It looks like we could be in store for the kind of spring and early start to the boating season that we have been dreaming about... for years! The ice will be off the river at the beginning of April for a change. We are actually starting the spring with all the ingredients for a fantastic boating season.
Business News
We finished up our marina fiscal year end on March 31 and even though we had high water issues well into July last summer, marina operations remained strong in the Service Department, dock moving and dock building and repairs. Financially, we will be on target to our budget goals. Capital Improvement highlights include marina wide WiFi, re-decking the front docks N-1 through N-9, electrical upgrades on the docks, shop and fuel dock, along with other routine capital spending.
Staff News
The full time marina employees were busy training and re-certifying and attending courses this winter. We all attended the Marine Retailers Association of America's (MRR) University in March. Topics include: industry trends, customer service, social media, service processes and a variety of other marina procedures. Adam Maxson attended a Volvo course in February in Florida and Tim Little, Scott Baken and Bryan Spychalla attended Mercury school in Beaver Dam, WI, I think Adam got the better end of the stick this year. Julie Ulrick, Dean Dixon and Dave Little and I went to the International Marina & Boat Yard Conference in Tampa, Florida at the end of January. I even volunteered to sleep on the cot so Dean and Dave could sleep (snore) comfortably.
Mark Your Calendar
Please plan on attending our Annual Spring Launch Party on May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a good time to catch up with your boating friends and meet new ones! Brats, hot dogs and refreshments will be served, all compliments of Windmill Marina. The Annual Windmill Marina Association meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14. A separate mailing will be sent prior to the meeting.
Get Ready for Boating
The Marina staff are thrilled to start the 2015 boating season early and without high water lapping at the top of the launch ramp! Please give me a call at (651) 436-7744 or email me atjoe@windmillmarina.com if you have any questions, suggestions or comments for the marina.
See you at the spring launch party!
A Message From the Office Manager - Julie M. Ulrick
It looks like we're in for a normal spring!
Annual Members, please remember to make your last two slip rental payments on May 1 and June 1, 2015.
Prior to spring launch; we need a set of keys to your boat, a copy of your insurance showing $500,000 in liability coverage and your account must be paid in full.
Before your launch week, please make sure you have your fenders, lines and batteries in your boat, as well as a set of keys in the marina office.
Be sure to stop in at the Ship's Store to get all your spring cleaning supplies. If you need something that you can't find in the store be sure to ask me and I can order it for you and usually have it within a day or two!
The Dock Lines newsletter is where you find all the information you need to know! Check out our website:
Take a break from you spring boat work and stop in for brats, hot dogs, sauerkraut, baked beans, chips, cookies coffee & refreshments. Come as you are. Everyone is welcome. RSVP not necessary.
The party will take place in parking lot near the Service Department.
Join us for the fun!
A Message from the Service Department
Tim Little, Service Manager
This winter doesn't seem as long as last winter, but February sure made it feel just as cold. I'm glad it's coming to an end. With the warm weather March is giving us we are hoping for a normal spring, a warm summer and lower gas prices!
Technician News
The shop has been busy over the winter with mechanical and fiberglass repairs. Scott, Adam & Bryan have all attended Mercury and Volvo schools and are ready for a new year of performing boat repairs.
Summarizing Your Boat & Launch Time
Launch time is rapidly approaching, please get your launch request and service work requests in sooner than later. If you removed your batteries, lines & fenders please get them back on your boat prior to launch time, if not, this might hold up your launch time.
Please call me at the marina (651) 436-7744 or email me tim@windmillmarina.com for any additional repairs you may need prior to launch; i.e. bottom painting, prop rebuilding, drive service, etc.
We're looking forward to a good, long boating season this year! See you soon.
Prepare Your Boat for the New Season
Boating is a fun activity that can be shared with the entire family. However, because it can be seasonal, you'll need to perform a few check-ups to get ready for the first trip of the season. Some are safety precautions, while others are legal requirements. You may want to consult with your local boat mechanic, but here are some things you can check for yourself.
Boat and Trailer Inspections
Check your boat and trailer for the season. To avoid penalties, take care of legal requirements first; you don't want to miss out on summer fun due to missing paperwork. Your registration, license, and decal for your boat should all be up to date.
