In this episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, Francisco Gonzalez joins Ryan Doyle aboard Amigo, a 1937 classic wooden Wheeler and sister ship to Ernest Hemingway’s famed Pilar, at the Riviera Beach Marina near West Palm Beach. Ryan shares his journey from a horse farm in Connecticut to the U.S. Coast Guard, maritime academy, and eventually a career in yachting that led him to founding Doyle Marine Management, the Vintage Boat Club, and the new Admiralty Marine Center. He explains what makes classic wooden boats so special, why he sees himself as a steward of maritime history, and how yacht management quietly turns owners’ dreams into reality. Ryan also lays out his vision for a marine trade school to train the next generation of shipwrights and wooden boat carpenters, an in-demand trade that AI won’t replace anytime soon. Throughout the conversation, themes of integrity, persistence, and the American Dream run strong, as Ryan and Francisco talk about finding a niche where passion meets market need and encourage listeners to “keep moving forward” in their own journeys.

Learn more about him at: https://www.doylemm.com

Find him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/doylemarinem/

You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/B1mepirP0tE

Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on:

Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/innovationradio

X: / https://x.com/agentinnovation

Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/AgentsOfInnovationPodcast

You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys

You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org and subscribe to our free newsletter at: https://fearlessjourneys.substack.com

00:00 – Intro and Riviera Beach marina setting

01:52 – Fearless Journeys community and DR cigar trip

02:55 – Don Doroteo connection and discovering Amigo

03:25 – Amigo as sister ship to Hemingway’s Pilar

04:29 – History of Amigo and Wheeler Shipyard

06:09 – Classic wooden boats vs modern “plastic” boats

08:23 – If Amigo could talk: an 88-year-old boat’s story

09:19 – Ryan’s upbringing, Coast Guard, and maritime academy

12:06 – Mystic wooden boat show and early inspirations

13:10 – Mentor’s lesson that “the dream is attainable”

15:07 – First classic yacht job in the Hamptons

16:31 – Why preserving maritime craftsmanship matters

17:31 – Finding Amigo in St. Thomas and earning owners’ trust

19:04 – Vintage Boat Club mission and experiences on the water

21:42 – Inside Doyle Marine Management and choosing the right clients

22:48 – What yacht management really involves behind the scenes

27:52 – Launching Admiralty Marine Center in Riviera Beach

29:21 – Lease-to-own vision and what the yard represents

31:29 – South Florida boating culture and business opportunities

32:38 – Labor shortage and dream of a marine trade school

37:02 – How a marine trade school could change young lives

38:02 – Juggling multiple marine businesses that complement each other

39:32 – Lessons for entrepreneurs: integrity and persistence

41:01 – Balancing obsession, family, and legacy

41:58 – Why “Admiralty Marine” and aiming for top-tier service

43:55 – Future of classic boating and a shrinking niche

47:47 – Boat boom in Florida and storage challenges

49:20 – Future plans for Vintage Boat Club and Doyle Marine

50:38 – What the American Dream means to Ryan

52:55 – Advice to young people: play to your strengths

54:47 – How to connect with Ryan on Instagram

55:31 – Final takeaway: keep moving forward

58:44 – Immigrant billionaire client and the percolator story

59:18 – Closing thanks and wrap-up