November 14, 2024 • 21 mins
Ready to become a safer boater while having a great time on the water? Join us as we chat with Aaron Stasiak, the mastermind behind the viral sensation "The Qualified Captain." Aaron's hilarious and insightful take on boating mishaps at a North Carolina marina quickly gained traction, turning his passion project into a collaboration with Sea Tow. With new boat ownership booming during the pandemic, Aaron committed full-time to blending humor with education, making boating safety entertaining and essential. Hear his wild stories and learn how humor can be a powerful tool in promoting safety.
We'll also tackle the crucial topic of boating safety and emergency readiness. Imagine facing a critical situation like a laceration or a sinking vessel—knowing the correct response can save lives. From CPR certification to using Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), Aaron and our hosts break down the essential skills and equipment every boater should have. Discover the importance of thorough safety checks, a step often overlooked in the excitement of hitting the water, and ensure you're always prepared for the unexpected.
Finally, dive into the world of marine electric services with insights straight from a seasoned family business. We explore the nuances of marine electrical systems and their pivotal role in a seamless boating experience. Learn about the fascinating evolution of this industry, including solar power integration and the common pitfalls of battery and charger mismatches. Wrap up with our heartfelt thanks to Aaron, a social media icon, for his dynamic contribution to the Wards Way Podcast. Prepare for a blend of laughter, learning, and electrifying insights from the sea!
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https://www.wardsmarine.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kristina Hebert (00:08):
Welcome to the Wardsway Podcast.
Thank you, alex, absolutelyThank you, alex.
(00:33):
So we're here today for theWorthway podcast and I'm here
with my new friend Ayrton, thequalified captain Yep.
Qualified captain.
Aaron Stasiak (00:41):
Qualified captain .
Kristina Hebert (00:42):
Appreciate it so tell me all about it.
How'd you get started?
How did you become thequalified captain?
It's Qualified captain.
Qualified captain, appreciateit.
Tell me all about it.
How'd?
Aaron Stasiak (00:47):
you get started?
How did you become thequalified captain?
Uh, it's an interesting story.
It was kind of a joke at first.
Um, we'll go back.
I was working at a Marina rightout of college.
I got a degree as a Marinetechnician, so I worked at a
Marina.
I was driving a forklift,running boats around and then,
uh, and where was that here?
Uh, no, wilmington, northCarolina.
(01:08):
Okay, okay.
And um, yeah, it kind ofstarted there.
Me and my buddies saw a bunchof crazy stuff on the water,
especially at the marina, likepeople coming back trying to
dock their boats, I can imagine.
And it, uh, it just I had allthis content on my phone.
It was like let's just make agoofy page, couldn't think of
the name, like what are we gonnaname this?
And then some of the qualifiedcaptain came about and, uh, you
know, I had all this built upcontent of people crashing into
(01:29):
the docks, you know, fuelspilling all over the place,
anyways, and we would always tryto help.
You know, we weren't alwaystrying to like, you know, make
fun of that.
I wouldn't say make.
Yeah, we were, let's just bestraight up.
Kristina Hebert (01:39):
But at the same time, you do want to offer help
.
Aaron Stasiak (01:43):
That's the thing we always did.
We would always go down thereand a lot of people get
defensive.
I mean not all of them, but alot of them.
I know we know what we're doing.
I'm like okay, best of luck.
Kristina Hebert (01:51):
Well, not based on what I saw.
Yeah, yeah.
Aaron Stasiak (01:57):
So we'd go back in the doc office with all the
tinted windows and throw of asudden, I know I got like 2000,.
5,000 followers and then peoplestarted sending us content and
it was just dumping in like myinbox filling up and like what
kind of content, like what do wedo in this situation?
Kristina Hebert (02:15):
Or hey, look at this funny video I had, or what
.
Aaron Stasiak (02:17):
Yeah, it was that and it was more like then we
started getting besidesrecreational boating, I started
getting commercial industry,like people sending me that kind
of stuff, like the mishaps thathappened in that industry, and
then, yeah, so then it took offand then I got a job with SeaTow
as a SeaTow captain and Istarted.
Then it really I was like, wow,now I'm really seeing
everything.
Yeah, I can imagine.
(02:38):
So we covered a lot of groundover the years.
And then 2020, during covid,when everybody bought a boat
sure, that's when we really gotbusy and when we got like, I
mean, I was just bombarded and Idecided to make a tough
decision I left my jobs, tookthis on full time because we
were doing really well oninstagram and selling merch and
all this stuff, and but I toldmyself in 2020, I was like I got
(02:59):
to do something besides justposting entertaining content,
which it still is entertainingbut we're telling people like,
hey, listen, guys, this is whatnot to do.
Right, you know, before you goand buy a $500,000 boat and give
it to your 15 year old son,whatever the situation may be,
educate yourself and like andand utilize the technology and
(03:21):
tools and stuff that we evensell on our website to become a
better waterman all around umand so they don't end up on your
videos?
Kristina Hebert (03:28):
yeah, exactly, and also so they don't die you
know, I mean there's people.
Aaron Stasiak (03:31):
Of course I'm a serious yes and it's serious,
though it's out of control.
I mean we talked about thisyesterday with alex.
I mean it's, it's, it's crazy.
A lot of the um, the stuff thathappens in the water isn't
really publicized a lot and weshare it.
And I got people all the timethat call me or tell me like hey
, man, never thought this kindof stuff could happen in the
water.
Like thank you for raisingawareness.
So that's our goal.
(03:52):
Moving forward is to build asafer community, but also keep
the entertainment right Because,like, if I lose the
entertainment, I'm going to losethe engagement I agree, People
need to be engaged and then,when you have them, then you can
provide that proper educationand prevention of accidents.
Kristina Hebert (04:06):
So tell me what are some of your top tips on
safety?
You know number one, two andthree that you would like to
give that advice.
Here's a shout out.
