Rusty Higgins: Aid to the Weary

Let me just say this- if you find yourself in the Atlantic with a busted stainless cooling pipe on your QSM-11, you call Rusty.

Then later, on Thanksgiving, when you realize that all the marinas are closed, who better to hook you up with a slip in his hometown than Rusty.

Need fuel al 6AM on Black Friday? You guessed it.

Those of you lucky enough to know the man will say “c’mon, give Rusty a real challenge”. I have known Rusty for five or so years and every time we cross paths I am reminded of what it means to be a friend and a stand up guy. A testament to Sea Ray for sure, but also a testament to the good in mankind.

Thank you Rusty. You are The Man and a true Gentleman.

And, he found time to aid your plight when he hasn't slept in his own bed in over a month. He was enjoying a well deserved weekend off with his kids and grandkids, yet was still glad to help you.

A good man indeed...the best!

There is no doubt, there's not a better ambassador for any company, anywhere, in any era, than Rusty Higgins. Sea Ray is a very lucky company to have such a gem.

fwebster said:

And, he found time to aid your plight when he hasn't slept in his own bed in over a month. He was enjoying a well deserved weekend off with his kids and grandkids, yet was still glad to help you.

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He told me he was happy to get out of the house.

Rusty is a stand-up guy. No better man to have on your side.

+++++11111

Just hide the Admiral when he is around ; ). I have been lucky enough to have known Rusty for a number of years now. He has stayed at my home (always welcome back), he has stayed on my boat, we have broke bread and drank together, he completely took care of us earlier this year when we visited him in His town. I have seen Rusty help so many people without wanting anything in return! Great guy, great ambassador for the Sea Ray brand and I consider him a great friend.

Rusty is always welcome at our table, boat, or home. He is always willing to help anyway he can.

Mark and Deb.

My cup runneth over....which is appropriate since I am also eating a large portion of humble pie here. It was my absolute pleasure helping my friends Tim and LISA Armand....notice the Lisa reference!

FW is right (go figure), in noting that I haven't slept in my own bed in a month's time, with trips of bringing a L550fly from Annapolis MD to FLA, then a L650 from St. Pete to the east coast and now bringing a L590 from the plant to Captivia Island for our Yacht Expo event. I was at Roland Martin's Fish Camp last night with the L590fly, L550fly and the new gorgeous 520. we are all at South Seas Resort now for our end of the year event.

Tim was right, that I enjoyed coming to help him fuel up at the only location open on Black Friday, but there is nothing I enjoy more that being with my two daughters and six grandkids. Reason for being on the fuel dock was simply because it was before 6am and everyone else were still dreaming of Christmas present yet to come in a month from now....love grandchildren!!!!

From the outside looking in, you all cannot even imagine the power which the names above bring to the table. Tim and Lisa, they don't even own a Sea Ray anymore but love them none the less. Mark & Deb, pure Texan's whom I enjoyed being with (Deb loves the new 520 !) . Capt. Carter, a war aviator veteran who now pilots a 580DB. Mr. Brad Black is, Mr. Ford of the mid-west, pure USA, period. HUMP- yeah right, Ken is married to my Army buddy Kathy and is the coolest dude on the left coast of America (yes, that is California for us easterners). Mr. Computerman...good Lord that is a long title for a guy name Rick, the organizer of the kindest SR event ever, since it is for our friend of remembrance, Dominic Annizunata. Bridog...War Eagle baby!!!!!!

I don't need to butter FW's bread too much since I have eaten at his and Ms. Fran's table more than once. I am privileged, and certainly enjoy helping anyone whom calls on me for boating assistance. Frank and I often speak of what a kick we get out of providing our years (and Lord, I mean many years) experience to help anyone who ask...boats, motors, dealers, brokerage, marinas....who cares, just ask. And of course the best part is, we all get to meet on CSR....a site Jim M. provides us all with, to share and discuss.

I am just one of many way cool members on this site, and gracious knows, it is an honor to hang with you guys....let's keep moving forward, and hope to see each of you again soon....wish we could all get together, all 40,000 registered members !!!!

Capt. Rusty Higgins
Sea Ray Boats

Time for another Homecoming!

