There?s not much Bob Brandon doesn?t know about boats.
The owner of Tidewater Yacht Service in Baltimore, he had his first boat at age 8, built boats as a teen, and worked in a boat repair servicein high school.
“When I went away to college (to Vanderbilt University), I left after a semester,” Brandon said. “I decided that I really wanted to work on boats.”
Work he did in many different capacities including a 20-year stint at a new boat dealership in Annapolis. After opening Tidewater Yacht with a partner, Brandon reassessed the Baltimore market, determining that boat service, not sail boat sales, were what was needed.
His hunch was right. Founded in 1987 and today with a staff of 28 employees, Tidewater works on every type of boat up to about 80 feet. The business is strictly repair, supplies, and fuel, he said.
“We think we fill a pretty big niche,” Brandon said. “Most [boat] dealerships are oriented toward serving customers [who bought there]. That?s a smart way to do business, because oftentimes people will move up” and buy larger boats.
Brandon?s major niche is serving boaters who didn?t buy locally. About 60 percent of the boats Tidewater services stay in Baltimore, because the owners have moved here or they dock their boats here for the season. Other regular customers include those throughout the Chesapeake Bay and those traveling through the area, he said.
Due to the size of Brandon?s facility, much of the work typically in the spring, such as annual maintenance, can be done during the winter at Tidewater.
Mike Bonicker, Tidewater?s production manager, said customers are pleased the majority of work is done in house by well trained and certified Tidewater staff.
“We keep a close eye on everything,” he said. “We are in a brand new location, and have a very efficient system to handle the work. Very few things, if any, fall through the cracks.”
More information
Tidewater Yacht Service
321 E. Cromwell St., Baltimore
www.tysc.com; 410-625-4992
