Transporting Referrals

Good Old Boat Magazine

December 2010 Newsletter

MAIL BUOY

LESLIE TRANSPORT AND SERVICES

With our new boat securely tucked under its winter canvas, I wanted to let you know how pleased Joyce and I were with the service we received by one of Good Old Boat’s advertisers, Leslie Transport and Services.

Having sold our Pearson 28-2 last year, we spent more than six months searching for the right replacement boat. We found our Caliber 35 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. After the negotiations, the marine survey, and what seemed like reams of paperwork (a Florida boat, Canadian owners, and we’re in Ohio), it was time to move it to the Great Lakes. We solicited bids from three boat haulers. While their rates were all in the same ballpark, we discovered that their services were for hauling only. Decommissioning and commissioning, including unstepping and stepping the mast, were not included. These services could easily add $1,000 to the bill, and if we wanted to know how and what was done, another trip to Florida was required . . . another cost!

In the Good Old Boat classifieds, I came across an ad for Leslie Transport and Services. A couple of things caught my eye: “Sailors Moving Sailors,” expert rig tuning, and crane services. I spoke with Derek Leslie and described my situation. He said he would do it all! In fact, that’s the “services” part of Leslie Transport and Services. His quote was very reasonable and we signed a contract.

Being a sailor and having routinely transported his Catalina 30 from Tennessee to the Gulf of Mexico and back, Derek designed and built his transport trailer, which incorporates a crane. He coordinated with the broker and the Florida yard, arrived on time, decommissioned the boat, secured everything for transport, including shrink-wrapping the mast, and took numerous pictures to document condition and ensure proper reassembly. While on the road, he kept me apprised of his whereabouts and his anticipated ETA. On delivery day, we arrived at the marina 30 minutes ahead of schedule. He and his helper were already there and working. By lunchtime, our boat was floating at the dock.

Throughout the entire process, Derek and his helper were professional and courteous in every way. There were a lot of unknowns and potentially anxious moments, but Derek made the process go smoothly. Gregg and Joyce Nestor

Scott Hall, I was very pleased with the services you provided with the move of my Colgate.

Craig Sherman, You did a wonderful job and being able to let you do a TURN KEY project was wonderful - we did not have to do anything
but just be at the marina when you arrived. I also appreciate the little extras you provided at no extra charge (you probably dont even remember them,but I do)

David Taylor, My Hunter 310 was transported from Harbor Island to Elm Hill Marina. This function was carried out by Leslie Transport and Services. I was very pleased
by the services that Leslie Transport and Services provided! Some of their characteristics that I observed:
* Very professional in all their dealings
* The team of Derek Leslie and Ray Bullits worked in a very dedicated and efficient manner.
* Checking, rechecking,and rechecking agaiun every minute detail of the decommissioning and re-commissioning of the boat.
* They exceeded their time commitment by half of a day.
* Very pleasant and conscientious demeanors.
I would not hesitate to recommend this operation to anyone who needs their boats moved near or far.

Jim Berstorf, Thanks again for your help and professionalism.

Bob Koch, I was very happy with the move. I thought that you did the job as if you were the owner of the boat. I wish you continued success. If I need my current boat
or another boat in the future, I will give you a call.

Del Scruggs,

Derek,

Thanks for a first rate job! You have a great business as well as being a pleasure to deal with personally. Keep up the good work.

I will definitely call you first for any boat that I need moved.

Please feel free to use me as a recommendation anytime.

Thanks again.

Del

Dean Henderson, I am a satisfied customer and will refer any and all to you if and when they decide to move their boat. The fact that my boat had some unknown electrical issues was not your fault. I do however commend you for the extra work you did and your dedication in ensuring my boat was completely secured before considering the job done. It was, in my opinion as owner, a job well done!

If you need your sailboat moved, I heartily recommend Leslie Transport and Services. They have now hauled and transported my 30’ Islander twice and both jobs demonstrated professionalism in every aspect. In addition to prompt response and on-time arrival, they thoroughly pressure wash the hull with water brought on the truck, unstep the mast with a crane built onto the truck, and wrap the parts needing protection during the trip. The whole process is fast, painless and very reasonably priced. The integrated crane simplifies the process immensely and reduces costs. Thanks, Derek, for another job well-done.

Gary Pardun

s/v Galilean

Hi Derek,

Thank you so much for all of your help! We really appreciate everything you've done for us. Please post our recommendation to your website.

I recommend Leslie Transport to any boat owner anywhere. Derek is awesome! He took all of our worries away and made our boat move easy, fun and educational. He treated us and our boat the way anyone would want to be treated, answered all of our questions and even met us at the dock to make sure Island Dreamin' was safely in her slip. We shopped around before finding Derek and he offered a more complete service at a better price. He shows up early with all necessary equipment, perfectly maintained, completes the job as promised, and makes sure you are completely satisfied before heading home. Feel free to email us at dennisb2009@att.net.

