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In This Issue: "From The Helm", "Hoffman Receives CMM", Service Department Update, Bob Weiler, Scott White Newest Member of Staff, EVENT SCHEDULE,

FROM THE HELM The holidays are behind us, the boat show season is sneaking up on us, and it’s already time to start thinking about next boating season. But first - I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of you who made the 2001 season a huge success, and one for all of us to remember. Two of the highpoints of this past summer were the resurrection of the 45-year-old Cape May County Offshore Fishing Tournament (in which we were the host Marina), and the beginning of what may be an annual event: The Schooner Island Marina Talent Show, pushed especially by that creative bunch from "A" dock. These events, along with Christmas in July, and whatever else you folks would like to see happen, has made Schooner Island Marina one of the "Top-Ten Family Destinations" on the east coast, as noted in one of the recent "Chesapeake Bay Magazine" issues. Parking - which didn’t seem to be a major problem this year as it has in previous years, is going to be addressed. Hopefully, by the time you start coming to the Marina this spring, a security gate, such as that used by the "E-Z Pass" system, should be in place. Parking passes will be required. A "gate card" will be used to open the gate upon approaching and leaving the Island. Visitors will be asked to park on the auxiliary parking lot across the street, so slipholders will have adequate parking space. Security monitors will be located throughout the Marina for added protection, with future plans to use the same monitors so you may call in on the internet to check on your boat, or see what you’re missing during the week while you’re back at home. ontinues to grow with the solid leadership of Bob Weiler, and sidekick Scott White. The appointment by Regal Boat Company as a full-line dealership, along with Sea Craft and Jersey Cape, and many brokered boats, has launched into fast becoming a recognized full-service sales dealership in the tri-state area. Please stop by and meet Bob and Scott and see the full list of brokerage boats that are available, and possibly help you upgrade to a new or pre-owned "creampuff." It has been great watching Rick Peterman and Tom Morrissey lead our service staff into what has evolved into a state-of-the-art full-service facility. The quality of the service that has been offered to customers that have boats from 17’ outboards to the multi-million dollar offshore sportfishing machines has been extraordinary. Jobs that have been completed include such things as prop and shaft replacement, engine repair and replacement, electronics installations, and many other marine related tasks. The Marina staff has already begun to gear up for the fast-approaching boating season. Terri, Charlie, Pop, and the dock staff are preparing to have Schooner Island Marina all spiffed up by the time the boats will be coming back. New items in the Ship’s Store, a fresh coat of paint here and there, a few new faces both on our staff and out in the slips, will combine to make Schooner Island Marina a leader in sales, service and marina facility’s. We will continue to strive to make your stay here with us as enjoyable and carefree as possible. See ya at the Shore!!!!!!!                   Paul TENATIVE SHOW AND EVENT SCHEDULE Philadelphia Boat Show Jan.17-21 Phila., PA Booth G-413 Chesapeake Bay Boat Show Jan. 19-27 Baltimore, MD Booth F-136 Atlantic City International Boat Show Feb. 6-10 Atlantic City, NJ Booth 203 Come Cruise With Us Weekend to Baltimore July 3-8 Christmas in July Saturday, July 20 Cape May County Offshore Fishing Classic July 26-28 National Marina Day Saturday, Aug. 10 Schooner Island Marina 2nd Annual Talent Show Saturday, Aug. 17 Demo Day TBA U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary Safety Seminar & Examination TBA U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary Safety Inspection Day TBA Schooner Island Marina 1st Annual Flounder Tournament TBA

