Right Around the River Blog
Carefree Boat Club at Rocketts Landing: Q&A With New Owner Bryan Courtney
Post Date: 12-04-2013
At our riverfront community, getting out on the James River
is a way of life. And thanks to organizations like the Carefree Boat Club at Rocketts Landing
(formerly the Mariners Club), instant river
action is easier than ever! Carefree Boat Club is also now under new
ownership, so we decided to chat with Owner Bryan Courtney about his
experience, vision and passion for being out on the river. Below is our
Q&A. Enjoy!
(Carefree Boat Club Owner Bryan Courtney)
Rocketts Landing: How long have you
operated with Carefree Boat Club?
Bryan Courtney: I started working for the Tidewater club locations in 2002 as a sales manager and started my own club in Williamsburg in 2009. We have seven boats in our fleet there, and our members enjoy the wildlife-rich James and Chickahominy rivers.
RL: What's new on the horizon for the Boat Club at Rocketts Landing now that it's under your ownership?
BC: Upon restarting at Rocketts Landing in
August 2013, we immediately brought in a different fleet. And overall, we
focus on two things: a quality fleet and high level of customer service. Over
the years, we have found that structure must be in place to better assure
availability and value for all members. We hope to encourage the participation
of current members since they know the product and the community best.
BC: I am quite active in my business but can't do it alone. I have had one full-time seasonal Dockmaster since 2011, and we employ various part-time dockhands to handle boat detailing, minor maintenance, and of course, assisting members with each outing. We hope to hire a full-time membership executive for the Richmond market. I believe that maintaining a modest-sized business requires keeping one's ego in check and controlling growth; too fast and too big equals stress and risks an unstable club. In addition, hiring the right people that are team players is imperative to me.
RL: Do you live in Richmond?
BC: My family and I live in Williamsburg
and have for nearly 14 years. My wife is actually a Williamsburg native! We
celebrated 19 years of marriage in October and have a daughter and twin boys.
RL: What do you enjoy about your job?
BC: My love for boating goes back to memories of my dad and me fishing or skiing on the Rappahannock River. Also, perhaps because I'm a devoted dad, I love seeing dads and families spending time together. I witness teens picking up a fishing pole or a tube instead of an iPad or game system. In addition, I love the outdoors. I love what I do and what the club provides my members.
RL: What do you enjoy about the James River and RVA's outdoor life?
BC: I am
still learning about the Upper James, and so far, I find it quite interesting.
I am excited to learn more about the history of the Upper James as we get
settled. The Richmond cityscape is awesome in later afternoon and my members
have reported they like the restaurant scene being so convenient after a nice
boat ride with friends. Regarding growing a business, I feel RVA will embrace
the concept due to the unparalleled convenience of boating near downtown.
(Carefree Boat Club owner and employees)
RL: What do you enjoy about running your business out of Rocketts Landing?
BC: The Rocketts Landing management, staff, and residents have been amazing; many have gone out of their way to stop by to say hello, introduce themselves and encourage us. It is nice to know we are welcome and have so much support. I can't wait to be an active part of events and fundraisers in hopes of getting to know more Richmonders.
RL What's your overall vision for the future?
BC: Our
goal is to create an exclusive quality boating club at Rocketts Landing. Since
we maintain a ratio of members to boats, we expect to max out at 75 memberships
and eight boats. We should reach this goal by summer of 2015. We prefer to only
welcome a few members per month, allowing us to focus on their training,
familiarizing them with our processes and helping them use our online
reservation system.
(Rocketts Landing marina with a view of riverfront restaurants The Boathouse and Conch Republic)
To learn
more about how to enjoy boating without having to own a boat at the Rocketts Landing marina, be sure to check out the Carefree Boat Club’s website. We send a huge welcome to Bryan Courtney and look forward to all the
new river adventures in store through the Carefree Boat Club at Rocketts
Landing!