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Palm City Yachts

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About the Business

Welcome to Palm City Yachts - Your premier boat dealership out of South Florida handling all your boating needs! Our brands consist of Sea Pro, Sea Fox, Bluewater, Pioneer, Bulls Bay, Avenger, Avid, and Suzuki Marine boat engines. Need your Suzuki motor re-powered? Let our experts help you get exactly what you want for your boat to perform at its highest level through a Suzuki re-power. …

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2901 S E Gran Park Way

Stuart, FL 34997

Serving Stuart Area

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Wow! I cannot say enough great things about Palm City Yachts, especially our salesman, Josh Hogan. He went above and beyond to help us repower our Pro-Line with a 300 hp Suzuki outboard at an unbeatable rate. From the moment I stepped into the dealership, Josh's expertise and dedication were evident. He patiently listened to my needs, provided valuable insights, and guided me through every step of the process with professionalism and enthusiasm. Thanks to Josh and the team at Palm City Yachts, we're now cruising the waters with confidence and power. If you're in the market for marine products or services, look no further than Palm City Yachts - they truly deliver excellence.

Shady Business, I gave Palm City Yachts a $500.00 deposits for a new outboard engine . I made the purchase on 8/10/2021 they strung me along for about 7 months saying because of the Covid, Next thing I knew they shut down the location and stole my $500.00 deposit. These people are not reputable, I would not recommend giving them any money up front or doing any business with them, they are a bunch of crooks. If I could give them 0 stars I would.

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Business Manager

Jun 20, 2024

We are not closed Sir, Our Lantana location is closed but our Stuart location is open. Our two locations worked together so you could have easily seen our information online to give us a call and us help you out on getting your motor or deposit back. I apologize for any inconvenience and sorry for the late response as we haven't had access to this Yelp account.

Just repowered from Twin 250 Yamaha's to twin 300 Suzuki's. I had a very pleasant experience and they were able to price match the quote I got from a dealer farther away. They did a fine job installing new outboards binnacle and gauges and were very quick and efficient. They even picked up my boat and delivered back after the install. I was nervous of the old poor reviews but the recent reviews were good. Very happy with them so far. Communication could have been a little better but the services were great. Mike 2005, 28 Southport

Dash with Former Yam gauges patched and new Suzuki Gauges installed.

New twin 300 Suzuki installed

Well polished shop, great selection of motors Got us in and out repowered in one day. Drove all the way from Naples because they had the one motor we needed in stock in the entire state of Florida.

I used Palm City Yachts to re-power A Glacier Bay in 2020. I ran that boat for about two years with no issue. I went in for a 200 hour service and kept looking at the 2022 Twin Vee's. I got a price baseline from Matt at Palm City Yacht and priced from Islamorada to Jacksonville. No one could come close to the price and the accessory upgrades. Palm City Yacht gave me the most for my trade-in. Not to mention that my experience at Palm City Yacht was very good no high-pressure selling no trying to take me to a bigger boat for more money. The service department is top notch they've done everything I've asked. You don't become the top Suzuki dealer by not doing a kick ass job! Thank You, Blake, Matt and Cody!

2022 Twin Vee 240GFX

Re-powered my whaler in 2021. When they ran the new rigging, they left the oil tank under the rigging to make it almost impossible to remove. They assured me that they would remove the old oil tank, but , there it was full of oil under all the rigging. And of course the tank was full and with the winds cut it would've just poured oil everywhere. I also asked him to check the bowel light and they said it was fine they just change the bulb, which was also not true because the bow light still does not work. It was a very shoddy installation to say the least.

Took my Sea Pro 22/8 in for some warranty work and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had with a dealer. The service was fast and the work done was first class all to the efforts of their irreplaceable Service Manager Ruth. Thanks again Palm City Yachts. Seth Blackstock

This is one of three worst buis. That i have ever done buis. with. In 2020 they repowered my 22' bay boat without testing the transom so 2 months down the road i had problems. I had to have the motor removed and transom work done to carry the weight of the motor Palm city quoted me 1500 to R&R the motor. I got the job done by someone else for 500 then 2021 the boat went in for a starter issue they told me i had 2 bad batteries i told them to replace them. A week later i had issue so i decided so take somewhere else and they informed me that the batteries were connected wrong. 2 months lter my gas gauge went out they told me it was the sending unit i told them we had replaced that wen we repowered they said i was right. Then they said it would take 10 man hrs to replace at 150 per hr and i was responsible wen i talked to the service manager who is a complete idiot he had no amswers for my wuestions and said ill call u back @ that point i drove 15 mile to go get my boat to bring to someone else and will never even buy a quart of oil from these Morons little did they know i will be purchasing a New 27' Center Console in the Spring this yr They Really Blew that one !!!

