If you’re not at sea in the Med, Newport, New York or somewhere else fabulous and cooler than South Florida, join us for our monthly networking event at Claire’s Marine Outfitters on the first Wednesday in July.

It’s not as hard to find as the hard-to-find items this provisioner specializes in tracking down. It’s a few blocks behind Lester’s Diner on State Road 84 at 2921 S.W. 2nd Ave.

For now, find out about Claire’s from owner Marc Burton.

Q. Tell us about you. What’s your background; you spent a few years running Windjammer, right? And how did you get into a yacht provisioning business?

I grew up along the shore in Delaware and I have always been water-minded. I worked doing odd jobs around the marina when I was younger. Later, I moved to Florida and worked as a professional captain, mostly on sailing yachts.

In 1982, I became a yacht broker and did that for 12 years before moving on to become director of operations and support for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. There, I provided logistical support, purchasing and crew management while traveling throughout the Caribbean to join each of the ships monthly.

I was accountable for all facets of passenger services, gift shop, food and beverage departments, and crew training. After 12 years of non-stop travel, I began to look for a shore-based business to become involved in, and after much thought, chose yacht chandlery and supply.

Further research led me to Claire’s. The reputation of Claire’s Marine Outfitters as one of Ft. Lauderdale’s yachting community’s most respected small businesses made my choice to buy an easy one.

Q. Tell us about what your business does.

Claire’s Marine Outfitters is the go-to chandler and supplier for many of the world’s premier yachts, wherever in the world they may be. Founded by Claire Miller in 1988, Claire’s has built a reputation for personal, reliable, and expert service.

Q. You bought Claire’s a few years ago – how has the transition gone? Made any changes?

I bought Claire’s in 2006 and Miller has stayed on. We have long been known to offer experienced, timely service, specializing in sourcing hard-to-find parts and spares. We can supply captains and crew with equipment, machinery, deck supplies, engine spares, filters, and all maintenance and care products.

Q. What sets you apart from other provisioning outfiters?

Several exclusive brands are imported, distributed and stocked at Claire’s, such as Stoppani varnishes and paints, Tricoflex hose, Gardena hose fittings, Klasse waxes and polishes, and our own liquid products for the care and maintenance of all areas of the yacht.

Personal attention and in-depth knowledge of yachts and the yachting industry is a matter of pride with our staff. We find the parts and supplies that others can’t, and get them to you, wherever you are, on time, and on budget.

Q. You say on your Web site that you specialize in hard-to-find items. What’s the hardest-to-find item you’ve ever located? Any you haven’t been able to track down?

Many of the weirdest things people ask for are gaskets for older boats in all shapes and sizes. Those are the hardest things to find ... gypsies, spleens and sprockets for the windlass systems on megayachts – mostly on older Feadships or other large, older, custom-built European boats. Other hard-to-find requests are for portholes and other window-related things – even windshield wiper arms.

Predominantly, the toughest-to-find things are for the older, European-built custom yachts. We have to go to the manufacturer of the boat to get the source of whatever part we’re looking for.

Half of the time, they can tell us but most of the time, those companies are not even in business anymore.

If we can’t find it, we have it custom made at a machine shop.