By KATHY KLEE
It’s the end of one era and the beginning of another. Tom and Nancy Kimzey, who opened the Ocean Shores Electric Boat Company back in 2005, have retired. At the beginning of this year, they sold their business to Steve and Maria Borba, who have renamed it the Ocean Shores Boat House. The popular venue will officially reopen on April 1st.
The Kimzeys retired from their former jobs early in the millennium. Tom worked for the Department of Health in Olympia and spent his last 15 years as a training specialist, assisting Aberdeen’s Dr. Macs in setting up the new state EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Program. Nancy commuted from their home in Olympia to Tacoma for 12 years and taught English as a second language at Clover Park Technical College.
Knowing they would not be content in retirement to be “really” retired, a dream began to form that ultimately came to fruition. Their interest in boating and outdoor recreation led to exploring new business options that might involve boats. During Tom’s research, he fortuitously happened upon Arnie Thompson and Jennifer Towne of the Seattle Electric Boat Company. With their help and guidance, the Kimzeys’ love for electric boats was born. The boats did not spew smelly gas fumes and were so quiet you could easily carry on a conversation with someone ten feet away in the boat while underway. They decided to purchase two of the Duffy 21-foot Cruisers, which came complete with canopies and large zippered windows that fully enclose the boat if needed, or can be left open to the fresh air and sunshine when the weather permits. The boats provide comfortable seating for up to ten people, a table for refreshments, heat, and a sound system.
The next step was deciding on a location for their new boating business. Since Nancy already owned a vacation home in Ocean Shores, the decision was easily made. The 23 miles of interconnected fresh waterways within the city seemed like an ideal setting for boats. After much searching for a business location on the water, they found a property on the Grand Canal that came complete with docks and a retail space. It was the former site of Summer Sales, which had offered boat rentals, bait, tackle, and gifts for ten years.
The new Duffy Cruisers were soon at the docks and the Ocean Shores Electric Boat Company became a reality. The Duffys, with a beam (width) of 7.5’ and a draft (the part of the boat below the waterline) of 2.25’, were perfect for touring the lakes and canals at a leisurely speed of up to seven knots per hour. Each boat has a bank of 16 six-volt marine batteries that are capable of powering the boat’s 24v motor for up to 10 hours. They can run all day and be plugged in at night to recharge.
The boats require very little maintenance. “Over the years, we replaced the batteries every 5-7 years and probably bought a dozen new propellers,” noted Tom.
The boats quickly became popular for special events, meetings, gatherings of family and friends, and just for fun. Renters could choose to captain the boats themselves after friendly instructions from Tom, or they could opt for a driver and a narrated tour. Customers included visitors who were new to the region, as well as locals from the Grays Harbor/North Beach area. Most everyone was amazed by the new perspective that seeing Ocean Shores by water afforded them.
And so the Kimzeys dream continued for the next 15 years. They loved their patrons, many of whom were on vacation. As Tom says, “People are happy when they are on vacation.” The (mostly) happy visitors came from places all over the world. “We met so many interesting and fun people,” recalled Tom. The common thread was a love of adventure and being on the water.
One group that visited several times was a superfluity of nuns from Spokane who arrived each time in their full habits. “They were probably our favorite customers,” says Tom. “They rented the electric boats and sometimes a canoe. It was an amazing sight to see nuns in habits cruising the waterways.”
Other patrons included politicians and dignitaries from around our state, Ernie Nelson and his annual Flag Day Parade organizers, and even Washington musician Ted Vigil who sang John Denver songs out on the water.
Grant Goodeve and the crew from King-TV’s Northwest Backroads employed the boats when they filmed a segment on Ocean Shores. Touring the waterways by boat added an enriching experience to the show.
The Kimzeys do plan to really retire this time, enjoy some much-deserved relaxation, and perhaps direct their energy into volunteering in our area in some way. If you see them around town, be sure to thank them for the wonderful contribution they have made to our community.
Thanks to the Kimzeys, the age of electric boats in Ocean Shores is now well-established. And thanks to the new owners, the Borbas, it will continue. Watch for the upcoming Part Two of this article where you will meet the Borbas and learn about what they have in store for our fresh waterways.
The Ocean Shores Boat House is located at 952 Point Brown Avenue SE. Info and reservations: 360-289-0487. The Ocean Shores Boat House is on Facebook or located at osboathouse.com on the Internet.
