PAGE 6 • SUMMER 2008 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2008 • PAGE 7
AMERICAN
SAILING
FEATURED FACILITY • EMERALD COAST YACHTS
R ASSOCIA TION
ASA MEMBER PRODUCT REVIEW
By Captain Rick Van Sleen
by Doug McLean
T
oo often, it isn’t until the rigging parts or the
This kit has an excellent case for a boat tool kit: bright
engine won’t start that we discover we don’t have
yellow, tough molded plastic in an attaché configuration
R
ather unhappily working on data warehouse
software in a cubicle at a client’s site, I decided to
take a break and surf the net to see if there were
the right tool on board. That alone, and low unit
to fit easily under a seat or on a low shelf. With one
opportunities for careers in sailing. Reading the ASA
price, are reasons enough to have at least a basic tool kit
exception, the tools snapped snuggly into their holders
website, I found an ad for an instructor/partner for a
intended for boating consigned to a locker. The marine
and stayed there when the box was bounced around. Six
sailing school in Northwest Florida. Having fallen in love
catalogues and outdoor outfitters offer a dozen or so
sound plastic perimeter snaps and a rubber gasket kept
with Pensacola during my time in the U.S. Navy, I felt I
such kits ranging from $25 to $100. I recently checked
the case tightly closed and contents dry when I dropped
had to respond. At home that evening, I told my wife,
one out, a 125-piece set made by Great Neck Saw, while
it six feet off a pier three times, and kept it afloat.
Peggy, that I’d sent an email to the sailing school in
building a galley cabinet on my Com-Pac 23.
Florida. Her response: “Yeah, right.”
A company spokesperson said the tools in this kit are
Great Neck Saw, based in Mineola, N.Y., began as a
made of high carbon steel with chrome plating for
Apparently, some things are just meant to be, because
family-owned business in 1919 and continues as such
corrosion resistance. I immersed one of the combination
we are now the happy owners of Emerald Coast Yachts.
today. It has production and distribution facilities here
wrenches and the slotted screwdriver in a saltwater bath
ECY is a small school that specializes in “private”
and abroad, and has created other brands for national
for 48 hours. Each showed some corrosion, especially
lessons for couples and friends who wish to charter or
distribution, including Sheffield and OEM tools. The
the screwdriver. However, if the tools aren’t put away wet
purchase their own boat. We teach Basic Keelboat Captain Rick and his fellow captains at Emerald Coast Yachts
Great Neck Saw products are held out as good quality,
and are kept in the watertight case, I expect they’ll be in
(101), Basic Coastal Cruising (103), Bareboat Charter offer students the opportunity to learn to sail near the snow-
basic hand tools offered at a competitive price, and their
good shape when you dig the kit out of its locker.
Certification (104), Coastal Navigation (105), and white beaches of Pensacola, Fla.
four marine tool kits come in 36-, 65-, 125- and 300-
Advanced Coastal Cruising (106) classes aboard 28- to
piece sets having suggested retail prices of $40 to $70.
Great Neck Saw provides a free replacement, lifetime
40-foot fully equipped yachts. We also teach Cruising
team, and we could not have been luckier to find them.
warranty with this took kit “if it ever fails to give you
Catamaran (114) aboard a 2007 40-foot Fountaine
Captain Fred has been with us from the start and has
At the outset, when it comes to marine tool kits in
complete satisfaction.” One nation-wide outdoor outfitter
Pajot. Our students live aboard their teaching vessels,
provided his wisdom and wit in helping to manage our
general, it’s important to recognize the term doesn’t
lists it on its website at $54.99, and another retailer of
and we stress working together as a team. We encourage
school. Fred’s specialty is navigation – he also teaches
really mean “marine grade” as that term is commonly
outdoor recreational products lists it at $69.99. For
students who plan to sail together to take their classes
navigation classes at the local junior college. Captain
used to designate alloys and hardware intended for the
more information, go to www.greatnecksaw.com.
