Industry veteran Chuck Sooy celebrates 50 years in boating

You may remember boating on the Great Lakes when gas was $.31 per gallon and a postage stamp for your marina postcard was $.05. Weekends were spent water skiing and fishing throughout the day and the evenings were filled with fellow boaters sharing fish stories while enjoying the day’s catch.

It was during this time in April 1965 when Chuck Sooy began his career in the marine industry at Romp’s Water Port in Vermilion, Ohio. With a firm handshake from the founder and owner Rob Romp, Chuck became the charter member of the Romp’s service department. The new department serviced OMC products such as Johnson and Evinrude outboards and OMC King Cobra Outdrives as well as the inboards of the lapstrake classics, Lyman Boats.

He has also been instrumental in selling and servicing classic products such as Lyman, Penn Yan and Boston Whaler boats. In 1980 Chuck became a certified Master Mechanic for Mercruiser engines and outdrives where he was recognized for outstanding performance and professionalism and for providing the highest level of service for his customers. He has held that certification ever since. During the winter season he can often be found in the “big shop” repairing a battered wooden hull.

This April Chuck celebrates 50 years of service at Romp’s and to the boating community of Lake Erie. His knowledge and dedication to his customers has made him a local legend on the shores of Lake Erie. If you call and ask for Chuck he will always answer with a “May I help you” on the other end. Chuck is a dedicated husband to his wife Linda and role model father to his three sons and their families.

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2 Comments

  1. I don’t know Chuck but I’m happy to see our industry give a wave of acknowledgement to the people that helped build this industry. Too often we forget to salute them.
    Congratulations Chuck!

    1. Hey Peter, I should have sent you this a few years ago but Thank you for your comment on my Dad’s 50 years. Greatly appreciated. This June 1st, 2018 he finally retired after 53 years of service on Lake Erie. Thank you again for the acknowledgement and sorry for the delay!

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