Keep up the good, I mean GREAT work, Rusty!

It’s all been said about this man before but keep saying it to him because he is a true gem.

Very cool.. hopefully we can get to the coast at some time and be able to put faces to so many great names from this site.

This is what it's all about, the boating community is a very small world and it's always nice to have a friendly face wherever you go.

So small in fact that I believe I passed Capt. Rusty when he was heading into Marinemax Fort Myers last Tuesday the 28th, I was bringing a 48 Sabre back to Legacy Harbour from a yard period and wondered if that as a Rusty heading to Captiva. I threw a waive hello either way.

Probably was. He was headed to Captiva in a group of 3 new L-lass boats from the factory on Tuesday.

A couple years back I started a "Revive the gelcoat" thread concerning a boat that was over 25 years old.
A little while later I received a PM from the aforementioned Captain Rusty "If you want to know how we deal with beat up gelcoat around the factory, give me a call"

"Are you freaking kidding me? for a 25 year old boat?"

He wasn't.

I dont think anything else I could type at this point would add to pointing out what a class act this guy is.

Thank you Captain!

fwebster said:

Probably was. He was headed to Captiva in a group of 3 new L-lass boats from the factory on Tuesday.

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Uh oh - Roland Martins marina is on that trip.

My 2007 52DB had fuel tank cancer diagnosed in 2013. I needed two new fuel tanks before I would buy the boat. SR was no longer producing the boat, so no fuel tanks existed in the pipeline. I called Rusty...and in 48 hours SR had ordered two new fuel tanks from the vendor and had scheduled shipment to my dealer. Captain Rusty also helped me out in the purchase of my used 420DA in 2006. There is no better ambassador for this brand and no better friend to the Sea Ray owner...and note that I am not a new boat buyer. That did not matter to Rusty-all that mattered was that I was buying a Sea Ray and putting my family onboard. That was all he needed to know in order to make the purchase and the ownership experience as perfect as was humanly possible. Proud to call him my friend.

I'm humbled to call him my friend....

I sincerely hope that someone in Sea Ray management gets this message.

Having been around SR for a few years, it seems like Rusty performs 3 jobs.

The official position he performs is the concierge service on L class and moves the boats. Not just moving new boats - but the care and feeding ( and continual help ) for customers of L Class.

OK, I am guessing Rusty is not the only Captain that moves boats for Sea Ray. Can you name any of the others? No, Rusty does what he does because he wants Sea Ray to be successful.

Second he is the best brand ambassador that Sea Ray has. He monitors this forum on his own time. All about fielding questions, providing help. There are those of us who post and have interchanges. But there is a whole universe of prospects and potential customers who are considering purchasing a new Sea Ray - that surf through these forums gather data on whether or not they want to buy a Sea Ray. Rusty's attitude around "Captain we will solve that question" makes an impression on people who may never post but are considering a new Sea Ray.

If I look at the ad campaigns around the "Lifestyle" messaging, Rusty is the next level in how he embodies the messaging into tangible touch points. Rusty is the proof point that Sea Ray makes boating painless and a lifestyle, not a headache.

I read this forum for a year before I ever bought a Sea Ray. The impact Rusty has extends beyond us active participants.

Third, his boat show presence. We go to FLIB and Miami most years. Always find the Sea Rays. Have been sitting around on a boat, I have seen people wander in on the boat. Rusty engages people, answers their questions. Then after he answers their question - he moves to the next selling point - have you considered this scenario? Let me explain how Sea Ray takes care of that.

If Rusty's only job was working boat shows and events it would be tremendous value to Sea Ray.

I wish I had employees like Rusty. Rusty might blush, but I have actually have used "Rusty" as an example in management team meetings at my company. We focus on a message of customer enthusiasm. Rusty is not just about customer satisfaction, he is about customer enthusiasm. I have brought up threads about Rusty and used examples like the OP posted as where I want my company to focus.

What we all see about Rusty is above and beyond his official job. He does his job, then spends his personal time promoting Sea Ray.

If anyone has personal contacts inside of Sea Ray management, I would encourage you to forward a link to this thread.

We all agree with the impact Rusty has, I want Sea Ray management to hear the message...

Mark