Service – Service – Service
Sunset Marina is blessed to have so many talented service oriented businesses located within a few miles of the marina. Whatever service you need to keep your boat in top running condition, you can find it at one of the following businesses which serve our customers with a wide variety of marine related services. Put these businesses on speed dial – you won’t regret it.
Keith’s Leisure Time Motor Sports – Owner Keith Esper
931-864-7939
Keith Esper has been in the marine service industry for nearly 15 years here on Dale Hollow Lake and when he first arrived in Tennessee from his native Wisconsin, he helped Sunset Marina in our service department. Keith now owns and operates a 5-star service facility located on Highway 111 approximately 5 miles north of Sunset Marina. Keith, along with his wife Patty, son Bob, and technician Derek Robbins, service all trailerable boats, inboards or outboards, PWC’s, & ATV’s. They also sell nice, clean used fishing boats, runabouts, and pontoons. Whatever your marine related need, pull your boat into Keith’s shop and his crew will take great care of you.
Hilltop Marine – David Huellett – 931-403-3366 - www.hilltopmarine.com
Hilltop Marine recently expanded to Dale Hollow Lake from Lake Cumberland where they have operated a full service center for many years. Hilltop has a great reputation on Lake Cumberland and their expertise is now available to Dale Hollow Boaters. Services include: Mercruiser; Volva Penta; Fiberglass; Bottom Paint; Electronics; Generator; Air Conditioning; Detailing; Buff & Wax; Prop Repair; Canvas; Trailer Repair; Launching & Picking up boats. Hilltop also makes service calls to marinas. Hilltop’s Dale Hollow location is 1.5 miles south of Sunset, ¼ mile off Highway 111 on Hill Cemetery Road at Sunset Marina’s Dry Storage Facility. Give Lesa a call at their Dale Hollow Office to set up service.
Dale Hollow Marine – Don & Tana Bushmiller – 931-864-3252
Don & Tana operate the longest established service center on this end of Dale Hollow Lake. They are located on Cordell Hull Memorial Drive (turn at Shell gas station) on the road leading down to Eagle’s Cove Marina & Starpoint Marina. Dale Hollow Marine services trailerable boats towed to their shop – so stop by and visit with them and they will provide you with first class service for all your marine related needs.
Marine Assist – Don Hunter – 877-662-2555
Don Hunter, owner of Marine Assist, established a Dale Hollow Lake service in 2009 that is becoming very popular and is giving boater’s a wonderful peace of mind when they are out on the lake and away from their “safe harbor”. Marine Assist offers a membership service for $95.00 per year that provides FREE towing, jump starting, and fuel delivery. Suitable to Tennessee, Don operates bright orange and white service boats that are unmistakable when you see one on the water. The boats are operated by USCG Licensed Captains who are on call 24/7 with contact by VHF Channel 16 or by phone at their toll free number. Marine Assist offers three levels of membership to suit your needs and will work with all insurance companies and accepts all major credit cards. If you are not a member but need Marine Assist’s Services, please contact them and they will provide the same service to you for a fee. The membership is definitely a great value and an insurance policy with comfortable peace of mind. Contact Don today to activate your membership and go boating with no worries. 877-662-2555.
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( 3 / 251 )Countdown to Spring
Spring will arrive on the calendar in only three more days. Saturday March 20, 2010 is the official start to the spring season. Let’s hope that spring weather will arrive at the same time. According to the forecast, we should expect to see some warmer temperatures this weekend. We can not wait to see you at the marina. It has been such a long, cold winter that I cannot remember a time when I personally looked so forward to warmer temperatures. I also look forward to seeing some boating traffic on the water and most importantly, we hope to dust off our cash registers and get them functioning again as the winter months sure are expensive – especially this one. Anyway, as spring approaches, Sunset’s Crew has spent considerable amount of time discussing safety around the marina and one area of discussion has been “marina fires” and as boat owners begin to return to the harbor and open up their boats, the potential for a fire increases considerably. Therefore, I want to dedicate some time to this first “post” of 2010.
Marina Fires
Many boat owners are curious as to how Sunset Marina prepares for a marina fire. Although no two marina fires are alike and there is absolutely no way to be 100% prepared to every scenario that could present itself, Sunset’s Crew spends a considerable amount of time discussing and preparing for the unfortunate event of a marina fire. Sunset Marina is one of the only marinas to own and operate a fireboat. Sunset Marina also has a portable fire fighting wagon that consists of a high powered water pump powered by a gasoline engine. This wagon can be pulled to transported to any location within the harbor and a pick-up hose dropped into the lake, and with the engine started, a crew member can throw some serious water onto a fire.
