I want to start by saying that I hope everybody had a fantastic Father's Day, and you were able to spend time as a family, hopefully out on your boat. I tell people all the time that my best designs or inventions are my daughter Amanda and my son Kenneth. They are my legacy and the icing on the cake was being able to spend time with them on Father's Day. |
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TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BOAT BUILDERS |
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Earlier in the month, I was up at the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville, Michigan. They invited me to come up, tour their facility, and speak to the faculty and their students. What an amazing group of people …. Nikki Storey, Matt Edmondson, Tom Coates and the rest of the faculty up there were fantastic. They're running an amazing program. I came away very impressed with the passion that I saw … it really renewed my hope for the future for more boat builders to enter this craft. |
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UPDATES ON NEW MODEL DEVELOPMENT |
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Now, let's talk about an update on new product development. Those of you that follow me on social media, I'm sure that you probably saw that I got the 51 Panacea hull mold here, and boy is it big! So big that we could barely get it into the lamination building. The 51 deck plug is in process and is close to being done. We're looking to debut at the Miami International Boat Show in February.
Next is the 41 Valor. All the lamination pieces are built, and it is in the assembly building. It’s coming together very well, and we're going to be debuting that first at the Owners Rendezvous at the end of July.
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SEE YOU AT THE OWNERS RENDEZVOUS |
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The Rendezvous is at the end of next month, and we’ll be at Ocean Reef Club. I’ve received a lot of emails from people reaching out to say that they wanted to attend but we were sold out. Believe me, if I could have all 10,000 of you there, I would do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we are limited by the number of slips at Ocean Reef Club, which is a pretty big venue.
By the way, if you don’t get a chance to preview the 41 Valor at the Owners Rendezvous, you will be able to see it at our Dania facility at Harbour Towne Marina prior to its debut at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. Call Alex and the team if you’d like to schedule a private showing.
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NEW GEAR AT THE SHIP’S STORE |
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If you haven’t been to the Ship’s Store lately, please take look. We've added some cool shirts as part of our effort to always trying to keep things fresh for the Intrepid Nation. |
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Last but not but not least, I want to wish you a great Independence Day. Hopefully you'll be out on your boat with your family. Be safe and enjoy the day off …. everybody's earned it! |
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ANTICIPATION IS BUILDING FOR OUR INTREPID OWNERS RENDEZVOUS |
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Excitement continues to grow for next month’s sold-out event happening July 28-31! We have endless activities, adventures and celebrations planned for the Rendezvous. Here are some of the highlights on the itinerary:
- Welcome Cocktail Party at Marlin Beach
- Sand Bar Raft-up Party
- Cocktails and Entertainment on Everglades Patio
- Debut of All-New 41 Valor Model
- “Havana Nights” – Dinner, Dancing, Entertainment, Prizes
Additional activities to enjoy at Ocean Reef Club include:
- Golf
- Tennis and Pickleball
- Kayak Rental
- Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
The Intrepid team and I are looking forward to celebrating the good life with our fabulous owners at the legendary Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. Can't wait to see everyone there!
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Length 41' 8.5" | Beam 11' 9"
Max Fuel Capacity 468 Gallons | Water 50 Gallons
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This new model is a terrific example of how our customer's requests often drive new boat designs. Many Intrepid owners have voiced their desire to see Mercury 600’s on the Valor. Others wish to see Yamahas 425’s. So, that along with other requests inspired us to improve upon our best-selling Valor.
Additional improvements include a modified transom platform with a pass-through walkway, modified companionway door, redesigned console for larger electronics, increased fuel capacity, and many more enhancements. Be sure to contact me or your salesperson at our Dania sales office to see the boat in person.
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QUALITY FUEL HELPS ENSURE A SMOOTH RIDE |
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Memorial Day is behind us now so we can all look forward to a great Fourth of July with family and friends on the water. It’s important to use proper fuel in today’s outboard motors. There might be a temptation to use E15 gasoline, but it is not suitable for use in the engines on our boats. You could void your engine warranty and cause damage to the engine if E15 gasoline is used. We provide a warning label to remind our customers of this fact when fueling, so please be aware of this and use correct fuel in your Intrepid so that you have a carefree summer. |
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MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR RAW WATER STRAINER |
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Many of the options installed on our boats such as generators, stabilizers and air conditioning systems are cooled by sea water that is filtered through a raw water strainer much like the one pictured below. For proper operation, this strainer must be clear and free of seaweed and whatever other debris might make its way into the strainer. If the strainer is clogged, the equipment being cooled with sea water will fail and display a fault code.
To avoid this, it’s a great idea to get into the habit of checking the strainer bowl regularly and cleaning it as often as necessary to prevent failures at inopportune moments. To clean the strainer, you’ll first close the seacock or ball valve on the thru-hull. The next step is to unthread the top of the bronze housing to expose the small “basket” that filters sea water. Remove the basket and clean it thoroughly. When reassembling the strainer housing, be sure to tighten threads sufficiently and check for leaks after opening the seacock again. If you have any questions about how to clean your raw water strainer, feel free to give me a call.
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Generators use lots of sea water in their cooling systems and are particularly susceptible to clogged strainers. Stabilizers and air conditioning systems depend on the power that the generator puts out, so this strainer needs to be checked on a very regular basis. I’m including a video that completely explains generator operation of a 438 Evolution. It will give some good pointers on how to properly operate a generator. |
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Please let us know if there’s anything that we can do to help you better enjoy your boating adventures this summer. You can contact me directly with any questions or concerns, and if you should find yourself in the St. Pete/Clearwater area, please call to arrange a tour of our factory. We have some exciting new projects going on now and I would love to show them to you.
Don’t forget our Ship’s Store for Intrepid gear! We have a great selection of clothing and accessories that will complement your boat nicely. Enjoy the summer!
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One of a kind. One at a time. |
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