Below the Waterline Marine is a small, family-owned business rooted on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a place where boats aren’t just hobbies, they’re a way of life. As a family with generations of commercial watermen behind us, the water runs deep in our blood. We’ve held commercial crabbing licenses, built our lives around the tides, and raised our three daughters with the same respect for hard work, self-sufficiency, and the Chesapeake traditions that shaped us.

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Our oldest daughter Rylee is now pursuing her first year of college, our middle daughter Alivia devotes countless hours to competitive travel volleyball, and our youngest Shelbie is an incredibly gifted artist and musician. This business isn’t just what we do, it’s what supports the people we love, the community we belong to, and the lifestyle we’re proud to live. Every job we take supports the future we're building together: one boat, one customer, one honest day’s work at a time.

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Jeff’s Story: A Lifetime on the Water

Jeff got his first boat at six years old, motoring up and down the creek “doubler dippin’” — scooping crabs from the pilings and selling his haul to buy Yoo-hoo and Starbursts. That childhood hustle turned into a lifelong career on the water.

He started working in the marine industry at age 13 as a yard hand at Parrish Creek Marina, and over the decades has become one of the most well-rounded and trusted marine technicians in the region. His credentials include:

• ABYC Master Technician

• Kohler Certified

• Expert in all marine gasoline engines (inboard, I/O, and outboards)

• Skilled with small diesel engines including Cummins/Onan, Yanmar, Volvo Penta, Westerbeke, Perkins, Beta, and more

• Hands-on experience with large diesel platforms such as Caterpillar and MAN

• Deep understanding of marine systems, electrical, plumbing, steering, hydraulics, and full onboard diagnostics

• And, for those who know: he can shrinkwrap a boat with one ground man faster and cleaner than most teams of six

His skillset isn’t learned from books, it’s earned from decades of real-world work, saltwater, and problem-solving on boats of every size and purpose.

 

Where We've Been - and Why We Returned

For ten years, we successfully operated Hagan’s Marine Service in Deale, Maryland under the Herrington Harbour Marina umbrella. We were the only on-site preferred vendor at Shipwright Marina, and during that time built a reputation for honesty, craftsmanship, and reliability.

Eventually, we sold the business and stepped into corporate life — chasing stability, growth, and the next chapter. But what we found was work that was unfulfilling, restrictive, and far removed from the water that shaped us. There was no joy in it. No community. No purpose.

So we made the decision that felt the most right, the most honest, and the most us: we came back to the marine world and started over from scratch.

Below the Waterline Marine is our return to what we love and what we do best: serving boaters with integrity, professionalism, fairness, and passion.

 

What We Stand For

Honesty & Transparency
We tell you what’s needed, what’s not, and why, with no upselling and no surprises.

Reliability
If we schedule it, we show up. If we say we’ll do it, we do it right.

Expertise
With decades of engine, systems, and propulsion experience, your vessel is in capable hands.

Fair Pricing
We believe in charging for honest labor and delivering the value you deserve.

Respect for Your Vessel & Your Time
Boats are more than equipment; they’re memories, adventures, and investments. We treat them accordingly.

 

Our Mission

To keep your vessel performing safely, reliably, and efficiently so you never miss a weather window, a fishing trip, or a day on the water with the people who matter most.

 

Our Promise

We are a family-first, water-first business dedicated to doing things the right way; with skill, integrity, accountability, and a personal connection to every customer we serve. When you choose Below the Waterline Marine, you’re choosing real people who care about your boat as much as you do.