Cannons Marina Hosts Special Needs Adults at Fishing Tournament (July 2008).
Cannons Marina participated in the annual Fishing Tournament for the Physically & Mentally Challenged as part of the 24th annual Suncoast OffShore Grand Prix Festival recently in Sarasota, Florida.
Marcel Kasten, Kimberly Ross and Wyndham Riter, representing Team Cannons, hosted two Sunrise Community residents associated with United Cerebral Palsy of Sarasota-Manatee, Kirk and John, on a Scout 282 Sportfish for the event. All told, 12 grouper, one sea urchin and one radial tire was caught and released during the tournament. Forty-three local fishing captains, local business owners and residents donated their boats and crew for this unique event. An awards presentation and luncheon followed the tournament.
The annual festival benefits The Florida Center for Child and Family Development and the Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc. Over the past 23 years, the festival has given more than $14 million toward the construction of facilities that provide programs and services to physically and mentally challenged children and adults. The event is held annually around the July 4 holiday.
Cannons Marina is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in new and used boat sales, boat and motor service and boat rentals. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors. Visit Cannons.com for more information.
For more information on the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix and their benefitting organizations, visit http://www.suncoastoffshore.org/. Or, for more information on United Cerebral Palsy of Sarasota-Manatee, visit http://ucpbachelors.org/index.htm.
(L-R) Team Cannons represented by Wyndham Riter, Kimberly Ross, Marcel Kasten; far right John; seated Kirk
Cannons Marina Awarded Clean Boatyard & Clean Marina By the Florida DEP For Third Year in Row (July 2008).
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), together with The Clean Boating Partnership, awarded Cannons Marina as a Florida Clean Boatyard and Clean Marina. Cannons is one of the first in the Southwest District (Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota
& Desoto counties) and the first in Manatee County to earn this double designation award for the third consecutive year.
Operating for 53 years in Southwest Florida, Cannons Marina is a full-service marina and a pioneer in boatyard cleanliness and environmental responsibility. Cannons is the 18th Florida Clean Boatyard and the 104th Clean Marina to earn this prestigious award.
“With thousands of boaters using Florida waters every day, this public-private partnership benefits the marine industry and the environment,” said DEP Division of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Maury Kolchakian. “The Department of Environmental Protection and the Clean Boating Partnership are proud to recognize Cannons Marina for their commitment to this boating community and to protecting the Southwest waterways. “
“This is a great program. We encourage every boatyard and marina within the state of Florida to achieve this designation to preserve what we can for the future of Florida’s marine environment and wildlife,” said David Miller, owner of Cannons Marina. “This is our commitment to protect the fragile ecosystems while ensuring the enjoyment of boating and of our waters.”
Over 2,000 marinas currently provide services to millions of Florida boaters. The effects of year-round boating activities contribute to constant and growing pressure on Florida’s sensitive aquatic and marine ecosystems. In response, the Clean Boating Partnership, which includes the Department of Environmental
Protection, Marine Industries Association of Florida, Florida Sea Grant Program, United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, developed the Florida Clean Boatyard and Clean Marina Program to help marinas, boatyards and boaters protect Florida’s waterways using simple environmental practices that help prevent pollution.
Florida’s Clean Marinas and Boatyards go above and beyond required environmental regulations by adopting safeguards that keep solvents, sewage, fuel and oil out of the water, while protecting manatees and other marine life. By educating boaters and improving operations at marine facilities, Florida’s Clean Marinas and Boatyards are helping to ensure a sustainable future for the environment, for boaters and for the state’s $14 billion-dollar marine and $6.6 billion fishing industries.
Cannons Marina is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in boat sales, service and rentals. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
For information about the Clean Marina Program, click here for clean boating program
Cannons Marina & David Miller Honored at Chamber’s 50th Anniversary (May 2008).
Turning 50 is a milestone for almost anyone or any organization. The Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Chamber of Commerce celebrated their 50th anniversary recently and honored Cannons Marina and marina owner, David Miller who has been a chamber member for 51 years.
