Meet Dylan

Owner & Operator of Off The Chart Marine

Boats have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up around the water, fishing with my dad, going to fishing tournaments, and helping clean and work on his boats. As I got older, I started buying and working on boats of my own and developed a real interest in understanding how everything worked, not just the engine but the boat as a complete system.

Mechanical work has also been a major part of my professional background. Before making the full-time move into the marine industry, I spent years working as an automotive and transmission mechanic. Eventually, my mechanical background and lifelong passion for boating came together, and I decided to build my career around the industry I genuinely enjoyed.

I have approximately three years of professional marine service experience, including working with marinas and marine dealerships in the Wilmington area. That experience ultimately led me to start Off The Chart Marine and build a marine service company around the standards I believe boat owners deserve.

Professional Marine Training & Experience

My professional training includes Yamaha outboard training through Cape Fear Community College and Mercury outboard technical training through Mercury Marine's technical training program.

I am also a USCG-Licensed Captain and hold STCW and CPR certifications.

My hands-on experience includes a wide variety of boats and marine systems, from jon boats and pontoons to ski boats and center consoles. I continue to expand my knowledge as engines, electronics, diagnostic equipment, and other marine systems evolve.

Being a good marine technician means continuing to learn. There will always be new technology, new systems, and new problems to solve, and I believe staying current is an important part of providing good service.

More Than Just an Engine

One of the most important things I've learned is that a boat needs to be looked at as a complete system.

The engine, fuel system, electrical system, batteries, controls, steering, rigging, electronics, and other components all work together. A failure in one area can sometimes be the result of a problem somewhere else.

That's why my approach isn't simply to replace whatever component appears to have failed and move on.

I want to understand why it failed.

When I'm troubleshooting a problem, my goal is to identify the root cause, assess the related systems, and determine what the boat needs. Fixing the underlying problem can help prevent the customer from dealing with the same failure again.

An Honest Approach to Marine Repair

My approach to marine service is built around thorough diagnostics, honest communication, attention to detail, and repairs performed the right way.

That also means being honest about what a boat doesn't need.

There are times when an aftermarket component or expensive upgrade is marketed as the best way to improve performance, when the better solution may simply be the correct factory replacement or manufacturer-recommended repair.

My goal isn't to sell the most expensive repair. It's to recommend what I believe is best for the boat's performance, reliability, and longevity.

Sometimes the right repair costs more. Sometimes it costs less. My job is to tell you the truth either way.



Why I Started Off The Chart Marine

I understand the frustrations that come with owning and maintaining a boat because I've dealt with many of them myself.

Getting a boat onto a trailer, hauling it across town, dropping it off at a shop, waiting for service, and then making the trip all over again isn't always convenient. I built Off The Chart Marine around a mobile service model so that whenever the work can be safely and properly completed on-site, I can bring the service directly to the boat.

But convenience is only part of what I wanted to do differently.

Off The Chart Marine is owner-operated, which means when you contact the company, you're working directly with the person responsible for evaluating and servicing your boat. I want customers to understand what I've found, why I'm recommending a particular repair, and what their options are before moving forward.

The goal is to build long-term relationships with local boat owners and not simply complete another service ticket.

My Connection to Wilmington

I've been coming to the Wilmington area since I was a kid, spending time boating, fishing, and enjoying the water here long before eventually making Wilmington my full-time home.

When I'm not working on boats, you'll still find me around the water. I enjoy cruising, exploring new places and beaches, and sometimes simply finding somewhere to relax.

This area and the boating lifestyle have been a part of my life for a long time. That's ultimately what boating is supposed to be about getting out on the water and enjoying it.

The Standard I Hold Myself To

I treat a customer's boat with the same care I expect for my own.

That means paying attention to the details, keeping my work clean and organized, thoroughly evaluating problems, and doing my best to make sure a repair is completed correctly.

When the job is finished, I want you to understand what was done and feel confident taking your boat back out on the water.

That's the standard I'm building Off The Chart Marine around.