If you’ve visited Cannons Marina, Boat Sales & Rentals lately, you might have seen a familiar face on the lot. Drew White, Grady-White specialist, If you’ve visited Cannons Marina, Boat Sales & Rentals lately, you might have seen a familiar face on the lot. Drew White, Grady-White specialist and lifetime Manatee County resident with deep family connections to our area, is part of the Cannons Crew once again as part of our Sales and Brokerage team. Drew worked for Cannons Marina from 2012-2019 and returned late last year.

“I always wanted to come back,” he says. “I know the marina, David and Lucile, and a lot of Cannons customers so well.” Drew did a stint at Marinemax while he was away, selling primarily Boston Whaler boats, but Grady-White was always closest to his heart.  “Grady-White is my favorite brand of boat. I love selling the new Grady-Whites here,” he enthuses.

Equally as important, Drew says, are the relationships he builds with his customers. “You meet so many interesting people here on Longboat Key,” he says. “I love being their boat guy. Some people are four boats in. I love seeing the joy they get out of boating with their families.”

Drew is no stranger to the pleasures of boating in Southwest Florida. Born in Bradenton, he grew up on Anna Maria Island and still lives there today. Drew has been boating, fishing and scuba diving his whole life. That means he’s perfectly equipped to help Cannons customers find the perfect Grady-White for their unique lifestyles.

“A lot goes into selecting a boat,” he explains. “What do you see yourself doing? If it’s family boating, Grady-White’s Freedom line has a little more seating and shade comfort. If it’s fishing, Grady’s center consoles have more livewells, rod storage—everything you need. But all Grady-Whites are super comfortable. It’s amazing how well they’re made. They’re built to last forever—it all depends on how you see yourself using the boat.

“What I really like about this job is working with people to make sure they’re comfortable and confident in their boats,” he continues. “I like to see people using them and having fun. Cannons Marina has always had a great reputation. We’re a boutique marina, so we can take top-notch care of our customers. We put customer satisfaction at the very top of the list.”

Four Fun Facts About Grady-White Specialist Drew White

1. The first time he went on a boat, he was four months old.
2. He’s spent 22 years total in the marine industry.
3. He has two high-school aged kids who he loves spending time with. “They keep me busy!” he says.
4. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English and creative writing and wrote for a boating industry trade publication before transitioning to sales. “It was a natural fit for me, to go into the business side of the industry,” he says.