Cannons Marina became a member of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce one year after its inception on September 4, 1956. The chamber became official on May 19, 1958. That makes Cannons Marina and David Miller the chamber’s oldest member.
Miller was honored at the anniversary celebration by Marnie Matarese, Chamber of Commerce president, with a donation from the Chamber to one of David’s current community projects, Sarasota Bay Watch.
Several of Miller’s long-time friends came to the podium to share a story and congratulate a who that has devoted his life to Longboat Key and the surrounding community. David is indeed following in his father’s footsteps in his community involvement, making Cannons Marina a viable and family-owned and operated business for 53 years.
Suncoast Grady Group Cruises to Southernmost Point (May 2008).
Under the leadership of captain Terry Griffin and his first mate and wife, Jean, the Suncoast Grady-White Club departed the waters of Sarasota Bay making way for Key West. Famous for Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, sunset celebrations and much more, the destination of Cayo Hueso (Bone Island) was logged into the GPS.
Nine boats and 22 cruisers set out New Pass for a three-hour cruise to Naples with dolphins, tuna and turtles periodically swimming by to say “safe journey.” The group stopped for burgers in paradise at Cabbage Key before making passage through Redfish Pass to the Gulf of Mexico heading south to Naples for a night at the Cove Inn at the Naples City Dock. New friends were introduced as the group gathered for cocktails in Naples to swap stories on who saw what during the day.
It was an early rise on day two as the group refueled and set out for Key West. The last land seen was the largest of the Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island. The Gulf was teaming with schools of fish, dolphin and loggerhead turtles, and the ride was smooth once they cleared Naples pass.
The group arrived at the Galleon Marina in Key West just in time for lunch. Days three to five were spent sightseeing and enjoying all that Key West offers. The group met at the Southernmost point in North America for a group shot.
Some adventurists took a ferry to the Dry Tortugas National Park for a day of snorkeling and exploring. Others rented bikes or took walking tours and explored the history and architecture of Old Town. The fisher people of the group took a charter to catch mahi-mahi and wahoo.
Located 70 miles off Key West, the Dry Tortugas National Park consists of seven tiny islands
composed of coral reefs, white sandy beaches and the surrounding tropical waters. The area is
known for its famous bird and marine life, and its legends of pirates and sunken gold, and sheer
unspoiled beauty. The Dry Tortugas National Park is dominated by its’ central feature, the majestic, Fort Jefferson, the largest 19th century coastal fort.
One group rented a car to journey to Mote Marine’s Tropical Research Laboratory on Summerland Key just 24 miles north of Key West. Here ongoing research is done on coral reefs, aquaculture R&D, sharks, eco-toxicology, fishery enhancement and marine mammal research. Everyone can help support the “Protect Our Reefs” project by purchasing a Reef license platewhereby a portion of the proceeds goes to marine reef projects throughout Florida.
On final Key West evening of the trip, the group now calling themselves the Suncoast Conchs, took a two-hour cocktail and sunset cruise on the 80′ Schooner Jolly II Rover. It was a fabulous time for the whole group to share their conch memories while handing out a few tongue-in-cheek awards.
Most of the group returned back to the Sarasota area on day six, however, a few stopped back in Naples for the night. The seas were choppy but the majority of the cruisers made it home in seven hours, Key West to New Pass.
The group has decided to take a November cruise trip. Information to follow, so visit Cannons.com periodically to see about the fall cruise details.
For those planning a cruise to Key West, here are a few important numbers and contact information.
Naples
Naples City Dock, 239-213-3070, fax at 239-213-3072, e-mail citydock@naplesgov.com.
