Sell-it-all marina owner thriving

SEA EVERYTHING: Bill Casey, owner of Casey’s Marina, has watched his business prosper and expand into many areas, including yacht docking, boat repairs and a fresh-fish and lobster store. / PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
SEA EVERYTHING: Bill Casey, owner of Casey’s Marina, has watched his business prosper and expand into many areas, including yacht docking, boat repairs and a fresh-fish and lobster store. / PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

Casey’s Marina on Spring Wharf in Newport Harbor is just Bill Casey’s signature business. The marina that handles boats from 30-feet to 170-feet long is one of a wave of businesses he’s involved with.
Casey, a Newport native, docks mega-yachts from around the world at three marinas in the city, hauls and repairs boats, launched a successful fuel-oil business, has a fresh fish and lobster store, and leases space to several marine-related companies.
If equipment breaks down and he needs it the next day, he’s been known to work through the night.
His commitment to work and an active life – he’s competed in triathlons – has never wavered, even after battling through chemotherapy, radiation and feeding tubes of stage-four cancer.
After Superstorm Sandy, he helped clean-up the beach with his 10-year-old daughter, Caraline Nadia Murphy Casey, who was adopted from Russia when she was 2 years old.
“I’m busy all the time,” said Casey.
“I grew up with a good work ethic,” he explained. “You just keep putting one foot in front of the other and make it happen.”
Casey started surfing when he about 6 years old. He started fishing when he was 17, dragging for fish like flounder, porgy and scup.
For a couple of years when he was in his 20s, surfing won out, and it carried him to Florida, California, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Then he came back and started fishing more seriously. For 10 years, he was an offshore fisherman, fishing mostly for lobster in an 80-foot boat named Endeavor on Georges Bank, off the coast of New England.
Then he decided the long stretches of time away were too frequent.
“We fished for seven days, came home for a day-and-a-half, and went back out. Every fifth week, we got a week off,” he said.
“I decided I needed to get off the boat and spend some time on land,” said Casey. “I bought a 35-foot boat and started fishing out of Newport.
“Then I wanted my boat hauled and there was one person who did it on the island. I had to wait six weeks,” he said. “I thought, ‘Why is this guy the only person doing it?’ ” That thought, more than 25 years ago, launched Casey into the boat-hauling and storage business.
“It sort of mushroomed. Now we move about 900 boats a year over the road,” said Casey. The boats are hauled from boat builders to the water or from the water to homes or storage.
Then came a spinoff service fueling yachts. Casey 20 years ago discovered that fueling mega-yachts was another timely opportunity, and he ended up buying an oil barge. In addition to fueling boats, he expanded to selling fuel oil to homeowners, founding Casey’s Oil before selling it. (Casey still works closely with the business.)
Casey continues to store, haul, repair and paint boats.
“We’re probably the only working, small boatyard in Newport Harbor,” said Casey.
Casey’s Marina grew from an old fish dock Casey bought from Tallman & Mack Fish & Trap Co.
“I had a big overflow of boats and I needed more space,” he said. Within 10 years he had two locations and within 15 years his marina business expanded to three locations.
In addition to Casey’s Marina, his two other Newport locations are Perry Mill Wharf, which has room for vessels from 150 feet to 200 feet, and Long Wharf Marina, where most boats are in the 60-foot range.
“Newport is the yachting capital of the East Coast and I’ve been fortunate enough to tap into that,” said Casey.
Then there are fish, of course. Three years ago he opened Casey’s Fresh Fish and Lobsters, where he sells cod, salmon, scallops, swordfish, flounder, tuna, mussels, striped bass, Little Necks, steamers, monk fish and squid. Naturally, he buys from local fishermen.
No need to wonder if Casey likes his work.
“I love it. I like people. I like keeping things moving,” said Casey, who encourages people to come on down with a public walkway around his property he donated to community.
His positive outlook has become even stronger in the six years he’s been a cancer survivor.
“Every moment is precious,” said Casey. “Every day is a good day.” •

COMPANY PROFILE
Casey’s Marina
OWNER: Bill Casey
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Marina, boat hauling and fresh-fish store
LOCATION: 10 Spring Wharf, Newport
EMPLOYEES: 5 full time
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1986
ANNUAL SALES: WND

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