Whiticar
- Boatyard of the Year!
Awarded
by the American Boat Builders & Repair Association
The 2015
Boatyard of the Year award was presented to Whiticar - www.Whiticar.com by the American Boat Builders
& Repairers Association (ABBRA) www.abbra.org The honor and award was
presented during the Boatyard Business Conference Awards Dinner held in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida from January 21st –23rd.
This
prestigious and very special award is given to a service or repair facility
that demonstrates excellence in all facets of their company through commitment
to customer service, quality management, stewardship in environmental and safety
issues, also positive vendor and employee relations, this award is one of
ABBRA’s most prestigious Awards of Excellence. Jim Dragseth, president of
Whiticar Boat Works accepted the award during the ceremony.
Whiticar
has 2 convenient location on the Treasure Coast, including Stuart and Fort
Pierce. The company has been in business for the past 60 years. Ownership of
the company has passed between fathers and sons, and so too has the dedication
to superior workmanship, outstanding customer service and in-depth knowledge of
the boating lifestyle. Whiticar Boat Works was founded by Curt Whiticar who was
later joined by his brother-in-law John Dragseth to run the business. The
facility is designated a Florida Clean Boatyard by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and Jim Dragseth and John Whiticar are at the helm
leading the company into the modern era. Their expansions have included the
establishment of Shearwater Marine in 1996, Whiticar Custom Boats in 2000,
Whiticar Marine North in 2003, and Whiticar Yacht Sales in 2004. ABBRA
president John Fitzgerald said, “Whiticar employs a wonderful array of talented
professionals and the company relies on the old fashioned pride they take in a
job well done.” However, in case you think they are a relic of past success,
their web presence features two Facebook pages, a Twitter feed, google+,
YouTube videos, a custom mobile site and a blog! Whiticar/Shearwater was
also honored last month with the “first place award” for best booth during the
Stuart boat show. Whiticar is a wonderful example of the great tradition
of ABBRA boatyards with a storied past and a determination to service their
customers into a bright future.
Jim
Dragseth said, “It is humbling and very rewarding to be recognized by ABBRA,
Thank you very much for this honor.” Whiticar now joins a group of
several other distinguished boatyards around the country which have also
received the Boat Yard of the Year award. Some of these other prestigious
boatyards include facilities such as Thunderbolt Marine in Georgia, Front
Street Shipyard in Maine, Jarrett Bay Boatyard in North Carolina, Newport
Shipyard in Rhode Island, and Keefe Kaplan Maritime in California.