Aaron Stasiak (04:16):
So, number one, I would say first just take a
course, take it, I mean everylike a navigation, voting safety
course, like every state's,different you know, but some
states like, I think, florida, Ithink, if you're over the age
of Africa, I think it's like 30or so, whatever the age is.
Kristina Hebert (04:33):
There is a year , a birth year, and then it just
gradually continues where youdon't need to have anything at
all.
Aaron Stasiak (04:39):
So my best advice is take a course, know the
rules of the road, get thebasics and then, when you buy a
boat and if you really don'tknow what you're doing, hire.
There's so many captains allover the place and if anybody
has any questions, I mean, checkout our website.
I've got a list of captains allover the country that can you
know.
Give you a hands-on training.
So that's one.
I would say that education Twois learn a lot of what.
(05:07):
Educate yourself on how to let'ssay, worst case scenario, like
somebody gets a huge lacerationon the water or you have
somebody that has a heart attack, whatever Know how or the
boat's going down, know how tobe prepared for those situations
and know not to panic.
You know if anything and stuffhappens to the best captains out
there I don't care whetheryou've had a boat for a year or
(05:28):
whatever it's gonna, it's stuffcan happen and it's it's how you
handle those situations whichmakes you agree you know a safe
captain and also when it's yourfamily if it's, something
happens and you're out therewith your little kid.
Kristina Hebert (05:39):
You know your emotions are going to be all
over.
So the more you know and themore and the more you train.
Aaron Stasiak (05:43):
Yeah, yeah, and you also got to remember too,
like you're the only one outthere until you get to land, for
to get professional assistance,so it's on you to get somebody
home safe and hopefully make it.
So, yeah, I mean, let's get CPRcertified, nobody use a
tourniquet, and really just I'mnot trying to scare anybody away
at all, but just think worstcase scenario if you're going to
(06:05):
go fishing, if you're going togo, like on a long travel 50
plus miles, whatever it is, sothat and then, um, I would say,
you know, educate yourself alsowith technology.
There's so much technology outthere too.
Like, don't rely on it, bututilize it to your, your, your
advantage, because it's there.
Kristina Hebert (06:22):
So, one of best advices.
I listened to a Coast Guardseminar.
One of the things they weretalking about is first off, you
have to plan to be in the waterthree hours.
Aaron Stasiak (06:33):
Yeah.
Kristina Hebert (06:33):
Even if you know, let's say, your boat's
going down, what have you?
And you have all the safetygear.
That it's not like, even ifthey can fly out and they can
see you in a helicopter.
The number one thing theytalked about was the EPIRB that
the boats have, which is, oh Iyou know, there was a time when
I could have told you theacronym, what it meant, but
emergency position indicatingradio beacon All right, all
(06:56):
right, good, you got it Good,that's why you are the qualified
captain.
But that don't register it toyour office and and or a PO box,
like it needs to be registered,but it needs to go to a cell
phone, to somebody who willanswer the phone.
Actually 90% of the times theydon't.
Aaron Stasiak (07:12):
Yeah, yeah, um, it's funny you bring that up.
We just had a spearfishingtournament in Wrightsville beach
and I was in it and uh one ofmy buddies, he perps, went off
by accident.
And it happens, it's a little,he had a PLB, it's a personal
location beacon that you put onyour belt or whatever and his
went off and he had, uh it was,he had family members crying and
stuff, but they've looked.
I mean, obviously it was out bymistake, but but still, at
(07:35):
least it went to the family.
Kristina Hebert (07:36):
At least it went to the right numbers.
That many times they go tooffice lines and it goes to a
voicemail and it's like thatdidn't help anybody, and that's
what I mentioned earlier.
Aaron Stasiak (07:45):
Like technology, like I mean every boat in my
opinion, especially if you'regoing outside a cell phone range
, like you've got to have anE-Perv.
We offer, we make these traumakits that we sell.
Okay, they have a full, likeit's not a normal first aid kit,
it's got a whole stop to bleedkit tourniquets, chest seals,
all in a nice Pelican case.
Kristina Hebert (08:04):
Okay, I carry those kind of things on my boat,
you know, um, once againthinking worst case scenario.
So what's kind of like, even inour cars?
I mean, I, I have a fairly newcar, it's probably a year old
but um, I have one of those uhjumpers that will automatically
charge your battery.
I'm not just standing on thecorner anymore with with uh
(08:24):
jumper cables hoping some weirdperson's going to stop, you know
in the middle of the night theyhave they have things for you.
You always have water in yourcar, you always have.
I mean.
I think it's it's common, we doit, we have it in our homes, we
have smoke detectors, we haveall sorts of safety things that
it seems like it would be commonsense to have in our boat.
But I do think people focus somuch on the fun and that has not
(08:45):
just small boat, that's a superyacht size to issue.
Aaron Stasiak (08:49):
One thing I noticed when I worked at the
Marina um, it's likerecreational boaters.
You know we all have busy lives.
You know we don't have muchtime to check and make sure
everything's good, that it runsgood.
It's not.
It's most of the time, oh,let's get the kids on and go out
for the weekend, you know, sure, and you don't have time to
really check on everything, makesure everything's good.
Didn't think about that and uh,and that's when mistakes can
(09:10):
happen, but um, so I think, eventhough our we're in the same
industry, our livelihood.
Kristina Hebert (09:16):
So I you said that you didn't know anything
about Marine electric.
Aaron Stasiak (09:20):
So I got a call from Alex and he said come on by
.
Kristina Hebert (09:23):
So now here's my elevator pitch.
Okay, so you see, it's like theWard's Way podcast.
You're probably like what doesthat mean?
So we're 75 years, I'm thirdgeneration, we do marine
electric, we don't doelectronics.
Congratulations.
Aaron Stasiak (09:35):
Thank you.
Kristina Hebert (09:36):
Thank you.
We are specifically in themarine electric, so we provide
power, we distribute power, weprovide all the parts that are
related to that power, fromshore power to distribution
Awesome but I would say that ourtop priorities is safety too.