Hoffman Receives CMM     Paul K. Hoffman, general manager of Schooner Island Marina, in Wildwood, N.J. recently received designation as a "Certified Marina Manager" by the International Marina Institute, of Nokomis, Florida.     Attending the annual conference in Ft. Lauderdale on October 22, just before the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, Hoffman, is the first in the state of New Jersey to be recognized by the Institute as a CMM.     A senior marina manager who has distinguished himself as an outstanding professional, Hoffman has been in the marina business for more than 23 years.     The CMM program continually works to keep up with changes, improve knowledge and share experiences with others to stay in compliance with an industry that is fast becoming a sophisticated, capital intensive enterprise. It is highly regulated by state and federal coastal and environmental agencies, dictating that managers stay on top of the latest rules and regulations.     Hoffman, along with the help of his staff and the established Schooner Island Marina as a state of the art facility, complete with an authorized service department as well as a sales facility, for well -known boat manufacturers. The Marina became a popular destination for boating groups and manufacturers’ "getaways" during the summer season.     Hoffman lives in Eldora, N.J., with his wife Eileen, and their two children, Amanda and Aaron. Service Department Update     The entire Service Department hopes you all had a great winter season, and are ready to start another year of boating.     There are a few things that we would like to suggest to our customers.     To those of you who use your boats less than others during the summer, a few recommendations from us may minimize any down time. It is very important to you as well as us that you have only good boating experiences.     Every time you are on your boat for a couple days, you should take the time to check your fluid levels, start your engines and get them up to operating temperature. Shift transmission in and out of gear. Trim your outboard or inboard/outboard up and down a few times. Check your steering. Operate all accessories, such as blowers, bilge pumps, horns, lights, etc.     Our environment is hard on anything electrical and mechanical. By performing these preventative steps, the contacts and armatures will be kept clean and operational.     Happy boating . . .                               Rick and Tom Bob Weiler Joins     Bob Weiler has joined in the position of marketing manager. Bob brings nearly 15 years’ experience and more than $40 million in sales of new and brokered boats to his position.     "We were fortunate to be able to bring Bob on board," said which owns and Schooner Island Marina. "His successful track record in yacht sales is a direct result of understanding and anticipating his customer’s needs."     The Somers Point resident began his career with Chevrolet Motor Division and credits its extensive training program for helping him learn how to build customer satisfaction and repeat business. He never lost his life-long love of boating and fishing, however, and became a commercial fisherman along the East Coast and in Oregon and Alaska before finding his niche selling boats and arranging getaway cruises for his customers.     "I am very excited to have an opportunity to join . They have a first-class facility, a very professional service department, and a commitment to providing the best boating in south Jersey."     is the authorized dealer for SeaCraft, the new Jersey Cape 36, and Regal luxury performance boats. It also has a number of fine brokerage vessels ready for sea trial at the 310-slip Marina, located at 5100 Lake Road, in Wildwood.     purchased the former Wildwood Yacht Basin in 1999, and has invested more than $6 million in creating a full-service marina. Schooner Island Marina includes a qualified service department with a 50-ton Marina Travelift, and 10-ton Mariner fork truck. A certified Mercury-Mercruiser dealer, Schooner Island Marina offers new and remanufactured engines, electronics, winter storage, parts, a ship’s store, Texaco fuel products, all in addition to yacht sales.     Bob is at the yacht sales office Tuesday through Saturday and can Successful Sport Fisherman Joins Staff Scott White Newest Member of Staff      Scott White has joined the staff. He will sell the company’s full line of Regal, Sea Craft, and Jersey Cape boats as well as the large selection of brokerage boats has listed.      "We are thrilled to have Scott join us here at ," said Bob Weiler, sales manager. "He has been a boater all his life and absolutely loves the sport. He brings that enthusiasm and a wealth of boating experience to every sale. He really senses the customer’s wants and then matches that boater to the perfect vessel."      White attended the University of Delaware on a football scholarship and then attended Chapman’s School of Seamanship in Stuart, Florida, obtaining his captain’s license. He has been fishing the waters off Cape May all his life, most recently as captain of Hot Sparks, a private 58-foot sportfisherman. His professional career has taken him to North Carolina, Florida, Mexico, and the Bahamas in pursuit of blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish. In addition, Scott has competed in sportfishing tournaments for Cape May to Mexico. A native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Cape May.      “When I decided to come ashore and go into sales, I selected because it offers the whole package in one place - a full line of vessels, an outstanding service department with winter storage and a beautifully appointed marina,” said White. “The management at makes the kind of deals that make the trip to Wildwood worthwhile before buying a new or previously owned boat.”      Stop by and meet Scott at We are open daily from

