Help Shawn get back on the water and rebuild the poontoon!

Let’s Help Shawn Rebuild the Poontoon

As some of you may have heard, Shawn’s beloved “Poontoon” was lost this past Sunday morning after the firework festival. He, Ms. Kim, and Mr. Dave were heading out to pay their respects to Matt and the boys when a sudden storm rolled in. While turning back, a strong gust caught the roof and capsized the boat. Thankfully, everyone is safe — but the boat is completely ruined.

If you know Shawn, you know he’d never ask for help, and he may even hesitate to accept it. But we all know how much the Poontoon meant to him — and to all of us. We’ve all been on that boat at one point or another. We've all had a great party or adventure with Shawn on that boat. Shawn has always been eager to bring people along, often overloading the deck just to make sure everyone had a good time, even if it meant getting a lifejacket ticket — which, of course, he’d pay himself without complaint.

As we’ve gotten older, Shawn transitioned the Poontoon into more of a fishing and spearfishing boat, chasing his passion for scalloping and diving. He’s worked so hard getting everything ready for this year’s scalloping and grouper season. It breaks my heart to see all that taken from him right before it began.

The truth is, the Kernz family has given so much to all of us — and never asked for a thing in return. Whether it's the annual Christmas parties, Sunday Fundays, or Ms. Kim’s legendary breakfast spreads, they’ve always opened their hearts and their home to us. Shawn’s been a constant — a smiling face, a helping hand, a true friend.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know all of this to be true. And chances are, you’ve been on the Poontoon for a scalloping trip, a fishing trip, or just a damn good time. Shawn built that boat from the ground up, with nothing but an idea, a dream, and a whole lot of heart. And he shared it with all of us.

Now it’s our turn.

Please consider giving whatever you can to help Shawn rebuild — whether that means restoring what’s left or starting fresh. Every little bit helps.

Thank you for your time, your love, and your generosity. Let’s help Shawn get back on the water — where he belongs.