Viking Marine Services was originally opened, by it's current owner Ron Dvorak,  as R & R Mechanics. It was a general automotive repair facility. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was not cut out for "Fixing" cars. I did enjoy building motors when the opportunity presented itself, so after 3-4 years of R & R Mechanics, I bought out my original partner, and good friend [now passed away], Ronnie Burns and named the shop "Certified Engine Exchange". We began rebuilding automotive engines full time. I really enjoyed the work. We offered, in the early 80's, a rebuild special in the Auto Trader for "Any American made Car" at $450.
Of course it did not include installation, that was a whopping $100 more.
I began to get requests for "Marine" engines from customers and  local shops in my area. I told them I could not afford to build them for $450, but I would start at $500 and see how it goes. Before long I was getting a great response from the public but they wanted "Installation" in their boats. I had to send the installation work to another shop because we did not have the room for boats in the shop and I had no knowledge of installation in a boat, but I did know it was more than just "Dropping" the motor in. I had a shop down the street that did my installations for me.

In 1989 the shop was robbed and I lost everything. A 6 foot tall Snap-On box "Loaded" as well as 3 motors [rebuilt], one Very serious 351w motor "Ready to go", battery chargers, etc. Everything was gone and I just wanted OUT.
Out of Miami, Out of the Business, just OUT.
I lived in Cutler Ridge, about 20 miles south of Miami and 20 miles north of Key Largo. A friend of mine owned  "Twin Power" a motorcycle shop for Harley-Davidsons right on the Florida Turnpike and called to tell me that the building next to him was available. He went on to tell me that he had a Snap-On box full of tools and anytime I needed to borrow anything it was "Just" next door.

I rented the building and moved what little I had down to it. I didn't want to continue simply building motors, nor did I want to continue as Certified Engine Exchange.

Viking Marine Services was openned  in 1990 and offered "Complete" marine repairs and services including "Dockside" repairs. I was 5 minutes from Blackpoint Marina and 15 minutes from Homestead Bayfront Park, both very nice county parks.

The "Dockside" business really got us going and it didn't take long and I was back in business. Shop full of boats, motors being built, phone ringing all day long and friends I used to see 2-3 times a year pulling up on Harley-Davidsons to the shop next door. It was great, that is until August 23, 1992.
Hurricane Andrew
Viking Marine Services was originally opened, by it's current owner Ron Dvorak,  as R & R Mechanics. It was a general automotive repair facility. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was not cut out for "Fixing" cars. I did enjoy building motors when the opportunity presented itself, so after 3-4 years of R & R Mechanics, I bought out my original partner, and good friend [now passed away], Ronnie Burns and named the shop "Certified Engine Exchange". We began rebuilding automotive engines full time. I really enjoyed the work. We offered, in the early 80's, a rebuild special in the Auto Trader for "Any American made Car" at $450.
Of course it did not include installation, that was a whopping $100 more.
I began to get requests for "Marine" engines from customers and  local shops in my area. I told them I could not afford to build them for $450, but I would start at $500 and see how it goes. Before long I was getting a great response from the public but they wanted "Installation" in their boats. I had to send the installation work to another shop because we did not have the room for boats in the shop and I had no knowledge of installation in a boat, but I did know it was more than just "Dropping" the motor in. I had a shop down the street that did my installations for me.

In 1989 the shop was robbed and I lost everything. A 6 foot tall Snap-On box "Loaded" as well as 3 motors [rebuilt], one Very serious 351w motor "Ready to go", battery chargers, etc. Everything was gone and I just wanted OUT.
Out of Miami, Out of the Business, just OUT.
I lived in Cutler Ridge, about 20 miles south of Miami and 20 miles north of Key Largo. A friend of mine owned  "Twin Power" a motorcycle shop for Harley-Davidsons right on the Florida Turnpike and called to tell me that the building next to him was available. He went on to tell me that he had a Snap-On box full of tools and anytime I needed to borrow anything it was "Just" next door.

I rented the building and moved what little I had down to it. I didn't want to continue simply building motors, nor did I want to continue as Certified Engine Exchange.

Viking Marine Services was openned  in 1990 and offered "Complete" marine repairs and services including "Dockside" repairs. I was 5 minutes from Blackpoint Marina and 15 minutes from Homestead Bayfront Park, both very nice county parks.

