Introducing our Pre Season 2022 edition of DESTINATIONS Magazine, your resource by Strong's Marine for boating, new models and features from our premium manufacturers, upcoming events, summer memories, client testimonials, team member stories, and more!
In this issue, hear from President Jeff Strong, hear how Pursuit Boats can enhance your fishing trip like no other, read about how Strong's Marine is giving back in 2022, hear from the women of Strong's Marine, check out featured technician Johnny B, and more!
Key Takeaways from the Strong's Marine DESTINATIONS Issue.
IN PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT FISHING BOAT
Jonathan Harber had imagined Pursuit’s S328 Sport as his next fishing boat before he ever saw it. A hardcore offshore fisherman and longterm client of Strong’s Marine, Harber had done his homework. After narrowing the hunt down to the Pursuit S328 and another boat, the layout and versatility of the S328 won him over. In late June, Harber took delivery of Queen Maria III. The boat is named for his wife to keep her from getting jealous of his other love, he laughs. “I researched all these boats, and this boat is the best boat in its class to handle Long Island canyon fishing and bay fishing around here,” says Harber. Indeed, the model is “outfitted to impress finicky anglers and yet possesses luxury amenities,” writes Boating Magazine, That combination makes it perfect for serious fishermen as well as a leisurely day out with the family.
“She’s the perfect fishing boat for this area,” says Harber. “You can get out fast; it’s still a center console, but you can overnight on it. She performs great in rough seas, yet can run in skinny water. You’ve got to use the trim tabs to keep the bow down in big seas, but she really handles weather. On flat surfaces she’s quick and fast. It’s just a really great riding boat."
Between fishing excursions and a trip to Block Island with his wife and three kids, he put 130 hours
on her in just two months. Never one to miss an offshore opportunity, Harber and his S328 joined the Hamptons Offshore Invitational Tournament, an event Strong’s Marine sponsored with Pursuit Boats. “It was a lot of fun,” he says. “We caught some nice fish, but we lost some bigger ones!” Harber puts the twin Yamaha F300 V6 Offshore outboards and Helm Master to work when fishing. “Originally I didn’t think I’d ever use a joystick, but it comes with FishPoint, StayPoint and DriftPoint,” he says. “When you’re fishing for Mahi, most boats struggle to stay on top of the pots. You hit StayPoint and it’s like having an extra person on board because you don’t have to worry about driving the boat.” Yamaha’s Helm Master also makes it easier to maneuver the boat while fighting fish, the feature that helped Harber’s 11-year-old son James land his biggest Mahi to date.
Harber feels lucky to have gotten the model he wanted when boatbuilders are challenged to keep
up with high demand. “Once you’re out of sight of shore and don’t have any boats around you, it’s a
different way of seeing the world,” says Harber. “For sure, when people on shore are wearing masks
and social distancing, it’s even more freeing.” Harber, who says some of his best bass fishing days
have come on Thanksgiving, continued to put hours on his boat through mid-December. “It was
definitely the right choice of boat,” adds Harber. “She rides terrific — it’s just what I was looking for.
She’s going to be a great boat long term.”
GIVING BACK
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County– Marine Program
Strong’s Marine and CCE Marine Program have partnered since 2018 on the Long Island Shellfish Restoration Project. FLUPSYs (shellfish nurseries) on site at Strong’s Yacht Center have grown out 10 million clams to be planted at sanctuary sites across Long Island. In 2022, we will partner to create a Mattituck Stewardship Site, including an oyster reef and eelgrass plantings, to support the health of Mattituck Inlet and Long Island Sound.
Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation (CAST)
CAST serves low-income individuals and families on the North Fork who need it most. This holiday season, Strong’s Marine team members and clients supported this organization’s annual toy drive that provided toys for over 500 neighbors. Strong's Marine also hosted a matching fund drive, raising nearly $8000 during the holiday season to support CAST’s efforts. Thank you to all who
provided our community members with extra joy during this special time of year.
