What's New with Joule Yacht Transporter

Is Your Boat Harboring Fugitives?

Zebra Mussels on Boat Propeller

Ahhhh! Spring is finally here! Boat manufacturers, marinas, and dealers alike are gearing up for the busiest season of the year: building, selling, transporting, and maintaining boats all over the US and Canada.

Many of you, particularly in the Northwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast sections of the US, are well aware of the invasive aquatic species known as zebra or quagga mussels. There is a Federal law known as the Lacey Act that makes it illegal to transport certain invasive species across state lines, or across international borders into the United States.

A number of states have enacted legislation to combat the spreading of these invasive species and have been actively enforcing these laws. Boat transporters and brokers, sellers, and auctioneers have a particular role to play to fight the spread.

Check Boats and Trailers for Mussels We recently received information regarding the best practices to follow to prevent the spread of these invasive species. It comes from the cooperative efforts of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, and other groups.

They cite three simple steps to follow to prepare any boat sold or being prepped for overland transport in order to minimize any delays or fines due to zebra or quagga mussels: CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY.

Further, more complete information can be found at www.westernais.org/moving-a-boat

Although this information was provided by organizations from the Northwest US, additional information is available from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and from many other organizations, including the US Geological Survey and the Department of Natural Resources in many states. An internet search will provide many choices of informative material regarding these invasive aquatic species.

As a transport company, our loads our inspected at different weigh stations across the US and Canada and we have been delayed due to the presence of zebra mussels on boats being transported. Not a fun experience!

Please do your part to prevent the spreading of these invasive species and in keeping our waterways safe and clean for all to enjoy!

Long-Time Dispatcher Retiring After 25 Years

JYT Dispatches with Retiring Dave Stratton

Pictured are Matt Jensen, Chad Berg, Dave Stratton, Ken Bachman and Barry Snell.

This month we will wish a Fond Farewell and a Happy Retirement to long time employee Dave Stratton.

In his 25+ years working in and heading up the Joule Yacht Dispatch office, Dave has welcomed and provided guidance to nearly every driver that has worked for us, ordered thousands of oversized permits, and counseled all of us with his knowledge of routing all over the US.

Dave began his career in the marine industry at Morgan Yachts, where he had the important assignment of loading Morgan sailboats of all sizes onto boat trailers for overland transport throughout the country.

Dave’s knowledge of all things associated with hauling boats is vast. He can talk a driver through a difficult loading scenario over the phone, painting a clear picture for the driver of what he needs to do to get the boat on the trailer the best way possible for transport. If we could only download the knowledge he carries in his brain, it would fill volumes… and there would still be some little detail that only Dave would remember about loading a certain boat a particular way or routing a certain way that even the state permitting office wouldn’t know about.

Dave is well-liked and greatly respected not only by his fellow employees at Joule Yacht, but also by the many customers and vendors he has dealt with over the years. He has taught a number of dispatchers during his tenure, and leaves behind a great dispatch team to guide Joule Yacht Transport in the years to come: Matt, Ken, Chad, and Barry.

We join all of our customers and employees in wishing Dave, his wife Nancy, his children, grandchildren, and—yes—great grandchild much fun, relaxation, happiness, good health, safe travels, and lots of fishing in the future!