12/18/20 Well, I saw this boat for sale on line from Palm Bay yachts, in stuart, fl. It was an 2006 for a competitive price. I called and talked to a salesman named Matt about it and gave him anot offer based on the pictures he shared with me. Based on ongoing emails, he told me the owner would come down a couple of thousand and that's as low as he was willing to go. I asked him was there anything wrong with the boat and he said "just the steering ram needed to be replaced, our techs. went through it and everything is in order". That was great to hear from a buyers standpoint. Needless to say, I was excited! It took some convincing on my part, for the wife to get on board, lol. I asked for more pictures, which Matt sent, to help convince the misses. I explained to my wife "Matt said .... and techs. did..... and boat was straight up ace!! And it worked! I told Matt that I was coming from Tampa area, which is about 3 hours away. So, I get up early and head down there, lots of traffic, but made it in 4 hours. Walk up to the boat and met Matt just before approaching the tongue of the trailer (he1 wasn't with anyone). "High" I said, "I'm the guy that's been chatting with you about this boat." He said "yes, I'm Matt, go ahead and look at it while I take care of some paperwork. I'll be back with you in a bit." So, now I'm inside....... outside........... underneath............ back inside the boat........ walked around and looked at another boat kind of the same way. My point being, I was out there for A WHILE!! He never came back out to check on me, answer any questions I may have had. So, now I'm a little concerned about the whereabouts of my salesman, what could have Happened! An emergency had occurred? No. Was he looking for me, and missed me in Passing? No. Was he working on paperwork on a billion dollar Deal? No. He was just standing at the counter b.s.ing with other employees that he sees everyday, 30-50 hrs. a week. My oh my what could've been so important, having a laughing discussion with with his constituents, or assist on selling this boat? Needles to say, I was a little miffed!! I didn'the like leaving what I have spent years saving, sitting in my glove box. I said something to the group of men in passing "where's Matt? (I saw him there, lol) oh he's just ignoring his customer, laugh snicker", in my subtle way. We literally took 4 steps together, listened to him Bragg all the antique Mustangs they've purchased. I scratched my head and said, "you know there's some damage on the boat.... I was interrupted with "THE OWNER WON'T TAKE A DIME LESS!!" My response was, I guess we have nothing more to talk ab... as he turned and walked away from me...... You can imagine the frustration I had. A.) Working on my wife to buy a boat. B.) Being told the boat was gone through and only needed one repair (not forthright) C.) Pictures sent did not disclose cracked interior panels, (very deceiving) D.) Ignoring your customer, for shame!! E.) Not being attentive, and answer any questions he, or she, may have. (Not helpful) F.) Taking into consideration the long drive the customer had. (Offer him/her a water maybe) G.) Man, the list goes on..... Moral of the story is, a person may or may not be a millionaire, but all bleed when cut, get my point. I came with all the money, cash, with taxes figured into the equation (I WORK FOR A DEALER TOO, MY FRIEND) to buy this boat and (I feel) like I just wasn't good enough to had been talked to and maybe reassured that this was a good purchase. Just think...... your paycheck could've been a wee bit bigger if ....... Public: Stay away from this guy..... and his photographer!!!!!!

Horrible service experience Lewis in the service department is clueless and Patrick the service manager won't even talk to you to hear your issues. I took my boat in for service and they damaged it and then basically called me a liar and said they didn't do it!!

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VIP Marinas Purchases Meridian Marina and Yacht Club

After being in bankruptcy since summer 2019, Meridian Marina and Yacht Club in Palm City, Florida, is now under new ownership and undergoing improvements.

“Twenty-four months from now it will look like a totally different place,” said Austin Cameron, owner of VIP Marinas . With the addition of Meridian Marina, the company now owns two Florida marinas, one on each coast.

