Turning the Tide: Gabriel Aldanas MarineMax Journey
Gabriel Aldana initially doubted his recent boat purchase at MarineMax Orlando. However, his experience there changed his mind, leading him to upgrade to a Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard.
Gabriel Aldana waited in the MarineMax Orlando showroom and was concerned that he'd made a mistake on his recent boat purchase that just wasn't for him. But a funny thing happened instead. Not only did Aldana change his mind about boating and how Marine Max was there to help him, but he upgraded his boat to a Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard.
"MarineMax is a perfect choice if you are new to boating," said Aldana, a first-generation boat owner. "If you don't know what you are doing, it can ruin a trip. MarineMax guides you to the best boat for the experience you want and shows you how to really enjoy it."
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The key to Aldana's turnaround was a two-day MarineMax Getaways! event to Crystal River with his family: wife Jennary, mother-in-law Ingrid, and children Jahzielle (7) and Jehzekiel (2). Over drinks, dinners, and scalloping with the other guests, the family swapped boating tips, as well as stories of memories made on the water. They now have a text chain planning the next group adventure.
The event was transformative. "The trip was really fun, and it made me realize what I wanted in my boat," said Aldana. "I also realized MarineMax wasn't just 'selling' me; they understood how I wanted to use the boat and knew the right fit. But I was right too; the Sea Ray SPX 190 Outboard wasn't my boat, I needed something bigger."
In the end, sales consultant Dale Hancock with MarineMax Orlando fitted Aldana with a Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard. "Gabriel wanted to use his boat for entertaining on the ocean. The Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard is the perfect day boat. The layout encourages socialization with a portside walk through, and the technology makes it a breeze to operate, even for a first-time boat owner," said Hancock. "In addition, the Mercury V8 Verado 300 on the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard offers easy maintenance and is the ideal choice for saltwater use." It was the perfect fit.
"I love my new boat," said Aldana. "It's spacious and versatile, and we can entertain 14 people comfortably every weekend with family. We are on it every weekend with family and friends, and it's even turned into an incentive for my top sales reps. I take them out monthly to Tampa or Miami."
In the end, sales consultant Dale Hancock with MarineMax Orlando fitted Aldana with a Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard. "Gabriel wanted to use his boat for entertaining on the ocean. The Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard is the perfect day boat. The layout encourages socialization with a portside walk through, and the technology makes it a breeze to operate, even for a first-time boat owner," said Hancock. "In addition, the Mercury V8 Verado 300 on the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard offers easy maintenance and is the ideal choice for saltwater use." It was the perfect fit.
"I love my new boat," said Aldana. "It's spacious and versatile, and we can entertain 14 people comfortably every weekend with family. We are on it every weekend with family and friends, and it's even turned into an incentive for my top sales reps. I take them out monthly to Tampa or Miami."
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On any given weekend, you can find the Aldana family anchored near a sandbar, relaxing on the boat, or swimming in the water. Their favorite hangout is near Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, FL, where the water is calm, and they see lots of marine life, including dolphins and all different types of fish.
The Sea Ray has a convertible transom seat that slides back and forth to allow more room in the aft or the cockpit, When the kids are swimming, the adults sit comfortably on the boat and watch, and a four-zone sound system with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi audio streaming means those in the water can hear the music without disrupting conversations in the cockpit. Aft and bow ladders make it quick to get in and out, and adjacent wash downs allow for rinsing off the salt water after swimming and keeping the boat clean. d'oeuvres are available for the cockpit.
At first, he found it a bit scary to bring the boat into shallow areas where the girls like to swim, but the large Simrad Multifunction Display (MFD) that includes GPS and a depth finder makes it incredibly easy. "The navigational system on the Sea Ray allows me to take trips that would otherwise be impossible. I feel like an experienced boater," said Aldana.
In addition to swimming, the girls like to tube too. The Sea Ray makes it easy to store inflatables and pull them out when ready, pumping them up with a conveniently placed 12-volt electrical outlet. And when the sun gets too much, or it starts to rain, the kids can escape to the cabin, which includes a roomy head.
Aldana loves going out with the kids, but his favorite experience is night boating in Miami. "It's simply breathtaking to see downtown Miami at night from the water," he said. "We turn the boat lights on, and we'll stay out until 2 am. Time just flies"
For these excursions, the versatility of the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard shines. Slide the transom seating back for additional space in the cockpit. and switch seating forward or back for maximum comfort. Guests can spill over to the how, where there is aft and forward-facing seating. Removable (with dedicated storage) tables for hors d'oeuvres are available for the cockpit and bow as needed. The bow even has its own cooler, so you don't have to get up for a cold beverage. LED accent lighting sets the mood and makes it easy to get around without changing the ambiance changing.
At first, he found it a bit scary to bring the boat into shallow areas where the girls like to swim, but the large Simrad Multifunction Display (MFD) that includes GPS and a depth finder makes it incredibly easy. "The navigational system on the Sea Ray allows me to take trips that would otherwise be impossible. I feel like an experienced boater," said Aldana.
In addition to swimming, the girls like to tube too. The Sea Ray makes it easy to store inflatables and pull them out when ready, pumping them up with a conveniently placed 12-volt electrical outlet. And when the sun gets too much, or it starts to rain, the kids can escape to the cabin, which includes a roomy head.
Aldana loves going out with the kids, but his favorite experience is night boating in Miami. "It's simply breathtaking to see downtown Miami at night from the water," he said. "We turn the boat lights on, and we'll stay out until 2 am. Time just flies"
For these excursions, the versatility of the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard shines. Slide the transom seating back for additional space in the cockpit. and switch seating forward or back for maximum comfort. Guests can spill over to the how, where there is aft and forward-facing seating. Removable (with dedicated storage) tables for hors d'oeuvres are available for the cockpit and bow as needed. The bow even has its own cooler, so you don't have to get up for a cold beverage. LED accent lighting sets the mood and makes it easy to get around without changing the ambiance changing.
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Gabriel Aldana's MarineMas experience started out rough, "At first, it was like they were speaking a different language, and I didn't understand," said Aldana. "But I came to realize they weren't just selling one; they were experts at matching my needs to the perfect boat. I can't wait for summer to get back out again."
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