Founded in 2001 and located in Mt. Vernon, Twin Bridges Marina was the first full service indoor heated dry storage marina in Washington state. It has room for 250 customer boats in dry storage plus eight large yachts in boat houses.
Bill served on the Board from 2004 – 2013 and was Chairman from 2009 to 2011.
What’s something the Board worked on/helped impact during your involvement that you’re most proud of?
I was on the executive committee that hired George as president/CEO in 2009, the same year I became chair of the NMTA board. This was in the middle of our Great Recession and a very tough time in our industry. And then our boatyards were hit with lawsuits under the Clean Water Act that threatened to put every boat yard out of business. George and I, along with a coalition of other NMTA members, worked with the environmental group that was suing and state agencies and elected officials to find solutions. We established the Clean Boating Foundation which helped boat yards remain compliant with their stormwater permits. With this and other good faith efforts we were able to reach a consensus and stop these lawsuits.
Personal boating history:
Although my grandfather and uncle were in the marine contracting business, I did not grow up with a family boat. I used to love going through the Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs as a kid, looking at small aluminum boats and wishing I had one. When I was a kid, my Dad and I built a dugout canoe from a log on the beach.
My first boat was a 25 foot 1959 Fairliner that I purchased with two friends when I was 24 years old. It was a labor of love to restore that boat over a period of years. My next boats were a 25-foot 1979 Tiara, 34-foot Formula, 64-foot Offshore and then back down to my current boats: a 32-foot Pursuit and an 18-foot Whaler. It’s OK to downsize but it’s never OK to stop looking for your next boat 😊
Where is your favorite place to go boating?
I love the San Juan and Gulf Islands and all of the Inside Passage to Alaska. There are too many places to list but among my favorites are Princess Louisa Inlet, Dent Island, Desolation Sound and Sucia Island.
What are some fun things NMTA members might be surprised to learn about you?
I live with my family on Pearl Island, a non-ferry served island in Roche Harbor. We moved here five years ago with our three kids to experience “offshore living” and have had fun doing it.
