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Carson Benton is a name well-known in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. His grandfather built the first golf course in a region that now has more than 100. Carson’s father founded C.L. Benton and Sons, a general contractor that builds roads and excavates foundations for high rises. The family owns 100 acres of farmland on the Intracoastal Waterway that had been used as an excavation site for the construction company. “We have sites throughout the county where we dig dirt to build roads,” says Carson, whose brother, Lawton, is president of the company. “We had this big hole that was right off the ICW with a channel already dug. My father’s idea was to build a marina, so he handed the project to me. “It was an ideal situation for us because we weren’t impacting any wetland areas,” he continues. And to add to the value of the location, the marina would be situated in a “hurricane hole,” a lowland area protected from damaging winds and water currents. “It took close to 10 years to get permits from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers,” says Carson. Construction, including dredging a 75-foot-wide, 10 foot-deep canal and a nine-foot deep basin, took place between 1990 and 1997.
“We did it all,” says Carson. “We built everything, including half the store. We drove the piles and built the docks out of treated yellow Southern pine. They’ve held up fairly well, but if I had it to do all over again, I’d probably put in concrete docks. But I’d study it real well first. The wood warps and draws and splinters up, so we have to go around checking and changing boards, so we have steady maintenance. But that happens with every marina, and I know that if you want to keep it ship shape you have to do that with any kind of dock.” Vigilant maintenance is a hallmark of Osprey, where a close-knit team of employees strives to fulfill the marina’s mission: “to be the premier provider of excellent customer service...with a clean and safe environment.” They are clearly reaching this goal, because when Marina Dock Age Publisher Janice Gordon visited Osprey in January to present the Marina of the Year award, she was immediately impressed. “As you first drive in, you get a quaint, personal feeling. It’s tucked away on the ICW. It’s clean, well laid out, and has easy access to the facilities that include a restaurant complete with a grill and hamburgers made from scratch, ships store, laundry room, dry storage, and a place to pull out your boat for repairs. “And then there’s the cheerful employees always ready to lend a hand.” Serving two markets Advertising To get the word out, Osprey sponsors the weather segment of the local TV news and runs 30-second advertisements throughout the day, including some primetime spots. “We have had a great response,” says Harrelson. “We also have signs on our company vehicles and along the Intracoastal Waterway. We advertise with Coastal Carolina University by sponsoring basketball games, and sponsor a Little League Baseball team, as well. “We also give local boat dealers our brochures, and make every effort to find a slip for their customers. That helps both of us.” The effort to attract and please customers does not end when a boater rents a slip at Osprey. “For our permanent customers we have two cook-outs a year, one in June to kick off the season, and one in late November to wish them a happy holiday season. We send Christmas cards and get well cards, because many of our customers are also our close friends. And on a customer’s one year anniversary of being an Osprey Marina customer, we send them coupons for free food and fuel. “We also host free Coast Guard Power Squadron boat inspections,” says Harrelson. And this year Osprey is hosting a visit by Theodore Tugboat, the 65-foot replica of the cartoon character that travels the world to educate the public about boating safety. Transients “We advertise with the Waterway Guide. We feel this type of marketing will reach customers from all along the ICW. They can see a picture of the layout of the marina and find out more about our facilities.” Osprey employees go out of their way to be sure the marina makes a lasting impression on transients. “We know that after a long day on the water they just want to settle in and relax,” says Dock Master Don Wright. “We assist them in tying down, furling, and hooking up power and water. This is so they can kick back and have an enjoyable time here at Osprey Marina, however short it may be. “Every transient who arrives receives a complimentary basket with local maps, Danishes, cheese and crackers, phone numbers for taxis, car rentals, hotels, and restaurants. In the morning we bring them a local newspaper and offer free coffee in the Ship’s Store. “For our existing transients and for all new transients, we offer a web page (www.ospreymarina.com) where they can find out about our current events, the price of our fuel, and meet our staff. They can also e-mail us from our web page or just go straight to our e-mail address at osprey@sccoast.net. We have a few transients that we e-mail, just to stay in touch and to make sure that everyone is doing well.” One customer was so happy to see the web site he e-mailed: “I’ve been watching the water rise on the river and was wondering if it would have an effect on the boats. I feel better already knowing I can be in touch at any time.” Environmental responsibility “We are constantly reminding our customers to properly clean and remove oil from their bilge so it does not get pumped overboard. We also push for customers to use our free oil disposal and pumpout services. We have a reputation as a clean and beautiful marina and we work very hard to keep it. Employee’s idea pays off “And if it were not for Anthony Bowers, we would not have known about the Marina of the Year contest!” Team work “Our positive reputation is our most valued attribute,” says forklift operator Larry Bowman. “Its preservation is priority number one! We try not to blow our horn too much, and just let word of mouth precede us. We feel this is the best form of advertisement!” Osprey operates at 90-percent capacity year round. “We pride ourselves on our professionalism and customer service that keep people coming back again and again,” says Harrelson. And it’s teamwork that helped Osprey earn the Marina of the Year Award.
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Southern
hospitality
