Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Swaim.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Being on the water has been a passion as far back as I can remember. Growing up in NJ along the Delaware River, summers were spent teaching kids how to sail at a sailing camp. If I wasn’t doing that, I was tubing or fishing on a family boat. Eventually, that turned into me getting a degree in marine biology at Stockton College. After graduating, I made my way to an internship in the Florida Keys, teaching marine science to kids. My next move was to Biloxi, MS where I got a job as a fisheries observer for NOAA. For that, I was working on commercial fishing boats offshore (all over the Gulf of Mexico), taking down data so that we can have a sustainable fisheries for years to come. In 2015, I moved to South Florida to help my parents open a small ice cream shop as a “retirement plan”. My plan was to help them open and head to Fort Lauderdale. While waiting for that to get going, I got a job working as a first mate and tour guide on a sightseeing boat. Within a year of the shop opening, my dad passed away. I then spent most of my days at the shop making ice cream with my mom, and a day or two a week working on the boat. Eventually, before Covid shut the world down in 2020, we were able to sell the ice cream shop. My mom finally retired, and I wanted to get on the water full time. From March on, I started to do my research in starting my own charter boat, an idea I always had in the back of my mind. Around September 2020, I had my first charter, and haven’t looked back.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a small business by yourself is hard work. You’re the media person, the bookkeeper, problem solver; and in my case, the captain. Some months are better than others, and not knowing what to expect in the days ahead can be hard as well. In my area, there is always a lot of competition, and that in itself can be hard.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I run multi-hour boat charters for up to 6 people all year. I wanted to use my background as a marine biologist to show all the wildlife we have in Fort Myers Beach while making it a fun day on the water. I noticed none of the boats in the area did anything different than anyone else. I wanted to change that. I wanted to make it feel personalized, as well as a safe day on the water where no one has to worry about being a DD. I have beach games like beer pong and bocce ball, but also fun floats for the water. But if you want to know about our ecosystem? I have that covered too.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Being out on the water each summer. At the sailing camp, it never felt like a job for us because we loved it so much. Days we were on a personal boat, our town’s dock had an ice cream shop right next to it, so we’d always end up getting a cold treat on the way home.
Pricing:
- 4 hr tours $400 plus tax
- 6 hr tours $600 plus tax
- 2 hr sunsets $250 plus tax
- All trips include cooler, ice, water, up to 6 ppl, and Captain.
Contact Info:
- Email: Swflpartypontoon@gmail.com
- Website: Www.swflpartypontoon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swflpartypontoon/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swflpartypontoon/
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34231-d21266310-r772265154-SWFL_Party_Pontoon-Fort_Myers_Beach_Florida.html
