
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


A $70 5-gal bucket sounds crazy until you actually use one and can understand the engineering behind the details that make it great.
Joe Schneider's bucket full of ballyhoo broke while walking down a dock in the Keys, and he found himself at 4am that night sitting at the kitchen table declaring war on the bucket, writing down every problem he's ever had.
That list became the foundation for the Huck bucket. Feet first shaped in his son's Play-Doh. A tread pattern replicating a snapping turtle's shell. A handle that bolts through the bucket wall so Joe could sleep at night. He performed countless torture tests like dropping it from 20ft, running it through a log splitter, and he even scrapped a mold and bet the farm on all-new tooling to make sure the buckets he shipped met his standard.
Connect With Steve Govel: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn Connect with Joe Schneider (Huck Performance Buckets) Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn
Takeaways:
Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:33 Growing up on Maryland's Eastern Shore 2:35 Running a crab operation in Indonesia 5:03 From environmental science to entrepreneurship 7:18 The moment Huck began 10:16 Rethinking the five-gallon bucket 12:32 Taking the leap from commercial real estate 15:16 Designing a bucket from the ground up 18:04 Solving the hardest engineering problems 23:08 Putting Huck through extreme durability tests 25:25 Why build a premium five-gallon bucket? 29:42 Finding a place in the marine industry 31:55 Breaking into Viking Yachts and other boat brands 34:55 Listening to customers and improving the product 36:58 Manufacturing and growing Huck intentionally 38:31 Standing behind a more expensive product 40:38 The small features that make a big difference 44:40 Expanding Huck beyond buckets 46:21 What Joe learned from building the business 48:48 Where to find Huck
Keywords: Joe Schneider, Huck Performance Buckets, Huck Buckets, Rising Tidecast, Steve Govel, five-gallon bucket, marine products, boating gear, fishing gear, sport fishing, product design, product development, entrepreneurship, marine industry, bucket design, durable products, premium fishing gear, customer feedback, word-of-mouth marketing, custom buckets, marine-grade hardware, injection molding, product testing, outdoor gear, boat gearMike and Barrett Howarth build boats the way almost nobody does anymore: by hand, as a father and son, in the high desert of Southern California, over an hour from the nearest ramp. That choice tells you everything about how Mag Bay Yachts operates. The right people and the right standard come first, and everything else gets figured out.
Boat building runs deep in this family. Mike spent decades in the trade, co-founded Cabo Yachts, and Barrett grew up on its factory floor. That history shaped the standard they hold today, and Mag Bay is where the two of them chose to carry it forward together, on their own terms.
We walk through designing the first Mag Bay 33 and the sea trial that proved the hull, the switch to a cross-step design and how it changed the ride, and the custom hardware and stainless they machine themselves because the parts they need that meet their standard cannot be bought. They make the case that a boat should be judged by what is under the hatches, the wiring, the plumbing, the serviceability, just as much as the finish everyone sees. And they are honest about the hard part: building to that standard even when it is not the most profitable way to do it.
If you love beautiful-looking and well-riding boats and want to hear how this family operation makes quality decisions because it's the right thing to do, this one is worth your time.