Training with this equipment is a key and Sunset Marina does not operate a full-time firefighting team but we do train on this equipment and on Saturday May 22, 2010 during our annual “Safe Boating Day” (link) activities, Sunset Marina will offer any boat owner who keeps a boat in Sunset’s Harbor to train on and become familiar with Sunset’s equipment. In the event a fire happened when most of Sunset’s Crew was off duty, it may be helpful if several boat owners are familiar with the operation of Sunset’s equipment. So talk to your fellow boat owners and slip neighbors and designate a couple of willing souls to be at Sunset Marina on “Safe Boating Day” to participate in this fun and informative training.
Obviously, the first and major concern is always human safety and it should go without saying that anyone who is in harms way as a result of a fire, should the first priority and should be rescued and given proper first aid and/or medical attention. In the event a boat fire occurs within the marina harbor, Sunset Marina’s Crew is trained to attempt to move the boat out of the harbor as quickly as possible to avoid setting other boats and/or docks on fire. This is why Sunset Marina maintains a heavy anchor with 75 feet of small chain attached to the anchor near the fuel dock. In the event of a boat fire, the boat would be cut loose from the dock and the anchor would be tossed into the burning boat. The loose end of the chain would be used to tow the burning vessel away from the harbor. Simply cutting the boat loose without a plan to tow the vessel may cause other fires by allowing the burning boat to drift into other boats and/or docks. The small chain and the wind are factors to consider. The chain is necessary because a fire can burn a rope into and cause additional problems. The wind, if not considered, can create an even larger fire by fueling the flames and pushing the burning vessel into other boats and/or docks. The most important thing to remember during a fire in a marina harbor is that every action has a reaction and one must think one, two, or three steps ahead as to what the reaction will be by attacking a fire in a certain manner because again, no two fires are alike.
There are many other things to consider during a marina fire but most of all, I wanted everyone to begin thinking about safety as you begin the boating season. As we anticipate the arrival of spring and the 2010 Boating Season, please have fun, spend lots of money and most of all, “BE SAFE”
Thank You – we appreciate all our customers.
Tom Allen
VP/ General Manager
Sunset Marina & Resort
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( 3 / 243 )It seems like yesterday that we were turning the water “on”. Now, we are preparing to turn everything “off” and winterize the docks. October 31st each year is the official date that the water system is scheduled to be winterized. Due to the mild temperatures we are experiencing this week (November 2nd) – we plan to leave everything on through the weekend. However, don’t plan on having water or pump-out service much longer as the crew will probably winterize next week (November 9th). Please note that after October 31st, water and pumpout service may be shut down at any time without prior notice water and pumpout service is available during the mild weather months of April through October. Enjoy your winter and stop in for a visit if you are near the marina. We miss all our loyal customers during the winter and it is good to keep in touch. Let us know if you need anything.
Stay Warm!
Thank you for your business.
Tom Allen
P.S. I am sorry for not maintaining a routine blog but I will try to post regular entries during the winter to keep you thinking about your boat and about beautiful Dale Hollow Lake.
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Saturday May 16, 2009 was the start of nationwide “Safe Boating Week”. Sunset Marina recognized “Safe Boating Week” by hosting a “Safe Boating Day” which was attended by various agencies such as The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Friends of Dale Hollow Lake. Boaters were able to collect information on “Safe and Clean” boating practices and TWRA gave away a free lifejacket to everyone who signed a pledge to wear one while boating. Children were fascinated with “Bobber” the USACE Water Safety Dog. Door prizes were given away and it was a fun day for all who attended. Click here to view more photos of Sunset Marina’s “Safe Boating Day”.
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( 3.3 / 545 )On Friday May 15, 2009, Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake was certified as a “Clean Marina” by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard R. Lindstrom. Sunset Marina received the “Clean Marina” Designation after being inspected by the USACE and found to meet the Clean Marina criteria in seven management categories which include: Sewage Management, Fuel Management, Solid Waste Management, Vessel Operation, Maintenance & Repair, Marina Design, and Maintenance; Storm Water Management; and Public Education & Water Safety. Sunset Marina Manager Tom Allen signed a pledge in November 2006 to work toward achieving the “Clean Marina” designation and today, the goal was realized. Thanks to Sunset’s valuable employees, Sunset Marina is becoming known as the cleanest, friendliest, and most convenient marina on Dale Hollow Lake. Customers notice our clean facilities an appreciate the hard work of the marina crew.
Click HERE to view the photos of the events.
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