The previous owner had managed the property since 2009, taking ownership around 2015. Cameron said the owner did not have money to invest in the property for the last several years. “When you have a marina and stop fixing stuff it snowballs,” he said.

When VIP Marinas took ownership in January 2021 there were holes in the roof of the boat storage building, environmental concerns, and one of the employees told him they had not had soap for six months.

“The existing employees are incredible,” Cameron said. “They’ve been holding it together with duct tape and bubble gum. They’ve worked their tails off.” Colliers International Leisure Property Advisors had the listing originally. A representative at Colliers said they had several offers on the property, but the owner “kept moving the goal post.” Cameron was one of those early potential buyers.

He and his wife, Jenny, who is a co-owner of VIP Marinas, spent the night on their boat at Meridian Marina and met with the owner, Tim Mullen. Cameron told Mullen what he thought the marina was valued at, but they couldn’t work out a deal. “We moved on.” Cameron said. “Jenny was on maternity leave and we spent our time cruising the Florida coastlines looking for another marina to buy.”

In the interim, the bankruptcy proceedings continued, and the marina was scheduled to go up for auction in December 2020. Then one day the owner called Cameron to see if he was still interested. “He said, ‘Let me know today.’” The Camerons were living on their boat “Corporate Office” at Anclote Village, a marina in Holiday, Florida, that VIP Marinas bought in September 2019. They planned to boat to Palm City, but when they got to Lake Okeechobee they found the lock was closed due to vegetation blocking the waterway. They turned around, went back to Fort Myers and rented a car to make the drive. Because of the looming deadline and the auction approaching, Cameron said he had about a week to do due diligence on the property and did not have time to go through the usual contract process. He got approval from the court the day before the marina was set to go on the auction block. The sale closed 30 days later, and they took possession on January 8, 2021.

“It’s an old marina and needs a lot of love,” Cameron said. His immediate priorities were a new roof for the boat storage building, buying a new forklift, upgrading the fuel system and environmental remediation.

Even with all the problems at the property, it was operating at near capacity and there is demand for growth. A new planned community is being built about five miles from the marina that will include 4,200 homes.

Cameron’s timeline includes renovating and repairing the existing buildings by June 1, starting the process for expansion, which he expects to take about 18 months, and by the third year being fully operational. “It’s going to be a massive turnaround,” he said.

The marina sits on 11.75 acres along the St. Lucie River. The property includes a 62,000-square-foot storage facility that can accommodate up to 300 boats, and a 6,000-square-foot multi-purpose building. The docks include three wet slips and a staging area for boaters.

Cameron plans to add storage for another 280 boats, including space that can accommodate today’s larger boats. He also wants to position the marina as a stopping point for transient boaters. “In our first week, we had three transients stop over,” he said. The new additions will include dock space for transients, a new seawall, a restaurant, new fuel system, a laundry facility, ships store, boat sales and service, and courtesy car service.

VIP Marinas Growth While Austin and Jenny are busy putting their plans in motion at Meridian, his brother has joined the team as a managing partner at Marina Bay Harbor in Clear Lake Shores, Texas. Marina Bay Harbor is a fully-enclosed dry stack facility that can accommodate 220 boats up to 47 feet in length. Cameron said that property is seeing a full turn-around as well – they are installing new docks, a new fuel system, service center and ship’s store.

The company also expanded its Surfside Marina in Surfside Beach, Texas, by buying the facility next door, which allowed them to nearly quadruple the service center capacity.

Early in his career, Cameron set a goal to own 10 marinas by the time he was 45, when he surpassed that, he upped the ante to 15 marinas. Now at age 41, he owns 12 marinas. He shares the credit for his success with his employees and local managers and says he’s lucky to be the leader of VIP Marinas. “I wouldn’t be able to do this if my other team members weren’t so amazing,” he said. “I don’t even have to be at my other facilities. Our Chief Operating Officer Felecia Ongley and the local management teams are who does the work day-to-day. They treat the marina as if it were their own. We’re very blessed to have the employees we do.”

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The Palm Beach brand takes its name not from Florida but from the idyllic peninsular of Sydney’s Northern Beaches where our founder and CEO, Mark Richards, grew up and discovered an all-consuming passion for the sea.