The "Dockside" business really got us going and it didn't take long and I was back in business. Shop full of boats, motors being built, phone ringing all day long and friends I used to see 2-3 times a year pulling up on Harley-Davidsons to the shop next door. It was great, that is until August 23, 1992.
Hurricane Andrew
Who is:
"Viking Marine Services"
~ Established in 1976 ~
Miami, Florida
Listed with Dunn and Bradstreet Since 1979
Viking Marine Services was originally opened, by it's current owner Ron Dvorak,  as R & R Mechanics. It was a general automotive repair facility. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was not cut out for "Fixing" cars. I did enjoy building motors when the opportunity presented itself, so after 3-4 years of R & R Mechanics, I bought out my original partner, and good friend [now passed away], Ronnie Burns and named the shop "Certified Engine Exchange". We began rebuilding automotive engines full time. I really enjoyed the work. We offered, in the early 80's, a rebuild special in the Auto Trader for "Any American made Car" at $450.
Of course it did not include installation, that was a whopping $100 more.
I began to get requests for "Marine" engines from customers and  local shops in my area. I told them I could not afford to build them for $450, but I would start at $500 and see how it goes. Before long I was getting a great response from the public but they wanted "Installation" in their boats. I had to send the installation work to another shop because we did not have the room for boats in the shop and I had no knowledge of installation in a boat, but I did know it was more than just "Dropping" the motor in. I had a shop down the street that did my installations for me.

In 1989 the shop was robbed and I lost everything. A 6 foot tall Snap-On box "Loaded" as well as 3 motors [rebuilt], one Very serious 351w motor "Ready to go", battery chargers, etc. Everything was gone and I just wanted OUT.
Out of Miami, Out of the Business, just OUT.
I lived in Cutler Ridge, about 20 miles south of Miami and 20 miles north of Key Largo. A friend of mine owned  "Twin Power" a motorcycle shop for Harley-Davidsons right on the Florida Turnpike and called to tell me that the building next to him was available. He went on to tell me that he had a Snap-On box full of tools and anytime I needed to borrow anything it was "Just" next door.

I rented the building and moved what little I had down to it. I didn't want to continue simply building motors, nor did I want to continue as Certified Engine Exchange.

Viking Marine Services was openned  in 1990 and offered "Complete" marine repairs and services including "Dockside" repairs. I was 5 minutes from Blackpoint Marina and 15 minutes from Homestead Bayfront Park, both very nice county parks.

The "Dockside" business really got us going and it didn't take long and I was back in business. Shop full of boats, motors being built, phone ringing all day long and friends I used to see 2-3 times a year pulling up on Harley-Davidsons to the shop next door. It was great, that is until August 23, 1992.
Hurricane Andrew
To be Continued.....

Viking Marine Services was originally opened, by it's current owner Ron Dvorak,  as R & R Mechanics. It was a general automotive repair facility. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was not cut out for "Fixing" cars. I did enjoy building motors when the opportunity presented itself, so after 3-4 years of R & R Mechanics, I bought out my original partner, and good friend [now passed away], Ronnie Burns and named the shop "Certified Engine Exchange". We began rebuilding automotive engines full time. I really enjoyed the work. We offered, in the early 80's, a rebuild special in the Auto Trader for "Any American made Car" at $450.
Of course it did not include installation, that was a whopping $100 more.
I began to get requests for "Marine" engines from customers and  local shops in my area. I told them I could not afford to build them for $450, but I would start at $500 and see how it goes. Before long I was getting a great response from the public but they wanted "Installation" in their boats. I had to send the installation work to another shop because we did not have the room for boats in the shop and I had no knowledge of installation in a boat, but I did know it was more than just "Dropping" the motor in. I had a shop down the street that did my installations for me.

In 1989 the shop was robbed and I lost everything. A 6 foot tall Snap-On box "Loaded" as well as 3 motors [rebuilt], one Very serious 351w motor "Ready to go", battery chargers, etc. Everything was gone and I just wanted OUT.
Out of Miami, Out of the Business, just OUT.
I lived in Cutler Ridge, about 20 miles south of Miami and 20 miles north of Key Largo. A friend of mine owned  "Twin Power" a motorcycle shop for Harley-Davidsons right on the Florida Turnpike and called to tell me that the building next to him was available. He went on to tell me that he had a Snap-On box full of tools and anytime I needed to borrow anything it was "Just" next door.

I rented the building and moved what little I had down to it. I didn't want to continue simply building motors, nor did I want to continue as Certified Engine Exchange.

Viking Marine Services was openned  in 1990 and offered "Complete" marine repairs and services including "Dockside" repairs. I was 5 minutes from Blackpoint Marina and 15 minutes from Homestead Bayfront Park, both very nice county parks.

The "Dockside" business really got us going and it didn't take long and I was back in business. Shop full of boats, motors being built, phone ringing all day long and friends I used to see 2-3 times a year pulling up on Harley-Davidsons to the shop next door. It was great, that is until August 23, 1992.
Hurricane Andrew
I woke to find my house on top of me, everything underwater and my 27' WellCraft
were my neighbors carport used to be. The boat (Above Left) went over my neighbors white Mercury, without damaging it, taking out his carport on it's way down. The 4X6 timber that normally sits on top of the steel poles was UNDER the boat and all three steel poles where broken off at the slab. I went to the shop, and walked in
(Didn't have to "Open" any doors) to find an interior wall had fallen on my Tow Boat (Above Right) All the interior walls in a 40 bay warehouse were down. Check out the other pictures, they are truly "Hard to Believe"