. Contact our Dockmaster, Joel Shoemaker for details regarding being a dock hand at the Basin Yachting Center or for work with our boat cleaning crew, Dockside Detailing. He is also the contact for the positions available at the Fuel Dock in downtown Harbor Springs. Give him a call - you'll be glad you did!
Propellers
The Walstrom Marine Propellers lifestyle stores are on the move as well. Literally! After years and years in their Bay Street location, Propellers of Harbor Springs is moving to their new location at 262 East Main Street, right across from the new Lyric Theater. With great offerings from Lilly Pulitzer, Tommy Bahama, Nautica, and Helly Hansen as well as footwear from Sperry and Swims, Propellers has got you covered from head to toe. The Propellers stores in Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor are both looking for full and part time seasonal sales staff. Candidates must be 17 or older, have retail experience, be dependable, outgoing, fashionable, and have great people skills. Prospects must also be available to work weekends and evenings. The Bay Harbor Propellers is looking for a full-time assistant manager. Candidates must have retail management and procedures experience and will work some weekends and evenings.
Heidi Hayner, Propellers Manager, (231) 439-2741, hhayner@walstrom.com
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We are truly blessed to be able to work with so many exceptional people, from our own group of employees, to our customers, and to our outside vendors. We want to share with you the story of Reb's truck. Reb, (Robert E. Beair) is our go-to guy for names and numbers on virtually every boat sold through Walstrom Marine. Reb and the rest of the team at Sign and Design respond quickly to all of our unique requests and we're always pleased with the results. Read on and enjoy!
Over the years, my S-10 has been an ever-changing canvas of designs. One day in the fall, I decided it was time to paint my truck, but not
just paint my truck, to make a statement. In recent years, there has been much attention on 9-11-01. There were multiple vehicles that were tributes to 9-11; tributes to the firemen, police and those whose lives were lost on that shocking, sad and time-stopping day. It made me think of our great nation and how we got here, the lives lost to live here and be free, because freedom isn't free. I wanted to pay tribute to our veterans and soldiers protecting our country today and started sketching ideas for the new paint job. I had recently been to Mount Rushmore and decided to use that image on the hood. I also wanted to include WWI, WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and incorporate Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the back and the Statue of Liberty on the roof. I began sketching secretly, telling only my now fiancée Annette, who was in the Air Force. Throughout the winter, I spent 160 hours researching and drawing. With only black and white photos from WWI and WWII, I needed to know the true color of the uniforms and the stripes on the Japanese zeros. I knew if I did something wrong, I would be called out on it by one of our veterans. I wanted to do the Men's and Women's Vietnam memorials, but in color. I received help from our local Vietnam Veterans for the proper colors. I spent nine weekends and 200 hours airbrushing my truck. Ray from Custom Collision had 40 hours on body work and clear coating my airbrushing. We were doing the final assembly of the truck on Sunday before Memorial Day. I debuted the new paint job in the Harbor Springs Memorial Day Parade. It was a hit!
I painted it as a tribute to all the veterans and soldiers who have kept and continue to keep us free. I have done numerous things for our veterans, including taking my truck to many VFW Halls to show it to veterans, shake their hands and thank them for their service. I have raised money and donations for veterans, and was featured in a news story on the local NBC and CBS television stations, as well as in the Petoskey News-Review and the Traverse City Record Eagle. I went to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin and donated a truckload of toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, and other supplies, and was able to buy 115 100-minute phone cards to help our servicemen and women be able to call home from overseas. I spent three days there, shaking hands, and was even given a combat patch off the arm of a Captain who thanked me. A female soldier from the Michigan National Guard gave me her patch for all that I do, and for being from Michigan. Since I painted my truck, I have met six WWII pilots and numerous Veterans from the Korean War and Vietnam War. One thing I wasn't prepared for was the emotion from soldiers or the families of soldiers currently serving overseas. I've heard stories, felt their emotion, saw tears and shed tears with them. It has been a powerful journey so far with my truck.
I also have a Chevy HHR which is customized, lowered and custom-painted with a war mural of the Memphis Belle on the hood and a couple B-17s in the background with anti-air explosions going off while they drop their bombs. All this paint I have airbrushed has been with the utmost respect to our veterans and soldiers. Never having been in the service myself, I would like to say thank you for all they have given and done to keep me, my family and this country free.
Thanks!
Reb
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Save The Date - Opening Day Bar-B-Q
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Join Walstrom Marine for our annual Opening Day Bar-B-Q on Saturday, May 28th in our award winning Harbor Springs Showroom. It's a great time to catch up with your summer friends and to check out the latest offerings from Tiara, Pursuit, and Chris-Craft. See you there!!
