July 2025 Newsletter

Dear Valued Customer,

Happy 4th of July! What a great time of the year to be a boater! This year we are calling the 4th of July a 3-day weekend. With Independence Day falling on a Friday, we’ve decided to make the most of a great weekend to be on the water. So… we will be operating on our usual hours (8:00am – 5:00pm) through Thursday July 3rd  then closed July 4th-6th. We will re-open at 8:00am on Monday July 7th. For those preparing for the Holiday weekend as well as the Grady Bunch members preparing for our annual Bahamas Trip, now is the time to get prepared. The fireworks display begins at 9:00pm right here at Memorial Island and as far as I’m concerned, the best way to view the show is by boat! Being one of the busiest boating weekends of the year, remember to practice safe boating and keep an eye out for those who bear watching!

On Monday July 7th the Grady Bunch departs from Vero Beach and is off on our biggest trip of the year.  Our friends up at Grady White call this the Vero Marine Center signature trip and yes, it’s off to the Bahama’s! Even though the Grady Bunch has been making this trip as a group since 1988, we try hard not to repeat ourselves. Although we have our favorite ports of call each year we try something new and different, and this year will certainly be something different. Our first stop will be at Old Bahama Bay on West End, Grand Bahama. We’ll clear customs and spend one night before heading down to Hopetown on Elbow Cay. From there part of the group will travel to the Green Turtle Club on Green Turtle Cay while the other part of the group continues South to Highbourne Cay and Staniel Cay in the Exumas. With a stop in Spanish Wells on the return trip the “Exumas Group” will end up at the Green Turtle Club before the Westward run back to Vero Beach. We’re all excited for another great adventure on the water with the “Bunch”! This will be the Grand Finale of the Grady Bunch itinerary for the season and great cruising, great people and great memories are always made when the Grady Bunch gets out on the water!

The harried pace in the service department has leveled off a bit as our summer storage warehouses are just about full. We’re not completely done yet but we’re in the home stretch. We’re still plenty busy but right now is the time for making boats ready for summer fun! Routine maintenance and repowers are keeping the schedule full. Having said that, lead times are reasonable and we’re ready so let Kris, Boo or Nick know what we can do to make your summertime boating more fun! The heat is up and my hats off to the boys in the shop and the dock crew for continuing to be the “can-do crew” and rising to the occasion! Sunblock, big hats and lots of water are important tools of the trade this time of the year…

As a result of another busy year in the sales department our inventory is starting to thin out a little but “not to worry” as we always try to maintain stock of the boats that make the most sense for our geography. A 16’ family fish and fun boat? Check… A 24’ shallow draft Bay Boat? Check… A 28’ Dual Console for the Inshore/Offshore adventure? Check… You get the idea! Stop in and see Artie or Bobby and let us know what we can do to help you enjoy your time on the water. These two guys are as skilled and knowledgeable as anyone I know in the boat business and always have your best interests in mind. The customer service both before and after the sale is second to none as a result. Let us know what we can do to help your boating cause and we’ll get to work. We love what we do! As always, a big thank you to the newest members of the “Busy Marina” crew, Mr. Steve Eber, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Rizzo, Off The Hook Yachts, Mr. Michael Samberg, Mr. Jeff Ahlquist and Mr. Lin Davis. Thanks to all for your business, we'll be looking for you out on the water!

This is always a busy time of the year in our Ship's Store and we're ready! From the basics like life jackets and dock lines to marine electronics, we can help. Remember, with increased boating comes increased law enforcement. We carry all the required safety gear and right now is the time to make sure that your boat is safety compliant. Nothing spoils a day on the water like getting a citation for an expired set of flares or a bad fire extinguisher. Stop in and say hello to Ian, our prices are very competitive, and our service is even better! Come visit us by land or sea...we aim to please. 

If you've read this far, by now it should be obvious that we like what we do. We have a great crew of hard working boys and girls and represent some of the best brands along the waterfront. However, the most important piece of the puzzle is YOU! We thank you all for your business, your loyalty and your kind referrals. We like to be busy and without you we wouldn't have much to do! Our goal is to make your boating as fun and convenient as possible. Good value never goes out of style! Let's go boating... 

See you on the water,

Brian Cunningham

P.S. The latest Sea Turtle report looks great. They are nesting in full force right now. On my nightly beach walks I'm seeing plenty of turtles and most are laying their eggs just above the high tide mark which is good.  We are coming into that time of the year when it pays to keep an eye on the tropics and the sea turtles are pretty good weather forecasters, so let's hope that they continue to stay low on the beach!

P.P.S. Breaking News! Grady White just announced a summer sales event July 1st -31st with big discounts on all boats in stock… Now’s the time!

“Summer Breeze makes me feel fine, blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind.” ~ Seals and Crofts

Kris' Son Connor Caught a Nice One!

Bahamas or Bust!