Once the paperwork is out of the way, inspect your hull and other parts of the boat for damage that may have occurred since the last time you used it. Ensure that the engine is I good working condition by turning it on and checking that the battery is charged. The navigation lights and all the other electronics should also be thoroughly inspected.
After confirming that the boat is in good shape and its systems are in working order, check all safety equipment on board to help ensure a safe trip for you and your passengers. Thoroughly inspect all life jackets twice or more; in particular, look for holes or tears in the jackets. Be sure to check that your life jackets still fit, especially if you have any children who will be in the boat, as children do grow fast. Remember, you need a life jacket for each passenger. Your safety gear should also include fire extinguishers, and you should check to make sure each one is full and in good working condition.
How you get your boat to the water is just as important as making sure it works. You should check the trailer you are using to transport your boat, as well as the tires to make sure everything is safe and in working condition.
Planning for the Unexpected with Your Boat
You should also prepare for any emergency that may occur while you are out on the water. One such emergency is being stranded. Be sure you have multiple ways of communicating with the rest of civilization every time you take out your boat.
Boating Safety Items
The longer your planned trip will be, the more means of communication you will need - as well as extra batteries for any devices that require them. A radio, flare, and a locator beacon are good choices.
While cell phones are okay, you should not rely on one: the battery could die, or service may not be available where you will be traveling. Be sure to take into consideration that any device can get wet. If your boat should take on water, will the device you plan to use still work? If it won't, you will need to have other communication options available.
A whistle or air horn makes a great emergency backup; each is loud, uses no batteries, and will continue to work even if it gets wet. A brightly colored floatation device is another great item to have on board. You should also purchase a manual bilge pump for your boat. Though an electric bilge pump is great, you will need a manual pump if you get stranded and your battery dies.
Another vital piece of boating equipment is an anchor. To be on the safe side, the anchor should weigh one pound for every foot in length of the boat. Ensure that the anchor is tightly secured to the boat with a rope that will not sink, and is just as long as the boat.
It is always a good idea to have a first aid kit wherever you go, especially on a boat. It could take some time to return to shore and get medical attention if an emergency situation occurs.
Finally, since you never know if something is going to happen to your motor, make sure you have an emergency means of mobility, such as a paddle on board. Keeping a few paddles on your boat can be a big help if the motor dies. The last time we took a group of kids out on a three-rider tube, the motor would not start. We were at the mercy of the current until a passing jet ski towed us in. We had plenty of arm power - just nothing to paddle with!
With all the necessary prep work out of the way you can take to the water with your loved ones with peace of mind that you have what you need to take care of any unforeseen situations. Enjoy your boating season!
With all the necessary prep work out of the way you can take to the water with your loved ones with peace of mind that you have what you need to take care of any unforeseen situations. Enjoy your boating season!
Written by Jane Warren Reprinted with permission from Scuttlebutt magazine
Protect Our Waterways from Invasive Species
You May Not:
You Must:
Transport watercraft without removing the drain plug.
Arrive at lake access with drain plug in place.
Transport aquatic plants, zebra mussels, or other prohibited species on any roadway.
Launch watercraft with prohibited species attached.
Transport water from Minnesota lakes or rivers.
Release live bait into the water.
It will be the practice of Windmill Marina Service Department to pull hull plugs after pulling boats out of the water. Check your hull plugs before launching and transporting your boat.
Clean all visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive species from watercraft, trailers, and water-related equipment before leaving any water access or shoreland.
Drain water-related equipment (boat, ballast tanks, portable bait containers, motor) and drain bilge, livewell and baitwell by removing drain plugs before leaving a water access or shoreline property. Keep drain plugs out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft.
Dispose of unwanted bait, including minnows, leeches, and worms, in the trash. It is illegal to release live bait into a water body or release aquatic animals from one water body to another. If you want to keep your live bait, you must refill the bait container with bottled or tap water.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxilliary Vessel Safety Checks
Vessel safety checks will be held on June 13, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Please call the office at (651) 436-7744 to get signed up.
Safety checks take about 15-45 minutes and are performed at your slip.