Aaron Stasiak (09:52):
Yeah.
Kristina Hebert (09:52):
You know, when you have electric on a boat
that's sitting in water, youknow straight current's not a
good thing.
Aaron Stasiak (10:01):
Electrical systems need to be secure as
well.
I'm glad you brought that upbecause it's a good thing to
talk about.
Every Friday we usually try todo a Qualified Captain Tip of
the Week on our social mediapages and that'd be something
cool we could maybe do in thefuture is talk about electrical
currents in the water, because alot of guys I know at least
they bottom clean boats and theydive and I mean it's relatively
(10:23):
safer in saltwater.
Kristina Hebert (10:24):
It is.
Aaron Stasiak (10:25):
Correct.
But with that being said,though, I I'd like to make
that's a good idea.
Maybe you guys can give us alittle like not now, but monday
on the road and come a littlevideo and I'll share, because,
yeah, a lot of people now arelike well, screw it, I can dive,
I'll just do it myself, youknow oh, no.
Kristina Hebert (10:38):
No, yeah, you know.
Um, you're right, softsaltwater is better because it's
a less conductive carrier ofelectric.
But, um, to this day, I willgive the piece of advice If your
sunglasses fall in the water inthe marina, let them go.
Go get a new pair.
Don't jump in after them.
You never know.
Aaron Stasiak (10:56):
I've heard of stories, I've seen it, I've
gotten the articles sent to meonline, and that's something I
need to educate myself.
I hate electricity, I hateelectricity.
Well, you don't hate it.
I hate electricity, I hateelectricity.
Kristina Hebert (11:07):
Well, no, you don't hate it.
You have a healthy fear, andthere's nothing wrong with that,
and if everybody had a healthyfear, they would prioritize it,
and then you make sure that it'snever something you have to
interact with and it's somethingthat you take care of.
Aaron Stasiak (11:20):
Yeah, I'm terrified of getting like.
Kristina Hebert (11:23):
And so our awards way stands for.
For us, there's obviously awrong way to do things.
There's a right way and thenthere's a wards way.
We always try to take things upto the highest level.
Aaron Stasiak (11:34):
What else do you?
So I mean literally everythingright.
Kristina Hebert (11:37):
So we started off as just a.
My grandfather worked afterWorld War.
I worked in the bean fields inthe Everglades but really loved
boating, and in Fort Lauderdaleback in the late 40s everything
closed on Wednesday to gofishing.
Everybody went fishing.
All businesses closed.
Everybody did it for theirfamilies.
(11:57):
It was just obviously a simplertime.
And so he was like, listen, Igot to figure out a way to do
this generator boat thingtogether.
And he did, and he was also apilot, so he would fly over to
the Bahamas to work on boats,because back then boats really
didn't stay in Florida.
And in fact the MarineIndustries Association of South
Florida, which owns the boatshow, was formed in 1961 because
(12:21):
they would try to convince thecity to have 15 amp dock power.
Aaron Stasiak (12:26):
Oh, wow.
Kristina Hebert (12:26):
At its city marina so that the boats would
stay overnight, and that's whythe association formed to have a
united voice to keep the boatshere.
So imagine 15 amp service, likeyou couldn't even run the hair
dryers anymore on the boat.
Aaron Stasiak (12:41):
But they're just pioneering.
Kristina Hebert (12:42):
I guess it was it was, and so then we started
carrying.
You know, we starteddistributing parts worldwide.
We started off service.
We still have service.
We started distributing partsworldwide.
We started off service.
We still have service.
We do engineering so we candesign from stem to stern for
new builds.
We can do refits.
We work with builders on superyachts and sport fish one of our
big—.
Aaron Stasiak (13:01):
That was my next question.
What's your main—I don't know.
It sounds like bigger boats,like yachts.
Kristina Hebert (13:07):
Well, I'll tell you, though, one of our best
niches is working with the sportfish builders.
We do a lot with Spencer, withBayliss, with Merritt, with Jim
Smith, with Rybovich, MichaelRybovich and sons, and a lot of
that is because these sport fishboats, a lot of them, have
super yacht owners.
(13:27):
They want to, you know, plug inbut everything that used to be
like kind of rotary switch andkeep it easy and the boat
doesn't need.
It's so much more complicated.
And the electrical requirementsfor these sport fish that they
also want to go dark whenthey're, you know, anchored off
of Costa Rica, they don't wantto be running generators all the
time.
So electrical, um powermanagement systems have become
(13:50):
critical on a lot of these sportfish.
So we do a lot with the sportfish builders.
Aaron Stasiak (13:54):
Have you guys um messed, start messing with solar
much.
Kristina Hebert (13:58):
No, but it has come to us.
Um, we work with a company,zantrex, that's owned by Mission
Critical, and so they're comingout with some new um solar
power equipment and you know,we've interacted with it, we've
installed, we've worked with.
We haven't done a lot ofintegration with it, but I see
it coming.
It's coming more and more.
Aaron Stasiak (14:18):
That's something I always wonder, too Like
there's a place by us off ofWrightsville Beach that we go
and dive at.
It's called the Frying PanTower.
It's an old Coast Guard tower.
I don't think you've ever heardof it, but we now have it
basically almost by the end ofthis year it should be 100%
runoff solar.
Kristina Hebert (14:33):
Oh, wow.
Aaron Stasiak (14:34):
And he's got the battery room.
That's insane.
The whole setup is incredible.
I don't know too much about it.
Like I said, I'm not a big fanof electricity.
Kristina Hebert (14:42):
Leave it to others.
Aaron Stasiak (14:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, just remember wards now, and I
would love to learn more, Ireally would.
I just I never.
I mean I could wire a basic18-foot boat and stuff like that
, but I just don't like to Like.
I said I know it's scary, Idon't like.
I got lit up once and I justdid not like it.
Kristina Hebert (14:59):
Well, you probably did something wrong.
Aaron Stasiak (15:00):
Yeah, I absolutely did something wrong.
