Roofer in Charleston, SC

CHARLESTON — Volkswagen might have to reconsider its slogan to “das boat” once it gets a glimpse of this custom vessel cruising around Charleston Harbor.

The VW bus-turned-trimaran has been turning heads for months and is owned by Teddy Turner Jr. — son of the late media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner. He docks it in Cainhoy, regularly taking it out for joy rides and going viral every time from locals who can’t get enough of the boat, wondering about the story behind it.

Turner told The Post and Courier he never intended to own the boat he dubs Van Gogh after “the painter and because it’s a van that goes,” joking the last thing he needed was another water toy.

His path to ownership was complete happenstance.

John Lombardi, a custom boat designer, was tasked to build a one-of-a-kind camper van for a customer to use on the Lake of the Ozarks, Turner explained. He wanted to build a fleet and rent them.

“Originally, they were powered by a Jet Ski and you pulled the Jet Ski in the back,” he said. When the driver anchored, he then had a camper and a small vehicle to get around in. “I thought it was pretty innovative.”

But soon the owner backed out and Lombardi, a one-man builder, had a boat a third-of-the-way finished and no customer, Turner said.

He called Turner and asked for help finishing it. And eventually to take it off his hands.

“He said, ‘I'm losing my lease on the shop. It's over. Come pick up your boat,’” Turner said with a laugh. “And I was like, ’But John, I don't want the boat. I love the boat. … But what am I gonna do with it?’”

The answer was to drive it all over the Charleston Harbor, much to the delight of locals.

Built in 2024, the custom vessel was a close collaboration between Lombardi, Whitacre Yacht Design and Duckwater Boats, an upscale duck-hunting boat builder out of Ohio.

It’s made from a genuine Volkswagen bus with settees providing lounge seating and storage. The back door and roof open for access and ventilation.

One step beyond a pontoon, the tritoon features three aluminum tubes underneath its deck instead of the traditional two.

The turquoise and white bus sits atop the three aluminum amas and has working headlights and taillights. The original steering wheel serves as the helm while a 200hp Suzuki outboard and two Minn Kota trolling motors propel the vessel.

The boat has become so iconic that back in May, when Turner first took it out for an appraisal and insurance drive around the harbor, his daughter heard about it all the way in Denver.

“Before I got to the dock from just running it around the harbor, she called me and said, ‘Oh my God, somebody just posted this on Facebook and it got to me,’” Turner said. I was like, ‘Yeah, well, it's funny. People love this boat.’”

Van Gogh is primarily docked in the Safe Harbor City Boatyard in Cainhoy, but Turner admits he’s trying to get it tweaked and sell it to someone who could find a better use for it.

“I love it but just don't have room for it in the arsenal,” he said. “It needs to take wedding parties or be a charter boat.”

Weather News

The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom. Read more on our AI policy here.

At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, the NWS Charleston SC issued an updated rip current statement in effect until 8 p.m. for Coastal Colleton and Charleston County.

"Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," explains the NWS. "Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."

This statement is in effect until 8 p.m.

Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches. The speeds can vary from moment to moment and can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from shore. Trying to swim against a rip current will only use up your energy; the energy you need to survive and escape the rip current. If you get caught in a rip current, try to stay calm and follow the below advice from the NWS:

Stay calm - they won't drag you under:

Don't panic — rip currents won't pull you underwater.

Don't swim against the current:

Trying to swim directly toward the beach when caught in a rip current is futile and exhausting. The current is too strong. Instead, swim parallel to the shore and away from the rip current's grip.

Call for help if necessary:

If you find yourself unable to reach the shore, try to relax. Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by shouting or waving your arms. This increases your visibility to potential rescuers.

Seek lifeguarded beaches:

Whenever possible, opt for beaches with lifeguards. Their watchful eyes and swift response can make all the difference in a water emergency.

Never swim alone on unguarded beaches:

If you choose to swim at beaches without lifeguards, make it a rule never to swim solo. Always bring a friend, and ensure that person has a cell phone to call 911 in case of an emergency.

