MEET THE TEAM

J. BENSLEY

A beach enthusiast and former math teacher, Jeff seized the opportunity to move from the classroom to the beach. The result of this bold move is summers spent on the beach with TC Watersports, and an off-season full of traveling across the United States with family and friends.

Growing up in a beachfront town, he loves to swim and spend time playing beach volleyball. From the moment Jeff could drive he loved going fast. After saving money for two years he purchased his first Jet Ski at the age of 15. His passion for speed is evident when you see him out on our Seadoo’s.

As a high school junior, he jumped at the opportunity to work for a local Jet Ski rental eventually working his way into a management role. His passion for boating grew through his college years as he became an avid wakeboarder. Jeff then spent several years working with families and children as a local math teacher.

This background lends itself well to the customer service Jeff provides TC Watersports customers, as he can frequently be seen opening up the booth as the morning sun rises, with a smile on his face and his toes in the sand!

CAPT. SABURI BOYER

Love, at first sight, is the best way to describe Saburi’s relationship with the water. Saburi spent most of his summers swimming and playing along the shores of East Bay’s Milliken Park, just a half-block away from his childhood home in Traverse City. He looked forward all winter to playing on Elk Lake at his grandparents’ family cottage. His grandfather taught him how to waterski from the back of his pontoon boat, took him fishing on his little aluminum fishing boat, and taught him about boating. From an early age, Saburi knew that fresh water and boating were in his blood.

Saburi’s first job on the water, while still in high school, was installing and removing docks and hoists with a company he started called Docks ‘n More. He began working on the beaches of East Grand Traverse Bay renting Jet Skis and boats, and then as a parasail deckhand. After getting his sea time as a deckhand, he got his first captain’s license almost 20 years ago.

A couple of years into college, Saburi decided to take a semester off to pursue a dream to tour the coast of Florida in search of sand, water, and sunshine – let’s not forget the boating world as well! He settled in Naples, Florida that winter and worked on the beach as a Parasail Captain, also renting boats and Jet Skis and selling tours out of the Ritz Carlton of Naples on Vanderbilt Beach through Adventure Guides Inc. Capt. Saburi bought Traverse Bay Parasail that year and has returned to Traverse City as a parasail captain every summer since.

Saburi spent most of the past 15 winters operating various parasail and other tour businesses, boat and Jet Ski rentals, and other watersports companies around the U.S. He owned and operated Siesta Key Parasail, Siesta Key Jet Ski, Siesta Key Cruises, Florida Keys Parasail in Islamorada, Adventure Guides of Sarasota, and Usedparasailboats.com. Saburi is considered a respected member of the parasail and watersports industry, as a leader and participant in maintaining higher standards of safety for operators, along with his work as a commercial boat broker and consultant.

Saburi’s passion is to bring people together to enjoy quality time doing fun things and has spent much of his life putting people together with their dream vacation experience. In 2013 Saburi started TC Watersports with the help of Jeff Bensley with the goal of providing the best possible watersports rental experience in Traverse City.