Kristina Hebert (15:03):
The other thing .
I will tell you that we lookfor you know how you have tips.
Aaron Stasiak (15:11):
We did a uh, it's called a blue tape so if you
ever see blue tape in yourengine room, that's a problem.
We always say that we shouldbuild a little video one day,
like that I can share, whetherit's you or whoever, and just um
, yeah, like a random little tipthat not many people know about
, you know?
Kristina Hebert (15:20):
for example, like one of the things, like we
would attend these charterbroker events and and a lot of
the charter brokers are verysimilar to you.
Like, do not do not starttalking to me about electric.
I am so not interested and I'mlike I get it, but you want to
know what can ruin a charter.
Is that lighting doesn't work,or maybe one of those generator
goes out and all the hair dryerswon't work before dinner?
Or what about if the galley orthe wine cooler, it's all
(15:42):
electric?
Aaron Stasiak (15:43):
Oh, trust me, I've had issues.
I'm still having issues.
We'll talk about that later.
Oh, absolutely, but I okay.
Kristina Hebert (15:56):
Lighting is definitely one, and we work with
a company, total Lux.
Um, that's providing, you know,lighting in our booth right
here and some things like that.
But I tell the charter brokers,if you're, if you go to a
charter show and you're lookingat boats and you see, all the
boats are plugged into shorepower and there's one that's on
generator.
That a red flag.
Why is that boat on generatorsitting at the dock?
Well, either they can't plug inor they're having a shore power
issue.
Um, walk around, don't just seehow well they can cook.
(16:17):
I would make sure that whilewhile the galley's going start
turning on washer and dryers,start running hair dryers and
every, and if everything startstripping, you're gonna know what
your charter is like.
And then also, I always say goin the engine room.
If you see any blue tape in anyboat in an engine room,
especially one that's near apanel that they're holding a
breaker, you would see more thannot that's a problem, because
(16:40):
that breaker should not betripping and tape is not helping
.
Aaron Stasiak (16:43):
Yeah, I've always .
I've grown up on centerconsoles and these center
consoles are getting bigger andbigger and more.
Yes, there's a lot going on inthese little boats now.
Kristina Hebert (16:52):
Absolutely.
Aaron Stasiak (16:52):
With seat keepers and all that stuff.
Yes, yes, yeah, but the wiringjob.
I give my buddy Brendan a hugeshout out.
He did a great job on my boat,good.
Kristina Hebert (17:00):
Good.
Aaron Stasiak (17:01):
We got a 33-foot Anzo Bayless center console.
There's one out here, but it isartwork when you look inside.
Kristina Hebert (17:07):
It really is and it's in a very limited space
.
And you know, especially onboats, like I said, everybody's
wanting their boats to do more.
Well, air conditioning would begood.
Well, I definitely want myunderwater lights.
I got to be cool.
Aaron Stasiak (17:19):
I kept on pretty simple.
I just got.
Yeah, I didn't do much.
Of course, the fun things likethe underwater lights and all
that stuff don't work anymore Me, I know.
Kristina Hebert (17:30):
But Well, we can help with that Now I'm glad.
I got you.
We can help with that,absolutely.
Aaron Stasiak (17:36):
Well, it's fun when everything works, but no
electricity is no joke, though.
On the water it's like I don'tknow, something that I want to
learn more about.
Kristina Hebert (17:45):
Well, I think that in this boat show, we're
following the networking We'vebeen put together by Alex, the
yacht guy who connected us, tobe able to help each other, so I
think this is a greatopportunity, absolutely.
Aaron Stasiak (17:58):
And once again too, if you guys have any tips,
let's combine or let's worktogether.
One day Create some videos andshare that on our page, because
electricity is one thing that Ihaven't really talked too much
about and it is a serious hazardtoo.
I mean, it kills people all thetime.
Kristina Hebert (18:13):
It can and you know it is so simple at times to
correct and there's so manyvery simple things that you
could do to be able to.
Just you know, I wouldrecommend to everybody have a
meter, keep a meter around.
Electric doesn't lie.
It's very factual.
It's very black and white.
So if you understand how tohave a meter and you can read
things and look, you can detectproblems and you'll know that is
(18:35):
not right.
Yeah, and you'll be able toidentify it right away.
Even if it's, I know thatthat's not right.
I need to call yeah.
Batteries and battery chargersare another big issue.
People think all lithiumbatteries are the same.
All A lithium batteries are thesame.
All AGM batteries are the same,all battery chargers.
They're not.
They need to be paired together.
They need to be bought at thesame time.
(18:56):
Don't update.
That's another tip.
Aaron Stasiak (19:00):
Don't update.
We need to write all this down.
Kristina Hebert (19:01):
It's recorded, oh yeah, yeah, it's true, but
it's true.
Buy all the batteries at thesame time, yeah, and buy a
charger that has the rightsettings.
There are multiple settings onthe charger.
That's charging the rightbatteries the right way, easy.
90% of the time when thebatteries die, maybe they only
(19:22):
replace one out of four.
Aaron Stasiak (19:23):
Yeah.
Kristina Hebert (19:23):
Yeah, but they're not going to be the same
batteries and people don't payattention to that.
They're not like AAAs or AAs.
It doesn't matter whether it'sKirkland brand or.
Aaron Stasiak (19:32):
Is there any batteries that you recommend?
There's a couple of new.
I get people reach out to meall the time about these new
batteries that are in theindustry now and I don't know.
Kristina Hebert (19:43):
A lot of them are really good.
My thing would be just to makesure that the equipment that
you're using for if so, ifthey're your starter batteries
or they're your house batteriesuse the batteries that are
called for by the manufacturer.
Seems easy, yeah yeah um, andthen make sure that if you get a
bank, they're the same brand,same lot number, same battery
(20:04):
type.
Okay, and then a charger is setto manage that bank properly.
It's really that simple and 99%of the battery problems they
don't match and the charger'snot matching to them, and then
it's just a problem and all thebatteries end up dying.
