About us

Stephen began sailing as a child in Cape Town, South Africa. At age sixteen he sailed with his family across the Atlantic to South America and on to the Caribbean on a 37’ catamaran. After finishing high school and working on charter sailboats for a few years he undertook an apprenticeship in yacht rigging at highly successful FKG Rigging in Sint Maarten.

After five years of rigorous training at FKG, he moved to the UK with his wife and while there co-founded Brighton Rigging at Brighton Marina. Two years later he found himself in Michigan and began offering his services as a mobile yacht rigger.

After a successful run in Michigan, his wife’s educational requirements took them to East Tennessee where he continued to operate as a mobile yacht rigger, servicing the inland lakes of western North Carolina, East Tennessee, middle Tennessee, and southern Kentucky. During this time he founded “The Yacht Rigger” and grew it into a successful mobile mast and rigging company. He also set up a web store selling parts across the United States and South America and a global consultation service.

After four years in Tennessee he and his wife moved south to St Petersburg, Florida for a life on the coast. He is now offering his services as a mobile yacht rigger and mast supplier in the Tampa Bay area while partnering with suppliers and brands with whom he has developed great working relationships over the past decade.

“Boats, in particular sail boats, have a profound effect on me. I find my mind wanders to boats naturally and my wife since 2000 would tell you “I will ‘talk boat’ with anyone”. I’m fascinated by the forces of nature that intersect with man’s ability to make a vessel that works on principles of compromise.

My career began in metal fabrication welding jobs such as bridges, structural steel, and airport equipment. My attention to detail, problem solving and artistic abilities led to finer work fabricating furniture, museum pieces, and precision machinery parts.

My passion for sailing started at age 15, when I reunited with my estranged father, a life-long sailor, who at the time lived aboard a motor-sailor. He took me on my first sail leaving St. Petersburg under the Skyway Bridge. This short trip around Egmont sparked a passion within me to sail and a desire to figure out the physics behind the power. I bought my first boat at 18 years old and my first sailboat at 23.

Fortunately my career path in metal fabrication and my obsession with being on the water had their own kind of intersection. In 2006 I began working as a spar builder and custom marine fabricator at J.S.I. (then changed to Island Nautical). I particularly enjoy working as a prototype fabricator and gravitate toward custom work beyond just masts and spars.

During the recession I honed my salesman skills and sold impact windows and doors for 5 years. Windows are not as fun to talk about as boats….

So, here I am- let’s “talk boat”!

I am a cruiser just like you. We live aboard our catamaran full time as a family of five.

Partnered with The Yacht Rigger, our mission with Gulf Nautical is to bring the Offshore Cruising Tenders, Marine Air Conditioners, and Lithium Batteries that we love and use on our boat into the hands of other cruisers like us. The unique Gulf Nautical experience will ensure that our excellent products and services are backed with reliable and knowledgeable customer service.

My first experience of sailing was on 505 dinghies in South African inland waters when I was seventeen. We entered many competitions and even did some offshore racing. Once in Durban we all had our spinnakers up and a gale came from nowhere and almost the whole fleet was rolled over, damaging many masts and boats. This didn't deter me and I still loved being on the ocean. Then I met someone who needed a captain for his 50-ton fishing boat. I did the necessary courses and skippered his boat on many weekends, also helping him maintain it.

Later I got my own small fishing boat and had many adventures with it. We had to launch from the beach in Durban and I have a sequence of photos showing us launching into a twenty-five foot back line.

For a while we moved inland but the ocean was calling and my family and I moved to Cape Town. It was there that we made the momentous decision to buy a cruising sailboat, a 37' catamaran that had only been partially completed internally. I set about making her seaworthy and learnt a lot very quickly. We even had a lightning strike and I had a quick lesson in AC and DC electricity when I had to re-wire the boat. I fitted all the electronic equipment. I did the plumbing, fitting all the seacocks, two new heads and fresh and salt-water hoses and faucets.

My family and I set sail from South Africa in 2001. This first offshore voyage to St Helena took 18 days and we were very happy to find the tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. We sailed on to Brazil and the Caribbean. We really enjoyed life on the boat but after a few years made the decision to sell her and went to live in England.

We bought another catamaran in 2007 and this one needed a complete refit. What a sucker for punishment! I replaced the engine and stern drive myself. I replaced all the windows and hatches. I did the carpentry, replacing bulkheads, fitting doors and converting part of the saloon into a double cabin with lots of storage. I insulated the boat with a two-part spray-on high-density foam and fitted head lining throughout. I redid all the electrics, fitted the electronics and solar panels and two wind generators. I also did the plumbing and propane fitting.

