text:
"Dear Lawrence,
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your incredibly professional and detailed service, marine knowledge involving all logistical and technical considerations concerning the sales, due diligence and conveyance of our cherished Coastal Craft 40 named Beasty.
We gave Beasty a great deal of care, constant updating and maintenance to ensure she was always as new. The process of selling her to purchase another vessel in the Mediterranean was certainly made easy by your sales experience which lead to a painless and in fact enjoyable and effortless experience. You were so attentive to all the logistics, going above and beyond, we really appreciated that.
Normally, I tend to just keep things as I do not want the bother of dealing with all the nitty gritty but working with you was Top Cabin all the way and much like receiving five-star service, you attended to everything efficiently and properly.
Thank you so much.
You have our permission to show this letter to anyone should they be deciding on your services as they will be well served indeed.
Jayson and Helen Woodbridge"
"I came to Specialty Yachts looking for a good, sturdy sailboat that I could take up and down the coast. I was still relatively new to sailing and didn't know a whole lot about the details of boats, especially buying one.
Enter Darren.
Darren not only made the purchase of my first boat stress free and straightforward, but enjoyable. He was very professional and organized, answering every question I had throughout the process. The deal was well laid out, smooth, and timely. He made sure I always knew what was going on and what needed to be done. His personal experience with sailing made me confident that the boat I was buying was a quality, solid, and dependable vessel. While performing the business end of the deal, he never lost touch with his humanity, and was always easily approachable, warm and friendly.
Even after the deal was complete and I was preparing to take what was now my boat up to Pender Harbour, Darren was still there making sure I was prepared and offered advice should I need it.
Working with Darren was a real pleasure and I do hope to do business with him in the future.
Luke Sousa"
"I recently purchased my Coastal Craft 56 IPS from Specialty Yachts and I would like to thank and commend Lawrence and his staff for representing the sale and facilitating my transition. I have purchased and sold a number of boats through Specialty Yachts over the years and I keep working with them because of their marine knowledge and expertise and the strength of their relationships with customers and industry partners. The fine design of the Coastal Craft and intricate mechanical and electrical installation was well crafted to make the boat very user friendly. To enable my transition, Lawrence created a care team from Specialty Yachts, the manufacturer and maintenance teams to ensure that all knowledge was transferred and support always available. The excellent care by the previous owner and Specialty Yachts' demonstration that everything was in tip top shape went a long way in helping me make my decision to buy the CC56. I would recommend Specialty Yachts to anyone contemplating the purchase of a Coastal Craft. The Specialty Team is familiar with the brand, its design and systems and is committed to an excellent customer experience.
Walter Protsack - s/v Palahna Rosa"
"We have been involved with Lawrence and Specialty Yachts since the purchase of "Angela's Grace" — a Hunter 380 which served us very well for seven years until it was time to acquire something with fewer sails and more engines. With his assistance we looked at various older but acceptable power boats but none of them clicked with us for various reasons. It was then that Susan suggested we look for more of an "investment" in a boat. (OK we know no boat is normally an "investment" per se but our attitude change helped immensely in discovering exactly what we wanted.) Wouldn't you know that such a vessel was in Lawrence's stable!
We are proud to be the new owners of what appears to be an almost new Coastal Craft 40 (actually 46' LOA). It is in superb condition with a new set of engines/stern drives along with an extraordinary amount of upgrades and extras too numerous to list. The surveyor said its condition gave the impression it was a two year-old boat — not one built in 2005. We are seriously looking forward to heading farther up the coast than we had hitherto been able to achieve.
Our thanks to Lawrence for helping us to acquire a boat which meets the criteria for a "good investment" as well as any boat can be said to do so. He kept us focused on the end-state while facilitating discussions with the previous owners, service providers, CBSA, CBP and other parties. And now it is "our boat" (or as they say in Latin, "CYMBA NOSTRA.").
Many thanks to Lawrence and the crew of Specialty Yachts!!
Paul & Susan Crober"
"Darren was terrific throughout the process, and was proactive, professional, and knowledgeable about every aspect of the boat and the transaction. He made the whole experience easy and I would happily work with him again in the future."
Jeremy Warden, Proud Owner of a 2005 Hunter 33
I couldn't have asked for a better broker than Darren. He showed me several beautiful sailboats, answered all my questions promptly, and ultimately sold me the boat of my dreams. Darren made the entire acquisition process seamless for me and was helpful from start to finish. For example, after I acquired my Hunter 430, Darren facilitated an unprecedented 2-hour walk-through with the previous owner of the boat. This walk-through proved to be very useful (I even recorded it on video!) and provided me with the ultimate peace of mind. On top of this, Darren encouraged me to attend the 2017 Hunter Rendezvous, which was an unforgettable experience, and he introduced me to Larry Hansen, who has been an incredible sailing instructor for me and my family.
Last, Darren's passion for sailing has inspired my son, Sammie, to learn sailing and acquire his own live-aboard boat one day. Thank you Darren and the entire Speciality Yachts team!
Ellie Fox - Hunter 430 "Passaddhi"
A really good boat buying experience
I've just completed the purchase of a Hunter 29.5, the broker was Darren Marriott at Specialty Yachts on Granville Island. As I live on Vancouver Island, and at the time of purchase was also travelling a lot, many things had to be arranged by phone and email. Despite these difficulties Darren handled everything for me as needed, arranging the hull and mechanical inspections to fit with my availability. Sea trial was a good introduction to the boat systems, no doubt that Darren knows Hunters. I also used Darren's services to complete all the paperwork (conveyancing, lien search, licensing documentation etc.) which I consider was well worthwhile. Overall I felt that I received good courteous professional service, and have no hesitation in recommending Darren to anyone looking to buy a boat.
Don Woods
Linda and I would like to thank you and your staff at Specialty Yacht Sales for all the assistance that you have provided to us. You should be very proud of the way your company operates and the level of "white glove" service that you provide to your customers.
It's extremely rare that I write a testimonial outlining an experience that I have encountered but it is also extremely rare that I have received overall service that is so comprehensive and of the quality that you and your team offer. With your wisdom and guidance our transition to Waterfront Living is well on its way.
Since first visiting the Granville Island docks and being shown through a few boats, our life has become incredibly exciting. As we were totally inexperienced with the nautical lifestyle, but desiring an escape from another cold Edmonton winter, we decided to stick our toes in the water.
Lawrence has been very patient with us and walked Linda and I through the entire acquisition process.
Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yachts are, truly, different. They are in the business of selling yachts but care, deeply, that you have a great overall experience and that you are comfortable with all aspects of your new boat.
We love life on the water and are looking forward to many exciting expeditions! Thank you, Lawrence for without your concern, coaching and caring our Dream might not have been fulfilled.
Dean Smith & Linda – new Marlow Hunter 50ac"
"In view of my purchase of a Coastal Craft boat, it is my honor to write this recommendation in favor of Lawrence and his company Specialty Yachts.
To buy a high-end pleasure boat for the first time could be a very daunting task for me, but Lawrence proved himself to be highly effective in helping me successfully purchase a Coastal Craft boat.
Lawrence worked very hard to resolve all the issues during the buying process. He was very effective in communicating with the seller and me, providing realistic assessment of seller's expectations as well as constructive advice, with all correspondences being prompt and to the point. He went to great lengths to make sure all my concerns had been addressed and satisfactorily resolved before the sale was finalized. In the process he had been very proactive in coordinating all the inspection work and any rectifying work and also the ensuing training. His knowledge base of the boat was in-depth and accurate, which greatly facilitated my decision making regarding the purchase.
In summary, I am very pleased and satisfied with the outstanding services Lawrence and his team provided to me, and I will definitely recommend Lawrence and his company Specialty Yachts to my friends should they wish to purchase or sell a boat.
Thank you,
Yunhui Sun
2011 Coastal Craft 45 IPS "Sea Change"
我最近通过游艇经纪公司Special Yachts购买了一艘45英尺的Coastal Craft游艇。特写此推荐信,以感谢该公司的负责人劳伦斯(Lawrence)和他带领的团队为我买船所提供的帮助。
由 于本人是第一次购买游艇,对船的认识有限,所以购船时面临不少疑难困惑。劳伦斯在这方面为我提供了大力的帮助。劳伦斯是一位乐于沟通且善于沟通的资深游艇 经纪人。他业务精湛,办事一丝不苟,认真负责。在我购船的全过程中,他常不辞辛劳、加班加点的帮我解决出现每一个问题。其间,他帮助我与卖家进行了充分及 时有效的沟通,并精心统筹安排各项相关的验船、修理整改和培训事项,最终使购船得以在较短的时间内顺利成交,让我最终如愿买到了一艘称心如意的游艇。
"We want to take this opportunity to thank Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yachts for their warmth, professionalism and a commitment to excellence that they have shown us over the past thirteen years.
Once again as we searched for our fourth perfect boat, we visited the docks at Granville Island and as always, Lawrence was patient and totally concerned with our view of what that perfect boat might be! He simply never gave up trying to fulfill our dream.
In December 2016, we purchased our 2009 Hunter 45 DS and could not be happier or more excited about our future, thanks to everyone at Specialty."
Jim and Barb Graham – Miracle II"
"When you see that perfect boat and know it's the one; it's paramount you also have the right yacht broker.
I can consider myself fortunate to have developed a relationship over the years with Lawrence Fronczek. We first met in 2002 when I described our ideal boat; I was excited to hear in 2003 Hunter was launching the 44 Deck Salon that ticked all our boxes. However with 4 children and other responsibilities weren't able to purchase the 44DS that spring. Over the years we had owned other boats but kept in contact with Lawrence and his team at specialty-yachts further developing that ever so important relationship with a broker you know you can trust.