The Cove Inn, 239-262-7161, http://www.coveinnnaples.com/
Key West
Galleons Marina, 305-296-7711, http://www.galleonresort.com/
Pier House, 305-295-3398, http://www.pierhouse.com/
Hyatt Key West, 305-809 1234, http://keywest.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
Marquesa Hotel, 800-869-4631, http://www.marquesa.com/
The Gardens Hotel, 305-294-2661, http://www.gardenshotel.com/
Sunset cruise, 877-463-6539, http://www.schoonerjollyrover.com/
Dry Tortugas/Fort Jefferson
Dry Tortugas National Park, http://www.nps.gov/drto/
Fort Jefferson , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas_National_Park
Dry Tortugas Ferry & Seaplanes, http://www.fortjefferson.com/home.htm
Others
Cabbage Key, http://www.cabbagekey.com/
Mote Marine, http://isurus.mote.org/Keys/.
Cannons Marina Customer Appreciation Party Benefits SMART, Sarasota/Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (May 2008).
Over 100 Cannons Marina customers attended the annual spring customer appreciation party on Saturday, March 15 at the marina on Longboat Key, FL. Many customers brought their families to enjoy an old-fashioned BBQ prepared by The SMART Chefs, and to attend the fishing clinic offered by noted Captain Scott Moore.
The SMART Chefs are a group of local people who love to cook. They cook for large and small public and private groups as a benefit to SMART, (Sarasota/Manatee Association for Riding Therapy). SMART’s program is dedicated to enhancing the physical, emotional, and cognitive growth of individuals with special needs through a quality educational and recreational therapeutic horseback riding and carriage-driving program.
In addition to the food service, Cannons Marina donated $10 to SMART for each customer that attended the event. “Through the generosity of Cannons Marina and their customers, SMART will receive a great donation that will go a long way in providing programs and assistance for SMART riders,” said Nicholas Drizos, President, Board of Directors, SMART, and head chef. “We are pleased to have such community involvement and we are glad they like our cooking.”
Fun and facts were the order of the evening as Captain Scott Moore, veteran fishing guide for over 25 years in the waters of Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande, gave a clinic on how to fish the local waters for snook, redfish, trout and the almighty silver king, tarpon.
Cannons Marina Owners David and Lucile Miller acted as Masters of Ceremonies for the festivities and were helpful in distributing the Yamaha, Grady-White and Scout Boats door prizes to the attending customers.
For more information on Cannons Marina, visit Canons.com. For more information on SMART, visit smartriders.org.
Cannons Marina Named to Top 100 for Third Year in a Row (April 2008).
Cannons Marina was named to the 2007 Top 100 Boat Dealers in North America by Boating Industry Magazine’s at a recent black-tie celebration in Las Vegas. Cannons, a 53-year old Longboat Key full-service marina, ranked again among the magazine’s top five marinas throughout the state of Florida.
Boating Industry Magazine’s Top 100 is an elite annual ranking of dealerships who surpass established industry standards for business operations, customer service, marketing and professionalism.
Boating Industry reviewed more than 400 applications, culled over 3,000 nominations. The applications asked both quantitative and qualitative questions regarding all aspects of marine dealership operations. The Top 100 dealers generated more than $2.88 billion in retail sales in North America, or nearly eight percent of the entire $37 billion North American marine market.
“We are ecstatic to be recognized three for three by the industry’s most authoritative and widely respected magazine serving the marine industry,” said David Miller, owner of Cannons Marina.
“ While most industry awards are given to those dealers that sell the most boats, our Top 100 program is much more qualitatively focused,” said Matt Gruhn, Editor-in-Chief of Boating Industry, “thereby leveling the playing field for all dealers and directing consumers to those dealers that can best deliver on the dream that boat ownership promises.”
Cannons Marina is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in new and used boat sales, boat and motor service and boat rentals. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
Cannons Marina Representative Completes Grady-White Boats Sales Training Seminar (March 2008).
Marcel Kasten, a sales consultant with Cannons Marina on Longboat Key, Florida, has successfully completed and received certification at a recent Grady-White Boats sales training seminar held in New Bern and Greenville, North Carolina. Kasten has been with Cannons Marina since 2005.
