Greg Dorow has many, many years of experience on the water and as a member of the Pier 33 Sales team is a Yacht Broker, Chaparral Specialist and Robalo Specialist. We’ve asked Greg to go on the record with some highlights of his career and experiences:

Wind and water have always fascinated me.  Growing up in South Haven, MI with a Lake Michigan view from the front yard of my childhood home ruined me forever!  I spent many happy years fishing and mucking about in the Black River and on the beach down the bluff in my neighborhood.

Fortunately, my life pursuits have nearly always given me an opportunity to be in or on the water. I started my boat sales career years ago selling powerboats and sailboats in Saugatuck, MI. I knew very little about boats at the beginning with the exception that I knew “Port” from “Starboard”.  I learned as I went along. Selling yachts and powerboats in Saugatuck at a busy marina was baptism by fire. I learned how to handle boats big and small. Single engine full-keel boats, flybridge, cruisers, center consoles, runabouts, Inboards, outboards, stern-drives — even sail-drives.  I sold, sea-trialed, and delivered a lot of boats while I was there.  It was a great learning experience

Immediately after September 11^th, 2001, I left the shores of Lake Michigan to work on Gull Lake selling new and brokerage powerboats. Years later there I moved from powerboat and brokerage sales to sailing and water-sports sales and instruction. During this time I assembled, rigged, and sold Hobie Cat sailboats, Fishing Kayaks, and paddle boards. It was a great experience which rounded out my boating knowledge in a big way. Let me tell you, building, rigging, and launching sailboats takes a whole lot more energy than selling powerboats!

Over the years I have sold and delivered many, many powerboats … and a few sailboats too. Of course, I have lots of boating stories about adventures on the water I never intended to have. But, this is what makes a career in boat and yacht sales so much fun! Every boat is a little different and every day the weather conditions present different challenges to the boater.

I have done a few other interesting things in my life including serving four years in the United States Marine Corps Infantry with the 1^st Marine Regiment, HQ Company, out of Camp Pendleton, CA. This experience, which along with various adventures, also included six months of sea service aboard an Amphibious Naval Warship visiting the ports of Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, South Korea, Guam, the Mariana Islands, and the Philippines.

As graduate of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI I obtained a BA in Philosophy which is super valuable to my career in the marine industry I can tell you. Also, looking at me now it might be hard to believe but for fifteen years or so I was a USPTA Tennis (teaching) Professional in both the US and CANADA. I know I don’t look it!

2021 will be my fourth boating season here at Pier 33 I can tell you that I have never worked with a better team. I am very thankful to be here and love what I am blessed by God to be able to do. I am still learning and developing my knowledge of boats, wind, water, and people. When I am not at Pier 33 selling and delivering boats, I might be found fly-fishing the various streams around Western and Northern Michigan or just enjoying my loving family in Kalamazoo. Oh, and now I also build wooden boats and dinghies in my spare time or when the occasional Global Pandemic comes around.  Fair winds and following seas!