This year while at the boat show looking at trinkets for our current boat, there she was a 44DS, and not any 44DS it was the one at the boat show in 2003 in pristine condition with the trinkets and upgrades I was looking for... I'm not one to make an impulse decision or purchase: however our relationship and trust that built over the years with Lawrence and his team I had the confidence to move forward. In 12 short days we sold on our 34' boat, purchased our 44DS dream boat and got a new slip at our club.
Having the right yacht broker, one you can trust will make the difference in having the stars align as they did for us.
We also had a few personal touches entrusted to Lawrence and his specialty-yacht team who more than delivered.
Thank you Lawrence to you and your team for making our dreams come true.
Dwayne and Teresa Anderson"
"Like many dreamers, I have come to boat shows and chartered different sailboat types and configurations for many years trying to figure out exactly what boat I wanted. There is a bewildering range of features and many excellent manufacturers out there offering high quality boats. About a year ago the new Marlow Hunters caught my eye at the Seattle Boat Show, and I got to chatting with Lawrence Fronczek, who is the Principal Broker at Specialty Yachts based on Granville Island, BC. He patiently answered my questions with enthusiasm and deep knowledge. I went away to think and read about what the Marlow Hunter company offered and decided on the MH40 three cabin, 2 head configuration best suited my family's needs. Lawrence is exceptional in his ability to listen carefully, make appropriate suggestions, and follow through with integrity. I have come to appreciate that the dealer support is just as important as the quality of the manufacturer. Every boat is a unique challenge, and Lawrence and his team were surprisingly agile in making sure that the boat that was delivered was exactly the boat I wanted. And that every detail was the best it could be. Judging from the enthusiasm of the Hunter owners attending the recent Rendezvous on Thetis Island, many buyers are greatly pleased by the service and attention that Specialty Yachts provides.
Dr. Charles Chavkin"
Dear Lawrence,
We want to thank you very much for all your support during the purchase of our boat. A major financial commitment can be cause for anxiety, however, you made the process comfortable. Your professional approach established a trust. Your unflappable personality helped us work through the purchase with relative ease. And your years of experience and solid knowledge of boats saved us much time and effort. We also appreciated your unique ideas and suggestions for improvements to the boat.
Your staff reflected your personality and approach in their work. We stayed for a few days on our newly purchased boat on your docks while work was being completed. In that time, Darren, your second in command, was always there when we needed something or had questions, with the same professional approach you have passed along to him. Tracy, your ship brightener, unquestionably assisted us or provided us with equipment when required.
Overall, we are very satisfied with our purchase and the service you and your staff at Specialty provided us while buying our new boat. We are delighted with our purchase. We would highly recommend your company to anyone looking to purchase a boat or wanting their boat serviced.
Thank you again for your all support, Lawrence,
Bev and Gary Campbell
2001 Mainship 390 Trawler "Raven"
"Darren was instrumental in helping me experience the joys of sailing and the cruising lifestyle. We first met at the Seattle Boat Show, where I was captivated by the beauty and elegance of the new Marlow Hunter sailing fleet. I was just approaching 40 and in the midst of a life and a career transition. I hadn't really sailed, much less owned a boat, and I had this romantic dream of living on my sailboat while building the skills required to safely explore the beautiful coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest.
When I shared my vision and budget with Darren, he suggested I take a look at a 1998 Hunter 380, which he mentioned would be the perfect live-aboard yacht with excellent sailing performance. She was the first boat I had ever looked at closely - it was love at first sight. I kept on searching though and spoke to many yacht brokers along the way. Darren never pushed, but was always available to answer the numerous questions of this first-time sailboat buyer.
A few months passed before he and Lawrence suggested I come up and take another look. When I finally decided to pull the trigger, they walked me through the entire process, including arranging repair work and delivery to my current home port in Washington State.
Darren and the entire Specialty Yachts team were professionals throughout the process, but they never lost their personal touch. Two months after closing the purchase, I singlehanded my new sailboat 60 miles across the Strait of Georgia to join them and fellow Hunter owners at this year's Thetis Island Rendezvous; it felt like reconnecting with old friends.
I have been living aboard for four months and sailing the Gulf Islands and San Juan archipelago every chance I can get. The experience has been nothing short of amazing and I credit Specialty Yachts for helping me purchase the perfect boat for my newest adventure!
Kiran Patankar – Hunter 380 "Boatisattva"
"Hi Karl,
The boat is going great! We managed a few little weekend trips when the weather has been nice.
After speaking to several brokers in Canada whilst trying to find our boat before leaving for Australia, Karl was by far the most helpful and professional to deal with.
Karl made us feel comfortable with the sale with his honest, professional and prompt response to every question needing an answer.
Every part of the sale from first email to handing over the keys was a pleasure and we would highly recommend Karl and the team from Specialty Yachts.
Simon and Chasley"
"Recently we had the opportunity to sell our 44' Hunter sailboat and purchase a "new to us" 49' Hunter sailboat. We love the Hunter design and find that the Hunter provides us with exactly what we are looking for in a sailboat. We worked with Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yachts to help us complete both transactions. The logistics involved in purchasing and selling boat(s) are many and somewhat complex especially given that we are not BC residents. Specialty made it all happen (contracts, inspections, paperwork, title transfers, boat moves, additional requested work etc). In addition, they made sure that we were kept informed on all the details as we moved through the deals.
This is the 2nd time that we have dealt with Specialty. We bought our first Hunter from Lawrence in 2010. Thanks Lawrence and team for all your hard work, we are very happy with our "new" boat. We will be back, however, not for a while! See you on the high seas!
Fiona and Mike Gregory"
"Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a newcomer, a yacht purchase can be a daunting undertaking. Finding the right dealer in whom we had confidence to provide knowledgeable advice and support, not only prior to the sale but also, and of equal importance to us, on an on-going basis was a fundamental pre-requisite.
In our previous dealings, Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yachts demonstrated an exceptional degree of integrity, commitment and follow-up support that gave us the necessary degree of comfort to entrust the purchase of our new Marlow Hunter 37 to his team. We were not disappointed. Lawrence has worked tirelessly beyond the call of duty to ensure a smooth transaction and have her ready in time for us to enjoy the full sailing season.
We look forward to an on-going and fruitful relationship with Specialty Yachts.
Jane and Richard Mitchell"
"Lawrence, my wife and I wanted to pass on our thanks to Specialty Yachts for helping us through our purchase of our Hunter 29.5 in March. We are especially happy that Darren was on hand to show us around the day we just turned up on the dock, his enthusiasm for his job coupled with his knowledge was infectious and had us hooked as soon as he showed us the yacht. As we were first time buyers we were very nervous about the purchase but Darren held our hands the whole way through the experience and I must say went way beyond what we expected of him. He worked his days off, kept us fully up to date with how things were progressing and was on hand to discuss our many questions. He is a credit to your business (but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that) and without him we would not have purchased the yacht. We would definitely recommend Darren and Specialty Yachts to anyone wanting to purchase a yacht and we will be back for our next one when the time is right.
Thank you very much for getting us into the yachting community - we are looking forward to the season ahead.
Michael & Debra Wright"
"Based on encouragement by Lawrence Fronczek, owner of Specialty Yachts, Vancouver BC, I ventured from Boise, Idaho to the Marlow Hunter plant in Alachua Florida this week to see our new Marlow Hunter 40, SAGE, being built. The visit was far more enriching than I could have possibly imagined…. It was obvious to me that the folks working on SAGE were proud of what they were doing. I have spent my career in the development and construction business and have an endearing respect for those in the skilled trades; those who are committed to practicing their craft because it is their love, not an obligation. These people exist in the Marlow Hunter plant…Not surprisingly now, but the root of this odyssey during my 'ideal boat pursuit', was meeting Lawrence in the salon of a Marlow Hunter 31 during a boat show in Seattle. He countered my 'production boat cost cutting' objections with solid facts and I became very interested. The discussion was a reflection of his grounding in the transformation taking place under the Marlow flag. It led my wife and me to Vancouver, BC, to order a new boat, and eventually for me to see SAGE being built, where my confidence in her became resolute.
Eric and Nancy Davis"
"Dear Lawrence,
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at Specialty Yachts regarding the purchase of our Hunter 340. We were particularly impressed with your salesman Darren Marriott, who guided us through the sale from start to finish. Darren was very helpful and eager to find the perfect boat for us.
Over the past 14 years we have enjoyed sailing the Vancouver Island waters with our 1981 27' Hunter. As it served us so well, we set about to find another Hunter that checked off everything on our wish list. We had put together a list of upgrades that would allow us to continue sailing for many more years. So, we made a trip to Vancouver to check out some Hunters at Specialty Yachts at Granville Island. We made an appointment with Darren who was there to meet us on the dock and show us through some boats. As we peppered him with questions, Darren proved to be very knowledgeable. If he didn't have an answer, he quickly found out and kept us informed. Darren proved to be very competent with the negotiations between the seller and ourselves. We felt like we were in good hands.
Darren and the whole team at Specialty Yachts were not only professional, but very friendly, from the moment we stepped on their docks. We are now the proud new owners of a beautiful Hunter 340 and look forward to many years of sailing.
Jim and Janice Petersen"
"It is time I take a moment to write to you in thanks for getting us into the boat we wanted. We have now had Le Soleil for three months and Andree and I are absolutely delighted with our choice. The Hunter 44DS looked to meet every need we identified and after a number of trips late this summer we can confirm that we made the best choice.
