They have been one of the happiest and most fun fixtures in the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor for the past six years, but for Dan Schaade and his wife Vicky, it’s time to retire.
Both the Navesink Queen and the Mariner, also docked at the harbor, are currently up for sale, so this ever busy, ever happy couple can take some time for themselves and do some traveling, near and far, as well as enjoy some gardening at home.
Captain Dan said the couple are going to continue to keep the Jenny Girl, the six-passenger boat docked at the Molly Pitcher in Red Bank. “It’s very easy to maintain and operate,” he laughed, admitting, he is not going to miss the upkeep and work of the Navesink Queen.
Addressing the question of the sale of the business, Captain Dan said most prospective buyers are interested in purchasing the Navesink Queen and enabling him to continue to run Classic Boat Rides on a smaller scale in the area. “Some folks have expressed interest in keeping the boats in Atlantic Highlands, which would be great so maybe we could go out on them one day and have some fun as opposed to working,” he laughed.
Classic Boat Rides LLC was founded with a passion for boating and adventure. Its aim has always been to provide an opportunity for everyone to experience the joy of being on the water.
For Dan, it all started in 2004 at Bahrs Landing in Highlands with a 1958 18-foot Chris Craft sea ski that Dan had restored. It was around that same time he met Vicky, his wife and helpmate who has nurtured the business with him ever since. The couple knew their own love for water and after falling in love, and getting married, they have been sharing their joy of boating and the sea with others.
Captain Dan and First Mate Vicky have always run their business based on maintaining and insisting on quality and reliability. Their mantra has always been to provide a great experience to their customers by providing top-tier service and unforgettable boat charters for all occasions. That service is guaranteed whether it’s on the Navesink Queen, the paddle-wheeler that accommodates more than 100 visitors, the Mariner, the custom tour boat for 50 or so passengers, or the Jenny Girl they are going to continue to sail, the six-passenger boat in Red Bank. Each of the boats has offered cruises from two hours and more, specialties from Lunch and Lighthouse cruises to seeing the Submarine USS New Jersey (SSN-796) commissioned at NWS Earle. They have been the cruise for fund raisers, historic talks, business meetings and more.
But their favorite cruises have been the birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions families have enjoyed on the Classic Rides fleet.
“ We do lots of birthday parties and more,” Dan said, “but our favorites are the ones with the kids and the Cub Scouts and the Girl Scouts, as well as the special needs people. We also enjoy the ones where people are celebrating 65 years of marriage or 99 years of times around the sun. They are all fun,” both Dan and Vicky agree.
While the couple are now looking forward to spending some time as passengers on cruise ships themselves, and doing a lot more traveling, they are still going to be active in the Bayshore. They will continue to offer the Jenny Girl and perhaps some more smaller boats for smaller groups who want to celebrate or simply enjoy a day on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. And yes, they do hope to have at least one of their boats in Atlantic Highlands, while maintaining and offering the Jeny Girl in Red Bank.
Not only has the Navesink Queen been pretty spectacular but so have the crews Capt. Dan has had. “She’s a great boat and we love her,” he said, explaining also why his crews have been so important both to the couple and to their image. “Boat people love her,“ he said, “ We’ve had various crews over the last several years, but the crew for the last two years have mainly been with us and they are a great bunch of folks.”
Though he’s on the water just about every day, it’s impossible for Capt. Dan to give an accurate estimate of the number of knots or trips he’s captained with First Mate Vickey.
“Math is not my strong point,” he laughed, “ we just know that we have had a lot of trips and a lot of fond memories and know we have provided some great memories for others as well.”
To Capt. Dan and First Mate Vicky, that’s what it’s all about…being happy and keeping others happy.
While those retirement plans include cruises on big trips and gardening, the Shades also plan on taking out some of the smaller boats to points near and far. They are looking to cruise up the Hudson River, go out to Montauk, Martha’s Vineyard…the list goes on.
In short, Capt. Dan and First Mate Vicky have worked hard, they’ve loved it, they love the water, and they want to retire. In short, they simply want to enjoy a few years. But they are not stepping away from the big boat business without expressing appreciation to others.
“ We really appreciate the support of the local community,” this happy couple said. “ Many people and families have been out on the boat numerous times over the past 21 years. It’s always nice to see them again. We’re going to miss the nice folks that have taken trips with us over the years. We are also going to miss the crew. But I can honestly tell you I’m not going to miss painting and maintaining large vessels anymore. Little boats are easy to take care of. “
For Capt. Dan and First Mate Vicky, their plan for their own future is
“Just having fun messing with Boats.”
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