May 2026 Business News for the Chesapeake & Mid-Atlantic Boating and Fishing Industry

8 hours ago
4 min read

SPF-360's Biz Buzz brings you the Chesapeake buzz about who's earning awards, making waves, debuting new products, on the move, and more marine business industry news—plus, new places to pick up SpinSheet, PropTalk, and FishTalk.

ON THE MOVE

Acquired

Seattle Yachts Annapolis is now Crusader Yacht Sales—again! All business operations have been acquired by Crusader Yachts Sales and owners Mike and Tia Titgemeyer are excited to be back in an ownership and management role for this legacy Annapolis boat dealership. This transition ensures continuity, experience, and a strong commitment to the boating community. Crusader will continue to represent Jeanneau Sailboats, Excess Catamarans, Tartan Yachts, Nordic Tugs, and Nimbus Boats. Conveniently located at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard, its team looks forward to providing the same expert, personalized service—whether buying your next boat or preparing to sell. “Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to helping you navigate your next adventure on the water” the company shared in a press release. crusaderyachts.com

Taking the Helm

Salt Yacht Brokerage announces the addition of Ed “Cap” Pickering to the team. Cap will be taking the helm at Salt Yacht Brokerage Company, bringing a wealth of experience and innovation. Tom Lippincott will continue to serve his clients and work alongside Cap and Connie Ranney to maintain the highest level of service. Born and raised in Rock Hall on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Ed, known to locals as Cap, grew up on the water. His love of the sea and sense of duty followed him through college and beyond. He holds the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves and a U.S. Coast Guard 3rd Mate’s License.

After years of owning and operating a remodeling company in the area, Cap returned to the waterfront once again, serving as Dock Master at his family’s marina for five years. In the fall of 2019, he combined his passion for boats with years of direct sales experience and became a yacht broker serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore with a large brokerage company. Over the past five years, he has worked with both national and regional brokerages be-fore ultimately choosing a more locally focused firm, joining Salt Yacht Brokerage in October 2025. In recent years he has sailed extensively—up and down the East Coast of the United States, throughout the Chesapeake Bay, into the British Virgin Islands, and among the Ionian Islands of Greece—and he has completed multiple deliveries, including New Zealand to Fiji in the South Pa-cific. Cap has logged more than 18,000 nautical miles in a short period of time, adding broad on-the-water experience and perspective that benefits both buyers and sellers. saltyachts.com

Making Waves

Appointed

The Viper 640 class has appointed SERO Sailing as the new official class builder, marking an exciting new chapter for the popular high-performance one-design class. With a vibrant racing calendar, expanding fleets, and a reputation for exciting, tactical competition, the Viper 640 continues to attract sailors seeking both performance and community. This appointment strengthens support for the sailors who have made the Viper 640 one of the most active sportboat fleets in the world. “After a long search, we are excited to appoint SERO Sailing as the class builder. During our site visit we were impressed with the professional production facility and strong customer support team,” said Steve Chapman, chair of the Viper 640 Class Association. “Having a builder closely connected to the North American fleet will help keep the class strong, accessible, and growing.”

The move reflects SERO Sailing’s commitment to investing in the future of the class while ensuring owners and fleets benefit from closer collaboration, responsive support, readily available parts, and consistent boat availability. SERO Sailing CEO Chris McLellan says, “I have a great deal of respect for what the Viper 640 class has built. It’s an exceptional boat and an even stronger com-munity. Our team is honored to take on the role of builder and is committed to delivering high-quality boats, reliable supply, and a long-term partnership with the class.” SERO Sailing plans to begin production in June, working closely with the class to maintain strict one-design standards while delivering the quality and performance that Viper sailors demand. SERO intends to campaign its initial production boat at events this coming summer. Sailors interested in purchasing a new boat, spare parts, or accessories are encouraged to contact SERO. viper640.org; seroinnovation.com

Reimbursement

Veterans can now use U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits to receive reimbursement for nine American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) certification exams, supporting veterans who are entering the marine industry or advancing their technical skills. “This marks a historic step forward for veterans who want to turn their skills into meaningful careers in the marine industry,” said Casey Bates, ABYC certification manager. “Veterans bring valuable technical experience and leadership, and we’re proud to support their next chapter through access to ABYC certifications.”

The certifications were approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission as the State Approving Agency and accepted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where they are now listed in the VA’s Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS). Veterans may seek reimbursement for approved ABYC certification exams taken on or after December 10. GI Bill education benefits help veterans, and in some cases their dependents, offset the cost of education. Active-duty service members also may be eligible to use these benefits.

The recreational marine industry continues to seek skilled technicians as boats become more technologically advanced and service demands grow. ABYC certifications are widely recognized as a benchmark for technical knowledge and professionalism, demonstrating a technician’s understanding of nationally accepted safety standards and industry best practices. The approved ABYC certification exams include: Advanced Marine Electrical, A/C Refrigeration, Marine Composites, Marine Corrosion, Marine Electrical, Marine Engines and Fuel Systems, Marine Standards, Marine Systems, and U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boat Regulations. Veterans seeking reimbursement can learn more and submit claims directly to the VA using VA Form 22-0803 by visiting va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool. Additional information about ABYC certifications and exam requirements is available at aby-cinc.org/va-reimbursement.

New Places To Pick Up SPF-360 Publications:

SpinSheet

Barnes and Noble in Annapolis, MD

McDaniel Yacht Basin in North East, MD

Pusser’s Landing Restaurant in Baltimore, MD

Three B's Bakery and Grill in Pasadena, MD

PropTalk

Pusser's Landing Restaurant in Baltimore, MD

Three B's Bakery and Grill in Pasadena, MD

FishTalk

Back Bay Anglers Club in Virginia Beach, VA

Gott Auto Body in Annapolis, MD