In our case as you know the process of selling our existing power boat and completing the sale of Le Soleil was quite long and complicated. We believe this simply would not have happened without your encouragement, guidance and patience every step of the way.
As with any purchase of a used vessel there are items identified that need to be addressed and I am happy to report that all these relatively minor details have been attended to and to our complete satisfaction. To date we have identified nothing additional that needs to be done and we are feeling very happy that we will be ready to go for next season with a well prepared boat in our slip.
I must tell you that on one of our first short trips to Centre Bay, cruising under power due to flat water and no wind, autopilot engaged and sitting back in comfort; Andree remarked to me that she had never seen me so relaxed underway!
So a very big thank-you to you and all your staff who have made our dream become a possibility.
Alan and Andree Stovell"
Hunter 44ds
"Buying a boat long distance isn't easy. Buying a boat for the first time is also a tad nerve-wracking. When we found our boat, which was being brokered by Specialty Yacht Sales, we didn't know what to expect. But what we got was Lawrence Fronczek, someone we could trust to advocate for us and make suggestions that suited our budget, personality and ultimate goals. Lawrence had a tough job in a tough situation, but in the end he sailed through it all (pun intended) with flying colours.
Ultimately it comes down to the relationship: ideally I wanted to be on the coast myself, but if I was going to have to settle, it's a good thing I had to settle for Lawrence. In him I found someone I could and did trust. The experience just couldn't have been better. Except that when I met Sarah White, the Service Manager, it actually did get better.
After the paperwork was signed, the Specialty Yachts team continued to work with us to bring our dream to fruition, preparing our new Hunter 386 for a year afloat and ensuring we had a safe, comfortable and reliable yacht for us to explore the PNW. They saved us money, time and effort and delivered us a turn-key boat. It's hard to ask for more than that.
The whole process seemed nothing but intimidating and impossible before we started but in the end, when we accepted the official transfer of our new boat, it couldn't have been easier. And that wouldn't have been possible without the effort and knowledge of all the folks at Specialty Yacht Sales."
-Bruce Keith & Leslie Vermeer
"We have owned and enjoyed our new Marlow Hunter 40 for 6 months now and we have enjoyed sailing her for at least 75% of the weekends from February through July in varied conditions. We had never sailed as a family before last year when we started sailing J-24s and J-80s and my wife was a complete beginner at that point.
I originally had my sights set on a Beneteau Oceanis 38 or a Jeanneau, but as I got my wife, Dulce, comfortable with the fact that we were going to be a sailing family she quickly took over the decision process for what we were looking for - and we are, frankly speaking, much better off for it!
We met Lawrence and Brenda at the Seattle Boats Afloat Show in September of 2014. Dulce quickly determined that the interior finishing was of better quality in the Marlow Hunter than her French sisters. Dulce wisely looked at a couple of boats that were 5 years old and it was even more noticeable there. Further, the Hunter had a very spacious galley and all her features were well thought through. She also had a wider beam, which gives more space and more stability, which is great for us having two little daughters of 3 and 5 years.
From a sailing perspective I appreciate that I can handle her myself from the helm as her design is set up so that you can run all the sheets within reach of the helm. This is of course also very helpful as Dulce sometimes has to take care of the kids when we're forced to jibe or tack.
All in all we have been very happy with our Marlow Hunter 40 and we are also very happy about the support we have had from Lawrence, Brenda and others from Specialty Yachts, both throughout the sales process, importing process and also from a support perspective after taking possession of the boat. We have had several questions and I know I can always turn to Specialty Yachts for prompt and accurate answers.
The bottom line is that if you are a family like us and you'd like to spend quality time together on the ocean - I'd very much recommend you contact Specialty Yachts as I know they can help you find what you need for your specific situation.
All the best,
The Bjorklund Family"
(aboard their new Marlow Hunter 40)
"After spending some time looking at many sailboats with various brokers, we called Specialty Yachts and spoke with Karl. Karl stood out from all the other brokers we had dealt with due to his enthusiasm, efficiency and following things through. We arranged to view the boat the following day and he came in from his day off. Karl certainly went the extra mile – even dropping us off at the ferry one day!
Without exception, everyone we dealt with at Specialty were genuinely friendly and helpful.
Sarah is professional, knowledgeable and always at hand to sort out any problems we had with the boat.
Tracy worked tirelessly on the dock keeping the boats in great shape and did wonders with cleaning our boat.
Lawrence was a pleasure to deal with, professional and very knowledgeable, he gave us much information and was always enthusiastic and positive.
Only days after taking delivery of the boat, we attended the Hunter Rendezvous which was great, a fun-packed weekend with interesting talks and a great way to meet fellow Hunter owners.
We would highly recommend Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yachts."
Simon and Jane Huddye
Hunter 35.5 – Pacific Dawn
"On behalf of myself and Undine I wanted to say a special thank you to Specialty Yachts of Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C. for bringing us our Hunter 45cc.
During the 3 month purchase process - taking time & effort required in large part to timing issues, inspection and survey - Lawrence, Brenda and Sarah were very helpful not only getting 'Mystic Sky' ready for delivery to us in Blaine, WA but also to take care of all the issues required by US Customs and their regulations.
Even though all these requirements were time consuming, Specialty Yachts was very professional and thorough in the attention to details that were part of the process of delivery from Vancouver, B.C. as a Canadian sailboat to becoming a US registered sailboat located in US waters.
Thanks again for your hard work and also wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Hunter Rendezvous in June '15 at Telegraph Harbour!
Kindest Regards,
Brian & Undine Dreisse"
"Dear Lawrence, Sarah, Crew and suppliers.
I love my boat! Thursday's Child is phenomenal, turning heads where ever I go! Thank you so much for helping me obtain the boat of my dreams.
Your attention to my "needs and wants" and your guidance on the best way to achieve my goals has made this journey into a new boat smooth and enjoyable. Anything I wanted you arranged. With Sarah's guidance on the "why's and how's" thru the vessel orientation I knew I was sailing away with the peace of mind of a safe and secure vessel.
Marlow Hunter has produced a modern, leading edge and really well made boat. She sails like a dream; turns on a dime and handles very responsively. I tackled the inflow winds of Howe Sound single handed the first day. Loved it.
I also want to compliment La Fabrica for the amazing dodger, bimini and cockpit enclosure they produced. Their attention to detail and precision fitting is incredible.
Please thank all of your staff for their diligence and kindness in making Thursday's Child a reality. You have a truly remarkable group.
Linda McKnight"
New 2015 Marlow Hunter 33
"I first met Lawrence Fronczek in 2009 when I was starting my search for that perfect sailboat. Even though I had co-owned several boats (sail and power) this was going to be my first solo ownership experience. There was so much I didn't know but Lawrence was very supportive and convinced me that Specialty Yachts would not abandon me once the papers were signed. Lawrence did an incredible job of facilitating the sale of my trawler and ensuring all the necessary steps were taken to transfer ownership". Sarah White, the service manager, gave me very thorough orientation and continued to support me by answering all my questions no matter how small. I had so much to learn and made my share of mistakes but the Specialty team was always there to help with repairs and maintenance while patiently teaching along the way. There was no doubt that my next boat, a new 2015 Marlow Hunter 37, would be purchased from Lawrence. The quality of the product, particularly the new Marlow Hunter design, the personalized service and feeling of family has made me a very satisfied and loyal customer."
Eleanor J. Reimer MD, FRCPC
Clinical Professor University of British Columbia Pediatric Anesthesiologist BC Children's Department of Anesthesia
"Stephen Hawking once said, "a family is a group of people who matter". During the length of time we were purchasing our Hunter 33, you could say we were adoptees, into the Specialty Yachts family. In fact ever since we bought our first Hunter from Lawrence in 2003 we became part of the Specialty Yacht family.
Absolutely nothing was too much trouble in what turned out to be a lengthy and sometimes difficult process. Thank you Lawrence. Through your persistence and hard work you saw it through to the end.
Thank you Brenda for faithfully picking me up at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal whenever I needed to be at Granville Island. Ian and Julian were very helpful when I was trying to make the decision to take "Linnaea Too" home to Gibsons, in some blustery weather conditions. To Sarah and her technical team. Thank you for answering my questions, and doing what had to be done. Nothing was too much trouble.
In other words the whole Specialty Yachts family, including Mazin, who drove me over to Western Marine, pulled together to get me through the purchasing and possession process, and safely back to Gibsons. Thank you to all in the Specialty Yachts family."
Frank and Edith Brown
Gibsons, BC
"Having been away from the sailing world for over 15 years, and never having owned my own boat, being a first time buyer was somewhat daunting. My partner Yves had even less boating experience and the added complication that English was not his first language. Meeting the team at Specialty Yachts at the Mosquito Creek Boat Show was definitely the best thing that could have happened. Ian Libke listened carefully to what we wanted in a boat and patiently answered all our questions in a professional and knowledgeable manner. For first time buyers the sea trial in English Bay with Ian and Sarah White's day long orientation to our new boat were invaluable. All the details of a new boat purchase were handled smoothly so that we were able to sail away stress free. Our purchase was made late in the year, but what a joy to be out sailing on the Solstice! We are thrilled with the way our new Marlow Hunter 33 is performing and can hardly wait for longer days and warmer seas to continue our adventures."
Deb Zellermeyer and Yves Lavallee
Marlow Hunter 33 - "Two Solitudes"
"I have cruised over 300 nm aboard the new Marlow Mainship 32, between Vancouver B.C, and Seattle Washington in conditions that varied from calm to 25 knot winds with 3 foot seas on the beam.