EVOLUTION OF A CLASSIC

Mark started sailing at the age of six, racing with the Manly juniors, and then went on to spend his teenage years at the Royal Motor Yacht Club where he completed his apprenticeship as a shipwright.

By the age of twenty he was competing in the Admiral’s cup as a professional yachtsman and then spent ten exciting and challenging years travelling the world on the match racing Grand Prix circuit.

This experience gave Mark a grounding in every aspect of designing and building boats. From sweeping the floors to helping John McConachy develop cutting edge innovations for America’s Cup yachts, he learned the trade and craft from top to bottom and inside out.

A BREAK WITH TRADITION

And then in 1995, he saw an opportunity.

Inspired by the lines of the lobster boats he’d seen while racing in the US, he decided to design and build what he called a ‘sailor’s power boat’ – a highly efficient, high speed cruising motor yacht.

He studied the competitors and found them to be heavy, unstable and wildly inefficient. So, drawing from his racing experience, he set out to build a lighter boat, one whose hull gave a fine entry into the water, a softer ride and consumed only half the fuel.

Working with basic 2D drawings, he created the concept of the first PB38 and immediately sold four of them off the plan.

This was the launch of our company and it created the mold for our way of working, our standards, our values and ambitions.

CONSTANT EVOLUTION

Since those early days, the PB38 has spawned the nine models in our range, every one of them an evolution of its predecessor.

Twenty-five years on, Mark is still involved in every aspect of the design and manufacture of our boats. They’re born in his imagination. (Seventeen have started their lives in the notebook beside his bed!)

The designs are then rendered under his scrupulous eye before construction is approved. Once in the factory, every boat is subject to his fanatical attention to detail.

It’s fair to say that if you have a problem on board a Palm Beach Motor Yacht, Mark is the only CEO in the world who can pick up a tool kit and come and fix it!

THE WILD OATS YEARS

Wild oats xi and skipper mark richards are an extraordinary success story – winners of the rolex sydney to hobart yacht race an unimaginable nine times.

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP

Back in the late 90s, Mark first collaborated with Bob Oatley to develop a series of 60ft racing yachts. This teamwork culminated in the sloop ‘Another Duchess’ which proved to be the star performer in the 2003 Race Week at Hamilton Island. With Mark at the helm, she was described by competitors and pundits alike as ‘Unstoppable!’

However, it was the arrival of Wild Oats IX in the same year that cemented Australia’s most successful racing partnership. Named after one of Bob’s vineyards in Mudgee, she was the first yacht equipped with a hydraulic canting keel and took Mark to victory in the Admiral’s Cup in England.

Her successor, the 66ft Wild Oats X, also enjoyed great success and won line honours in both the 2005 and 2007 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

IMPOSSIBLE BUT TRUE!

But it is Wild Oats XI that will go down in history. This 100ft maxi yacht was completed only two weeks before the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race and yet went on to win the ‘treble’ – line honours, handicap and race record.

And that was just the start of her story. Since then, Mark has skippered Wild Oats XI to victory a further eight times, winning the Treble a second time and repeatedly breaking all records in this most gruelling of races.

It’s the stuff of legend.

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The yachts owned by celebrities

How can someone who is recognised everywhere get away from it all? On a superyacht, of course. Yachts owned by celebrities range in style and size, but one thing that unite these vessels is their owner's love for the sea. Our round-up features the famous faces of British footballer David Beckham, tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, martial artist Conor McGregor and fashion designer Giorgio Armani. 

Unknown owned by Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović took delivery of the second hull in Benetti 's 34M Oasis, named Unknown , in 2022.  The 34 metre superyacht has had a busy maiden season, cruising around the emerald coasts of Sardinia showing off her trademarked Oasis deck and RWD -designed exterior. Ibrahimović has posted the yacht on social media extensively, with videos of him and his friends playing with a drone and putting her huge locker of water toys - which includes a floating dock - to good use. The Oasis 34M follows in the footsteps of the highly popular Oasis 40M, the first hull of which, Rebeca , is owned by champion powerboat racer Tim Ciasulli.

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Seven owned by david beckham.