Grady-White’s sales training seminars assist sales representatives in achieving a high level of service and customer satisfaction through product knowledge, and to help Grady-White dealers and sales associates stay ahead in the highly competitive marine marketplace. Cannons Marina has been a Grady-White Admiral Circle winner, for top honors in customer satisfaction for the last nine consecutive years.
The seminar consisted of boat operations training on open water near New Bern, North Carolina, and a thorough review of all systems aboard Grady-White’s boat models, including the company’s newly designed center console, the 33-foot Canyon 336. Also available for hands-on training was Grady-White’s newly redesigned 33-foot express cabin Express 330 equipped with Yamaha’s new 350 HP four-stroke V8 engines. These demonstrations were designed to help Cannons Marina sales consultants familiarize customers with product and performance details.
Cannons Marina is a family-owned and operated business since 1955 and is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in new and used boat sales, boat and motor service and boat rentals. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
Kris Carroll, Marcel Kasten. Doug Gomes
Grady-White Receives Seventh Consecutive Customer Satisfaction Award and
Highest Ranking in Coastal Fishing Boats in J.D. Power and Associates Study (March 2008).
Grady-White Boats was awarded a seventh trophy from J.D. Power and Associates when the company was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Coastal Fishing Boats (17 to 30 Feet)”* for the seventh time in a row at the Miami International Boat Show, February 14, 2008.
“We are incredibly pleased and proud to receive this award this year,” said Kris Carroll, Grady-White president. “We never take this recognition for granted, and will continue to focus on making our customers exceedingly happy.”
“Our team–not only our factory associates, but also our dealers and suppliers–has a great passion for and experiences a lot of joy in delivering something special in the lives of our boat owners that makes their families feel happily fulfilled,” Carroll continued.
“Grady-White is the only company in the Coastal Fishing Boats segment that has received highest J.D. Power and Associates ranking, each time that these studies have been conducted,” added Joey Weller, Grady-White vice president of sales and marketing. “Every third-party measure of customer satisfaction ever taken in our category to our knowledge has ranked Grady-White at the highest levels. This includes the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) CSI customer satisfaction awards which we have received for model years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.”
J.D. Power and Associates overall customer satisfaction scores are based on performance in eight categories: cabin, engine, ride and handling, helm and instrument panel, design and styling, sound system, water sports, and fishing.
J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information firm that represents the voice of the customer. The company is well known for customer satisfaction studies in the automotive industry. The NMMA is the largest boat builder association in the world and conducts boat shows, customer satisfaction studies and many other activities for the recreational marine industry.
*Grady-White received the highest numerical score among coastal fishing boats (17-30 feet) in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Boat Competitive Information StudySM. Study based on responses from 9,718 consumers measuring 13 coastal fishing boat brands and owner opinions of 2006 and 2007 model year boats registered June 2006-May 2007. Includes offshore coastal boats 17-30 feet with/without cabins, mostly outboard, some sterndrive power. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed September-October 2007. Your experiences may vary. jdpower.com
Grady White Boats Recognizes Cannons Marina for Model Year 2007 Success- Ninth Consecutive Award! (October 2007).
Cannon’s Marina of Longboat Key, Florida has been awarded membership in the Grady-White Boats Admiral’s Circle for the model year 2007. David Miller and Lucile Capo-Miller, marina owners; Benny Parrish, marina manager; and Kimberly Ross, marketing manager, received the award on behalf of the dealership at the 2007 Grady-White dealer conference held recently in Greenville, NC. Grady-White CEO Eddie Smith and President Kris Carroll made the presentation.
Admiral’s Circle membership is reserved for those top dealerships in the Grady-White network that have achieved at least $2 million in retail sales for the model year, plus customer satisfaction index scores of at least 9.5 on a 10-point scale as rated in at least 10 actual customer surveys. Dealerships also must be Marine Industry Certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). This is the ninth consecutive year that Cannons Marina has earned the honor.