We experienced the 25 knot winds in the Strait of Juan De Fuca, West of Whidby Island. We were keeping company with 3 sailboats and our speed in the 3 foot seas was 6 knots, the speed of the slowest boat in the convoy. The Marlow was very well behaved indeed, her underwater keels helped her track and steer easily, and her rolling even though the seas were beam on, did not spill the coffee cups on the table!
On that trip both Yanmar 75 hp sail drive diesels ran at 1500 rpm, and our fuel economy was a remarkable 1.4 gph, giving us an 1,100 nm range with her 750L fuel capacity.
On a return trip from Seattle to Vancouver, we were alone, and let the Marlow strut her stuff. We ran the Yanmar's at 2800 rpm through the night up Rosario Strait. We averaged 12 knots against a 2 knot ebb current, and sipped fuel at only 4.5 gph!
Her two props are 44 inches apart, making her very easy to dock at slow speeds without using the wheel, opposing the engines in foreword and reverse she turns on a dime. Our boat even had a bow thruster, very useful in cross currents or wind.
She is perfect for a couple, or small family who want a safe, fast, comfortable, no hassle cruiser, and is probably the most economical cruiser of her size to explore the waterways between Seattle and Alaska."
Larry Hansen
Sail Canada instructor examiner
International Yacht Training Yachtmaster Offshore
"I first saw Lawrence Fronczek in the early 1980s; he stood with a mischievous grin on his face, a mop and bucket in his hands while his father, Harry, was ordering him around like a drill sergeant. I got to talk to Lawrence this winter as I purchased a used Hunter sailboat from Specialty Yachts and found him an engaging knowledgeable individual. Buying the boat from Specialty Yachts was a very pleasant experience. Julian Clark, the salesman with whom I dealt was fun to deal with, and above all he listened and directed me towards the boat I wanted after showing me two boats and listening to my comments. Lawrence, Julian and all the others at Specialty Yachts made me feel like royalty, as we talked, joked and generally had a good time though the sales process.
Lawrence you have in my opinion, built an excellent organization."
Peter W Corless,
IYC of BC.
"As we lay at anchor, glass of wine in hand, we reflect on the deal that might not have been. Thank you Lawrence for your persistence, professionalism and good cheer in the protracted trade of our Hunter 336 to our Hunter 380. Despite the numerous delays and difficulties, your belief that a deal could be completed kept the process moving forward. We have now had our shake-down cruise on our 380, newly renamed Southwest 30, and are truly pleased that it all came together. Thank you Lawrence."
Allen and Norma Schernus
"I learned at a young age while delivering newspapers by boat that people who pay a premium to have the paper delivered to their dock have high expectations for said delivery. It had to arrive rain or shine, before 7:00AM, dry, and not wake up the clients by hitting the boathouse door too hard! Lawrence Fronczek, and his crew at Specialty Yachts, understand this paradigm completely. In boat sales, where the stakes and expectations are extremely high, I believe the difference between a good, mediocre, and poor experience is the level of customer service provided. The entire team at Specialty pulls quietly together as one modest, synchronized unit to ensure we, the customers, receive our floating dreams in the most pleasant, friendly, and effortless way possible. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, we can easily appreciate that a thousand pieces, if not more, are being sourced, designed, tailored and twisted to our individual needs, delivered, fitted, documented, and then explained to us. Thank you Specialty Yachts, the purchase of our new Marlow Hunter 37 could not have been better, we have enjoyed absolutely every single minute of the process."
Munson, Elizabeth, Malcolm, Hannah, & Mouse. About Time.
Munson delivering newspapers
"There is a story about why I have purchased three new Hunter sailboats from Specialty Yacht Sales. I moved to Canada from Texas about 10 years ago and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest sailing opportunities. After shopping for a suitable sailing vessel, I bought a new Hunter 45CC from Lawrence Fronczek at Specialty Yacht Sales in a partnership arrangement. After sailing the 45 for a couple of years in and around Vancouver Island, the partnership decided to upgrade to a new Hunter 50 CC with the idea of taking off to do real blue water sailing. With that marvelous vessel I sailed the west coast of North America to Central America, then on to the Galapagos, Marquesas, the Tuomotos Islands, and finally to Tahiti and Morea in the Society Islands. Having left behind my sweetheart, Karine, who I love and greatly missed, I liquidated my part of the partnership in Tahiti and returned to Canada to marry her. The story could end there, however, we NEEDED a sailing vessel. Of course we went to Specialty Yacht Sales to purchase our lovely new Marlow Hunter 40 named Lotus. We are very pleased with our new vessel and anticipate sailing in the Gulf Island area for now and with an eye to go further. Obviously we have a "thing" for Hunter sailboats, and we cannot imagine having one without the support, advice, and friendship of Lawrence Fronczek, Sarah White and the rest of the Specialty Yacht Sales crew."
Rick and Karine Johnson
"A testimonial to boat buying made pleasurable.
Buying a new sailboat was a novel experience for my wife and I and it has proved surprising indeed. We are now the proud owners of the new design Marlow Hunter 37 and have found, much to our surprise, that not only do we have a new boat but some new boating friends at Specialty Yachts as well. Lawrence Fronczek was very obliging, professional and astute in walking us through the purchasing process and working with us to ascertain our experience, our preferences and our intended usage so he could help direct what options we should go for. He then applied our answers to equipment and design recommendations with aplomb. Sarah White, Specialty Yachts' service manager, who is also a qualified Surveyor through Lloyds Maritime Academy and a veteran competitive sailor, was a great help throughout the entire commissioning process. Between Sarah and Lawrence, they were able to put a design or component idea into action and find the right solution for what, in our case, perhaps first started as an ill-defined customisation request on our part. I did not know at the time we started our purchasing process that Specialty Yachts had been named the worldwide Dealer of the Year by Hunter in 2012 or that due to Sarah's skills and attention to detail that the service team had also received a top award for outstanding service, but I can now understand why."
Bob and Mary Annis
2014, Hunter 37, "O de V"
"My wife and I are the proud owners of a new and beautiful Marlow Hunter 50 AC. Throughout the buying and commissioning process, I have come to know Lawrence Fronczek and his team at Specialty Yachts. Lawrence is an honest, knowledgeable, hardworking sailor who truly believes in the boats he sells and really cares about people. He has thought through his business/service model deeply and clearly enough to truly understand what his customers need, not only to feel good about their initial purchase decision, but to continue to do so for years after. I know where I will send friends who are considering buying a boat."
Dr. Gordon Reid and Janice Noble – "Aura"
"Colleen and I had a dream to sail since we were first married, and now we are realizing that dream thanks to Ian Libke and the helpful staff at Speciality Yachts.
Having just relocated to the Vancouver area from Winnipeg, it was time to find that perfect first yacht and start having fun. For the last couple of years I had read every sailing book I could find in the Winnipeg library, we both had taken an on board sailing and cruising course, therefore we had a pretty good idea of the type and style of yacht we was looking for. Even still, book knowledge is not the same as real experience.
Our yacht buying adventure began when Colleen and I attended the Mosquito Creek boat show this past September. We walked the dock and talked to various brokers while checking out all the yachts. Ian happened to be on the first boat we stepped onto and we immediately hit it off. Ian was knowledgeable, professional, and a pleasure to deal with. When we were ready a couple of weeks later to select our dream boat, we immediately sought Ian out.
Ian had a number of yachts that would fit our needs, and after showing us a few, we selected a Hunter 36. The process of buying a yacht is a complex transaction but Ian and the staff at Speciality Yachts helped us navigate the course of the purchase by helping us organize a surveyor, arrange for a mechanical inspection, help identify suitable insurance brokers, and even helped us find moorage. All the worries were taken care of with the full service provided by Speciality Yachts. We even got special tips that will help us preserve our boat for the long term.
We have sailed our Hunter a few times since we took delivery from the Speciality docks in False Creek, and it is everything we dreamed of.
We recommend Ian and Specialty Yachts to anyone looking for their dream boat, and we look forward to our future dealings with them. Thanks!"
Paul and Colleen Wilson
我们对购买这条HUNTER35.5帆船非常满意,我们也对Lawrence 先生的周到服务表示感谢。作为初到加拿大的新移民,我们对加拿大的船艇交易规则所知甚少,特别是对于船艇相关的英语感到特别困难。但是 Lawrence 先生对我们有极大的耐心,用我们能理解的简单英语详细的回答和解释了我们有关专业术语和船艇买卖条款的问题。我们是第一次购买帆船,所以没有帆船的任何使用和维护的经验,Lawrence 先生在随后的服装,装备的采购,寻找泊位,驾驶培训和设备维修方面提供了无私帮助。对此我们深表感谢。
"We are very happy with our HUNTER 35.5 and appreciate all the kind assistance that Lawrence provided us. As new immigrants to Canada, our knowledge about how to buy a yacht was low and we lacked proficiency in understanding English boating or yachting terms. However, Lawrence showed great patience in responding to, and answering all of our purchase questions in simple every day language we could understand. This is our first boat so we didn't have any experience in boating, equipment usage and maintenance, but Lawrence helped immensely providing guidance in appropriate wardrobe selection, finding moorage, sailing courses and equipment maintenance. Thank you so much."
Stephon & Jane
"I have had the pleasure of dealing with Lawrence Fronczek of Specialty Yachts now for the purchase of 2 Hunter sailboats. Lawrence knows Hunters inside and out and he is supported by a strong and specialized service team. Lawrence makes the process of purchasing a boat seamless and he balances his responsibilities between seller and buyer with honesty and candour. I would certainly recommend Lawrence and Specialty Yachts to boaters whether buying, selling, servicing or repairing."