Ex-England football star and Inter Miami owner David Beckham has been revealed as the owner of a 28 metre Riva Argo 90 . Named after Beckham's iconic football shirt number, Seven was launched in October 2021 and constructed in GRP. Studio Officina Italiana Design penned the yacht both inside and out, while Ferretti Engineering Department oversaw her naval architecture. Stand out design features include the sun lounging space on the foredeck, while twin MTU diesel engines power her to a top speed of 30 knots. 

Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 owned by Conor McGregor

UFC fighter Conor McGregor has been revealed as the owner of a recently completed Tecnomar For Lamborghini 63 yacht . The 19.2 metre yacht is a crossover of the two brands and designed to satisfy owners who enjoy superyachts and supercars. McGregor’s yacht features a distinctive gold hull paint and will feature the same materials as a Lamborghini supercar. Inspired by Lamborghini’s Siàn FKP 37 model, Tecnomar For Lamborghini features an aerodynamic profile and special “carbon skin”.

Viva a Vida owned by Tom Brady

NFL superstar Tom Brady took delivery of a 16 metre custom cruiser from Dutch builder Wajer towards the end of 2020 after signing a $50 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The quarterback is clearly a keen fan of the Wajer yachts after he recently announced he had commissioned a larger mode, the Wajer 77. The Wajer 55S, christened Viva a Vida , sports a baby blue hull and is powered by three 435hp Volvo Penta engines guaranteeing a wild ride with speeds in excess of 40 knots. A walkaround centre console allows guests to make the most of the deck space available with stowage for SeaBobs and other toys concealed beneath the aft stairway. Below deck, the Wajer 55S offers accommodation for four. Other cool features include push-button fenders and an extendable swim platform. The 55S is the souped-up version of its older sibling, the Wajer 55 , and comes from the boards of Dutch design studio Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design . 

Great White owned by Rafael Nadal

Tennis ace  Rafael Nadal  is the proud new owner of a Sunreef 80 Power superyacht , which was delivered in June 2020. Nadal commissioned the catamaran after previously chartering a number of Sunreef catamarans and meeting yard founder and president Francis Lapp at the 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival. This is not his first foray into yachting however. Nadal previously owned a  Monte Carlo Yachts  76 named  Beethoven  which he bought in 2016. Nadal has spoken openly about his love of yachting and his decision to invest in a yacht, telling  Boat International , "Because I have a yacht, I am able to forget about everything and get away from that tiring stress. I do have a real passion for [superyachts]. It is rare that I see a superyacht from a distance and I don’t know its name. I know them all!"

Main owned by Giorgio Armani

Fashion designer Giorgio Armani has recently celebrated 40 years of life at sea  and of course the fashion icon has a suitably stylish yacht. Enter the 65 metre Codecasa yacht Main , owned by Giorgio Armani, which has been designed inside and out with input from Armani. The exterior of the yacht is in an unusual dark green colour, which suits the angular, military-inspired exterior lines. Inside, the yacht has a muted palette and features wow factors in a spiral staircase, gym, cinema and guest accommodation for 12.

Vendetta owned by Billy Joel

The modern classic commuter yacht Vendetta is just one of the many yachts that Billy Joel has owned. The "Piano Man" is a yacht fanatic, to the extent that he's even a celebrity yacht designer . Designed by Doug Zurn, the 17 metre Vendetta was created to be a true replica of the classic gentleman's commuter launches that were popularised in the 1920s for their quick speed to run down the Long Island Sound and into New York City. True to the intended form of the vessels, Billy Joel told BOAT International  that he has used the yacht to run from his home in Long Island to the City to perform in a concert. At one point, Billy Joel owned five yachts, including 29 metre Inace explorer yacht Audacious (re-named Miss Sarah J ) ,  which he converted to house a few of his motorcycles. Fresh from a refit, Vendetta has recently joined the brokerage market and is listed for sale with Fraser .

Infinity owned by NBA star Tony Parker

In December 2018, Turkish yard AvA Yachts announced that it had sold the second hull in its 35 metre Kando 110 series to NBA star Tony Parker and the yacht was delivered two years later. Named Infinity , the steel and aluminium full displacement yacht will feature a bulbous bow and has been designed in-house. The 340GT yacht will accommodate 12 guests in six cabins with crew quarters for six including a separate captain’s double cabin. The four-decked yacht will feature a “light, contemporary interior décor” chosen by the basketball star and his wife, who are said to have put the yard through a rigorous selection process before choosing AvA for their new build.

