J4 AERO LLC
GULF BREEZE, FLORIDA

Flat Island Boatworks is a marine service like no other on the Gulf Coast. The company is involved in most areas of recreational and commercial vessel maintenance. From the basics of hull care to the most detailed aspects of customization…FIB has become the preferred choice of local boat owners. FIB’s owner has logged more than 4 decades of experience in the marine industry. Virtually every aspect of glasswork, marine components and project management for boat owners has been addressed by FIB’s operatives over the company’s impressive history. Returning to the Gulf Coast (1987), there was a natural progression into the marine/yacht repair business. Mike’s extensive background in glass technology and an excellent reputation for managing all types of projects, has gained FIB, many lifelong clients. Mike continued the business in the city of Gulf Breeze. Centerboards, daggerboards, and rudders were added to the product line, and FIB soon began working on boats as well. The business expanded steadily with boat work until it eventually became the focus of operations.Beginning in the surfing industry (1973, Islander Surfboards, Pensacola FL), Mike Bredesen engineered some of the sport’s cutting edge fin technology while involved with all aspects of professional surfboard and windsurfer construction. As a lifelong surfer and windsurfer, it was a logical career move to relocate to Hawaii (1984), where Mike’s participation in high-performance windsurfing matured. Mike’s company, Flat Island Fins, brought developments in fin technology from high speed wind boards into the surfing industry. 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.) Three years later in 1990, the operation moved into Pensacola to grow a larger location and allow for future 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.