Owen Pawson (pictured here with his daughter Diana)
"Specialty Yachts recently matched us up with our perfect retirement boat – Charisma. From the moment we met company owner, Lawrence Fronczek, we were very impressed. Through matchmaking with the perfect boat, sea- trials, survey, negotiations and closing, Lawrence was extremely competent and readily available to work around our schedule. He demonstrated expertise, professionalism and courtesy every step of the way. In particular, negotiations can be sensitive and it was with compassion that Lawrence was able to support both sides in the transition process. We are now post-sale and Lawrence still takes the time to provide guidance and support. We are very happy and highly recommend Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yachts to anyone considering buying and/or selling their boat. We are looking forward to the Hunter Rendezvous in June."
Allan and Karen Lees - Hunter 37.5
"Christmas 2013 and thanks to Lawrence Fronczek of Specialty Yachts our only problem is how to fit a boat under the tree. We listed our sailboat in late September and accepted an offer in November with conditions to be waived in early December. Lawrence then arranged a co-brokerage with a listing agent in La Conner U.S.A. In less than two weeks Captain Ted Smith was delivering our American Tug 41 . Lawrence was both professional and pleasant to work with. He made a complicated process as stressless as possible while balancing the interests of a number of other deals that had to be coordinated with ours. We look forward to toasting " Blue Moon" this summer with Lawrence….
Susan and Malcolm Clegg"
"After about eight years of very comfortable cruising in our Hunter 340, we decided it was time to assess our wants and needs for the next decade of sailing here on these beautiful west coast waters. We were quite familiar with the Hunter 38, having casually inspected it during visits to several boat shows over a period of a few years.
Several other manufacturers models and sizes were considered, however the H38 was the benchmark to which others were compared.
When a lightly used, well-equipped and professionally maintained H38 became available through Specialty Yachts, it didn't take long to negotiate a deal for the sale of the 340 and purchase of the H38.
We were pleased with the transparent, professional approach by the Specialty team members, who responded positively to each inquiry and made the entire process enjoyable.
From our home port at Schooner Cove on Vancouver Island, we will continue to explore Desolation Sound, the Broughtons and points north and the Gulf and San Juan Islands and points south, in the comfort of our Hunter 38….hopefully with grandkids along as novice crew members.
Thanks to Lawrence, John, Bruce, Sarah and the rest of the Specialty Yachts team for helping to make it happen."
Linda and Bill Hamilton
"For most sailors, or aspiring ones, making the transition from the dream to a true ocean going vessel is a daunting task. How do you decide which is the right one for you and then ensure that your vessel of choice is one in which you can put your full trust? In our case my wife Gill and I were guided through this process painlessly by the professionals at Speciality Yachts. They were very thorough in assessing our needs and then provided a choice of excellent vessels. Once we had made our decision, they then provided very timely support with insurance, registration and ensuring that all the required work on the boat was completed to our satisfaction. Upon delivery I was guided through all of the boat systems until I understood everything that I needed to and finally they provided us with an amazing delivery skipper. So, from beginning to end this has felt more an exercise in building a relationship with our brokers rather than simply making a purchase.
Thank you John, Liz, Sarah, Gillian and Lawrence."
Chris Cheeseman and Gill Taylor.
Proud new owners of a 38 foot Hunter
"Twenty five years ago at the Vancouver International Boat Show I first came across Hunter sailboats and was immediately taken by their unique and innovative designs. I have been sailing most of my life and I finally took the plunge and bought my own new Hunter 38 in 2010 from Specialty Yachts. Cruising the West Coast for the next three years only whetted my appetite for more.
Last month I picked up my new Hunter 50ac and even my high expectations were exceeded. Not just the performance of this exceptional yacht, but by the service provided by everyone in the Specialty Yachts' family. It has been truly a "Best in Class" experience."
(Photo: At the helm of my new Hunter 50ac with some members of the Specialty Yachts' team)
-Leo Knight
"The experience of owning a sailboat encompasses not only the boat itself but it also includes the involvement of a great may people. Ownership without good relationships and support can be somewhat unfulfilling. Lawrence Fronczek and Sarah White have been instrumental in making the purchase and delivery of my new Hunter to be an extremely fun and informed process. Any challenges that I might have had were dealt with quickly and with an informed efficiency that I have greatly appreciated.
The performance under sail/power and the quality of the build has been more than satisfying.Capacity, comfort and usability have been exceptional. The Hunter 50 is a boat that I can see my family and myself enjoying for a long time to come.
Thanks Lawrence and Sarah and everybody at Specialty Yachts."
David Mussell with his daughter Lindsay
"I have known Lawrence Fronczek for over 20 years, having bought three Hunter sailboats over that period – a Hunter 35.5 in 1994; a Hunter 380 in 2000; and a Marlow-Hunter 40 this year. Lawrence and his team are consummate professionals, sailors themselves, and responsive to every question. For a dealership, their level of interaction with the Hunter organization is extraordinary and I can understand why Specialty Yachts was named the worldwide Dealer of the Year by Hunter in 2012. I was attracted to the Marlow-Hunter 40 because of its sleek design and the outstanding quality of the interior layout. The commissioning process led by Sarah White has been excellent and I know I can depend on superb after-sales service for many years to come!"
Alan Winter - Winterlude III
" My wife Lesley and I were in the market for our first sailboat, we had heard nothing but good things about Speciality Yacht Sales (and in particular Lawrence Fronczek) from our co-workers here in Nanaimo. We quickly realized that Lawrence had a following of loyal customers, maybe better called friends, who had dealt with him in the past and who could not speak highly enough about how well they had been treated.
We contacted Lawrence and eventually bought a Hunter sailboat from him. Lawrence was a superb broker in every way. He was helpful, honest, engaging and treated us more like friends than customers. He was always available, always helpful and a complete pleasure to deal with.
We would heartily recommend Specialty Yacht Sales and Lawrence to anyone looking for a quality yacht."
Rick and Lesley Kroeker beside their 37' Hunter "Lady Kay"
"We first met Lawrence and the SYS team at the Mosquito Creek boat show, and from that moment on he has been courteous and helpful in our quest to find a new yacht. Having only moved to British Columbia 18 months ago, it was important for us to buy a boat from someone we felt we could trust to navigate us through the boat buying process. Lawrence has given us that confidence, and we've ended up with a quality boat at great value. It's been clear throughout that SYS aren't just trying to sell you a product, their commitment to making sure you end up with a boat that fits your lifestyle and their ongoing support since buying our boat has been first class. We look forward to joining them all on the SYS Hunter rally next summer!"
Dr. Adam and Emma Thompson and sons William and Ben
New owners of a 38 foot Hunter
"We owned a Gulfstar 50 for 27 years and sold it four years ago, thinking that, at our age, it was time to "retire" to a power boat. After spending many months looking at, comparing and conducting sea trials on many beautiful power boats, we came to the realization that what we really missed was sailing, just for the pleasure of turning off that motor and listening to the wind, the waves and the power of the boat itself.
We looked at a number of sailboats before deciding on a Hunter. Our final choice was a Hunter 466, purchased from Lawrence Fronczek of Specialty Yachts in Vancouver, B.C. Although we live in Olympia, Washington, we traveled to Vancouver no less than six times before completing our sale and sailing Solo Vento to her new home.
We have dealt with many salespeople over the course of our lives, and we must say, without any reservation, Lawrence Fronczek is without a doubt the most outstanding salesperson we have ever dealt with. On not one, but several occasions during the course of our negotiations, Lawrence displayed integrity, concern and outright pleasure in taking care of our concerns, going the extra mile with us, all with a sense of humor and a refusal to settle for the mediocre.
We will not hesitate to recommend him to our friends and acquaintances in our boating world, and will always hold him as the gold standard of boat brokers. Thank you, Lawrence."
Tony and Isobel Cairone, Proud new owners of a Hunter 466 "Solo Vento"
"As long term boaters and having bought and sold several yachts, Lawrence and his staff at Specialty Yachts has provided outstanding professional service above and beyond our level of expectation. The prompt attention to the SMALL details has made "THE BIG DIFFERENCE"! Thank-you so much!"
From Veda, Lyle and Chelsea Hanna
Proud new owners of a Hunter 42 Passage "Discovery Passage"
"I recently bought a new 2012 Hunter 50AC from Specialty Yachts. This is the second Hunter I have purchased from Specialty, my first was a Hunter 44ds. I had several things that I wanted done a certain way to meet my own specific use and taste. Lawrence Fronczek made the entire experience very positive and enjoyable.
Since arrival of my new yacht, Lawrence, Sarah and all the staff at Specialty Yachts have worked very hard to ensure all my requirements were met expeditiously and efficiently. The after delivery support by Specialty's team, headed by Sarah White, is exceptional.
I would recommend that any prospective yacht owner consider consider purchasing a Hunter through Lawrence Fronczek and his team at Specialty Yachts. You will not be disappointed."
The proud new owner of "To The Point"
"Lawrence I want to write a testimonial to tell you this: We purchased our Hunter 45cc center cockpit on July 3rd through Lawrence Fronczek of Specialty Yachts in Granville Island, BC. Lawrence is an amazing professional yacht broker with unbelievable attention to detail and exceptional customer service skills. The purchase process and registration through ships registry was seamless and transparent. Lawrence truly understands the importance of a positive customer experience -- he made us feel like we were the most important customer at Specialty Yachts and we commend him for his caring attitude to ensure we were completely satisfied with both the sales and the service throughout the entire process. Lawrence, you and your team are amazing. We are very fortunate to have you as our broker and to have the extended Specialty Yachts team to service our boat for years to come.
