Jack Coulter

Jack was born in Lanark, Scotland and grew up sailing in the North Sea with an uncle in a homebuilt 25 foot wooden sloop. His family left Scotland when he was 11 and moved to the land-locked mountains of Eastern Tennessee. Jack was educated in Tennessee and holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He spent two tours in Vietnam courtesy of the US Navy.

His first trip to Oriental was via motorcycle in 1968 just after being discharged from the Navy.

“I absolutely fell in love with the village, the friendly people, and the beautiful surrounding area and I’m still in love with it!”

After spending 20 years as a manufacturer’s rep in consumer electronics Jack started his yacht brokerage career in 1993 with another Oriental yacht brokerage. In 1994 the late Bob Deaton convinced Jack to join him in opening a yacht brokerage office at Deaton Yacht Service.

Deaton Yacht Service has been the area’s premier full service family owned boat yard for over 30 continuous years. Deaton Yacht Sales has the distinguished honor of being the first and currently the only fully endorsed CPYB Endorsed Brokerage in North Carolina. Deaton Yacht Sales is member in good standing with (ABYC) The American Boat and Yacht Council.

Jack has extensive offshore experience from Canada to the Virgins. He has logged 14 trips to the Bahamas from North Carolina. Most recently he sailed his catamaran “MOJO” offshore from North Carolina to The Abacos, from The Abacos to Bermuda, then Bermuda back to North Carolina. He is currently resurrecting a 1980 Pearson 424 ketch also named “MOJO”. Jack received his initial USCG captain’ license in 1990 and now holds a 100 ton USCG Master’s license. He also holds a current private pilot’s license and is a certified Scuba diver. For a week end diversion Jack is involved in sports car road racing. Currently campaigning a 1959 Austin Healey Bug-eye Sprite and was VDCA H-production national champion in 2004 and 2008.

Jack, his wife Carol, and 4 year old son Alex live in Oriental. Carol is a Boeing 737 pilot for a major airline. They all agree this area is the most fantastic sailing and cruising on the East Coast.

Contact Jack – Phone: 252-249-0090, Toll Free: 877-267-6216. sales@deatonyachts.com

Steve Leech

Steve Leech, born and raised in New England, spent much of his life in, under and around boats, sailing, racing, building, repairing, maintaining, living aboard, selling and purchasing an ever larger progression of small boats,  the last and current being his Whitby 42, “Emilie T”.

While pursuing his career in labor relations, he punctuated it with a three year shift building custom sailing yachts in Virginia … and capped it as a Harbor Master and Marina Manager in “downeast” Maine … all the while finding time to just be “messing about in boats.” Along the way, he acquired his Coast Guard Masters License (50 ton), including its sailing endorsement.

Steve has lived and sailed aboard Emilie T since 1994 in the cherished company of his black lab, “Macthedog”. In 1999 they set sail in a southerly direction and together met their future mate, Betsy, on her own boat in the Bahamas. The three spent their subsequent winters in the Islands and their summers in Maine. During this migratory period, they encountered hurricane Isabel (2003), and seeking shelter, discovered Oriental. They decided to make Oriental their new home, with Emilie T and her crew safely berthed in Oriental Harbor.

Prior to coming on with Deaton’s, Steve spent 4+ years as a broker with St. Barts Yachts here in Oriental.

Contact Steve @ Phone: 252-249-0090 or steve@deatonyachts.com