And then people are like, oh,these are terrible batteries.
No, they just weren't the rightones.
Aaron Stasiak (20:24):
It's the one thing that'll ruin everybody's
day.
Kristina Hebert (20:27):
It does absolutely agree.
If your beer's hot and the airconditioning is not working,
nobody wants to be on your boat.
Yeah, yeah, so well, it's beena pleasure meeting you, Aaron.
Thank you for taking this timeno thank you guys.
And really you know you're sucha social media icon, so I
appreciate you being a part ofthe Ward's Way Season 2 podcast
(20:48):
and thanks for being here.
Hope you have a great show.
I appreciate it Look forward todoing some videos in the future
.
Absolutely, thank you so much,thank you.
Welcome to the Wardsway Podcast.
Thank you, alex, absolutelyThank you, alex.
(00:33):
So we're here today for theWorthway podcast and I'm here
with my new friend Ayrton, thequalified captain Yep.
Qualified captain.
Aaron Stasiak (00:41):
Qualified captain .
Kristina Hebert (00:42):
Appreciate it so tell me all about it.
How'd you get started?
How did you become thequalified captain?
It's Qualified captain.
Qualified captain, appreciateit.
Tell me all about it.
How'd?
Aaron Stasiak (00:47):
you get started?
How did you become thequalified captain?
Uh, it's an interesting story.
It was kind of a joke at first.
Um, we'll go back.
I was working at a Marina rightout of college.
I got a degree as a Marinetechnician, so I worked at a
Marina.
I was driving a forklift,running boats around and then,
uh, and where was that here?
Uh, no, wilmington, northCarolina.
(01:08):
Okay, okay.
And um, yeah, it kind ofstarted there.
Me and my buddies saw a bunchof crazy stuff on the water,
especially at the marina, likepeople coming back trying to
dock their boats, I can imagine.
And it, uh, it just I had allthis content on my phone.
It was like let's just make agoofy page, couldn't think of
the name, like what are we gonnaname this?
And then some of the qualifiedcaptain came about and, uh, you
know, I had all this built upcontent of people crashing into
(01:29):
the docks, you know, fuelspilling all over the place,
anyways, and we would always tryto help.
You know, we weren't alwaystrying to like, you know, make
fun of that.
I wouldn't say make.
Yeah, we were, let's just bestraight up.
Kristina Hebert (01:39):
But at the same time, you do want to offer help
.
Aaron Stasiak (01:43):
That's the thing we always did.
We would always go down thereand a lot of people get
defensive.
I mean not all of them, but alot of them.
I know we know what we're doing.
I'm like okay, best of luck.
Kristina Hebert (01:51):
Well, not based on what I saw.
Yeah, yeah.
Aaron Stasiak (01:57):
So we'd go back in the doc office with all the
tinted windows and throw of asudden, I know I got like 2000,.
5,000 followers and then peoplestarted sending us content and
it was just dumping in like myinbox filling up and like what
kind of content, like what do wedo in this situation?
Kristina Hebert (02:15):
Or hey, look at this funny video I had, or what
.
Aaron Stasiak (02:17):
Yeah, it was that and it was more like then we
started getting besidesrecreational boating, I started
getting commercial industry,like people sending me that kind
of stuff, like the mishaps thathappened in that industry, and
then, yeah, so then it took offand then I got a job with SeaTow
as a SeaTow captain and Istarted.
Then it really I was like, wow,now I'm really seeing
everything.
Yeah, I can imagine.
(02:38):
So we covered a lot of groundover the years.
And then 2020, during covid,when everybody bought a boat
sure, that's when we really gotbusy and when we got like, I
mean, I was just bombarded and Idecided to make a tough
decision I left my jobs, tookthis on full time because we
were doing really well oninstagram and selling merch and
all this stuff, and but I toldmyself in 2020, I was like I got
(02:59):
to do something besides justposting entertaining content,
which it still is entertainingbut we're telling people like,
hey, listen, guys, this is whatnot to do.
Right, you know, before you goand buy a $500,000 boat and give
it to your 15 year old son,whatever the situation may be,
educate yourself and like andand utilize the technology and
(03:21):
tools and stuff that we evensell on our website to become a
better waterman all around umand so they don't end up on your
videos?
Kristina Hebert (03:28):
yeah, exactly, and also so they don't die you
know, I mean there's people.
Aaron Stasiak (03:31):
Of course I'm a serious yes and it's serious,
though it's out of control.
I mean we talked about thisyesterday with alex.
I mean it's, it's, it's crazy.
A lot of the um, the stuff thathappens in the water isn't
really publicized a lot and weshare it.
And I got people all the timethat call me or tell me like hey
, man, never thought this kindof stuff could happen in the
water.
Like thank you for raisingawareness.
So that's our goal.
(03:52):
Moving forward is to build asafer community, but also keep
the entertainment right Because,like, if I lose the
entertainment, I'm going to losethe engagement I agree, People
need to be engaged and then,when you have them, then you can
provide that proper educationand prevention of accidents.
Kristina Hebert (04:06):
So tell me what are some of your top tips on
safety?
You know number one, two andthree that you would like to
give that advice.
Here's a shout out.
Aaron Stasiak (04:16):
So, number one, I would say first just take a
course, take it, I mean everylike a navigation, voting safety
course, like every state's,different you know, but some
states like, I think, florida, Ithink, if you're over the age
of Africa, I think it's like 30or so, whatever the age is.
Kristina Hebert (04:33):
There is a year , a birth year, and then it just
gradually continues where youdon't need to have anything at
all.
Aaron Stasiak (04:39):
So my best advice is take a course, know the
rules of the road, get thebasics and then, when you buy a
boat and if you really don'tknow what you're doing, hire.
There's so many captains allover the place and if anybody
has any questions, I mean, checkout our website.
I've got a list of captains allover the country that can you
know.
Give you a hands-on training.
So that's one.
I would say that education Twois learn a lot of what.
