There’s plenty of time to get everything on your to-do list checked off this, the shortest month of the year, because you’ll get an extra day this leap year. Make sure you include our monthly networking mixer on that list for the first Wednesday in February.

This month’s get-together falls on Feb. 6 and we’ll gather from 6-8 p.m. at Briny’s Pub along Riverwalk in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

This month’s sponsor is the Vertical Yacht Club, which will be opening a dry dock storage facility in Ft. Lauderdale soon. Come meet John Ross, senior vice president of development and construction. Until then, here’s a little more about Ross and Vertical Yacht Club.

Q: Tell us a little about Vertical Yacht Club and its business history.

Vertical Yacht Club is reaching new heights in luxury and dry dock storage.  It is the ultimate hurricane-resistant, high-tech yacht club and boat storage facility.

Our system uses computer-controlled, laser guided, precision lifting for the storage of boats. The facilities are climate-controlled and protect boats from the salt air, salt water and the sun. The patented technology will virtually eliminate hull and gel coat damage typically associated with forklifts.

Each Vertical Yacht Club will include amenities such as concierge, valet services, business centers and comfortable lounge areas. We are in the process of developing a network of Vertical Yacht Clubs throughout Florida and around the world and members will have the opportunity to receive reciprocal rights at other VYC facilities. 

Q: Is VYC a franchise or a private business? Is it owned by Vertical Yachts? Who are the owners?

VYCD is a subsidiary to Aqua Marine Partners (AMP), a full-service marine holding company which includes marina acquisitions, management, development and construction. VYCD is the development and construction division of AMP and it is responsible for the development of wet and dry stack marinas using the state-of-the-art bridge crane technology.

VYCD is owned by AMP, represented by Andrew Sturner, and owned by Chris Rosenberg and John Ross.  

Q: You use pretty sophisticated dry stack storage technology. Is there really a need for it?

Over the years, the average boat has become larger and larger and within the 30- to 40-foot class. As is typical of today’s market, owners could easily spend upward of $500,000 on their investment.

With that type of investment, owners do not want to see their boat bouncing on a forklift or sliding down a wood bunk in a rack. Our technology cradles the boat on an air-filled platform and gently sets it on a precisely placed V-cradle within the rack.

Using the patented "Hercules" technology, VYCD can now lift vessels up to 100 tons and 90 feet in length. These much larger vessels require more attention because of their sophisticated systems. This is why VYCD spent countless hours discussing with some of the industries top yacht experts such as Atlas Marine, Beard Refrigeration and many marine architects, on how to safely store these yachts out of the water.

The result is a fully customized cradle, complete climate controlled environment and available shore power in each of the "yacht suites" currently proposed for our Vertical Yacht Club Marina Mile location. There is no doubt based on all of our survey data that the time has come for vessels in this range to be stored out of the water and out of the elements in a climate controlled cat 5 hurricane resistant building.     

Q: These slips are too small for megayachts, aren’t they? Why are you marketing this business to megayacht captains and crew?

First of all, if you consider 90 feet a small yacht in today’s market, you’re right. However we have been very sensitive to the captain and crew community in that we want to help them manage their yacht in a cost-effective manner by keeping them out of the elements.

Secondly, we do not want to compete with the captain and crew’s living arrangements on board, which are most predominant on vessels larger than 90 feet.

Once the captain and crew understand the maintenance savings, we feel there is no better promoter of our technology because everyone knows owners typically defer the berthing arrangements to the captains of their vessels.