Freedom owned by Roberto Cavalli

Much secrecy surrounded the construction of fashion designer Roberto Cavalli’s yacht until it was delivered in 2018. Built by Italian shipyard Cerri Cantieri Navali , the 27-metre Freedom was designed by Tommaso Spadolini in collaboration with her owner. According to Cavalli, the inspiration for the yacht’s design was the aesthetic of batman’s superhero batmobile. This explains the severe lines, jet black exterior and tinted windows which make up the yacht’s distinctive appearance. on board, Cavalli’s signature animal-print furnishings adorn the cabins and saloons. Freedom can accommodate six guests and three crew members and has two dining areas on board. Powered by three water jet engines, Freedom’s moderate size means that she can reach a top speed of 40 knots.

Eos owned by Diane von Furstenburg

Launched by  Lürssen in 2006, 93 metre sailing yacht Eos was bought by fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg and her husband IAC Chairman Barry Diller in 2009. The schooner features exterior design by Bill Langan and interior design by Francois Catroux with accommodation for 16 guests and 21 crew. Diller and von Furstenburg often use the yacht to host a star-studded group of friends with Bravo host Andy Cohen the latest celebrity spotted on this superyacht .

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'I have to get out of here so I can live': Captain survives explosion; will he boat again?

NORTH PALM BEACH — Capt. Tim Hoban wants to return to the water if his badly burned body lets him. He wonders if he ever will.

His boat went up in flames on the morning of Aug. 24 after he had docked it at Lott Brothers, a fishing-supply store along Northlake Boulevard, and had started doing a maintenance check before his day's charters.

“Next thing I knew, I was unconscious and engulfed in flames,” the 47-year-old Lake Park resident said from his bed at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami this past week. “I jumped off the side of the boat into the water and started screaming for help.”

Nearly half of Tim’s body sustained second and third-degree burns. He is recovering at Jackson's trauma center and hopes to go home this week, after receiving skin grafts onto the burns covering his legs, feet, hands, back and face.

Hoban called his wounds “the most painful thing” he has ever experienced, especially when they are cleaned, which happens daily and can take hours each time. His greatest comfort has been his wife, Ashley, who has helped him to eat and take his first steps since the explosion.

The boat damaged beyond repair was a Grady-White Express 330, a white 33-foot saltwater fishing vessel Hoban named the "Island Hopper" and called his “baby.” The thousands of fishing and snorkeling charters he's run from it for the past decade have been his family’s main source of income. A friend has launched an online fundraiser to help cover the Hobans' living expenses as he heals.

“His vessel and all his fishing rods are a loss and his way of making a living is gone,” said Jonathan Witkowski of Palm City, Tim’s friend for more than 20 years. “I just felt bad."

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What happened? Captain, wife recall day their boat, and world, exploded

Distinguished by a full red beard and a bright smile, Hoban grew up boating in Jupiter and The Bahamas and caught his first fish at 2 years old. Friends describe him as kind, generous and easygoing. Witkowski said Hoban loaded up his boat full of supplies and took at least four trips to the Bahamas when Hurricane Dorian struck the islands in 2019.

As is part of his daily routine, Hoban docked at Lott Brothers early that Saturday to buy ice and bait. There, he tried to replace a broken float switch on his boat, a part which detects water in its bilge tank.

As he flicked a lighter to apply a "heat shrink" connector to cover and protect the switch's electrical wires while they are heated, fuel vapors built up below the cabin, and the boat exploded. Hoban caught fire along with it.

A deckhand from Lott Brothers heard him as he fell into the water and threw Hoban a life ring. Hoban said he swam, grabbed onto barnacles and pulled himself onto the dock with parts of his skin and clothes singed off. He then found a water hose and sprayed himself down while screaming. When paramedics arrived to take Hoban to St. Mary’s Medical Center in an ambulance, Hoban immediately told them to call his wife and tell her where he was bound.

