About Us

     “At Flat Island BoatWorks we treat you as a client rather than as a customer. We're not just selling a standard service, we're working to solve your particular problems and meet your particular needs. We cultivate long-term relationships with our clients, and most importantly, become lasting business friends. Our marketing efforts focus on repeat business and referrals, not on sales. To be successful, we have to do good work and ensure that our clients are satisfied. We look forward to an opportunity to earn your business.”     

    ~Mike Bredesen   

      History & Experience:

Mike Bredesen’s skills and marine experience spans over the past 30+ years… 

     Beginning in 1973, Mike began designing fins at 'Islander Surfboards' in Pensacola, Florida. Soon thereafter, he started making surfboards and windsurfers until 1984. In that year, he and his family moved to Hawaii to be more involved in the wind-surfing business.  While living there during the beginning stages of the high performance wind-surfing era, Mike noticed the fin designs modeled from the surfing world were not up to the performance specs of board surfing.  He recognized the need and the opportunity to design high-performance fins. That is how the company was formed as 'Flat Island Fins' in 1985. (The company name being influenced by the small island “Flat Island” at Kailua Bay off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii.) *pictured above. 

    After relocating to his home state of Florida in 1987, Mike continued the business in the city of Gulf Breeze. Centerboards, daggerboards, and rudders were added to the product line, and he soon began working on boats as well. The business expanded steadily with boat work until it eventually became the focus of the business. 

    Three years later in 1990, the operation was moved to Pensacola to continue the same operations at a larger location and allow for expansion. In 1998, the decision was made to close the wind-surfing and fin business altogether and devote all focus and energy on boating. This resulted in the name change to 'Flat Island Marine, Inc.' providing gas and diesel engine service, generator installation and repair, A/C, and electronics, along with the existing services of fiberglass, paint, maintenance, and complete boat renovations. 

    Flat Island Boatworks, LLC had a planned restructuring during the last half of 2008 through the first half of 2009 to increase efficiencies and streamline operations. The company reopened in the exact same location with many of the same personnel and changed its name from Flat Island Marine, Inc. to it's current name of Flat Island Boatworks, LLC.