First Look Marine Services LLC

01/09/2026

Growing up in Florida, boats, the water, and Jimmy Buffett have always seemed to go hand in hand. That lifestyle and the way Jimmy looked at life are a big part of what made so many of us fall in love with being on the water in the first place.

It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since we lost him. His music is certainly missed, but maybe even more so, the attitude behind it - enjoy the ride, appreciate the people around you, laugh often, and always try to see the good side.

Thanks to Captain Vinnie and Last Mango Boatworks for sharing this today and for continuing to carry that spirit forward.

Today seems like a pretty good day to try to be a little more like Jimmy. 🌴⚓️🦜

Fins up. We miss you, Bubba.

23/08/2026

Another successful transport for First Look Marine Services.

This Grady-White Freedom 335 measures roughly 36 feet overall with nearly a 12-foot beam, making it an oversized load and a job that takes some planning.

Our customer was heading to the Florida Keys for vacation and wanted the trip to actually feel like a vacation - not spend hours captaining the boat down, burning a pile of fuel, or dealing with the stress of trailering a boat this size across the state.

So we handled it all.

We picked up the boat in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, secured the required oversized-load permits, transported her to the Keys, filled the boat with fuel, and launched her at the ramp so the owner could simply show up and enjoy his boat.

A week later, we did it all in reverse - picked her up at the ramp in the Keys and brought her safely back home to Florida’s west coast.

Sometimes the best part of a boating vacation is letting someone else handle the logistics.

First Look Marine Services
From First Look to Final Delivery.

🌐 firstlookmarine.com

23/08/2026

Huge shoutout and thank you to Octoshine Boat Detailing Sarasota & Bradenton for the incredible job ceramic coating our new Silverado! The depth, gloss, and mirror-like finish on the black paint are absolutely incredible. 🔥

We’ve used Octoshine several times and have also referred a number of our First Look Marine Services customers to them for their boats and vehicles, always with great results and happy customers.

Dayanna and Wesley - thank you both! Your attention to detail, hard work, and pride in what you do really shows. We truly appreciate how well you’ve taken care of us and the people we’ve sent your way.

Couldn’t be happier with how the truck turned out. Just look at that shine! 😎✨

27/07/2026

Respect where it's due.

Eddie Smith, owner of Grady-White Boats, just made headlines for turning down an estimated $400 million sale of his company. Instead, he's pledging all future profits to charity, following a model similar to Patagonia's founder.

After losing his only heir, Smith could have cashed out and walked away. Instead, at 83, after building Grady-White from a struggling boat maker in 1968 into one of the most respected names in saltwater fishing boats, he chose to protect his 350 employees. Grady-White offers extensive benefits including generous retirement funding, profit sharing, financial literacy programs, on-site health care, and even a company chaplain. Smith said keeping that culture alive was a major reason he gave the company to a purpose trust instead of selling it.

"I had no confidence that a new owner would keep that kind of culture going," Smith said. "This company has a soul, and I didn't want to lose that."

In an industry where too many companies chase the biggest payday, it's refreshing to see a builder who never took on outside investors, never went public, and put his people ahead of a $400 million payout. That's the kind of leadership we can get behind at First Look Marine Services.

Congrats, Mr. Smith. Well done. ⚓

After his sole heir died, Eddie Smith, the owner of Grady-White Boats, looked for a way to pass on his legacy. He was inspired by Patagonia to pledge future profits to charity.

16/07/2026

Client's on his way back to Bradenton soon. His boat? Already picked up, hauled out, and on its way to service.
This is what concierge care looks like at First Look Marine Services. We had his trailer serviced two weeks ago, ran the boat from his private lift, hauled it out, secured it for transport, and delivered it to the shop of his choice. We even connected him with a trusted detailer for a full detail and ceramic coat, and when we pick the boat back up, we'll fill it with ethanol-free fuel before it goes back on the lift, so he's not paying marina prices.
He doesn't lift a finger. Shiny, serviced, full of fuel, and ready to go. All he has to do is push the button and he's on the water - without all the hassles of boat ownership.
Marine surveys, vessel transport, and concierge boat care for owners who'd rather be on the water than dealing with logistics.
📍 Bradenton / Anna Maria Island, FL
🌐 firstlookmarine.com

08/07/2026

Selling your boat? Don't let a survey be the first time you hear about a problem.
Most deals don't fall apart because the boat is bad — they fall apart because nobody knew about an issue until the buyer's surveyor found it. By then, it's too late to fix it, price around it, or even plan for the conversation.
A pre-listing inspection puts you ahead of it. We'll go through your boat the same way a buyer's surveyor will, so you know exactly what's coming before it's ever an issue.
✅ Fix what's worth fixing
✅ Price around what isn't
✅ Walk into your sale with zero surprises
📍 Bradenton, FL | USCG Licensed Master Captain
📞 (941) 920-0318
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.firstlookmarine.com
Schedule your pre-listing inspection today.

04/07/2026

🎆 Happy 4th of July from First Look Marine Services! 🎆

Whether you’re heading out for fireworks on the water or just enjoying the holiday at the dock, we want every boater out there to have a great - and safe - Fourth.

A few reminders before you cast off:
🦺 Life jackets on for everyone, especially kids
🍺 Designate a sober skipper - no alcohol at the helm
📡 Check your vessel, lights, and radio before you leave the dock
🌅 Keep an eye on the weather and give other boaters plenty of room, especially after dark

From all of us at First Look Marine Services, have a safe, fun, and memorable Independence Day on the water! 🇺🇸⚓

📍 Serving the Sarasota-Bradenton area and beyond

🌐 www.firstlookmarine.com

20/05/2026

We’re excited to share the new website for First Look Marine Services!

Visit us at www.firstlookmarine.com to learn more about the services we offer, including:

⚓ Vessel transport by land or sea
⚓ Pre-purchase inspections and consultations
⚓ Sea trial and captaining support
⚓ New owner orientation
⚓ Hurricane haul-out and storage coordination

At First Look Marine Services, our goal is to provide reliable, professional, and experienced support for boat owners, buyers, sellers, and brokerages throughout Florida.

Take a look and feel free to reach out if we can help with your next marine service need.

www.firstlookmarine.com

Phone: (941) 920-0318Email: [email protected] Licensed & Insured“Serving buyers, owners, and brokers with practical experience and professional support” From First Look to Final Delivery Marine transport, inspections, sea trial support, and owner orientation throughout Florida and be...