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The Remarkable Marina of Walstrom Marine in CheboyganOn a crisp late summer day last year, Cheboygan Today sat down with President

David Lyle and Cheboygan Marina General Manager Joe Kuchnicki of Walstrom

Marine to find out what makes the company a cornerstone of pleasure boating in

northern Michigan and why their Cheboygan operation is unique to the area.Walstrom Marine is a family owned company founded in 1946 in Harbor Springs

by Ward Walstrom Sr. and is known throughout the industry as a leader in

innovation. The company has major marina operations in Bay Harbor, Harbor

Springs and Cheboygan and employs over 50 people in the region.

Walstrom is an award winning dealer of such fine lines of yachts and boats as

Tiara, Hatteras, Chris Craft, Pursuit and Grand Banks. The company offers full

service maintenance on all brands of boats as well as over 100,000 square feet of

heated and unheated storage. Walstrom Marine operates two yachting lifestyle

stores in Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs and is widely known for its commitment to

excellence, promotion of the boating experience, and for its community

involvement.

CT: Tell us about what brought Walstrom Marine to Cheboygan?

Lyle: Back in 1987, the Walstrom family approached the city of Cheboygan about

building a new facility here. We thought Cheboygan's deep water harbor would be

ideal for handling boats of all sizes. When we bought the property there was nothing

on the site, so we built a world class marina from scratch. Weve now got over

30,000 square feet under roof here.

Kuchnicki: Cheboygan is the only full service marina capable of handling boats over

50 feet. There isn't another marina like it from Grand Haven to Sheboygan,

Wisconsin.CT: How would you describe your company philosophy?

Lyle: Ward Walstrom's business philosophy was "Take care of your customer..." Our

business model is a three legged stool--if all three legs aren't of equal importance

and actively supporting the weight of the business, the model topples. The three

legs are customer care, service beyond expectation, and top-flight facilities.

Kuchnicki: We do whatever it takes and most of us wear many hats. For instance,

our Cheboygan Office Manager Heather Conaway handles our IT needs besides

running the day to day office operation, and we all empty the waste baskets. Its a

family atmosphere here in Cheboygan just like it is in Harbor Springs and Bay

Harbor.CT: What makes the Cheboygan marina unique?

Lyle: Cheboygan is a fantastic water crossroads. Were close to famous boating

destinations such as the Inland Waterway, Mackinac Island, the North Channel, the

Straits of Mackinac the list goes on and on.

CT: What are some of the other advantages for boaters at Walstrom in Cheboygan?

Kuchnicki: Our slips here are more private and its a five minute walk into downtown

Cheboygan. Theres great shopping, pubs, restaurants, a movie theater and the

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historic Opera House. Vehicle parking is close to most of the slips, so loading and

unloading is much easier. The Cheboygan airport is 5 minutes away andthe Pellston

International Airport less than a half an hour. The ferry to Bois Blanc Island is right

across the bridge. The people of Cheboygan are very welcoming to guests.

CT: How long have you guys been with Walstrom?

Lyle: I sailed into Harbor Springs in 1981and company founder Ward Walstrom Sr.gave me a job. Kind of worked my way up.

Kuchnicki: I started working for Walstrom in 1984. I was a boat mechanic for the

company for 20 years. I learned the business and now I have the privilege of

working with this great team in Cheboygan.

CT: You said earlier that company founder Ward Walstrom Sr. passed away last year.

Lyle: Yes. We were all deeply saddened to lose Ward Sr. He was a pioneer in the

industry and a wonderful man. Hell always be an inspiration. Ward Jr., Fred

Walstrom, everyone who works for the company were all dedicated Ward Sr.s

dream of running the finest full service marine company on the Great Lakes.

CT: A few years ago Walstrom was named Michigans first Clean Marina. Could

you tell the readers ofCheboygan Todaywhat that means?

Lyle: Its one of the things were most proud of. It means the marine environment

comes first. We control where all fluids go and they dont do back into the water. No

oils, no chemicals from power washing, no pollutants or toxic compounds. Walstrom

has made a commitment to keeping Michigan's waters clean for the benefit of

wildlife and boaters alike. If a marina mistreats the amazing aquatic natural

resources like ours then their customers cant enjoy those resources.

CT: Youre pretty busy from the looks of things around here.

Kuchnicki: Spring and fall we really mobilize. Our 70 ton Travel Lift is the envy of

most Marinas in the northern Great Lakes. We put the boats in the Cheboygan River

in the spring, hoist them out in the fall and run them right into our heated storagebuildings up to 80 footers. Skippers bring their boats to Walstrom in Cheboygan

from all over the place because we can handle them and we provide world class

service and top flight maintenance.

CT: Why is heated storage so important?

Kuchnicki: The bigger yachts can have all kinds of systems on them that are

vulnerable in the winter climate like ours. Four to five AC units, multiple

refrigerators, hydraulics, you name it. Its easier on the boats to keep in them in

heated storage and its more cost efficient. Thats why theres such a demand for a

facility like we have here in Cheboygan with forty foot high heated space and room

for the biggest yachts.CT: It sounds like your Cheboygan yard is quite a success story.

Lyle: It is. Of course success is a family tradition with Walstrom Marine.