Dennis and Bavette Battern
Island Dreamin'

To whom it may concern,

Leslie Transport moved my Pearson 28-2 across Nashville in one day. Derek pulled the boat out of the water, pressure washed the bottom allowing my surveyor a good look at the bottom of the boat and gave him plenty of time to do his inspection. After accepting the boat Derek broke the boat down, took it across town, rigged it back up, and had it in the water by late in the afternoon. I was sailing the next day without one issue regarding the boat or how it was rigged back up. Derek was professional, did everything he said he would, and took great care of the boat. He is somebody I would not hesitate to give an excellent referral to. I personally am planning to use him again when I pull the boat in the winter for a new bottom.

You can contact me at JoeScatt@aol.com

Thanks very much, Derek, and for the well wishes on the sailing; and especially for
taking such good care of my girl!
If I elect to do an East Coast staging for the trip in the late-ish
spring, I'll call you FIRST!
Fair winds,

Nick L.

Contact any of these customers for a referral.

Allen Douglas, Marine Surveyor & Principal, Marine Surveyor's & Consultants LLC marinesurveyllc@charter.net

Russel Lackey Russell.lackey@comcast.net Nashville Sailboat Marina, Dock Master

Greg Nestor rotsen@nls.net Good Old Boat Editor

Jonathan Helfand jh@jhmp.com

Bruce Hammock Hammocklb@yahoo.com

Todd Bosch tillertodd@gmail.com

Bill Chase kowboyup@sbcglobal.net

Christopher Stevens physics20636@gmail.com

Decho Lliev decho2@gmail.com

Bobby Linebarger linebarger@embarqmail.com

John Wood john.wood8084@yahoo.com

Nicholas Leonard ohlson38@gmail.com

Pat Bridges pjandcarol@bellsouth.net

LeRoy Nooter sailsall@yahoo.com

John Atherton jgatherton@aol.com

Joe Crawford marcoten@aol.com

Roger Van Deusen vandeusenr@gmail.com

Skip Borre SBorre@actionequipment.com

Chuck Bradford Chuck.Bradford@fluor.com

Buddy Chason farnientechason@gmail.com

Bryan Huls Bryan.huls@oimarine.com

Tom Mason tom@digitalreptile.com

John Taylor john.taylor@falconjet.com

Joe Scattergood Joe.Scattergood@paccar.com

Dave Latiolais davel823@aol.com

Michel Vion mvion@aol.com

John Gaston jgaston@twcnet.edu

Robert Cain rmc2sail@aol.com

Joan Dodge 5squirrels@roadrunner.com

Peter Litchfield peterlitchfield@hotmail.com

Jim Mccann mccann615@bellsouth.net

Drew Jordan Jordanonfifth@comcast.net

Jim Bernstorf jim@julesdistribution.com

Del Scruggs pdelmasscruggs@gmail.com

Greg Nestor rotsen@nls.net (Good Old Boat Editor)

James Kirkpatrick jfkirk2004@yahoo.com

Don Van indo4636@yahoo.com

Karen Stephenson stephen.k1@juno.com

Scott Hall gsh3979@hotmail.com

Dave Ferg damcferg@msn.com

Ray Briggs srbriggs@ymail.com

Max Roberts meroberts@fuse.net

Gary Pardun gpardun@yahoo.com

Craig Shermer clshermer@tva.gov

Steve Campbell smcmo@aol.com

Doc Weaver docweaver@comcast.net

Rafal Ablamowicz rablamowicz@tntech.edu

Mark Girone markgi@msn.com

Joe Dodd arsenal@newwavecomm.net

Michel Vion mvion@aol.com

Bob Koch rekoch1949@comcast.net

James Mittenthal jpmittenthal@yahoo.com

Alan Jorgensen jor123@wildblue.net

David Taylor yoridavid@tds.net

Shaun Jeffries sjeffries@nashvilleshores.com

Ken Daniels ddssailmakers@yahoo.com

Len Baker Porschedblb@bellsouth.net

Dan Thompson pemaquidlight@yahoo.com

Lem Stevens Lem.Stevens@erm.com

Dean Henderson jdhbuilder@yahoo.com

Dave Cohen bluehole007@gmail.com

Harry Whitaker whit@nmu.edu

Carolin Smoak carolynsmoak@usa.net

Lloyd Hayes lloyd.hayes@yahoo.com

David Korwek element0346@roadrunner.com

Ed Hiland ehlander@aol.com

Chuck Bradford chuck.bradford@fluor.com

Rodger Coney rconey@yahoo.com

George Ransdell drransdell@bellsouth.net

John Hansen jmhansen@kin.net

Gary Pack sailman@comcast.net

Merwin Ullestad maucru@aol.com

Peter Adolf jtadolf@bellsouth.net

Dave Mitchell catalina28549@yahoo.com

Corwin Wherrett olsalti@aol.com

George Ransdell drransdell@bellsouth.net

Dave Hunsucker hunsail@bellsouth.net

John Coulter coultereng@bellsouth.net

Richard Waggoner richard.waggoner@genworth.com

Larry Johnson gbwk50@yahoo.com

Michael Higgins higgins@vanderbilt.edu

MarcNachman marc@alberts-inc.com

Parker Peacock hattitudesportfishing@msn.com

Bob Barclay brickkicker@earthlink.com

Bud Wynn Wynn9141@bellsouth.net

Kathy Barbee Kathryn.menefee@gamil.com

Dennis Battern dbattern@centene.com

Cody King ckcodyki@gmail.com