Donate Memorial Picnic Tables & Sitting Benches
Windmill Marina has several picnic tables and sitting benches that are in need of replacement. These maintenance-free 8-foot picnic tables and 6-foot benches include a plaque with a memorial message.
Please consider donating a memorial and sponsor one of these items. Contact Joe for more information or to participate.
Windmill Marina Association has an automated external defibrillator device. The AED is located in the hallway of the bathrooms/showers of the ships store.
2015 Survey Results
"Awesome Service!"
"It's a wonderful marina!"
"The staff is great to work with!"
These are a few of the comments we received from you through our annual survey. You backed it up on question number 3 with your Overall Satisfaction rating of 97.5% - consistent with your long term ratings of the past decade. Two responders rated question number 3 Somewhat Dissatisfied.
The search for recommended improvements resulted in a basketful of suggestions that included: improved dock access, portable toilets, bike racks, patios, laundry facilities, recycling bins, and various dock upgrades. All will be considered and evaluated by staff and management.
266 surveys were distributed, 78 were returned - a 29.3% response rate. This is consistent with the response rate over the past ten years. Almost 38% of Slip Renters responded to the survey - twice the rate of slip owners.
Thank you for your participation in the this annual survey. Over the years, it has provided Windmill Marina management and staff with actionable information for operating improvements.
2015 StaffRoster
Marina Staff
Summer Staff
Board of Directors
Vice President and
General Manager
Joe Riley, CMM
Taylor Alvarez
Ted Zinner - President
Office Manager
Julie M. Ulrick
Kevin Berry
Jim Goren - Vice President
Service Manager
Tim Little
Miranda Carlson
John Deverell - Treasurer
Service Parts
Jerry Murray
Noah Driscoll
Tom Bystrzycki
Shop Foreman
Scott Baken
Evan Freezmeier
Jack Priest
Technicians
Bob Bellinger
Corri Gardner
Adam Maxson
Lea Goren
Bryan Spychalla
Shannon Grovum
River Foreman
Dean Dixon
Emma Hanson
Marina Maintenance
Justin Soine
Elizabeth Hardy
David Little
Tom Kaul
Tyler White
Kelly Oswald
Tom Baumgartner
Abby Prunty
Ryan Schill
Noah Ruh
Jacob Riley
Marina Security
Steve Allen
Chuck Mastny
Mike Soine
Mark Fossler
Dana Hansen
We recently acquired Yacht Brokers of Stillwater, Minnesota. We are currently merging the two companies. Once the transition is complete, we will be operating under Yacht Brokers, Inc. name.
THANK YOU to all of our clients as we look forward to the 2015 boating season!
The latest news in the Yacht Brokerage business is the union of the newest and oldest local brokerage firms in the upper Midwest. Dave and Teresa Lynch, owners of Lighthouse Yacht Sales, have acquired Yacht Brokers, Inc. from Brian Michael, who recently celebrated 28 years in the yacht brokerage business. In 2011, Dave and Teresa opened Lighthouse Yacht Sales at Windmill Marina in Afton, MN.
"We've enjoyed the last 3 years at our Windmill office," said Dave, "but this new merged company will allow us to broaden our reach and provide even greater services to our clients." With the acquisition, the new Yacht Brokers, Inc. will enjoy the experience and expertise of both firms.
Most of the Yacht Brokers team will remain and continue working with the new company. However, a new broker will be added from the Lighthouse group so the team will be as strong as ever. "We're excited and eager to work together with Brian and the rest of the team," agreed Teresa and Dave. "Our focus will be on customer service and providing our clients with a professional, ethical experience."
Our clients will continue to have their vessels marketed locally, nationally, and internationally. We hope to offer boating classes and events throughout the year for boaters of all types. Our Company office will be located at Windmill Marina in Afton. Our staff now includes 7 brokers at 3 locations in Minnesota and Illinois. We continue to service Lake Superior from Duluth to Bayfield WI. and the Quad Cities area from Rock Island, IL. No one in this area has the staff and resources that we have to help you sell your boat.
We are members of the YACHT BROKERS OF AMERICA ASSOCIATION and pledge to operate in accordance with their CODE of ETHICS.
It won't be long until open water and long summer nights, Dave & Teresa
Please call one of our brokers for a market analysis of your boat or just to get some information on what we can do for you.