Connect With Steve Govel: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn Connect with Mag Bay Yachts Website | Instagram | Facebook | Vimeo
Takeaways:
Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:09 Mike's first pull toward boat building 02:24 Barrett growing up inside Cabo 04:18 When Barrett knew he wanted to build boats 05:24 Drawing and designing boats by hand 06:36 The early Cabo days 07:34 What made Cabo stand out 09:04 The challenge of building a boat properly 10:29 The details most people never see 13:06 How Cabo grew into a major operation 13:40 Selling Cabo to Brunswick 16:39 Building boats beyond accounting decisions 19:40 Why boat building is a hard business 21:36 Finding the way back after Cabo 22:53 Designing the first Mag Bay 26:03 Bringing the Cabo team back together 31:03 Building boats in the high desert 33:39 The first Mag Bay 33 sea trial 36:24 What changed after the first hull 37:40 Moving to a cross-step hull 40:55 How the cross-step hull rides 44:31 The Mag Bay lineup now 45:39 The special 42 behind them 50:20 Building the best boat, profit or not 52:01 Making the parts they cannot buy 53:58 What quality means at Mag Bay 58:08 Why Mag Bay opened in Jupiter 59:31 Where Mag Bay goes from here 01:00:21 Working together as father and son 01:02:29 Final thoughts
Keywords: Mike Howarth, Barrett Howarth, Mag Bay Yachts, Cabo Yachts, Rising Tidecast, Steve Govel, boat building, sport fishing boats, center console boats, custom boat building, family business, father and son, marine craftsmanship, boat design, boat manufacturing, boatbuilding legacy, hull design, cross-step hull, Michael Peters, Steve Matthews, stainless work, custom hardware, boat wiring, boat plumbing, fit and finish, Southern California boat builder, high desert boat building, Jupiter Florida, marine industry
Takeaways:
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Kelsey Barrett and Seakeeper 01:42 Kelsey's Journey into the Boating Industry 05:28 Career Path and Transition to Seakeeper 09:24 Branding and Marketing Strategies at Seakeeper 13:04 Creating a New Category in the Marine Industry 16:37 Leadership Support and Marketing Freedom 20:28 Innovative Marketing Campaigns and Guerrilla Marketing Ideas 25:33 The Importance of Human Connection in Customer Support 26:11 Understanding Customer Needs and Marketing Strategies 27:03 Marketing Performance Over Seasickness 28:10 Pitch, Roll, and Yaw Elimination 30:00 Balancing Market Demands with Product Messaging 31:04 The Power of Demo Rides 32:22 Leveraging Influencers for Brand Growth 37:06 Qualities of Successful Influencer Partnerships 42:33 Challenges of Marketing an Invisible Product 47:38 Breaking into New Markets 50:28 The New Challenges in Boating 53:17 Lessons from Lake Boating 55:45 Overcoming Dealer Challenges 01:00:12 The Journey of Writing 01:07:07 Breaking the Mold 01:09:29 Embracing the Unexpected
Keywords: Kelsey Barrett, Seakeeper, Seakeeper Ride, Rising Tidecast, Steve Govel, marine marketing, marine branding, boat stabilization, gyrostabilizer, gyro stabilization, boat stabilizers, brand strategy, creative marketing, experiential marketing, influencer marketing, boat builders, boat dealers, Barletta Boats, pontoon boats, marine industry, boating experience, boat comfort, boat performance, dealer content, brand awarenessConnect With Steve Govel: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn Connect with Eric Sorensen: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn Buy the Book: Sorensen's Guide to Powerboats: How to Evaluate Design, Construction, and Performance
Takeaways:
Billy Pavlock did not enter the marine industry through a traditional path. In this episode of Rising Tidecast, he shares how a college football background, a boat detailing business, and one Instagram page eventually led to Boats Gone Wild, Nautical Network, and Surroundings Group, which has one of the largest social media footprints in the marine industry.
Billy and Steve talk about proving the value of social media before the industry fully understood it, building trust through storytelling, scaling a team around culture, and why consistency and collaboration matter for marine brands today. They also explore how AI, content, and digital search are shaping the future of how people discover, research, and buy boats.
Connect With Steve Govel Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn
Connect with Billy Pavlock Website | Instagram | LinkedIn Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 The Power of Storytelling in Marketing 01:58 From Detailing to Digital: The Journey Begins 05:03 Recognizing the Digital Opportunity in Boating 07:55 The Aha Moment: Realizing ROI from Social Media 10:20 Proving Value: The Importance of Free Work 13:06 Building Trust with Marine Brands 16:18 The Role of Team and Culture in Business Success 22:01 Navigating Challenges: The Importance of People 25:43 Finding Passionate Team Members 30:23 Transitioning to a Full-Service Agency 30:52 Building Industry Expertise 33:40 Expanding into New Verticals 35:46 The Power of Collaboration 37:56 The Importance of Brand Storytelling 41:02 Common Mistakes in Social Media Marketing 43:44 Leveraging Content for Sales 45:12 Creating Content on a Budget 46:58 The Role of AI in Content Creation 52:50 Strategies for Launching New Boat Brands 56:41 Advice for Marine Brand Marketers Keywords marine marketing, social media, boat industry, digital footprint, content creation, micro-communities, business growth, influencer marketing, luxury real estate, aviation marine industry, content marketing, brand storytelling, AI in marketing, social media strategy, influencer collaboration, boat brands, digital marketing, brand growth, content creationMichele Goldsmith spent the past 35 years in the marine industry, doing great work from the ground up. Now, as VP and GM of Soundings Trade Only Group and founder of the Women in the Marine Industry International series, she's built one of the most unexpected success stories in the business. A personal passion project that started as a virtual breakfast in 2021 grew into 25 events, 5,500 registrants, global mentoring connections, and a walk across 15 countries.
