Optical sighting raises running gear alignment to a level
hitherto unachievable. The tools of the trade, seen here,
are high-quality optics used in surveying and industrial
applications. Micrometer adjustments make it possible to
“dial in” a shaft to within just a few thousandths of an inch.
a boat at $3.50 an hour. As an industry insider, I can
say this is a test of a young person’s resolve, one I’ve
used on more than a few occasions: “So, you have this
dream about working around boats? OK, here’s a long board,
go make that wavy hull fair and don’t come back until it’s
done.” I’ve seen many of these kids go to lunch on the
first day and never come back. Chris wasn’t one of
them. He rose to the occasion and ultimately gravitated
toward building and sailing ultralight offshore racing
sailboats. He then worked as a yard manager for a few
years, further broadening his industry horizons.
In the late 1980s he took advantage of an
opportunity that transported him from one extreme
to the other, leaving boats behind to become a
corporate warrior practicing product development,
sales, marketing, and strategic business planning, all of
which were heavily focused on customer support. The
position offered a superb on-the-job business education
and a chance to globe-trot. And that’s what Chris did
for the next 25 years. As gratifying as the work was,
he found himself longing to own his own business and
return to his roots as it were, in the marine industry in
South Florida. He found High Seas, or it found him, via
a business broker on the very day it went up for sale.
Some would say that’s fate, perhaps, along with some
good fortune and a solid grounding in the trade. Savvy
people tend to be in the right place at the right time
to take advantage of opportunities. Whatever you
call it, the fit seems like a natural one. You see, my
research for this article involved working with Chris
in a business capacity, helping solve a persistent
vibration issue aboard one of my clients’ vessels. It
involved reviewing running gear that had been gone
over by a number of other folks on multiple occasions