Ron & Denise Lepchuk, Proud owners of Mystic Sky, Nanaimo, BC
"Hi Lawrence,
Just wanted to say thanks to you and Specialty Yachts for all your help and exceptional service on our recent purchase of the Hunter 356. My dad and I had been looking for many months to replace his older sailboat and had never come across such a personable and knowledgeable broker, nor a firm that offered such great pre-, and post-sale service. You were generous with your time and always tremendously helpful in answering questions about the vessel or demonstrating its extensive gear.
The day of the sea trial was gusty and choppy, potentially a bit intimidating to us with a new boat but you were great in showing how well the boat performed. The smiles on our faces in the pictures you took are a true record of the thrill we had that day.
We were particularly impressed with the high level of after-sale service Specialty Yachts provided. The full day of orientation to the vessel was truly exceptional. We now have video files of much of the teaching session offered by Sarah, which we'll keep handy should we need a reference guide later on.
Dad truly hasn't stopped grinning since he first set foot on the boat. He's now either dockside aboard Spindrift, or under sail, getting the feel of this great boat. I'm afraid we'll see much less of him in the months and years ahead unless we're prepared to join him on board! Thanks again for making a couple of old salts so happy."
-Dr. David Hadley
"We had been considering the possibility of a newer sailboat for sometime when Pacific Yachting featured the new Hunter 33 in its April 2012 edition. After an initial email, Lawrence Fonczek met us on board the 33 at the Victoria Boat Show. His enthusiasm, professionalism and knowledge of the Hunter brand and this boat in particular convinced us we definitely needed a second look. This lead us to Vancouver where after an awesome "sea trial" we purchased the 33! Lawrence and his team at Specialty Yacht Sales, although very busy that day, patiently answered our many questions and concerns. They took the necessary steps to insure we were completely satisfied with the options that were available to make this new boat ours. We look forward to working with our new friends at Specialty Yacht Sales as our boat is commissioned. As someone who has worked in the retail sales environment for over 25 years, I understand the importance of innovation and customer service. Specialty Yacht Sales excels in both!
Judi & Len Pringle
S/V Sea Sparrow
"Dear Lawrence,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff of Specialty Yachts for the way in which you all helped in putting me into a new boat.
My first experience, a few years ago, was one of openness and honesty which led to me buying a Hunter 28. The boat turned out to be superb, giving me many hours of trouble free day sailing and weekend cruising over the next few years. Like all avid sailers I contracted the dreaded disease of footitis and did not hesitate to contact Specialty Yachts again, to the exclusion of even looking elsewhere, something that is really against my nature!! I was not sorry. After looking at a few Hunters that were listed I purchased a Hunter 33. During the negotiations there were many questions and concerns, all of which were answered and addressed to my complete satisfaction. Upon taking delivery I was given excellent instruction and advice on all aspects of the various systems installed on my new boat which certainly did much to allay the trepidation I was feeling. Subsequent to taking delivery I emailed Sarah in service department and had an extremely prompt and informative reply. With this in mind I have no hesitation in recommending Specialty Yachts to act on your behalf whether you are buying or selling a boat.
I suspect I will be contacting them again in a couple of years for a 45 footer!!"
Stephen Lapin
West Vancouver, BC
February 2012
"After looking at beautiful Hunters for sale online, we took the plunge and stopped in at Specialty Yachts. We were warmly greeted by Ian Libke and Lawrence Fronczek and immediately felt like we were in the company of new friends. No sales pressure here at all – instead, a courteous and friendly approach that made us feel right at home. Additionally, their knowledge of sailing and their products really impressed us – but it was their approach that made it so enjoyable. What could have been a stressful experience was, instead, truly enjoyable. It didn't stop there though – the after-sales service has been fabulous. Sarah White runs an excellent service department and the full day she spent providing us with an orientation to our new boat "Loch Moigh" was both enjoyable and extremely helpful. We couldn't have asked for a better experience in buying a new boat and we're delighted to recommend Hunter and Specialty.
Ian and Leila MacIntosh
Hunter 39 - SV "Loch Moigh"
"The Hunter line has always intrigued us and 10 years ago when we bought our C&C we knew what we really wanted was a Hunter. We recently were walking the docks on Granville Island and the gleam and majesty of the Hunter 41 Deck Salon caught our attention. Following a few visits and many phone calls and emails with Specialty's Ian Libke, our dream came true. Ian, always so friendly, professional and service-oriented, helped us sell our boat and buy our new Hunter "Masada". The expertise and support of the Specialty team – Ian, Lawrence and John – ensured a smooth transition and experience that could have, otherwise, been stressful. They were there to help us every step of the way. John even looked after our pug, Olive, while we were loading supplies onto our new boat. That's customer service!
We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with all the folks at Specialty Yacht sales, and consider them more than just boat brokers; we consider them friends."
Noel, Fearn and Olive Edmonds
SV "Masada"
"My wife and I had the pleasure this fall of purchasing a new 2012 Hunter 50ac from Specialty Yachts. Every aspect of this acquisition has been enjoyable and made more so by Specialty Yachts.
The service we have received from Specialty Yachts has been exemplary in many ways. We were surprised and very happy that they took the time to find for the moorage we required; moorage that would allow our two Golden Retrievers to enter and exit the boat easily. We were given sound advice on the extras to puirchase and all were installed and their operation explained in a forthright and understandable manner. Sea Trials were carried out without a hitch presumably due to both the sound design of the boat and the sound preparation and assembly carried out by Specialty Yachts. Docking of the boat in its moorage was well demonstrated by Specialty Yachts personnel allowing us to follow their example with ease. All in all it has been a pleasant experience making us feel an important part of a family business – the customer we look forward to the annual gathering in early June.
Graham Dickson
"We recommend Lawrence Fronczek and his team at Specialty Yacht Sales to anyone interesting in purchasing a sail or power boat. Our first experience with Specialty was in 2002 at the Vancouver International Boat Show at BC Place Stadium, where we bought our first Hunter, a 356 model. Since that time, Specialty Yachts and Lawrence have acted for us on the purchase of three other vessels, and have at all times been completely efficient and businesslike in the transactions. We have come to rely on Lawrence for all things "maritime"; he is always willing to share his first-hand experience and knowledge and knows no boundaries when it comes to service. The staff too are friendly, capable and knowledgeable of the boating market in BC and Western Canada. I also can't say enough about Sarah White and her service department. They are experts at commissioning a vessel, and able to accommodate all servicing requests with quiet efficiency."
Les Morton & Janis Ostling
"This is the second new boat we bought from Specialty Yachts.
We found Lawrence Fronczek and the rest of the Specialty Yachts staff very knowledgeable about sailboats and, more importantly, they focus on a long term relationship with their customers and gaining customer satisfaction.
Specialty Yachts is an organization that is oriented towards relationships rather than transactional sales. This aligns their business interests with the customer's desire to have a great boating experience.
With Specialty's help, buyers can concentrate on getting the boat setup the way they wanted it without worrying about corners being cut for short term interests.
Sarah White in Service is excellent in supporting the sales team with proper execution in fitting out the boat as well as follow up service after the sale.
Overall, a great experience."
Oliver and Marion Hung
"We recently purchased our Hunter 50ac from Specialty Yachts in Vancouver and are very pleased with how the team handled the sale and subsequent support. Sales associate Ian Libke, who introduced us to the boat, was a pleasure to deal with and continues to follow-up to ensure our continued satisfaction. Owner, Lawrence Fronczek, and the service team, headed by Sarah White, showed a genuine interest in caring for our particular needs and handled the entire process with professionalism. We have sailed our new boat several times now and are extremely pleased with the ease of use and performance. The configuration of the vessel lends itself to easy handling.
We look forward to a long and pleasant relationship with the team at Specialty Yachts and of course our sailboat, Maria Serafina."
Wally and Carla Protsack
"Always offering a quality product whether in new, or used boats, the people at Specialty Yachts have guided us through, first, the purchase of a new Mainship 390 Trawler almost ten years previous, and now to our new sailboat, a Hunter 49. The thoughtful dedication to minute detail, service and careful and accurate explanation of the equipment, and various add ons to customize a boat to your particular needs, (we have young children just learning to sail) starting with Lawrence Fonczek, and the team at Speciality, (of course Sarah was relentless in her pursuit of delivering a fully operational vessel) allowed us the satisfaction of a very happy purchasing experience. Having owned several boats over thirty plus years of sailing, we have our eccentricities which were accommodated at every mention. Kudos and many thanks to the team at Specialty."
-Howard, Teresa, Jenna and Kayla Louie
"Dear Lawrence,
Glenda and I have now had the opportunity to spend many wonderful days on our beautiful new Hunter 49 "Winterlude" and wanted to express to you and your staff how pleased we are, not only with the boat, but with the experience with Specialty Yachts. From our first contact with your firm the quality of the information and the level of service we received in detailing the build of the boat was very helpful. Our visit to the factory and our use of the boat for the last 10 months has convinced us that the choice of a Hunter was the correct one. The level of support that we received from your staff and sub trades in commissioning the boat and in particular selecting all the right components to make this a true offshore passage maker was invaluable. Our experience with Specialty Yachts is a true testament to the longevity of your firm in Vancouver. I am so pleased with Specialty Yachts I would recommend them to my friends... and I do"
-Laird O'Conner
"Every year in early June, Specialty Yachts hosts the annual Hunter Rendezvous at Telegraph Harbour Marina on Thetis Island. We mark the dates in our Calendar a year in advance and consider it to be one of the highlights of our sailing season.