(05:07):
Educate yourself on how to let'ssay, worst case scenario, like
somebody gets a huge lacerationon the water or you have
somebody that has a heart attack, whatever Know how or the
boat's going down, know how tobe prepared for those situations
and know not to panic.
You know if anything and stuffhappens to the best captains out
there I don't care whetheryou've had a boat for a year or
(05:28):
whatever it's gonna, it's stuffcan happen and it's it's how you
handle those situations whichmakes you agree you know a safe
captain and also when it's yourfamily if it's, something
happens and you're out therewith your little kid.
Kristina Hebert (05:39):
You know your emotions are going to be all
over.
So the more you know and themore and the more you train.
Aaron Stasiak (05:43):
Yeah, yeah, and you also got to remember too,
like you're the only one outthere until you get to land, for
to get professional assistance,so it's on you to get somebody
home safe and hopefully make it.
So, yeah, I mean, let's get CPRcertified, nobody use a
tourniquet, and really just I'mnot trying to scare anybody away
at all, but just think worstcase scenario if you're going to
(06:05):
go fishing, if you're going togo, like on a long travel 50
plus miles, whatever it is, sothat and then, um, I would say,
you know, educate yourself alsowith technology.
There's so much technology outthere too.
Like, don't rely on it, bututilize it to your, your, your
advantage, because it's there.
Kristina Hebert (06:22):
So, one of best advices.
I listened to a Coast Guardseminar.
One of the things they weretalking about is first off, you
have to plan to be in the waterthree hours.
Aaron Stasiak (06:33):
Yeah.
Kristina Hebert (06:33):
Even if you know, let's say, your boat's
going down, what have you?
And you have all the safetygear.
That it's not like, even ifthey can fly out and they can
see you in a helicopter.
The number one thing theytalked about was the EPIRB that
the boats have, which is, oh Iyou know, there was a time when
I could have told you theacronym, what it meant, but
emergency position indicatingradio beacon All right, all
(06:56):
right, good, you got it Good,that's why you are the qualified
captain.
But that don't register it toyour office and and or a PO box,
like it needs to be registered,but it needs to go to a cell
phone, to somebody who willanswer the phone.
Actually 90% of the times theydon't.
Aaron Stasiak (07:12):
Yeah, yeah, um, it's funny you bring that up.
We just had a spearfishingtournament in Wrightsville beach
and I was in it and uh one ofmy buddies, he perps, went off
by accident.
And it happens, it's a little,he had a PLB, it's a personal
location beacon that you put onyour belt or whatever and his
went off and he had, uh it was,he had family members crying and
stuff, but they've looked.
I mean, obviously it was out bymistake, but but still, at
(07:35):
least it went to the family.
Kristina Hebert (07:36):
At least it went to the right numbers.
That many times they go tooffice lines and it goes to a
voicemail and it's like thatdidn't help anybody, and that's
what I mentioned earlier.
Aaron Stasiak (07:45):
Like technology, like I mean every boat in my
opinion, especially if you'regoing outside a cell phone range
, like you've got to have anE-Perv.
We offer, we make these traumakits that we sell.
Okay, they have a full, likeit's not a normal first aid kit,
it's got a whole stop to bleedkit tourniquets, chest seals,
all in a nice Pelican case.
Kristina Hebert (08:04):
Okay, I carry those kind of things on my boat,
you know, um, once againthinking worst case scenario.
So what's kind of like, even inour cars?
I mean, I, I have a fairly newcar, it's probably a year old
but um, I have one of those uhjumpers that will automatically
charge your battery.
I'm not just standing on thecorner anymore with with uh
(08:24):
jumper cables hoping some weirdperson's going to stop, you know
in the middle of the night theyhave they have things for you.
You always have water in yourcar, you always have.
I mean.
I think it's it's common, we doit, we have it in our homes, we
have smoke detectors, we haveall sorts of safety things that
it seems like it would be commonsense to have in our boat.
But I do think people focus somuch on the fun and that has not
(08:45):
just small boat, that's a superyacht size to issue.
Aaron Stasiak (08:49):
One thing I noticed when I worked at the
Marina um, it's likerecreational boaters.
You know we all have busy lives.
You know we don't have muchtime to check and make sure
everything's good, that it runsgood.
It's not.
It's most of the time, oh,let's get the kids on and go out
for the weekend, you know, sure, and you don't have time to
really check on everything, makesure everything's good.
Didn't think about that and uh,and that's when mistakes can
(09:10):
happen, but um, so I think, eventhough our we're in the same
industry, our livelihood.
Kristina Hebert (09:16):
So I you said that you didn't know anything
about Marine electric.
Aaron Stasiak (09:20):
So I got a call from Alex and he said come on by
.
Kristina Hebert (09:23):
So now here's my elevator pitch.
Okay, so you see, it's like theWard's Way podcast.
You're probably like what doesthat mean?
So we're 75 years, I'm thirdgeneration, we do marine
electric, we don't doelectronics.
Congratulations.
Aaron Stasiak (09:35):
Thank you.
Kristina Hebert (09:36):
Thank you.
We are specifically in themarine electric, so we provide
power, we distribute power, weprovide all the parts that are
related to that power, fromshore power to distribution
Awesome but I would say that ourtop priorities is safety too.
Aaron Stasiak (09:52):
Yeah.
Kristina Hebert (09:52):
You know, when you have electric on a boat
that's sitting in water, youknow straight current's not a
good thing.
Aaron Stasiak (10:01):
Electrical systems need to be secure as
well.
I'm glad you brought that upbecause it's a good thing to
talk about.
Every Friday we usually try todo a Qualified Captain Tip of
the Week on our social mediapages and that'd be something
cool we could maybe do in thefuture is talk about electrical
currents in the water, because alot of guys I know at least
they bottom clean boats and theydive and I mean it's relatively
(10:23):
safer in saltwater.
Kristina Hebert (10:24):
It is.
Aaron Stasiak (10:25):
Correct.
