Dwayne Stone
Dwayne has been boating since he was young and got started in the industry by working at a marina. Dwayne attributes the beginning of his boat sales career to an internship on the Gunflint Trail in Northern Minnesota, where he was asked to order new boats for the resort, directly from manufacturers, and then re-sell or trade back the previous models. One of his favorite aspects of the job is reconnecting with past customers and colleagues at events and boat shows. Outside of work, Dwayne enjoys spending time with his son and hitting the gym. Once upon a time he even rode horses. He loves riding and working with horses where “there is no time for distraction or thinking about anything else… it’s you & the horse, and your time is dedicated to ensuring all is going right as a pair. It’s truly a time where you can become disconnected from your phone and outside thoughts.” On the water, his favorite place to boat is somewhere less well know by the Michigander, Port Clinton Ohio, known best for its great fishing spots and beautiful parks.
Ben Pearson
Ben has been boating since he was three days old when he went for his first boat ride on Memorial Day, 1996. His family has always had a boat and a dock at the marina right down the road from their house in Cheboygan, MI. He enjoys the freedom that boating brings and being immersed in nature out on the water. When he’s not on the water, he likes sports and taking family trips. Some advice Ben would give to new boaters is to consider and determine your needs to help narrow down your options when you’re starting to look at boats. He also recommends using the Windy app for checking conditions during and before heading out on the boat. A favorite boat of his that he may recommend to new customers is the Tiara Yachts 48 LS best known for its sport performance and luxury experience.
Steve Wolfe
Steve Wolfe got his start in boating growing up on a lake in Northern Minnesota where he grew to love fishing and spending time with family on the water. Despite his homeland being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, his favorite place to boat is the gorgeous Little Traverse Bay. When he’s not on a boat, he still likes to be on the water, but the frozen kind. Steve loves hockey and has spent 10 seasons coaching the winter sport. Boating is a lifelong passion for Steve, and he has been in boat sales since 1993. With his experience, he recommends new customers buy the biggest and newest boat they can afford so they can optimize their experience and time on the water. If he’s being biased, he may recommend they do that with a Tiara, which is his favorite brand for its versatility and comfort. There are perks to working on your favorite body of water but Steve’s favorite thing about working at Walstrom is the opportunity to work with great coworkers. A culture there are truly reasons to boast about.
Robert Rogier
Robert is a true Harbor Springs native, where he grew up learning how to sail on Little Traverse Bay with his family on Sunfish and C&C sailboats. It’s no surprise that his favorite place to boat is Little Traverse Bay. Robert believes it is truly special being home to Petoskey, Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix nearby, and Beaver Island only a stone’s throw away. One of his favorite things about boating is the first swim in Little Traverse Bay in the spring or early summer, diving off a boat into the chilly water. “I love running our Cobalt S220 through the crooked river (I feel like James Bond in the movie where he is twisting and turning through the everglades).” Robert and his family enjoy boating on Burt Lake as well, tubing, napping, and listening to music. After a big day on the water, they like to grab a bite at Hoppie’s or the Pinehurst for great pizza! When Robert, his family, and friends aren’t boating, they’re cooking, playing cribbage, listening to music, and hanging out on Robert’s parents’ front porch. Robert’s favorite boat is the Tiara 43 LS for its ability to get up and go with the twin Mercury 600s, coupled with superior entertainment spaces and a drop-down swim platform. He also loves the Sea Ray SLX 400 with loads of seating, two grills, and a TV mount on the swim platform for college football watching from the water, because what could be better than that! He knows that not every boat is perfect, so he recommends customers keep the 80/20 rule in mind when looking for a new boat. “Try and find the boat that will do 80% of what you are looking to do on the water.” He can definitely help you find that boat and answer any questions you may have.