Article by Capt. Franky Pettolina
Besides crawling around some really cool boats, the most interesting part of marine surveying is interacting with a variety of boat owners in a variety of situations. On any given day, I may get to be a part of those happiest of times for the boat owner (the day they buy their boat or the day they sell it). Other days I get to help a boat owner sort out some issues with their boat or assist in resolving an insurance damage claim. Sometimes, I am on the boat for less than happy reasons, a valuation for a divorce or to settle a loved one’s estate for example. One thing that remains constant is that at the end of the job I always tell my clients to never hesitate to call if they need anything, email me about how they like their boat or to just share a fish picture or two. Most of the time I don’t hear from past clients until they need another survey. But there are times that the phone does ring or the inbox lights up with a new message.
About 15 years ago I surveyed a boat up in New Jersey for a local Ocean City client. It was a pretty decent rig and I still see it out on the rip to this day. The owner and his buddies grace the pages of the Coastal Fisherman throughout each season. A couple weeks after the gentleman bought the boat, however, my phone was ringing at 9:30 on a Friday night. I could just tell by the way the phone was ringing that something was wrong. When I flipped the phone open to accept the call I immediately heard, “Hey Franky! You said my toilet worked!” I thought for a minute and replied, “Three weeks ago it did. What’s going on now?” At that point I heard the boat owner talking to his son. As it turns out, the son had been to the local Mexican joint for dinner and had a burrito or two too many. For those of you that don’t know, a marine toilet is a very temperamental creature and too many burritos will cause grandes problemas. Somewhat sheepishly the owner got back on the phone and explained that the problem was not exactly the toilet. I wished him luck fishing the next day and condolences for the remainder of the evening. He said he wasn’t too concerned and that his son was going to learn a valuable lesson in boat system use and maintenance.
Another time I surveyed a boat in Cambridge, MD for a couple of fellows from somewhere in Canada. This particular boat was the fishing model from a company not exactly known for building fishing boats. Some things were goofy about the boat in my opinion, but these Canucks were in love with her. All things considered, she surveyed pretty well and a few weeks later the transport company arrived to take her up to her new northern home. That spring I got an email from one of the owners with a picture attached. The boat was sporting a brand new paint job. The color scheme and graphics were well matched to the new name of the boat. Molson Response Team. Yup, she was a floating tribute to the Canadian Lager. Up until last year, I had received an email every spring after their first fishing trip of the season. The guys were always holding fish (and Molson bottles). I don’t know if they sold the boat, or quit drinking, but I hope to hear from them again some day.
Just over a month ago, I surveyed a 33-foot flybridge convertible for a younger client that was moving up from a center console. The broker and I were talking fishing with him and you could hear the excitement in his voice about his new opportunities to go further and chase bigger fish. The broker is also a charter captain and he and I both offered the young man any advice we could and told him to call us any time. Now I don’t know how often he has talked to the broker, but I have heard from my client at least once a week since he bought the boat. He has sent me pictures of improvements he has made to the boat, diagrams of his planned trolling spread and just last night a picture of a chart and his thoughts on where he was going to fish today. His enthusiasm has been contagious and I am really hoping to see some pictures of tuna or mahi on his Facebook page tonight.
Another thing I tell clients during a pre-purchase survey is that we refer to boats as “she”. The seller is technically breaking up with his girlfriend when he sells the boat. Sometimes breakups don’t go well and the boat doesn’t go peaceably. That is why we survey the boat, to find out what bad things the boat is doing at the end of the relationship and to get them straightened out for the new owner. I also tell the client that almost every new relationship involves some “wooing” and that he should be prepared to spend a little money on gifts for his new lady. After my client with the 33-footer sent me the screen shot of the chart yesterday, he told me that he has never been so happy spending money as he has been buying new things for his boat. I can’t wait to hear his report from today. I just hope he didn’t have Mexican for dinner last night.
Capt Franky Pettolina is Co-Captain of the charter boat, “Last Call” which is docked at the Ocean City Fishing Center, owner of Pettolina Marine Surveying, Inc. and multi-term President of the Ocean City Marlin Club.