Lawrence and his team put together a first class affair with the emphasis on social interaction and having fun. All sizes and ages of Hunter sailboats and owners gather to share their experiences and to learn from quality seminars that are held on site. Specialty always manages to bring experts on maintenance, engines, rigging and sailing to impart valuable knowledge. All of this is done without comprising the true focus of the weekend-camaraderie, good food, good wine, good people and lots of laughter.
Saturday evening culminates with a spectacular lamb and pig roast. The hard work of the Specialty crew and its volunteers puts the finishing touches on a great evening. Sunday sees a fine buffet prepared by the marina staff, many goodbyes and a trek back to home port wherever that might be. Ah yes, it's the memories of last year and the anticipation of the new ones to come that keep us returning."
-George & Suzanne Malysheff
"Finding the right yacht broker makes all the difference when buying a sailboat. The team at Specialty took time to understand our needs, helped us assess the merits of different boats, and worked with us to conclude our purchase. The team consistently demonstrated integrity, diligence, and perseverance - qualities that are so important in business today.
We arranged to have Specialty undertake some refurbishing work on the boat prior to delivery, and Lawrence Fronczek's team of professionals completed this work to the highest standards.
Specialty Yachts exceeded our expectations in all respects."
-Doug Hubbins & Owen Pawson, took delivery Feb. 2011


text:
Company Details
Guangdong Smaco Automation Technology Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Smaco Automation Technology Co., Ltd.
Inventory Storage Racks,Steel Racks for Warehouse,Steel Warehouse Shelving
|Payment Type:
|L/C,T/T,D/P,Paypal,Money Gram
|Delivery Time:
|15 Days
Model No.: SM-018
Warehouse Location: Guangzhou
Delivery Deadline: 15 Days
Cargo Type: General Cargo
Total Supply: 15000-20000 m³
Terminal Area: 8000-10000 ㎡
Loading Capacity: Up To 4000 Kg UDL/level
Racking Height: Up To 1200mm
Racking Depth: 700-1200mm
Beam Length: Up To 4000mm
Racking Finish: Powder Coated Finish
Raw Steel Code: Q235B
Pitch: 75mm
Delivery Time: 14-20DAYS
Payment Term: T/T Or L/C At Sight
Packaging: Bubble Film-Shirnk Film-Pallet
Productivity: 5000 Ton/ per month
Brand: SMACO
Transportation: Ocean,Land
Place of Origin: CHINA
Supply Ability: 5000 ton /MONTH
Certificate: CE ISO9001 TUV SGS
HS Code: 73089000
Port: Shenzhen Port,Guangzhou Port
1. Not limited for the size of compound pallet, keeping the goods of different supplier.
2. It can put on the stack rack directly, don't need the other pallet or container, is of great convenience for the operation of forklift.
3. Multiplicity form, configure to do without accessories, lay out the multi-function of practicality.
4. It can be ordered based on the size and color of customer requirment.
5. National patent of product have been authorised,exclusive product.
Racking is taken as a suitable and economical storage solution:
1. All the layers can be fix at any height only if it's times of 75mm, user will adjust different height for various Pallet Storage;
2. We supply quite big sections of upright to suit special needs;
3. Standard and special dimensions are both available, you just put forward your requirement and we design, we give the solutions;
4. Epoxy powder coated and galvanized surface treatment to prevent against corruption;
Product Categories : Pallet Racking

subset: commoncrawl


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You may wish to include a few introductory sentences to establish the context before launching into the narrative. What subject and grade level is it? What curriculum area(s) and specific topics are being addressed? What is the length of unit? What else would another educator need to know to understand your scenario?
The next sections should be a narrative version of what someone might see, hear and feel if they were visiting your classroom. Use third person, active voice. What would the teacher(s) be seeing, doing and saying? And with what result? What would the students be doing or saying? And with what result? Who else is involved besides the teacher(s) and students?
How is the project introduced and how does it get started? How is the project "hooked into the task?" How are prior knowledge and skills assessed? How do students determine the topic, aspect of the topic, problem or issue about the topic to be investigated? How do students come up with questions, concerns, issues, hypotheses, or problem-solving suggestions that guide their investigation and overall participation in the project? How do you turn the problem over to the students so they begin their action plan? How are the students grouped?
Describe the typical activities students and teachers are doing. Describe the roles students and teacher play during the project. Describe how the teacher is coaching, troubleshooting, and providing feedback. What tools, materials and resources are students using? How is technology being used? What twists or new challenges are introduced to maintain the focus on your goals and continue to keep your students involved? What intermediate products are being worked on and how are the students being assessed?
What is happening at the end/culmination of the project? What are the students producing to reflect their learning? What aspects of the projects are brought to closure? What aspects are ongoing? How are the students being assessed? How are the products shared with the class, local community, or the Internet community?


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The school where I work is holding their annual plastic drive. Families bring in plastic trash and the classroom with the highest weight of recyclable plastic wins. The school in the district with the highest weight wins. Last year, our school won and the kids would like to win again.
I brought in a large bag (4 feet tall by 2 1/2 feet wide) stuffed with plastic. All of the kids wanted to take that to their class but only one bag so, in an effort to be fair, we decided on lottery tickets. I put kid's names on tickets and placed them in a bowl and drew out one lucky winner. Kids that did not hear their name called were disappointed for themselves but happy for the winner. Probably slightly more disappointed for themselves. These are elementary aged children! We, as adults, would never act that way! Right?
I recently shared with a friend that God had healed me of fibromyalgia. He has been in pain for years and has had countless surgeries and still not completely healed. I hoped to encourage him to not give up on God.
All he said was, "lucky you".
Then he added, "congratulations".
I wanted to say this wasn't a lottery. Healing doesn't depend on luck. God promises that what He has done for one, He will do for all. He is no respecter of persons. But he had that closed off look people get when they don't want to hear any more.
I understand giving up on God. My healing didn't come after one prayer, or one time of being anointed with oil, or one week of confessing healing scriptures. This blog is testimony to the time I have spent waiting on a healing and the posts only cover four years. I lived with chronic pain for over 22 years and then one day, the pain was gone. I can't explain that but I know luck deserves no credit whatsoever.
I remember all too well hearing testimonies of people being healed and feeling sad for myself because I wasn't. I didn't credit this to luck as much to thinking I had done something wrong. Didn't have enough faith or something like that. Maybe I waivered in my faith too much or didn't confess enough.
There was a tremendous amount of torment in waiting for a healing that didn't seem to be coming. And so I gave up. I gave up blogging and searching for answers. I gave up confessing scriptures and seeking God for a healing.
I never gave up believing, however, that God is a healer and that healing is the children's bread. I simply gave up letting that quest dominate my prayer life and my thinking.
And one day I realized I hadn't taken any pain meds in quite a while.
I couldn't remember the last time I couldn't sleep because of pain.
The pain that had been a part of my life 24/7 was gone.
That's not luck, that's God!
Abba Father, thank You. Thank You for touching my body and bringing the long awaited healing. I praise You for not forgetting about me or giving up on me or turning Your back on me. For those who are waiting on a healing, Lord, I ask that You touch them in a palpable way, remind them of Your love and grace and mercy. And please, let Your healing flow to them. In Jesus' name, amen.
pic credit: clipartfest


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The Amber (**) at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental is certain to leave an impression on you. The classic interior, the modern glass fiber chandelier, not to mention, the food. Led by Dutch chef Richard Ekkebus, Amber serves French cuisine with hints of Hong Kong and Japan here and there.
We sample the lunch degustation, starting with a teasing selection of amuse bouches and kicking off with the kohlrabi cooked in lime juice and manni olive oil, with uni and caviar. A stunning dish that sets the tone in a light and elegant manner. Building up the menu, we're served the Hokkaido diver scallop seared with lime caviar and served with a rich and creamy 'umami' sabayon that makes you crave for more scoops. The crispy 'carmargue' red rice and dried seafood and salicornia cut through the softness and add a bit of a crunch.
One of Amber's signature dishes is the miyazaki wagyu beef strip loin, barbecued to perfection, with dulse seaweed, red cabbage slaw oxalis, horseradish and a pepper berry emulsion that complements (and elevates) the wagyu beef beautifully.
Ending on a high and nostalgic note – the kacinkoa 85% chocolate ganache with fisherman's friend dust, peppermint and white chocolate sorbet. No dessert makes a woman happier than the combination of dark chocolate with minty notes. One bite in this dessert sends you back to your first bite of After Eight chocolate – but this was a ligher variant of that, sweeter and fresher due to the white chocolate sorbet. But nonetheless a wild ride!
Find Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental on 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.


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Hello Readers: A reminder ee another week passes with very little rain ee and the heat rises. For the safety of your health, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Also, stating the obvious, never leave a pet or child in a hot, parked car.
Saturday, June 14 is Flag Day. A short historyee In 1885, Mr. Cigrand, a schoolteacher in Wisconsin, arranged for his pupils to observe June 14, as "Flag Birthday" or "Flag Day" which was the 108th anniversary of the adoption of "The Stars and Stripes."
If your typical round trip in the trusty old gasoline guzzler is from one of our western Corridor communities to the S.R. 200 Wal-Mart and back or even a round trip to the Regal movie theater, you might be a Segway prospect.
What the heck is a Segway? It's the result of a brainstorm Dean Kamen had years ago way up in snowy New Hampshire. And it is best described by having you look at this picture:
Step onto it and be surprised when several gyroscopes keep you upright and stable. Hold onto the T-bar grips and just lean forward slowly. The Segway eases slowly forward.
