What happens when a plumbing business owner decides to buy a 50-year-old marina?
On this episode of Highway & Harbor, Ashley Tate sits down with Andrew Impagliazzo, owner of Tappan Zee Marina, to talk about his unexpected path into the marine industry and what it has taken to rebuild and modernize a longtime Hudson River marina.
When Andrew purchased Tappan Zee Marina eight years ago, he stepped into a business with decades of history — along with years of deferred maintenance and plenty to learn about an industry he hadn’t grown up in.
Andrew shares what those early years looked like, how his experience running a plumbing company translated into marina ownership, and why he eventually brought in a marina management company to help operate the facility.
They also get into the side of marina life customers rarely see: preparing docks and boats before the season begins, hauling and winterizing boats when it ends, maintaining the property throughout the summer, and continually investing in the facility.
Andrew also discusses how the Hudson River boating market is changing, including the growing popularity of jet skis, Tappan Zee Marina’s rental partnerships, and the importance of adapting to what today’s waterfront customers want.
But underneath the operations is something bigger: Tappan Zee Marina has been part of its community for more than 50 years. Andrew talks about what it means to take responsibility for a place with that kind of history while continuing to build what comes next.
In this episode:
- How a plumbing business owner ended up buying a marina
- What Andrew inherited when he purchased Tappan Zee Marina
- Eight years of improvements and modernization
- What actually happens at a seasonal marina throughout the year
- Why jet ski demand is changing the waterfront business
- The importance of partnerships and adapting to customer demand
- What makes a marina experience worth coming back to
- The responsibility of carrying forward a 50-year community legacy
- Andrew’s vision for the future of Tappan Zee Marina
Highway & Harbor shares the stories of the owners, operators, entrepreneurs, and leaders behind the marine, RV, powersports, outdoor, and lifestyle industries.
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