Haines business briefs are an opportunity for the Chilkat Valley News to inform the community about new, small or improved businesses operating in the borough.
Driving Hawaii to Haines
Luke Marquardt of One Sea Diving said he fell in love with diving in Hawaii and started his business to get into Alaskan waters.
Marquardt, who has lived in Haines most of his life, started his company two years ago after living several months in Hawaii.
“I used to be scared of water,” Marquardt said. But after learning how dive in Hawaii, “I completely fell in love with it. It was a life-changing experience.”
He said he also had pressure sensitivity when flying, which was made better by consistently diving in depths of more than 60 feet.
Marquardt said he is available for a range of work, from untangling fishing net and line from boat propellers, to finding lost items in the harbor, changing link anodes and cleaning hulls.
Marquardt said cleaning boats in the water can save boatowners money from docking fees and increase efficiency.
Marquardt said he has bigger plans for his skill. He’s done research into creating and selling “floating” islands, which are man-made land masses where people can build self-sustaining cabins and gardens. One was recently built in the Caribbean and has become a tourist attraction.
He said through his business and future plans, he wants to teach people the ecological importance of water.
“All the water is connected and you can travel anywhere in the world on the ocean,” Marquardt said. “What you dump in the ocean doesn’t just disappear.”
For One Sea Diving, contact Luke Marquardt at 907-314-0001.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Motorsports a labor of love
After retiring from working as a border patrol officer, Dave Zugel decided to pursue his passion for everything motorized.
Zugel opened Over the Top Motorsports next to Haines Home Building on Haines Highway when he settled in Haines about three years ago.
He worked as a U.S. Customs and Immigration Officer at the Canadian border for nine years.
“I took my retirement money and opened the shop,” Zugel said.
The business offers snowmachines, motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs for sale and rent. Zugal said he also services the machines and does some work on boat engines.
“I got my first dirt bike when I was 11,” Zugel said. His dad and friends showed him how to fix it.
He said the business started with snowmachines and will stay open in the winter.
Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Call 907-766-3855 for more information.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
High demand for shuttle
A new shuttle service is offering rides for tourists and locals to and from Haines’ travel depots.
Jonathan Richardson and his son Anthony Swaner started the business Haines Shuttle about four months ago. The company offers rides from the ferry terminal, airport, fast ferry dock, trailheads, the golf course and other locations.
Richardson, who has lived in Haines for about three years, said he started the business when he saw tourists standing at the cruise ship dock without transportation. Now most of his business is at the ferry terminal.
“I didn’t realize how many people were stranded at the ferry terminal,” Richardson said. “It’s turned out to be a big part of the business.”
Haines Shuttle meets every ferry that comes into town in the summer, according to its website. Richardson said Haines Shuttle will also transport people to and from special events like the Southeast Alaska State Fair.
Richardson said most of his customers are from out of town.
“Business is really picking up now,” Richardson said. “We’re finally connecting with the right people.”
Haines Shuttle has two large vans, but Richardson said he would love to purchase a third van with all-wheel drive. He said in the summer, he thinks he has enough business to make a third van profitable.
Roundtrip rides outside of town cost about $10 per adult. The cost is $5 for rides within town. Small children are free and teenagers are half price. Call 766-3768 for more information.
Haines business briefs are an opportunity for the Chilkat Valley News to inform the community about new, small or improved businesses operating in the borough.
Driving Hawaii to Haines
Luke Marquardt of One Sea Diving said he fell in love with diving in Hawaii and started his business to get into Alaskan waters.
Marquardt, who has lived in Haines most of his life, started his company two years ago after living several months in Hawaii.
“I used to be scared of water,” Marquardt said. But after learning how dive in Hawaii, “I completely fell in love with it. It was a life-changing experience.”
He said he also had pressure sensitivity when flying, which was made better by consistently diving in depths of more than 60 feet.
Marquardt said he is available for a range of work, from untangling fishing net and line from boat propellers, to finding lost items in the harbor, changing link anodes and cleaning hulls.
Marquardt said cleaning boats in the water can save boatowners money from docking fees and increase efficiency.
Marquardt said he has bigger plans for his skill. He’s done research into creating and selling “floating” islands, which are man-made land masses where people can build self-sustaining cabins and gardens. One was recently built in the Caribbean and has become a tourist attraction.
He said through his business and future plans, he wants to teach people the ecological importance of water.
“All the water is connected and you can travel anywhere in the world on the ocean,” Marquardt said. “What you dump in the ocean doesn’t just disappear.”
For One Sea Diving, contact Luke Marquardt at 907-314-0001.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Motorsports a labor of love
After retiring from working as a border patrol officer, Dave Zugel decided to pursue his passion for everything motorized.
Zugel opened Over the Top Motorsports next to Haines Home Building on Haines Highway when he settled in Haines about three years ago.
He worked as a U.S. Customs and Immigration Officer at the Canadian border for nine years.
“I took my retirement money and opened the shop,” Zugel said.
The business offers snowmachines, motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs for sale and rent. Zugal said he also services the machines and does some work on boat engines.
“I got my first dirt bike when I was 11,” Zugel said. His dad and friends showed him how to fix it.
He said the business started with snowmachines and will stay open in the winter.
Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Call 907-766-3855 for more information.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
High demand for shuttle
A new shuttle service is offering rides for tourists and locals to and from Haines’ travel depots.
Jonathan Richardson and his son Anthony Swaner started the business Haines Shuttle about four months ago. The company offers rides from the ferry terminal, airport, fast ferry dock, trailheads, the golf course and other locations.
Richardson, who has lived in Haines for about three years, said he started the business when he saw tourists standing at the cruise ship dock without transportation. Now most of his business is at the ferry terminal.
“I didn’t realize how many people were stranded at the ferry terminal,” Richardson said. “It’s turned out to be a big part of the business.”
Haines Shuttle meets every ferry that comes into town in the summer, according to its website. Richardson said Haines Shuttle will also transport people to and from special events like the Southeast Alaska State Fair.
Richardson said most of his customers are from out of town.
“Business is really picking up now,” Richardson said. “We’re finally connecting with the right people.”
Haines Shuttle has two large vans, but Richardson said he would love to purchase a third van with all-wheel drive. He said in the summer, he thinks he has enough business to make a third van profitable.
Roundtrip rides outside of town cost about $10 per adult. The cost is $5 for rides within town. Small children are free and teenagers are half price. Call 766-3768 for more information.