It was only the Friday before when Marion County Fire Rescue turned dirt for its newest fire station – and they did it again on June 6 with the groundbreaking for Friendship Station 21. But it will be about a year before firefighters and volunteers can move into their new digs off S.W. 90th Street and move out of their current building, which was once a turkey processing plant.
Word has gotten out that Gladys Beatty, Nancy Rife and Kay Shoaf all received "chip in pins" during the recent Palm Tees Golf League awards luncheon, when Nancy and Kay also earned their "birdie pins." Kay was honored with a very special award; an abacus for having carded the highest number of strokes for a single hole.
These ladies join members from other Corridor communities playing the 9-hole course at Oak Run ee where, Nancy tells me, they count all of their putts.
Meet Pam Guenther
We readers like our favorite authors to stick to what they do best – like John Grisham's legal thrillers. But authors have a way of wanting to try something different. I picked up Jane Smiley's attempt at satire in a book set in a Midwestern agrarian university fondly called Moo U.
Emily Dickinson rarely traveled outside of her birthplace, Amherst, or even very far from home. Much of her life was spent in her father's house and much of that in her room.
Yet she leaves us a treasure trove of insights and beauty which can illuminate us. This remarkable poet wrote about places she had never seen. The moors and the ocean are two of them. She also wrote:
The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth.
The sweeping up the heart,
And putting love away
Politicians are at their dumbest when discussing health care and health care financing. There are rare exceptions, such as Congressman Pete Stark of California and Hillary Clinton, who spent months learning about both care and financing during her husband's first term in office. That's not to say her ideas are right, but at least she knows what she's talking about.
Did you ever hear about the practice called "pay it forward?" This is more or less how it works.
Look for an opportunity to help someone. Then suggest that the person pay you back by doing a good deed for someone else. That person can then do likewise.
This doesn't necessarily have to involve money. There are other ways such as offering to extend a helping hand.
When someone has done something nice for you, pay it forward. It will leave you with a good feeling. Kindness to others can keep radiating outward.
There are very few of us who bother to rearrange or discard furnishings and knickknacks in our home. I just came across information that suggests doing so can actually inspire changes in our lives.
For personal reasons, I've had to move my furniture to different rooms. Since doing so, it's given me the impetus to move and sometimes discard knickknacks that have stayed in the same place since moving to my villa.
The great biochemist, Dr. Roger J. Williams, assures us:
Each person has a distinctive brain.
There never was anyone like you.
There will never be another.
Ref. (The Wonderful World Within You, Bio-Communications Press / June 1987.)
Your brain and thought patterns are totally yours. No other brain has the same cellular structure or arrangement of neurons. Your brain function and talents are unique.
Copyright © 2018
The South Marion Citizen is your source for local news, sports, events and information in South Marion County and Ocala, Fl, and the surrounding area.


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There a domain with Windows SBS 2003 as the DC. At regular intervals, I am faced with the Mrxsmb (Event 8003) error which brings down the network. We have to other Windows SBS 2003 servers on the network, one of which was causing this. I have disabled the Computer Browser service on both of these.
Now, the Windows XP and the Windows 7 clients in that Domain show up with this error in the DC's log at different times. Every single time, it brings down my network.
Is there anything I am missing out here?
As a temporary solution, I have manually "disabled" (because when it is stopped and the startup option is "manual", it still gives me this error) the Computer Browser service in all the client PCs - is that the right solution or is there any other better solution?
On checking, as suggested in here, the network hasn't been disconnected at any given point in time, however, the PCs are restarted in some cases at certain points in time.
Would appreciate it if you could suggest some sort of permanent solution to this...
Thanks in Advance


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The Figure in Action
Drawing Cutting Edge Anatomy: The Ultimate Reference for Comic Book Artists
New Art eBooks at Ebooks.com
Learn to Draw the Human Figure
Getting started sketching and drawing from life.
Learning to Draw Links
Subdivision modeling resource page Created and maintained by Tamás Varga With the invaluable help of the Mirai users forum
Flay.Com NEWS AND RESOURCES FOR THE 3D ARTIST
The Human Figure In Motion Interactive CD
Veriria's Palace Figure drawing links.
Tom Burton /The Orlando Sentinel
Constructing The Figure From Life Where to Begin
Artcult, Nude Paintings
Virtual Pose:For professional and student artists, the Virtual Pose ® series is the next best thing to working with a live model
Buy VirtualPose at Amazon.com
THE FEMALE NUDE Vincente Segrelles
Of Course You Can Draw By Will Sharp, Woodcarves Magazine
Classical Life Drawing Interactive video
The Life and Arts of Kuroda Seiki
Apathy Drawing Links Page
How to Survive the Workshop Experience: by Jenny Hamilton
Today's Cubicle
cubicle croquis lecture,vol.1-1
Project Real Woman
3D Poser models
Poser 4
video cours
atelier-ko books
FARP Figuredrawing basic pose and construction
Art in Canada - Figure Drawing Proportions
Rebecca Alzofon - Pierre Paul Prud'hon, An Investigation into the Technique of a Great 19th Century Draughtsman
Figma's Drawing Board
Classical Life Drawing - Videos by Ruth Block
Super Dessin videos
DAN GHENO Teachings
Etude du nu : Corps humain (Paperback) by Greg Albert, Helene Tordo
Basic Figure Drawing Techniques (North Light Basic Painting) (Paperback) by Greg Albert (Editor)
The Beginner's Guide to Drawing People: Step-by-Step Techniques for Beginners, Covering Figure Drawing, Human Anatomy and the Female Nude
Introduction to figure drawing;: Perceptual and conceptual problems in drawing from lifeby Philip R Wigg
Learn to Draw The Human Figure - WEA COURSES by Peter McWilliams
Vilppu Drawing Manual (Spiral-bound) by Glenn Vilppu
Vilppu Quick Sketch (Vilppu Portfolio Series)by Glenn Vilppu
Figure Work: The Nude and Life Modelling in New Zealand Artby Sandra Chesterman
Dibujo de Figurines Para El Diseno de Moda
Figure Drawing (The How to Do It Series, No. 12) (Hardcover) by Iain Macnab
|New - Rare and Valuable Old Drawing Books - Now Available as Inexpensive ebooks
How to Draw Heads
How to Draw Eyes
How to Draw Noses
How to Draw Mouths
How to Draw Ears
How to Draw Expression How to Draw Anatomy How to Draw Figures How to Draw Proportions
How to Draw Action How to Draw Figure Studies How to Draw Shading How to Draw Color
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This year we seem to have a couple of avid mini-gardeners on our hands so we decided to step up our gardening game a bit from years past in hopes of cultivating a love of growing things. We've got a nice row of lettuce going, and last week we planted beets, beans, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins along with some herbs, sunflowers, and nastursiums. Retta planted my spinach seeds somewhere too, but time will tell where they ended up. She dumped out the bag of seeds while I had my back turned....and she's been digging in the dirt trying to copy what she sees us doing, but the problem is she's digging up our seeds we've already planted. So, it will be a bit of a miracle if anything actually grows in our garden, but we're trying! Now we just have to practice the garden's greatest lesson, patience, while we wait to see what grows.
|Preparing the soil
|The littlest "helper"...wearing Mommy's hat
|Drawing some rainclouds in hopes of a good watering for the garden
|Rowan's herb garden...I love that she wrote all the labels for our plants this year--so cute to see her 4-year old writing.
|Add caption
|Retta likes to sneak behind the trellis
|Caught in the act
|Miss Rumphius has been here


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Orange juice price jumps as Florida orange crop drops 18%
Citrus greening bacteria hits groves, cutting back production and making oranges sour
Prepare to pay more for your morning glass of orange juice.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting the Florida orange crop is at a 24-year low and that's driven orange juice prices to their highest level in two years.
On Wednesday, the USDA forecast the 2013-2014 Florida orange harvest at 110.0 million boxes, about 18 per cent less than last season's crop. The last time the orange harvest was this low was 1990. Usually when orange production falls, it is because of frost or a hurricane season that affected conditions.
Especially hard hit are Valencia oranges, the variety most used in making juice, with a seven per cent drop this month alone.
The problem is a bacteria called citrus greening which causes fruit to shrink and to drop early.
The bacteria is being spread by a gnat-sized insect, the Asian citrus psyllid, which, like the bacteria, originated in China.
The effect of the disease is to make the fruit stay green and remain sour. Eventually, the citrus tree dies.
All citrus growing hit by bacteria
Florida growers, the largest producers of oranges, have tried replacing their fruit trees, but with little success in tackling the disease. So far, there is no effective treatment.
Florida is not the only citrus growing area affected – citrus greening is also widespread in Brazil, another major cultivator of oranges and grapefruit. It is believed to affect citrus growing around the world.
For Florida growers, a particularly dry growing season has complicated the effect. The USDA report found grapefruit production is so far unaffected, but tangerine production fell by nine per cent.
The effect of the poor crop is already being seen in orange juice futures, which are up 21 per cent so far this year on the U.S. futures exchange.
That could ultimately affect the price of juice, and the business prospects for companies such as Pepsico, the maker of Tropicana juices, and Coca Cola Co., which owns Minute Maid and Simply Orange brands.
Complicating the pricing picture is the per capita decline in orange juice sales, as consumers seek out lower calorie drinks and change their breakfast patterns. Demographics also play a role, as older adults drink less juice than young ones.
Retail sales of orange juice fell 5.3 per cent from a year ago in March, according to the latest data published by the Florida Department of Citrus.
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