Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lucas Crawford.
Hi Lucas, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Lucas Crawford: Pioneering Smart Community Solutions in Marina del Rey.
**Jessica:** Welcome, Lucas. It’s a pleasure to have you here. Let’s start with your background. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to founding Elucharters.com and Marina del Rey Rentals?
**Lucas Crawford:** Thank you for having me. I’m Lucas Crawford, the founder of Elucharters.com MarinadelReyRentals on Instagram. I grew up in Florida, where I spent my youth surfing in New Smyrna Beach and sailing in Miami.
Over the years, I’ve had a quite diverse career, starting with my probably most challenging but fundamentally important learning experiences, which were 8 am-8 pm gathering groups for Hollywood sightseeing tours to establishing one of the first Bitcoin Kiosk locations in Los Angeles.
My passion for the ocean and boating led me to start Elucharters.com to make it easier for people to access rental boats, yacht charters, and dining experiences in beautiful locations like Newport, Long Beach, and Marina del Rey.
**Jessica:** You’ve recently introduced the Smart Community Beacons pilot program in Marina del Rey. Can you explain what this initiative entails and its significance?
**Lucas Crawford:** Absolutely. Our Smart Community Beacons are standalone, robust, and tamper-proof LCD screen kiosks designed to blend seamlessly into the beauty of Marina del Rey. These units aim to transform potentially confusing or unsafe boating experiences into secure, user-friendly processes. The beacons provide local weather updates, guide maps, and points of contact for security.
They also allow users to book a variety of services—from paddleboard trips to wine and charcuterie experiences—directly from the kiosk. You can even make hotel and dinner reservations at local spots like the Ritz Carlton and the Marriott (which features the beautiful restaurant Brizo) and one of my personal favorites, Dear Jane’s. Additionally, the kiosks provide information on parking locations and nearby accommodations, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all visitors. It’s all about convenience and safety.
**Jessica:** That sounds incredibly innovative. What inspired you to create this system?
**Lucas Crawford:** The inspiration came from my own experiences and the challenges I faced when trying to book a boat in Marina del Rey. There was no standardized way to find or confirm rental options on-site, which made the process frustrating and unwelcoming. I wanted to create a solution that would make it easier for everyone to access boating services while ensuring safety and compliance with local regulations. Our beacons not only enhance the user experience but also generate revenue for the community and the city.
**Jessica:** Safety and organization seem to be key components of your initiative. Can you elaborate on how your system addresses these concerns?
**Lucas Crawford:** Safety is paramount. In light of recent local events, we realized the need for a 24-hour solution to immediately notify security services if someone feels unsafe. Our beacons serve this purpose while also acting as guardians of our walking paths. Moreover, they provide a standardized system for booking services, ensuring that all charters are licensed, insured, and regulated. This not only protects users but also supports legitimate business owners and guides who have dedicated their lives to being excellent stewards of Marina del Rey.
**Jessica:** How do you see this initiative impacting the local community and businesses in Marina del Rey?
**Lucas Crawford:** I believe our Smart Community Beacons will have a profound positive impact. They will make Marina del Rey safer, more organized, and more welcoming for both locals and visitors. By providing a reliable and transparent system, we can ensure that tourism revenue benefits vital infrastructure and community programs. The beacons also offer a black-and-white record of all transactions, making financial tracking and auditing straightforward. This transparency will foster trust and encourage more people to utilize local services, boosting the economy.
**Jessica:** Your experience with Bitcoin kiosks and real-world testing since 2016 seems to have played a significant role in developing this system. How has that background influenced your approach?
**Lucas Crawford:** My experience with Bitcoin kiosks taught me the importance of user-friendly interfaces, robust security measures, and the need for reliable, real-time information. These lessons have been instrumental in designing our Smart Community Beacons. We’ve ensured that the kiosks are not only functional and secure but also easy to use and informative. We’re proud to introduce a well-thought-out system that we believe will make Marina del Rey a better, safer, and more organized place.
**Jessica:** This is a pilot program, correct? What kind of community input and approvals are you seeking to move forward?
**Lucas Crawford:** Yes, this is a pilot program, and community input is crucial for its success. We want to ensure that the Smart Community Beacons meet the needs of both residents and visitors, so their feedback is invaluable. We’re seeking approvals from local authorities to roll out the program, as well as funding to support its implementation.
Lucas Crawford:** The next steps involve gathering more community feedback and securing the required approvals from local authorities. We are also working on finalizing the technical aspects of the beacons to ensure they are robust and user-friendly. Once we have the green light, we’ll begin the installation of the kiosks at strategic locations throughout Marina del Rey. Our goal is to have the pilot program up and running as soon as possible, setting a new standard for safety, organization, and service quality in our beautiful city.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like a comprehensive and thoughtful approach. Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?
**Lucas Crawford:** I’m excited about the future of Marina del Rey and the potential of our Smart Community Beacons to make a meaningful difference. I appreciate the community and value their input tremendously. We are hoping to earn the support and trust of the community as we move forward with this initiative. Together, we can transform Marina del Rey into a more welcoming, safe, and organized destination that truly reflects its natural beauty and charm. Thank you for having me, and I look forward to seeing these positive changes unfold.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Lucas, for sharing your vision and the exciting developments you’re bringing to Marina del Rey. We wish you the best of luck with the Smart Community Beacon project and your future endeavors. Thanks again, Lucas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
To be honest, the sad answer is very much more than bumpy and, in some ways, impossible. Overall, I’ve seen very clearly the lack of support from fellow mariners because of the lack of docking options and constant competition. It needs to be streamlined… it’s silly to think that it’s a competition.
It’s more of a necessity because we’ve been at the whim of a system that, even at the seemingly most commercial and professional level, is still just a grey area in terms of the regulations. It’s just lacking a solid system of management, and it’s a constant struggle to find the path to success for our local captains who really do this type of work cause they genuinely love it and are very much small business owners who are overall big contributors to our local economy.
They have no problem making just enough to make it by, but the amount they’re paying out of pocket for zero guarantees isn’t fair and is counterproductive for the future growth of the marina. There is a better way to do it, and I firmly believe they deserve appropriate upgrades and fairness in the future. For some, this is 100% their livelihood.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
So, in case you were wondering what Elu meant, it’s French for chosen, Chosen Charters! So, we have many different facets to the brand, from clothing brands on the Venice boardwalk to Elucharters.com and @MarinaDelReyRentals on Instagram.
We’re very proud of our beautiful and very popular dining experience aboard a Luxury Yacht. It’s an ideal special occasion venue, and we’ve had quite a few couples propose. Our selection of wine and charcuterie pairings is very well thought out by our private chef and is selectively matched to the clients.
Each and every experience is unique. We source from St. Surrey and local wineries, as well as fresh bites from the local farmer’s markets. It’s a must-book!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always very observant as a young lad, I’ve been told; however, I was very shy. I’m definitely thankful for my hosting and presentation opportunities, which made me quite an outspoken and knowledgeable host!
Pricing:
- $60/person Marina Cruise Tender Vessel
- $60/person Seal SeaLion Cruise
- $650/2hr Yacht Cruise for Up to 12 Guests
- Dining And Luxury Yachts Elucharters.com
- Instagram.com/marinadelreyrentals
Contact Info:
- Website: Elucharters.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/marinadelreyrentals
Image Credits
[email protected]
