expensive for Bermuda's seafaring community. Situated on Mills Creek Lane in Pembroke, Johnson's Marine Services offers boaters waterside access and in-house restoration -- an Island first. And, due to its prime location next to Water's Edge Marine Ltd., a product supply store, clients will receive speedier service as the company receives parts faster. According to Scott Johnson, the company's owner and general manager, the in-house method of repair enables greater productivity and has proven successful outside the Island for many years. "The majority of the boats are to be worked on here in the shop, not in the water,'' he said. "The service shop is 50-feet by 40-feet. It is the biggest enclosed service shop area in Bermuda and it can hold approximately four 25-foot boats. It's probably the only one of its kind on the Island at this time. Of course, if necessary, we can place some outside to work on but basically, all the boats will be worked on indoors, something we couldn't do when we were operating on Church Street opposite Bermuda Motors. "It's a concept that has worked well in the United States for many years but never really been done here,'' he added. "It involves, basically, backing the boats up to the workbench. Not only will it be a very unique facility, it will make Johnson's Marine Services a more productive premises.

"Before, there were times where we would have to go out in bad weather to receive boats but now, because we're no more than 200 feet from Mills Creek, we basically have waterside access. We can pull it in and bring it up. It saves on manpower and really makes our job easier as well. We can concentrate better if we're not working out in the hot sun and, by having the boats worked on inside, it keeps the mechanics from being distracted by passers-by and things of that nature.'' Since Johnson's Marine Services began 14 years ago, the company has always led the way with innovative techniques and technology.

A marine service company which specialises in service and trailering, it was the first to introduce hydraulic trailers to Bermuda's roads, a practice which has since been imitated by others. "I come from a background of powerboat racing,'' he explained. "So I don't just do the work to do it. I enjoy doing the repairs. Also, we attend service conferences and do yearly training courses to keep up-to-date and find out about the latest technology. If we didn't, we couldn't meet people's needs.'' The company is interested in not only keeping boats seaworthy, but in making the water safe for the public, said Mr. Johnson. "We are waiting to hear feedback from our customers, but we would like to hold meetings a couple of nights a week where we can educate customers on different issues and problems of engines. We think there are a lot of people who are possibly interested in learning about safety regulations for marine life. We also feel it would be good to organise something like that where they could learn a bit more about their engines. "Perhaps they could even eventually save themselves a few dollars if they are able to recognise and fix simple problems on their own. And of course we would have a qualified navigator come in and deliver the information. We're just trying to help make the waterways a lot safer in anyway we can as well as provide more reliable engine service. Also, in this way the customer can educate us in what he wants and give us the ability to help him have a happy boating season.'' Part of Johnson's Marine Service's plan to operate more efficiently relies on its proximity to the Water's Edge Marina. "It will really help us having the sales part of the department with retail tied into it,'' he said. "Everybody knows the hassles of having to run all over Hamilton to find various parts.

All we have to do is to walk next door. It will make us more efficient, and will also see time cut down on the customer's job sheets. It will be as if we're working in an operating room. You bring your boat in, get it repaired and, after we've tested it and made sure the customer is satisfied with the repairs, it recovers on the water. "With the sales area next door, he will be able to get his materials fast. If we don't have it in the store, we're able to get them very quickly through our United States contacts. In Bermuda, the boating season is relatively short. We're talking about a six or seven month season. So the idea is to get the boat in, worked on, and get it back out on the water very quickly.'' Johnson's Marine Services will hold its grand opening tomorrow. PHOTO TOP-OF-THE-LINE! -- Bermuda's newest marine outlet store, Waters Edge Marine Ltd., only supplies its clients with top-of-the-line equipment. Shown with the Mercury outboard line at the Mills Creek Lane, Pembroke store, are (from left) controller, Kelly Diel; Steve Powell; sales manager, John Powell and general manager, Scott Johnson. SERVICE WITH A SMILE -- Steve Powell ensures repairs at Johnson's Marine Services are first-rate.

The store, located next to Waters Edge Marine Ltd. on Mills Creek Lane, Pembroke, is the Island's only premises offering in-house repairs and promises the Island's boating community fast, efficient and friendly service.