“Cannons Marina knows how to attract customers and keep them happy,” said Joey Weller, Grady-White’s director of sales and marketing. “Cannons and their staff continue to meet and exceed the challenge of greatness presented by our company, and their product knowledge and service excellence contribute to the overall boating experience enjoyed by their customers.”
Grady-White Boats builds 22 models of fiberglass sportfishing boats ranging from 18 to 36 feet at its manufacturing plant in Greenville, NC. Cannons Marina is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in boat sales, service and rentals. Cannons features Grady-White boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
Yamaha Motor Corporation Recognizes Cannons Marina As “Best In Class” for 2007 Performance (November 2007).
Cannons Marina of Longboat Key, FL has been awarded “Best In Class” for 2007 by Yamaha Motor Corporation for their sales and service performance during the previous 12 months.
To be eligible for this prestigious award, dealerships must be top-ranked nationally or within their territory and must meet stringent requirements set by Yamaha for both sales and service. David Miller and Lucile Capo Miller, co-owners of Cannons Marina, received the award on behalf of the dealership.
The “Best In Class” Award is part of the Yamaha Outboard Dealer Recognition Program. Among Yamaha’s requirements for the award, dealers must have a certified, trained Yamaha mechanic on board. Cannons Marina’s two service personnel exceed these requirements with Senior Technician Tom Tomeo being a trained Yamaha Technician, while Eric Snode is a Yamaha Master Technician.
Cannons Marina is a family-owned and operated business located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, ICW marker 33, and specializes in new and used boat sales, boat and motor service and boat rentals. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
Cannons Marina Wins ‘Best Place to Buy A Boat’ For Third Consecutive Year (July 2007).
The readers of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the daily newspaper serving Sarasota County, Florida, voted Cannons Marina the “2007 Best Place to Buy A Boat.”
This designation repeats Cannons’ 2005 and 2006 Readers Choice designation as the “Best Place to Buy A Boat.”
Annually, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune awards the Readers Choice Awards. Readers of the daily are asked to complete and submit their ballots to an independent, outside agency that tallies the results.
“We are thrilled with the 2007 designation from the readers and consumers of the Sarasota Herald –Tribune. We attribute this award to our team and our focus on customer satisfaction, every day, ” said David Miller, owner of Cannons Marina.
Cannons Marina is located on Florida’s West Coast serving the Manatee and Sarasota County area, located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
Cannons Marina Representative Completes Grady-White Boats Sales Training Seminar (January 2007).
Joe Mammina of Longboat Key, Florida based Cannons Marina successfully completed the Grady-White Boats 19th Annual Sales Training Seminar recently in New Bern and Greenville, NC. The goal of these seminars is to assist sales representatives achieve a higher level of service and customer satisfaction and to help Grady-White and Grady dealers stay ahead in the highly competitive marine marketplace.
“ It’s continuing education and training by Grady-White boats that enabled Cannons Marina to win the top customer service award by Boating Industry Magazine’s 2006 Top 100 Boat Dealers in North America,” said David Miller, owner of Cannons Marina. “We are Grady-White’s oldest dealer in Florida, therefore, we have a long history of Grady-White training and education, “ Miller added.
Mammina has been a Cannons Marina team member for 10 years and is a Sarasota resident.
Cannons Marina is located at 6040 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key on Florida’s West Coast serving the Manatee and Sarasota County area. Cannons features Grady-White Boats, Scout Boats and Yamaha outboard motors.
More About Grady-White:
Grady-White builds 21 boat models from 18-to 36-feet at its plant in Greenville, NC, and has been under private ownership since 1968. Grady-White Boats is ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Coastal Fishing Boats (17-28 feet) Five Times in a Row*” by J.D. Power and Associates.”
J.D. Power and Associates 2001-2003, 2005-2006 Boat Competitive Information StudiesSM. 2006 study based on responses from a total of 12,255 owners of 2004 and 2005 model year boats registered between June 1, 2004 and May 31, 2005. Includes fiberglass center console, dual console and walkaround fishing boats from 17 to 28 feet, usually outboard powered. www.jdpower.com/cc