together, and they are usually here with their closest
Bob brings a wealth of cruising and racing experience to
marine environment. With one or two pricey exceptions,
friends or family. “Ride alongs” are welcome with
our team. Our instructors pride themselves on being
stainless steel isn’t used in these tools. The “marine”
Doug McLean lives in Madison, Wis., has been a member of the
certifying students.
talented, dedicated teaching professionals who possess
designation is really meant more to describe kits having
American Sailing Association since 2000, and intends to begin patience and a good sense of humor.
tools appropriate for boats (no levels), kit containers
extended bluewater sailing next year.
With a typical class size of two, our instructors are able
appropriate for a wet environment and tools having some
focus their attention fully on conveying the sailing
Ideal Training Grounds
degree of corrosion resistance, usually chrome plating.
knowledge and skills contained in the curriculum of ASA
Our training is provided aboard our boats from Sabine
courses. Anyone who has taken an ASA course knows
Marina on Pensacola Beach and in our classrooms just
The 125-piece kit I worked with had a good assortment
very well that there is a lot to learn in a very short
across the bridge in Gulf Breeze. The marina is located
of wrenches and adapters. The 10-inch adjustable
amount of time. To this end, after teaching for a year, we
on Santa Rosa Island, a beautiful barrier island of sugar
wrench is a good size for a kit wrench, adjusted smoothly
extended the length of our classes.
white sand, which separates Santa Rosa Sound from the
and, like the other tools with cushion grips, has a good Gulf of Mexico. Pensacola Beach is bordered on the east
rubber grip. Twenty-two of the pieces in this 125-piece Business Realities and west by two expanses of the Gulf Islands National
kit are bits: Phillips, slotted, Pozi, hex and star. The
Envisioning owning a sailing school, we had not foreseen
Seashore. Santa Rosa Sound, Pensacola Bay, the Gulf
other basic tools are a slotted and a Phillips screwdriver,
many of the realities of such an endeavor. A sailing
Intracoastal Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico offer
small needle nose pliers, good size adjustable pliers, an
school is a small business and entails all of the good and
exceptional sailing and cruising. Our area could not be
extendible blade utility knife and a hacksaw blade with
not-so-good requirements that come with it – marketing,
better suited for teaching sailing. We have access to a
one of those half-blade handles. (The blade snapped
accounting, customer relations, sales, scheduling … just
variety of challenges – a variety that helps students gain
while I was using it.) The 16-inch tape measure has
to name a few. Fortunately, this is where Peggy stepped
knowledge, experience and confidence to set out and
easy-to-read unit increments and a bright orange easy-to-
in and is thriving. She calls herself the “little office girl”
explore on their own. The sheltered waters of Santa Rosa
find case, but the tape lock allowed the tape to creep,
and makes it possible for our instructors to do what we
Sound, Pensacola Bay, and the Gulf Intracoastal
requiring that I hold it with my thumb. For electric
do best – teach. It must be working because we were
Waterway combined with easy access to the Gulf of
systems troubleshooting, there is a copper-bristle brush,
selected as an “Outstanding School” for 2006, and I
Mexico provide an ideal training environment.
basic wire stripper/crimping tool, 12-volt test light (the
have been fortunate enough to be named an Outstanding
bulb didn’t work) and a handful of tin ring terminals.
Instructor for the past two years. As you may be aware,
Our marina is walking distance from restaurants, shops,
There’s a feeler gauge and a gap gauge for engine
these awards are based on the feedback of our students,
beaches, fishing piers and a quaint grocery store that
adjustments. All in all, a good kit for basic repairs
and this gives us tremendous satisfaction.
has everything – including a fuel dock and pump out.
with one notable exception: no square nose pliers, an
continued on page 21
indispensable tool on a boat, as far as I’m concerned.
Captains Fred Leedy and Bob Kriegel round out our
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13