In 1991, after more than twenty-five years in over-the-road
trucking, "Big Jim" Bunch decided to specialize. As an avid
fisherman and boat aficionado, what better choice than
transporting the most precious of cargo ... BOATS?!
Hardworking wife, Robin, their daughters,
and especially sons, Roy and Chris,
would find themselves, as always, along for the ride.
First there were a few trucks and an office in the garage ...
then a few more trucks, and a new building in the back yard ...
finally more trucks, and an office with the "shop",
just a short jog "up the lane".
As the family business grew, so did the family.
Sons and daughters married and had families of their own.
Deep Water grew ... with the usual growing pains, of course ...
but getting bigger and better, all the time.
By 2002, older brother Roy decided to spread his wings,
and though already a licensed private and commercial contractor,
he incorporated Intercoastal Boat Transport,
to specialize in the movement of boats
on longer hauls from Coast to Coast.
In 2004, Chris expanded the "Family Business" again,
by incorporating Atlantic Boat,
with East Coast moves as a particular specialty.
In 2005, with the family office bursting at the seams,
Chris finished a beautiful new facility a few miles away; and
with office manager, Kelli Adams, the
Atlantic Boat operation moved into a new home.
Now with Roy firmly at the helm of both Deep Water
and Intercoastal at the Bunch Lane facilities,
the Family Business continues to grow .
"Big Jim" operates his own escort service and partners with Roy in
Deep Water Marine and Open Storage,
but still remains a daily fixture at both offices,
a trusted advisor to his "trucking" sons.
Now, Deep Water Transport, the flagship of
the Family Business continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
Roy Bunch, Deep Water's Managing Owner, still personally oversees the
hiring of drivers, purchase of all equipment, quotes for every
customer, the planning for every load, still dealing with brokers and
sales persons, getting greasy in the repair shop with mechanic,
Jose Ventura, and a multitude of other daily tasks ... just generally
" wheelin' & dealin' ". Some of us are amazed that he can still
make the time for the three active young men his sons have become ... or soccer games, ballet recitals, and anything else his
precious seven year-old daughter decides she "needs" him to do ...
manage an occasional night out with a Special Gal ...
and squeeze in a family party or two.
Drivers can make or break a business like ours.
Luckily, our drivers are a great bunch of folks! Whether older with many
years of experience, or one of our exceptional "young guns",
all are well trained and dedicated.
Roy, who learned to drive (literally) on Daddy's knee, keeps a
license to drive the "big rigs" that he first acquired in 1975, and
still occasionally surprises one of our manufacturers,
when he shows up to "pick up a load" himself.
Judith Phaup, Roy's Administrative Assistant,
does her best to keep up with this hectic office
(and Roy's crazy schedule);
while, everyone finds the recent addition of permit clerk,
Sheena Etchison, to the office staff, incredibly helpful.
2008 for Deep Water, is expected to be another year of steady
expansion, and the successful partnership of the company and our
treasured customers. We look forward to again serving both
returning customers, and those we have yet to meet. All those
who entrust their boats to us, will find an enterprise dedicated to
exceptional service, fair pricing, up to date & specialized equipment
... and most importantly ... will find themselves joining us as
integral members of The Family Business!