In this episode, Michele shares what it really takes to build community from scratch in a small industry, why follow-through is one of the most underrated leadership skills, and what the first Women in the Marine Industry event taught her about human nature and unmet needs. We discuss values, bold storytelling, and why doing hard things, whether that's summiting Kilimanjaro or building a global mentoring program, shapes who you become.
Connect With Steve Govel: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedInConnect with Michele Goldsmith: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn Women In The Marine Industry: https://tradeonlytoday.com/women-in-the-industry/ One Plus One Mentoring Program 2026:Registration is open until May 31, with the program running June 17 to June 26. https://tradeonlytoday.com/women-in-the-industry-mentoring/
Takeaways:
Connect With Steve Govel Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn Connect with Winn Willard Website | LinkedIn | Facebook Takeaways
The Rising Tidecast is back for season 2 with a fresh new episode! Barry and Craig Martin, the father-son duo behind Assegai Marine, are currently building their biggest game boat yet, a 61-footer with 3,100 horsepower for Morris Nautical. They unpack what it really takes to build a reputation that sells premium boats before they are finished. They share how skipper feedback drives every design decision, why they prioritize seaworthiness and serviceability over flashy specs, and what most buyers misunderstand about custom builds: time, cost variability, and the difference between building to a standard vs building to a price.
The conversation touches on how functional craftsmanship becomes a story customers repeat, how one-off builds create scarcity and long-term value, and why trust is the true product when the build model relies on owner commitment and transparent costs, why they still hand-lay every square inch of fiberglass, and what it's like to work as a father and son who genuinely enjoy showing up to the shed together every day.
Connect With Steve Govel Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn
Connect with Assegai Marine Website | Instagram (Craig Martin) | Facebook
Takeaways
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Barry and Craig Martin and Assegai Marine 01:13 Barry's Entry into Boat Building and Early Influences 02:19 Growing Up with a Love for Boats and Water 03:30 The Origin of the Assegai Marine Brand 04:49 Early Boat Sizes and Notable Projects 06:12 What Makes Assegai Boats Unique 06:42 Design Philosophy and Craftsmanship Details 07:49 Innovative Features and Building Techniques 09:18 Team and Build Process Insights 09:40 Build Duration and Project Management 10:35 Advantages of Timber Construction Over Fiberglass 11:40 Performance and Stability of Assegai Boats 12:35 Reputation in Sport Fishing and Tournaments 13:18 Father-Son Collaboration and Future Projects 14:47 The Meaning Behind the Name Assegai 15:17 Legacy and How They Want to Be Remembered 16:00 Memorable Builds and Challenges Overcome 17:16 Quality Control and High Standards 18:37 Design Evolution and Feedback Incorporation 19:41 Technical Innovations and Practical Features 21:04 Passion for Water and Fishing Adventures 21:45 Special Relationships with Clients and Owners 22:47 Favorite and Challenging Builds 24:02 Performance Upgrades and Trip Highlights 26:09 Common Misconceptions About Custom Boat Building 26:49 Future of Assegai Marine and Innovation 33:25 The Importance of Quality and Craftsmanship 34:13 The Origin of the Name Assegai 35:47 Legacy and Long-Term Vision for Assegai 36:49 Reflections on Challenges and Owner Relationships 38:09 The Passion for Building and Water Adventures 40:57 The Future of Marine Innovation and Design
From the publisher's feed