The Boats That Built Us
A Reflection of the Boats and Experiences That Made Our Staff Passionate Members of the Boating Community
Ben Pearson
Boat & Yacht Sales, Harbor Springs
Boating has been a part of my life since I was just a couple of days old. Literally — the day after I came home from the hospital, my parents carried me aboard our 1990 Chris-Craft Scorpion 21, powered by a Ford 351 V8 with an OMC King Cobra outdrive. That boat is still in the family today, three decades later.
Growing up in Cheboygan, boating wasn’t just a hobby, it was part of our family rhythm. My dad would always say, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” It wasn’t until I got older that I realized how right he was. Northern Michigan’s water is special. It has a way of slowing life down, pulling you closer to the people you’re with, and creating memories that stick for a lifetime.
Our Chris-Craft was the heart of so many of those memories. My brothers and I never needed convincing to head to the dock. Sometimes my mom would surprise us by calling the school office to have us dismissed early on a sunny Friday. We’d race home, grab our gear, and head straight for the marina. The air at the mouth of the river always seemed fresher, full of possibility
Weekends meant tubing until our arms ached, jumping into cool, clear water, and cruising slow stretches of the river where the trees reached out over the current. The highlight was always pulling out from the dock and pointing the bow toward our favorite sandbar. That sense of anticipation — the steady rumble of the V8, the wind in our faces — was unmatched
We kept the boat at a small marina halfway between the Black River and Mullett Lake. It’s still there today, in the same slip, just as much a part of the scenery as the shoreline itself. I think about that a lot when I meet Walstrom Marine clients. Some come to us with a lifetime of memories like mine; others are at the start of their boating journey. Either way, we share an unspoken understanding: boating isn’t about the hours logged, it’s about the moments made.
Here in Northern Michigan, you don’t have to look far to find water — north of the 45th parallel, it’s part of who we are. My advice is simple: take advantage of it. Go make memories. Find your own “boat that built you.” Whether it’s chasing the sunset across the bay, dropping anchor in a quiet cove, or just drifting with friends, you’ll find that everyone is a little happier on the water.
Rob Pope
Boat & Yacht Sales, Charlevoix
My connection to the water began early, at the age of two, when my family settled at the Bay City Yacht Club along the shores of Saginaw Bay. Our family’s 1966 all wood 30-foot Owens, meticulously restored by my family, was more than a vessel—it was the heart of my childhood. It set the course for a lifelong passion for boating. I fondly remember the sign that hung in the cabin, “A boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by wood, into which one pours money.”
Summers at the yacht club were filled with adventure. I explored the docks, learned the rhythm of the marina, and took our dinghy out to navigate the basins, river and bay. At six, I began sailing in an 8-foot Pram, mastering the basics of wind and sail. I progressed to Sailfish, Hobie Cats and Lightning sailboats, each teaching me precision and respect for the water. Beyond sailing, kneeboarding and tubing on Saginaw Bay offered exhilarating moments, filled with laughter and the thrill of the ride.
At 19, I took on the challenge of restoring an 18-foot Chrysler Man-O-War sailboat. The process—fiberglass, sanding, painting, and rigging—was demanding but rewarding. Sailing it on Crystal Lake in Benzonia, Michigan, marked a milestone in my journey, blending craftsmanship with the joy of open water. In my mid-20s, I owned a 24-foot Crownline, which opened new opportunities for exploration of many of the Northern Michigan lakes.
One of my most cherished memories is celebrating my birthday with a raft-off on Saginaw Bay. Friends and family would tie up their boats, and we’d fire up the generator to make homemade ice cream—a simple pleasure that captured the essence of community and life on the water. Those gatherings remain a highlight of my boating experiencesToday, as a boat and yacht sales professional at Walstrom Marine Inc. in Charlevoix, I have the privilege of helping others discover their own vessels. Each sale is an opportunity to share the joy and fulfillment that boating brings. From the Owens that sparked my love for the water to the Crownline that carried me through my 20s, boats have been my teachers, my appreciation for craftsmanship, and my deep connection to the maritime world. They have guided me to a career where I help others create their own stories on the water, and I look forward to the vessels and adventures that lie ahead.
Adam Lavalle
Service Manager, Algonac Harbour Club
I grew up in Grand Haven where boating was in everyone’s blood. It started with my parents owning a small cuddy cabin boat and keeping it in rack storage. They later sold the boat and purchased a hunting/fishing boat and a pair of jet skis. Once I got my drivers license and was able to take my parents’ toys out it was a game changer on the different level of boating and different areas you could go.
Fast forward to graduating college and all I knew was boating and marina work. I decided I wanted to do more and got my 100 ton master’s with a towing and sailing endorsement. I was working at a marina in southwest Michigan by day and working marine construction and towing boats whenever my phone rang outside of normal business hours.
I started running customers boats so they could entertain their guests and move boats from harbor to harbor. I didn’t need to buy my own boat since the marina I was working at, Towboat US, and the customer list kept me on the water and busy.
Working for the franchise owner of Towboat US gave me the opportunity to work on a project as a subcontractor for Enbridge on Line 5, Boating in the Straits of Mackinac every day had its own different challenges, but it allowed me to see some of mother nature’s best sunrises, sunsets and northern lights while on the water.
Moving to Algonac was a big change for me. I have never worked or lived on the East side of the state. Now that I am working over here, I have purchased my first boat and look forward to creating even more memories.
