What boat did you learn to boat on? Growing up, my grandfather had a 23 Mako named Little Fun and my uncle had a 35 Viking named Big Fun. Learning to drive and fish on those boats are some of my earliest and favorite memories. Where is your favorite place to go boating? I love the Bahamas, but for me nothing beats running through the endless maze of creeks and spartina grass in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Who was your hero as a child? Without question, my parents. I find myself drawing on the discipline, values and never-settle attitude they instilled in me every day. They taught me about integrity and that you wear your family and company name across your chest. I also always had a Derek Jeter poster on my wall. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? If I’ m not on the water, you can usually find me with my wife Victoria and our two kids, Wade and Owen, watching college football, sitting in a duck blind, or in the turkey woods Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? The marine industry offers a unique opportunity to combine passion with purpose. It’ s an industry built on craftsmanship, innovation and relationships, where the work you do directly impacts the experiences and memories people create on the water.
COOPER BISBE
EAST COAST REPRESENTATIVE, MAG BAY YACHTS
What first drew you to the marine industry? I have been boating since I was a young kid and have always enjoyed the water. From the way boats are built to the times that are enjoyed, everything has always attracted me.
What was your first job? My first job was in a fresh seafood restaurant. My favorite part of this was seeing the captains bringing in their catches and“ talking the town” with them. This eventually led me into a short stent commercial fishing out of my hometown on the west coast of Florida, and then into repairing and refitting boats. What accomplishments are you most proud of? An accomplishment I am most proud of is winning the“ best in show” award at the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with Mag Bay and our debut model 38 Center Console. This is a model that I was heavily involved in and am very proud of our staff and incredible craftsmen that made it happen. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? I have been lucky enough to have many mentors throughout my career so far in this industry. One of my key mentors in my childhood was Nils Johnsen. He founded
Nor-Tech as a young boat builder and has built it into what it is today. As a child I grew up around him and always aspired to be like him. Another massive influence on my career is Barrett Howarth. He grew up in the Cabo boat building family and is always pushing the envelope when it comes to creating an amazing product and honing everything he does to near perfection. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? As a very young professional, my biggest challenge has always been my age, and the seriousness that others carry with regard to me and my ideas. I have time and time again overcome this by working together with these others and learning all they have to offer. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I think that this industry is something special. Many people enjoy boating, and I was always taught to do what I love. I always remember a quote my grandfather told me:“ If you love what you do, and do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” I truly think this is the best inspiration to continue to improve and bring others to do so with you. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I am constantly setting goals for myself. I work well on short term goals that build to a larger goal. I set myself up for success by completing these smaller goals and tasks with the utmost attention to detail to succeed. What boat did you learn to boat on? I learned to boat with my uncle on a 21 astro center console bay boat with a 225 optimax. I can still hear that sweet sound of the 2-stroke taking off through the pine island sound. Where is your favorite place to go boating? My favorite place to go boating is home. I have always believed that boating is the destination, but not the purpose. Although working in the industry we can lose sight of the purpose, boating for me is about the adventure with the people I am with and less about the actual destination. Being surrounded by friends and family is my favorite“ place” to go boating. Who was your hero as a child? As a child I always looked up to my father. He was never in the boating industry or owned a boat until I was older and expressed extreme interest. He is my hero because as a very young father he was incredibly resilient and has the work ethic I strive to continue. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? When I am not boating, I enjoy other outdoor activities like shooting and running. I also like to wrench on anything, from cars to small construction projects, and of course boats. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? I think that as a young professional in this field, it is such a rewarding career that can be achieved with passion and a little bit of grit. Careers in this industry don’ t require higher education, or harsh manual labor. If you have a passion for what you do, and the drive to back it, the possibilities in this industry are endless.
10 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com