Jett's Hardware's boating and fishing store is the next best thing to a cruise
The first thing you see when you walk into the Jett's Hardware fishing and boating store in Reedville is the polished teak transom of a fishing cruiser, with the name Heid-Aweigh II across the stern. In fact, it's the store's checkout counter.
“It's a nine foot Tiffany. When we opened the store I hired Tiffany Yachts to build it. Their only hesitation was that they had never built a boat with no bottom,” said Roger Wilkins, who, along with wife Heidi, owns and operates the boating and fishing center, which, though in a different building, is part of Jett's Hardware.
The Tiffany checkout counter is your first clue that this is no ordinary marine store. The Wilkins opened it in 1992, about two years after they took over Jett's Hardware. The Hardware store sold fishing and boating supplies, but the Wilkins felt that in the Northern Neck, something more was called for.
“We had two aisles dedicated to boating and fishing supplies, but it was cramped and crowded. This building had been an auto parts store, so we renovated it and turned it into our boating and fishing center,” Roger said.
The store has just about anything a boater and fisherman could hope for. Fishing supplies include Plano tackle boxes, rods, reels, hooks, line and leaders, plugs, including the popular Atomic lures, metal jigs, soft baits, Storm lures, spoons, and other a wide assortment of coolers, including the new Icey-Tek coolers.
“I haven't tried it, but the company says ice will last for nine hours in these coolers,” Roger said.
“In fact, the Army is testing them in Iraq,” Heidi added.
There are just as many boating supplies, including rod holders, dock lines, ski and tow ropes, hardware, piling caps, bilge pumps, paddles and oars, safety equipment and navigation equipment, such as VHF radios, depth finders and GPS.
“We are selling a lot more GPS these days. It's popular equipment for boating in the bay,” Roger said.
Jett's has a wide selection of cleaning supplies, caulking and adhesive for working on your boat, boating apparel by FrogToggs, for when you get cleaned up, and grills and cookers for relaxing with friends.
So this boating season, set sail for Jett's Hardware and Fishing Supplies, and go aboard the Heid-Aweigh II for all your boating and fishing supplies.
