April 29, 2009
Hal Parsons would still be on the greens if it weren’t for the boat.
With his Class A professional golf certification and seven years in the golf industry, Parsons was on course in his career. Then he bought a 19-foot Wellcraft and his shot began to veer. He found himself navigating the waters more often than swinging his nine iron.
Fast-forward from interim golf pro to Thunderbolt Marine where Parsons is now dockmaster. Thunderbolt is a marina and yacht repair/refit facility along the shore of the Wilmington River in Thunderbolt, Ga.
Growing up, Parsons lived 90 miles from the coast. But he always enjoyed the water, he said, and was drawn to it enough to buy himself that boat.
The appeal was also enough for him to leave his golf job and get his captain’s license for a new career with a water tour company. Next, he was assistant dockmaster at Bull River Marina in Savannah for seven years.
During this time, Parsons thought he wanted to start or buy a marina, but he realized that although he loved marinas, he preferred to work in one. When the dockmaster position opened at Thunderbolt Marine five years ago, Parsons found his perfect fairway.
Parsons manages the marina, which can accommodate vessels up to 200 feet. The yard can lift 160 tons and 1,150 tons. And it will get new floating concrete docks after dredging beneath is complete.
"We have long-term dockage, but transients are the focus of the marina," Parsons said. "This is such a pretty part of town; people really enjoy the surroundings."
When heading north on the Atlantic, yachts can enter the marina through the Wassau Sound, then head north to the Wilmington River. There is no overhead height restriction and megayachts often use this path. Take it several miles north when it becomes the ICW and turn south. There are no signs, but the marina is easy to find, Parsons said.
Thunderbolt can also be reached through the Savannah River entrance and down the ICW, but there is a 65-foot overhead height restriction. There is a mean river depth at low water of 12 feet (3.7m) and the basin in the yard is dredged to 14 feet (4.3m).
On the ICW at statute mile 583 there is no issue getting into the marina if you are in the channel. Outside the channel there can be shoaling.
"We’re known for our hospitality, so we get to see the same people year after year," Parsons said. Hospitality arrives each morning via Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a newspaper delivered to transient yachts, same as they have for the past 40 years.
Lots of things don’t change much around Thunderbolt. Even though Parsons has a sensible 17-foot Boston Whaler that he uses with his wife and two young boys, he still has – although motorless – that 19-foot boat.
Dorie Cox is a staff reporter with The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at dorie@the-triton.com .
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