|
After years of feeling taken advantage of at marinas
throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands, I bought my childhood favorite on
St. Thomas and turned it into a local boater’s haven.
By Gordon Ackley, As Told To Liz Pasch — Spring 2005
I grew up on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands,
where much of my boyhood included long, lazy days of fishing with my dad
in the bays. A stop at the little, family-owned Lagoon Fishing Center
in Benner Bay, on the island’s southeast end, was always part of
the day’s ritual. We’d get a couple gallons of gas, then sip
on sodas while catching up with the regulars. In the 1960s, it was a place
where local boaters felt right at home.
Starting in the late 1980s, hurricanes pummeled the
Virgin Islands and left homes and businesses in shambles, including my
favorite marina. The resulting state of disrepair soon attracted derelicts.
The marina fell into a downward spiral, and I was forced to move my boat
to another marina.
I quickly learned that many of the remaining marinas
on St. Thomas were more interested in getting the big bucks from transient
cruisers than providing service to local boaters. I moved my boat from
place to place until the day—after I’d spent more than $1,000
on fuel—one of my guests returned with a case of beer for which the
same marina’s store had charged him $72. When I confronted the marina
owner, his response was, “We charge by the bottle, not by the case.
If you don’t like it, go buy your own marina.”
So I did just that.
Coincidentally, my favorite marina in Benner Bay was
for sale. The docks and buildings needed a complete makeover, but the
location was ideal. I was already an entrepreneur who’d built up
several businesses, so I wasn’t afraid of a little hard work. At
the end of the day, I just wanted a nice place to keep my own boat, so
I went into the project knowing that I might never make big profits but
that the other local boaters and I would definitely be happier if I did
the job right.
>> Next page >>
Part 2: I wanted a more family-friendly atmosphere, a place
that was comfortable and safe. Page
1,
2,
3
|