Finally she was ready and we sailed from England in 2014 across the Atlantic to Antigua via Madeira and Gran Canaria. We spent time revisiting the Caribbean before arriving in the USA a year later. Sailing and boats are a way of life for me. This fits well with another one of my hobbies, fishing. If I'm not working on a boat I’m fishing from one!

William Pregliasco or Will as he prefers, learned to sail in the boy scouts at a young age and was hooked. First introduced to racing on the lakes and rivers back in Kentucky, Will knew staying landlocked wasn't an option. Moving to Florida four years ago, Will has immersed himself into the sailing culture here in St. Petersburg and the surrounding areas. Participating in everything from Thursday night beer can racing at Davis Island Yacht club to the boat of the year series, several Noods regattas, two years at Charleston race week and the SORC island series. Starting at Island Nautical (formerly JSI), a short stint at Mauripro, Will has landed with us here at The Yacht Rigger where he hope's to grow his knowledge of all things sailing. Will is a floater, just like his position on the boats and crews he sails with; primarily part of the store and office staff, parts research, you can also find him in the boatyard and out on jobs helping the mobile rigging teams as needed. Will has big plans for the future with the largest goal being the Pacific Cup. He and three friends are currently rebuilding a Hobie 33 to make the journey to Hawaii. When not sailing, you can usually find Will and his fiancé working on their new house or at the local bar enjoying a nice IPA.

Nicole grew up sailing on the Gulf Coast and started racing sailboats when she was 11. From there it sparked her love of sailing and competitive racing. Currently on the weekends she enjoys racing in the phrf fleet on various boats. Before working at The Yacht Rigger she coached youth sailing for 10 years, traveling with competitive teams all over the country. She's really just seas-ing the day at The Yacht Rigger.

Glenn R. Mooney was born in New England in 1953. (Yes, that was a real year.) He attended Northeastern University in Boston for a few years but dropped out to move to Florida in 1973 where he could ride his motorcycle year round.

In 1980 Glenn accomplished two life goals:
He received his 50-Ton Master's License for both power boats and auxiliary sail.
He was also accepted as a member in Mensa.

He has sailed to five foreign countries including a paid delivery of a 36-foot Pearson ketch to Columbia. (No, it wasn't a drug run.)

Glenn has been a professional sailboat rigger for over 20 years and hates computers.

Hi my name is Keaton but you can just call me KC. I love old cars and hotrods, specifically old Volkswagens. It's how I got my start in welding and fabrication. I also love the beach and value the ocean. I've been in the industry for years and have slowly moved from the mechanics and fabrication of cars to the custom fabrication of boat parts and accessories. Being near or out on the ocean is a beautiful thing and I'm thankful to be able to enjoy in my home town. Now I get to combine my background in hotrods and my passion for the ocean to build creative and innovative accessories for your ship.

Hello my name is Jonathan Bowman. I come from an agricultural background. I spent 4 years a an arborist and climber In the logging field. I have been working on an underwater logging and dredging vessels for the last 5 years building operating and maintaining them. I have operated a long list of heavy equipment/farm equipment. I have been in the industrial side of the marine industry now I am glad to be part of the recreational side of the industry

Always take the sea-nic route.

What do you call a sail with only two corners? I haven’t got a clew!

Why are the electricians always up to date? Because they are ‘current specialists.

My boat story began in 2014. A local marine mechanic by the name of John adored my dog, Otis* and my 1962 Cadillac so much, that he let us work on several projects in his garage. John noticed my abilities and asked me work for him and his wife, Beth while I was off from school.

Working at a marine mechanic shop has its perks, you receive hands-on experience, along with investment opportunities. From there, one boat renovation turned into two, which turned into three. Four boats later, Otis and I live aboard SV Esprit Libre — a 78’ Endeavor 32, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Of course friends, family, and I enjoyed each boat while they were around and visiting me in Florida.

Working at The Yacht Rigger is a huge help when it comes to living aboard and boat projects in general. Our tribal knowledge helps each of us progress as technicians, as sailors, and as human beings. Otis and I are truly blessed and thankful to work with such a great company during this chapter of our boat story.

*See coworker Otis on his bio page

Where do you take a sick boat? To the dock.

It’s salt good.

This is the mast fun I've had in a long time.

This will be my lega-sea.

Otis is a cheery chap who instantly brightens the day of everyone he encounters around the office. With his boundless energy and huge smile, Otis is the epitome of "just super excited to be here".

This pudgy prince loves fuss and attention, which he gets plenty of because everyone in his workplace adores him. Just look at those ears!