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Propellers - The Lifestyle Store
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Propellers is excited to welcome spring with many new arrivals! Bright colors and patterns are filling the shelves, so we are sure to have something to add to your spring wardrobe. We are introducing several new brands to our store for the spring and summer of 2016. We will now be carrying the very unique Parafina sunglasses, made in Madrid, Spain. These attractive, polarized glasses float, are waterproof, and are available in many colors and styles for under $100. We are also stocking up on new arrivals from Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Helly Hansen, and many others! With a variety of colors of Tommy Bahama Tech Polos available, we are sure to have you ready for days on the golf course or on the water. We offer many collections for men, ladies and children, as well as accessories and nautical gifts. We have something for everyone!
We are also happy to announce that we are in the process of relocating our Propellers store in Harbor Springs. Our new storefront will be at 262 East Main Street, across from the new Lyric Theater in downtown Harbor Springs. We are planning to open in mid-to-late May, and look forward to serving you from our new location! Our excellent staff is always ready to assist you with all of your shopping needs.
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Service Department Spring Reminders and Ramblings
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With the warmer weather and sunshine, it seems that thoughts of boating are now filling the minds of our customers. We always are surprised, even after all these years that the activity level grows exponentially with the amount and warmth of sunshine in early spring. With this renewed interest also comes the reminder of a few important things. We do our best to make sure things are all set when you come and get your boat, and it goes even better with a little help from all.
You have probably already received Dave Lesh's note asking for a launch date. Most know we are looking for an approximate date when you would like to have your boat ready, but as we get closer to the actual date, it would be appreciated if you could let us know when you will be coming to pick up your boat. With the approximate date, we know we can launch your boat a little earlier in order to commission her and make sure everything is working the way it should. As the "pick up" date gets closer, a word from you would allow us to have the boat clean and standing tall when you arrive. We take great pride in getting your boat to you in Bristol shape, but we do need your help to accomplish this.
This leads us into "Bug Season". When we have the spring hatch of midges, our life becomes interesting for a few weeks, and unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to eliminate the consequences of the massive hatch. The midges actually hatch from the water when the water temperature is right. We can clean your boat and in less than an hour it looks like the boat has never been cleaned. Then it seems that right after the hatch of the midges has ended, the mayflies hatch, creating more havoc. So please understand, this is Mother Nature at work and we cannot control this in any way. This is, again, why it helps us to prepare your boat (cleaning as best we can) for your arrival.
After having been away from the controls for the winter, I always like to remind people to take things a bit slow when starting out the season. It will take a few dockings to get your feel back, and a few short trips for you to remember the little tricks of your electronics. As my dear old dad used to say, "the slower you go, the less damage when you make a mistake" (It's funny how many years it took me to realize how right he was!) And if, by chance, you would like a little refresher, don't be afraid to give us a call to schedule an hour or so with one of the Techs who installed your electronics.
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Seasonal and Transient Dockage Available in Harbor Springs
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We welcome you to join us in The Basin at Walstrom Marine for the 2016 boating season. Docks are available from just overnight to the entire season. Come and enjoy the newly renovated Basin Yachting Center or relax and BBQ on our newly completed waterside patio. Cable TV, hi speed WI-FI, dockside pump out, and concierge service are just a few of the premier amenities offered. Slip space is limited, so please act fast and secure your slip in The Basin at Walstrom Marine. Contact our Dockmaster, Joel Shoemaker at (231)526-2141 or
dockmaster@walstrom.com.
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Cheboygan Update - Seasonal Dockage
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Now is the time to secure your seasonal dockage before we begin launching boats. There are slips available at our Walstrom Marine docks in Cheboygan, which are a short walk to downtown shopping, dining, movie theaters,The Opera House and Festival Square. For more information, contact Heather at (231) 627-7105 or via email at hconaway@walstrom.com .
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**!!Only one remaining Membership available!!**
The Boathouse is truly a special place. Take a close look at the image above. At first glance, you might consider it to be a well done painting.... Actually it's a spectacular photo of The Boathouse on a beautiful fall day. Amazing!!
The Boathouse 105 Bay Street Harbor Springs, MI 49740 Phone (231) 526-0800
Fax (231) 526-0802 |
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Your Clue: Don't forget the direction of the sun...
If you think you know where this marina is located, e-mail your answer to us at:
And remember - speed counts!
March 2016
Yes! It's the new Ironton
Landings restaurant. A long-time Lake Charlevoix favorite, the new Landings will open the week before Memorial Day, 2016. We can't wait to see what the new owners have in store.
Winner: Roy Martin Honorable Mentions: Dan Kimball Jerry Strausbaugh Erin Bemis Rick Kline |
| Harbor Springs | 501 East Bay Street, Harbor Springs, MI | (231) 526-2141
Cheboygan | 113 East State Street, Cheboygan, MI 49721 | (231) 627-7105
Bay Harbor | 801 Front Street, Bay Harbor, MI 49770 | (231) 439-2741 |
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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