Memories Vince MacAluso of Collinite Products Jessica & Joe Gillen with their fine catch. L to R, Mark Holtzapfel, Albert Carothers, Ken Handle, Tom Brojokawski Caught on "Fish Nailer" Dan Pettit Caught on "Cops and Robbers"      Here it is the middle of November and people are still flocking to South Jersey and getting on their boats and heading for the rips or the bay. We should all take a moment to reflect on the memorable days we had on the water.      Remember how lucky we are to have family and friends that also shared in our experiences. Remember the feeling of heading offshore and watching the sunrise on a slick calm sea, or the thrill of splitting the rock piles as the sun sets with a cooler full of fish and the flags flying high. The feelings you have, are the reason why fishing is not just a sport, but also a passion. We choose to remember the good days and agree that the bad ones are still better than work. For some of us, fishing is our job. Some days were better than others, but all in all, this fishing season was great!      Offshore action heated up in mid-July right after the Cape May County Offshore Classic, which is held right here at Schooner Island Marina. Good news, folks - next year the tournament will be July 25th -28th. The tuna bite was pretty much at the “Hot Dog.” The bluefins were thick with a few being caught or lost in the 200 to 300-pound range. As the season progressed, the yellowfins moved in mixing up the catch. Questions went from: “Where were you?” to “What time was the bite?” It was not hard to decide where to go. The latest news was a boat out of Avalon catching 28 yellowfins at the east wall of the Wilmington Canyon on Nov. 16th, and another 20 tuna two days later. Good going “Boss Lady!” The billfish bite started to come on strong around Labor Day and lasted up until (you guessed it) Sept. 11th. Many boats had double-digit white marlin days with a boat coming in on Sept. 10th catching 17. Most of the action was offshore of the Poorman’s Canyon, but a few lucky guys pulled them from the chunks at the Hot Dog.      Inshore fishing was great. Whether you were in the back bays fluke fishing, on a wreck bailing sea bass and tautog;, or pluggin’, chunkin or eeling for stripers, the action was great! I know there were some days that we heard “you should have been here yesterday, ” but if we put in our time we all seemed to have a few great days on the water. Yet some of us will still be fishing through Christmas, having some great days and bad days striper fishing. This is a fishery we should be proud of. We love bass fishing, so we protected them. Now look . . . stripers have made a great comeback.      Remember that the limits set on the fisheries will benefit us tomorrow and allow us to have more good days than bad, and that is why we should encourage “catch and release.” It does not just pertain to billfish, but to our tuna, stripers, fluke, and many other fish. Protecting our fish now will allow our children and grandchildren to enjoy the sport. Watching a youngster, a friend, or a family member catch their first tuna or striper - or maybe a white marlin - even a flounder, it will be a memory that will last: a moment in time that we love and seek each fishing season. This is what fishing is all about.      One last thought - if fishin’ was easy - then it would have been called catchin’.      See you all in the spring - and Happy Holidays!                                                       Scott White

Who You Gonna Call? Call the Marina Office First With a Slip Phone Connection Problem     The trials and tribulations of deregulated utilities like the phone service don’t stop at the marina gate. They can follow you right to your slip. Here are a few tips to make your boating life easier.     When you order Verizon phone service, please let the marina office know your service order number, the effective date of service, and the telephone number that has been assigned to your slip.     The phone company will also want to know the address of Schooner Island Marina – 5100 Lake Road, Wildwood – as well as your slip number.     If you experience a problem after you have service, let the marina office know first. We’ll determine whether the problem lies in the wiring from the building to your pedestal or is, in fact, the phone company’s responsibility.      If the problem is with the wiring between the phone company’s demarcation point and your boat, you could be charged for a repair call. We will be glad to isolate the problem, to save you any unnecessary expense.

Schooner Island is no longer the best kept secret in South Jersey! Being ideally located within 10 minutes of Cape May Inlet, this family-owned and operated Marina has provided boaters full-sized slips and safe, easy access to sportfishing, sailing or just plain cruising – and there’s a slip waiting here just for you!