MRAA Educational Foundation
Our passion for boating extends to supporting education and training to build the expertise of
the marine workforce nationwide. We are a longtime contributor to the Marine Retailers
Association of America’s (MRAA’s) Educational Foundation, which offers scholarships for technical training, business management and leadership development.
PRE OWNED BOATS - ASK THE EXPERT WITH ROBIN ROBERTS
Q: What are the advantages of purchasing a pre-owned boat from Strong’s Marine?
A: Our team vets every boat we offer for sale. We task our marine technicians to go
through every boat and make sure its mechanically sound – performing compression checks, ensuring all gauges are accurate and sea trialing the boat to see it run on water. When a buyer is interested, we know the boat is mechanically sound and performing well
which provides peace of mind for the buyer. Contrast this with buying a boat
from someone’s driveway. You can be confident purchasing from a reputable
company that has exceeded the expectations of thousands of pre-owned boat buyers over the years.
Q: What advice would you give prospective buyers in the market to purchase a pre-owned boat in 2022?
A: Buy the boat that works for you NOW so you can start enjoying it NOW. Inventory levels are historically low, and boats are going faster than ever. Prices are rising for goods and services all over, and boats are no different; don’t let this market scare you. Commit now to assure you can start your boating lifestyle this season rather than waiting for that
“perfect” boat at the “perfect” price to come along.
HAVE A BOAT TO SELL - STRONG'S MARINE OFFERS MORE
Q: Why is NOW the best time to sell my boat?
A: Potential buyers are looking forward to the spring boating season. This desire to get on the water drives buyers to shop now to secure their boat for spring delivery. With low inventory, now is an excellent time to get a premium return on your boat. List with us today!
Q: Why should I broker and sell my boat with Strong’s Marine?
A: We have so much horsepower: Over 75 years in the business, tremendous industry knowledge and connections, and 12 locations across Long Island. Our
world-class marketing team aggressively targets buyers for your boat via our well-trafficked websites, digital advertising, promoted social media and more. Our highly trained brokers are available by phone or email 24/7 to get your boat sold for top dollar.
In 2021, we sold boats as far as Seattle, California – even internationally in Switzerland and Poland. Bottom line: we will get the best buyer for you and sell your boat at a premium price.
Q: What do I need to do to prep my boat to sell?
A: We have a checklist that we will go through together when you list with Strong’s. Appearance is everything – it shows the boat was well cared for and well maintained! Make sure you have all your documents in order like title, registration, and any outstanding loan information. Our qualified brokers will walk you through the process for everything
you need for a five-star listing.
THE WORK WE DO : JOHNNY BEZUBEK
My name is John Bezubek and I am a technician at Strong's Water Club & Marina in Mattituck, NY. When I was 14 years old, my dad gave me an 18’ aluminum boat with a 25hp Johnson engine on the back. He would bring me and my buddies to the water every morning on his way to work, then pick us up on his way home. One day, the motor broke while we were on the water. There were no cell phones back then, so we had to figure out a way to get back to shore and wait for my dad. We waited miserably for hours; eventually a clam boat towed us in. When my dad arrived, I told him the story; he said I could use all my gas money to bring the boat to a mechanic or I could fix it myself.
That week I downloaded my engine’s manual at my middle school’s computer lab. I figured out the carburetor was dirty - a common problem in older boats – and I got my boat back on the water the next day. Soon I was fixing more things on my boat. Eventually my boats got bigger, faster and
more powerful. When I got to high school, I moved up to a 22’ Grady-White and 20’ pilot house boats. I enrolled in the BOCES technical school program for marine technology while I attended Riverhead High School.
I had a wonderful and caring teacher who helped me fine tune my skills, and also taught me to build my own reputation by building trust with customers. At Strong’s Marine, we are constantly learning – attending training across the country to build our skills and keep on the leading edge
of technology. There’s so much opportunity to grow with our many locations and manufacturers. There is a high level of recognition for Strong’s Marine industry wide – we’re a family business, well-respected among our peers. I’m filled with pride and have a great sense of responsibility working
here.