“I love my wife and I’m so sad she almost lost me,” Hoban said. “I was on fire and all I could think was, ‘I have to get out of here so I can live.’ ”

Ashley was driving to Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach to meet Hoban with breakfast when the boat exploded. Her heart sank when she saw smoke coming from the marina behind Lott Brothers and the business surrounded by fire trucks. She said she knew it was him and drove straight to St. Mary’s after speaking with a police officer at the site.

“My hands were shaking so badly that the officer made me promise I wouldn’t drive like a maniac,” said Ashley Hoban, 44, who grew up in Texas and works with Hoban on the boat. “He said, ‘You have to be there for your husband, so don’t hurt yourself in the process.’ I focused on that.”

At St. Mary’s, doctors gave Hoban a CT scan to check for internal damage and, in the first bit of good news, didn't find any. They then put him on antibiotics and other medication and inserted a breathing tube before flying him 70 miles south to Jackson Memorial in a helicopter a few hours later.

Boat fires may be more common than people realize. The U.S. Coast Guard counted 232 of them nationwide in 2022, with most of them fuel-related explosions, leading to 128 injuries and five deaths.

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Amid his pain, Hoban has already cleared a critical hurdle in his recovery: He survived the first week after the fire.

That first week is the most critical time for patients with significant burns, said Dr. Robert Borrego, the medical director at St. Mary's trauma center. It's the time when the risk of infection — and of mortality — are at their highest. Skin protects the body from bacteria, and infected skin can lead to fatal conditions such as sepsis.

The skin grafting that Hoban was receiving last week should reduce that risk.

Borrego called grafts “the key” for patients with substantial burns because it helps the wounds to heal and reduces the patient's pain. Still, it is possible the grafted areas and burned skin won't function exactly like they did before, potentially leaving burn patients with mobility issues.

“One of the worst areas for burns are the hands, because we all use our hands for our livelihoods,” Borrego said. “A lot of challenges follow (patients) as far as being able to reuse their hands.”

Burn victims also feel pain while damaged nerve endings regenerate. Second and third-degree burns can impair them to the point where people can lose feeling in some areas completely. The pain that a patient feels while nerve endings regenerate is often part of the path to healing, Borrego said.

Many people with significant burns are looking at recovery time from around six months to one year to “go back to normal,” Borrego said.

Here’s what is left of a boat which exploded on the morning of Aug. 24 in North Palm Beach. Capt. Tim Hoban caught fire along with it and is recovering from burn wounds at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Video by Hoban’s friend, Jonathan Witkowski. pic.twitter.com/CxGOBYtBQd — Maya Lane (@mayalaneyy) September 6, 2024

Borrego said people with mostly second-degree burns who spend lots of time aboard boats should be able to get back on the water once they heal. They just need to protect their skin from the sun as much as possible.

He said burn patients are susceptible to Marjolin ulcers, a type of cancer that can occur in burned skin and happens to patients who don't get skin grafts, so the damaged skin constantly tries to remodel.

After the captain goes home from the hospital, he will get physical therapy and visit a hospital once a week for wound care for at least several months, Ashley Hoban said. Burn patients can relearn how to pick things up, apply pressure and walk in physical therapy, which some may attend for years after the incident.

As Hoban copes with his pain, he realizes the sizable challenge ahead if he were to return to the water. After recovery, he would still need the money to buy a new boat. The one that exploded was from a salvage lot, and he spent nine months remodeling it.

"I bought that boat cheap and put all my heart into sanding it, gel-coating it, fixing its thru-holes and putting new power on it," Hoban said. "I don't have the energy to do that now. I love being a captain and I'm really good at it, but I just can't even walk right now."

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Hoban's friends know him to have a resilient spirit and are certain it will help him as he rallies after the fire.

Witkowski has witnessed it personally. Hoban and Ashley would pick up bartending and food delivery shifts at Stadium Grill in Jupiter — which Witkowski's family owns — when charters were slow to make ends meet. Witkowski remembers moments like these as he watches Hoban deal with the darkest moments of his life.

"Tim just has a real love for the water and gets very enthusiastic about it," Witkowski said. "When you go fishing with him, he gets really hyped up. When you leave, you feel like you're more than a client. You're like a friend or family to him. "

"He’s a good guy with a good heart."

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at [email protected] . Support local journalism: Subscribe today .

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida charter captain recovering after boat explodes

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