But with that being said,though, I I'd like to make
that's a good idea.
Maybe you guys can give us alittle like not now, but monday
on the road and come a littlevideo and I'll share, because,
yeah, a lot of people now arelike well, screw it, I can dive,
I'll just do it myself, youknow oh, no.
Kristina Hebert (10:38):
No, yeah, you know.
Um, you're right, softsaltwater is better because it's
a less conductive carrier ofelectric.
But, um, to this day, I willgive the piece of advice If your
sunglasses fall in the water inthe marina, let them go.
Go get a new pair.
Don't jump in after them.
You never know.
Aaron Stasiak (10:56):
I've heard of stories, I've seen it, I've
gotten the articles sent to meonline, and that's something I
need to educate myself.
I hate electricity, I hateelectricity.
Well, you don't hate it.
I hate electricity, I hateelectricity.
Kristina Hebert (11:07):
Well, no, you don't hate it.
You have a healthy fear, andthere's nothing wrong with that,
and if everybody had a healthyfear, they would prioritize it,
and then you make sure that it'snever something you have to
interact with and it's somethingthat you take care of.
Aaron Stasiak (11:20):
Yeah, I'm terrified of getting like.
Kristina Hebert (11:23):
And so our awards way stands for.
For us, there's obviously awrong way to do things.
There's a right way and thenthere's a wards way.
We always try to take things upto the highest level.
Aaron Stasiak (11:34):
What else do you?
So I mean literally everythingright.
Kristina Hebert (11:37):
So we started off as just a.
My grandfather worked afterWorld War.
I worked in the bean fields inthe Everglades but really loved
boating, and in Fort Lauderdaleback in the late 40s everything
closed on Wednesday to gofishing.
Everybody went fishing.
All businesses closed.
Everybody did it for theirfamilies.
(11:57):
It was just obviously a simplertime.
And so he was like, listen, Igot to figure out a way to do
this generator boat thingtogether.
And he did, and he was also apilot, so he would fly over to
the Bahamas to work on boats,because back then boats really
didn't stay in Florida.
And in fact the MarineIndustries Association of South
Florida, which owns the boatshow, was formed in 1961 because
(12:21):
they would try to convince thecity to have 15 amp dock power.
Aaron Stasiak (12:26):
Oh, wow.
Kristina Hebert (12:26):
At its city marina so that the boats would
stay overnight, and that's whythe association formed to have a
united voice to keep the boatshere.
So imagine 15 amp service, likeyou couldn't even run the hair
dryers anymore on the boat.
Aaron Stasiak (12:41):
But they're just pioneering.
Kristina Hebert (12:42):
I guess it was it was, and so then we started
carrying.
You know, we starteddistributing parts worldwide.
We started off service.
We still have service.
We started distributing partsworldwide.
We started off service.
We still have service.
We do engineering so we candesign from stem to stern for
new builds.
We can do refits.
We work with builders on superyachts and sport fish one of our
big—.
Aaron Stasiak (13:01):
That was my next question.
What's your main—I don't know.
It sounds like bigger boats,like yachts.
Kristina Hebert (13:07):
Well, I'll tell you, though, one of our best
niches is working with the sportfish builders.
We do a lot with Spencer, withBayliss, with Merritt, with Jim
Smith, with Rybovich, MichaelRybovich and sons, and a lot of
that is because these sport fishboats, a lot of them, have
super yacht owners.
(13:27):
They want to, you know, plug inbut everything that used to be
like kind of rotary switch andkeep it easy and the boat
doesn't need.
It's so much more complicated.
And the electrical requirementsfor these sport fish that they
also want to go dark whenthey're, you know, anchored off
of Costa Rica, they don't wantto be running generators all the
time.
So electrical, um powermanagement systems have become
(13:50):
critical on a lot of these sportfish.
So we do a lot with the sportfish builders.
Aaron Stasiak (13:54):
Have you guys um messed, start messing with solar
much.
Kristina Hebert (13:58):
No, but it has come to us.
Um, we work with a company,zantrex, that's owned by Mission
Critical, and so they're comingout with some new um solar
power equipment and you know,we've interacted with it, we've
installed, we've worked with.
We haven't done a lot ofintegration with it, but I see
it coming.
It's coming more and more.
Aaron Stasiak (14:18):
That's something I always wonder, too Like
there's a place by us off ofWrightsville Beach that we go
and dive at.
It's called the Frying PanTower.
It's an old Coast Guard tower.
I don't think you've ever heardof it, but we now have it
basically almost by the end ofthis year it should be 100%
runoff solar.
Kristina Hebert (14:33):
Oh, wow.
Aaron Stasiak (14:34):
And he's got the battery room.
That's insane.
The whole setup is incredible.
I don't know too much about it.
Like I said, I'm not a big fanof electricity.
Kristina Hebert (14:42):
Leave it to others.
Aaron Stasiak (14:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, just remember wards now, and I
would love to learn more, Ireally would.
I just I never.
I mean I could wire a basic18-foot boat and stuff like that
, but I just don't like to Like.
I said I know it's scary, Idon't like.
I got lit up once and I justdid not like it.
Kristina Hebert (14:59):
Well, you probably did something wrong.
Aaron Stasiak (15:00):
Yeah, I absolutely did something wrong.
Kristina Hebert (15:03):
The other thing .
I will tell you that we lookfor you know how you have tips.
Aaron Stasiak (15:11):
We did a uh, it's called a blue tape so if you
ever see blue tape in yourengine room, that's a problem.
We always say that we shouldbuild a little video one day,
like that I can share, whetherit's you or whoever, and just um
, yeah, like a random little tipthat not many people know about
, you know?
Kristina Hebert (15:20):
for example, like one of the things, like we
would attend these charterbroker events and and a lot of
the charter brokers are verysimilar to you.
Like, do not do not starttalking to me about electric.
I am so not interested and I'mlike I get it, but you want to
know what can ruin a charter.
Is that lighting doesn't work,or maybe one of those generator
goes out and all the hair dryerswon't work before dinner?
