Member Mussings: Murray & Marie Berstein

"Fin-E-Tow" Implying our last boat, well who knows?

Marinalife Member Since: July 2009

Boat Type: Maritimo 52 Offshore

Boat Name: “Fin-E-Tow” my wife, Marie, named this boat implying this is our last, well who knows??

Boat Length: 52 feet

Cruising Area: North: Newport, RI. Our cruising destinations of the past were from Oregon Inlet and north to Hyannis.

How many years with this boat: We took possession of this new boat in June of 2008.

Intro:

A friend of mine first introduced me to Marinalife. He and his wife were traveling with my wife and I on our boat to the Long Island Sound. He mentioned that he had joined Marinalife and found it to have very good value. So, I joined. Relative to the cost of the membership, the advantages were significant including reduced time planning and booking, and discounted fuel and dockage at some locations.

What about boating keeps you coming back for more?

I am interested in boating due in part to the adventures and related challenges. I enjoy the incredible settings you find yourself. I just look at my surroundings and cannot believe where I am and how fortunate I am. As I have mentioned before boating is a challenge, an adventure and a sense of accomplishment when everything goes according to plan. Being a business person has given me the sense of adventure in a conservative manner which I guess encourages me to "push the envelope." I spend a lot of time at my desk and being on the water is quite a change of venue.

What has been your experience with cruising in areas unknown to you?

My friend, Gary, was also willing to go with me to take our boat from New Jersey down to Florida, partly through the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). He, nor I, had ever taken this trip before but we were anxious to learn the ins and outs, as we would both be doing this trip often in the future. With this upcoming trip, I thought it best to upgrade my Marinalife membership to the Platinum Concierge level so that I could get phone and e-mail support from their concierge staff. The staff at Marinalife were extremely hospitable and understanding, and were aware of the concerns boaters would have making their first ICW trip into uncharted waters.

Plans were changed several times, each time without one bit of attitude from the staff at Marinalife. We were provided maps and helpful advice regarding the ICW, as well as, lists of marinas to stay on the way, articles to read and a wealth of information to ease our concerns.

What tips do you have for boaters planning a voyage?

During the trip, as with most boating trips, it has been my experience that problems do arise. For example on our trip south, we had a significant issue in our engine room, as it was partially filled with water. The flooding was due to metal fatigue of an engine component. This was resolved with some challenges. Like all boating experiences there is the opportunity for some take home value: It is important to check your High Water Alarms to insure they are clearly audible throughout the boat. Also, make sure the bilge pumps are able to pump their rated gallons per hour out of the boat, and lastly make sure there is a high water alarm not only in the lowest bilge area when the boat is at rest, but more importantly when the boat is in its operating mode. After the repairs were completed, Marinalife was able to rearrange our trip in a very timely and competent manner.

What is the next cruise you are planning?

Our next trip will be to the Bahamas and I have started the planning process with Marinalife. I am ready for our next adventure now with more confidence!