Or what about if the galley orthe wine cooler, it's all
(15:42):
electric?
Aaron Stasiak (15:43):
Oh, trust me, I've had issues.
I'm still having issues.
We'll talk about that later.
Oh, absolutely, but I okay.
Kristina Hebert (15:56):
Lighting is definitely one, and we work with
a company, total Lux.
Um, that's providing, you know,lighting in our booth right
here and some things like that.
But I tell the charter brokers,if you're, if you go to a
charter show and you're lookingat boats and you see, all the
boats are plugged into shorepower and there's one that's on
generator.
That a red flag.
Why is that boat on generatorsitting at the dock?
Well, either they can't plug inor they're having a shore power
issue.
Um, walk around, don't just seehow well they can cook.
(16:17):
I would make sure that whilewhile the galley's going start
turning on washer and dryers,start running hair dryers and
every, and if everything startstripping, you're gonna know what
your charter is like.
And then also, I always say goin the engine room.
If you see any blue tape in anyboat in an engine room,
especially one that's near apanel that they're holding a
breaker, you would see more thannot that's a problem, because
(16:40):
that breaker should not betripping and tape is not helping
.
Aaron Stasiak (16:43):
Yeah, I've always .
I've grown up on centerconsoles and these center
consoles are getting bigger andbigger and more.
Yes, there's a lot going on inthese little boats now.
Kristina Hebert (16:52):
Absolutely.
Aaron Stasiak (16:52):
With seat keepers and all that stuff.
Yes, yes, yeah, but the wiringjob.
I give my buddy Brendan a hugeshout out.
He did a great job on my boat,good.
Kristina Hebert (17:00):
Good.
Aaron Stasiak (17:01):
We got a 33-foot Anzo Bayless center console.
There's one out here, but it isartwork when you look inside.
Kristina Hebert (17:07):
It really is and it's in a very limited space
.
And you know, especially onboats, like I said, everybody's
wanting their boats to do more.
Well, air conditioning would begood.
Well, I definitely want myunderwater lights.
I got to be cool.
Aaron Stasiak (17:19):
I kept on pretty simple.
I just got.
Yeah, I didn't do much.
Of course, the fun things likethe underwater lights and all
that stuff don't work anymore Me, I know.
Kristina Hebert (17:30):
But Well, we can help with that Now I'm glad.
I got you.
We can help with that,absolutely.
Aaron Stasiak (17:36):
Well, it's fun when everything works, but no
electricity is no joke, though.
On the water it's like I don'tknow, something that I want to
learn more about.
Kristina Hebert (17:45):
Well, I think that in this boat show, we're
following the networking We'vebeen put together by Alex, the
yacht guy who connected us, tobe able to help each other, so I
think this is a greatopportunity, absolutely.
Aaron Stasiak (17:58):
And once again too, if you guys have any tips,
let's combine or let's worktogether.
One day Create some videos andshare that on our page, because
electricity is one thing that Ihaven't really talked too much
about and it is a serious hazardtoo.
I mean, it kills people all thetime.
Kristina Hebert (18:13):
It can and you know it is so simple at times to
correct and there's so manyvery simple things that you
could do to be able to.
Just you know, I wouldrecommend to everybody have a
meter, keep a meter around.
Electric doesn't lie.
It's very factual.
It's very black and white.
So if you understand how tohave a meter and you can read
things and look, you can detectproblems and you'll know that is
(18:35):
not right.
Yeah, and you'll be able toidentify it right away.
Even if it's, I know thatthat's not right.
I need to call yeah.
Batteries and battery chargersare another big issue.
People think all lithiumbatteries are the same.
All A lithium batteries are thesame.
All AGM batteries are the same,all battery chargers.
They're not.
They need to be paired together.
They need to be bought at thesame time.
(18:56):
Don't update.
That's another tip.
Aaron Stasiak (19:00):
Don't update.
We need to write all this down.
Kristina Hebert (19:01):
It's recorded, oh yeah, yeah, it's true, but
it's true.
Buy all the batteries at thesame time, yeah, and buy a
charger that has the rightsettings.
There are multiple settings onthe charger.
That's charging the rightbatteries the right way, easy.
90% of the time when thebatteries die, maybe they only
(19:22):
replace one out of four.
Aaron Stasiak (19:23):
Yeah.
Kristina Hebert (19:23):
Yeah, but they're not going to be the same
batteries and people don't payattention to that.
They're not like AAAs or AAs.
It doesn't matter whether it'sKirkland brand or.
Aaron Stasiak (19:32):
Is there any batteries that you recommend?
There's a couple of new.
I get people reach out to meall the time about these new
batteries that are in theindustry now and I don't know.
Kristina Hebert (19:43):
A lot of them are really good.
My thing would be just to makesure that the equipment that
you're using for if so, ifthey're your starter batteries
or they're your house batteriesuse the batteries that are
called for by the manufacturer.
Seems easy, yeah yeah um, andthen make sure that if you get a
bank, they're the same brand,same lot number, same battery
(20:04):
type.
Okay, and then a charger is setto manage that bank properly.
It's really that simple and 99%of the battery problems they
don't match and the charger'snot matching to them, and then
it's just a problem and all thebatteries end up dying.
And then people are like, oh,these are terrible batteries.
No, they just weren't the rightones.
Aaron Stasiak (20:24):
It's the one thing that'll ruin everybody's
day.
Kristina Hebert (20:27):
It does absolutely agree.
If your beer's hot and the airconditioning is not working,
nobody wants to be on your boat.
Yeah, yeah, so well, it's beena pleasure meeting you, Aaron.
Thank you for taking this timeno thank you guys.
And really you know you're sucha social media icon, so I
appreciate you being a part ofthe Ward's Way Season 2 podcast
(20:48):
and thanks for being here.
Hope you have a great show.
I appreciate it Look forward todoing some videos in the future
.
Absolutely, thank you so much,thank you.
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.