With these insights into rip currents and how to react, you can enhance your safety when enjoying the beach. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize your well-being.

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots South Carolina

CHARLESTON — Redevelopment plans for a mixed-use project to replace the former Pepsi Co. bottling plant on Meeting Street have received preliminary approval.

The property owners Catalyst Development Partners returned before the Design Review Board Oct. 5, requesting the green light to build a mixed-use development at 1450 Meeting St. Designs call for 332 residential units in a five-story building with a greenspace leading into a two-story retail space.

Katie Burke with Climb Perfect Architecture presented the revised plans before the board, which is limited to discussing site design and architecture only.

In July, the vacant Pepsi bottling plant on the upper peninsula changed hands for the second time in six years, when it sold or $13.5 million to Atlanta-based Catalyst Development Partners, a firm that focuses on market-rate multifamily real estate development.

Catalyst previously met with the DRB on April 6 to propose its plans and the board had a few recommendations, such as Catalyst use the seven-story brick Cormac development down the road as inspiration for the design and that it revisit the residential building’s proximity to a cemetery.

Burke’s revised plans added more barriers between the cemetery and the development, and updated building materials to those of better quality and more visual appeal, namely from cement to brick.

“If you see along the east we have two courtyards facing the east side of our property. Those now are concealed by a masonry wall,” she said. “They are completely privatized from anything not occurring on our property for both the residents and the cemetery goers.”

Burke also addressed past comments about the size of the retail buildings and how they relate to the scale of the multi-residential building.

“Our solution here is to propose two two-story buildings, which we feel balances out the scale and provides more of a natural progression from … pedestrian activity, vehicular activity into the site,” she said.

Anna-Catherine Alexander with the Preservation Society of Charleston spoke up during the public session of the meeting saying the revised proposal has “meaningful improvement” both with the material and the overall architectural direction as it pertains to the surrounding area. Alexander requested that the building’s footprint be restudied, however, to provide greater relief along the side street, Lemon Street, with more space for a sidewalk and landscaping.

The DRB members voted 4-0 in favor preliminary approval of the design plans with final review by the board.

The vacated property has been unused since an entity of White Point Partners, a real estate investment firm out of Charlotte, purchased it for $8 million in 2020. They had plans to build apartments, office and retail spaces, Jay Levell, co-founder of White Point, previously told The Post and Courier.

Pepsi had occupied the still-standing warehouse since the 1960s, but relocated soon after the sale to Palmetto Commerce Park in North Charleston.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) — The City of Charleston is offering free parking access to residents due to flooding as Hurricane Isaias is expected to produce heavy rainfall this upcoming weekend.

Hazardous conditions are expected to develop Friday night and continue through Saturday and Sunday. Three to six inches of rain and high tides are expected to produce flash flooding and coastal flooding in parts of the county.

Tornado advisories are also a possibility Saturday morning along the coast, according to Charleston County spokesperson Chloe Field. County officials also encourage residents to avoid all unnecessary travel Saturday based on the forecast and potential for worse conditions.

The county will open the following parking garages Friday at 6 p.m. for residents in the low-lying area to park their cars for free during the upcoming storm:

Residents are asked to remove their vehicles by 4 p.m. Sunday to avoid being charged for additional time. To use the storm parking, they should pull a ticket at the entrance and keep it. To exit, they insert the ticket and scan the City’s storm parking QR code to leave free of charge. Anyone who loses a ticket or does not have the code can press the help button on the exit machine, say their name and address and mention that they were looking for storm parking.

The City has closed all Charleston County Public Library branches Saturday and will reopen during normal hours on Tuesday. Book drops will remain closed until that time. Digital library resources can be accessed here.

Click here to find the QR code, garage information, road closures and the latest storm updates. To report flooding or to ask a non-emergency question, residents are asked to email the Citizens Services Desk at citizenservices@charleston-sc.gov.

Weather News

The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom. Read more on our AI policy here.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m. the NWS Charleston SC issued an updated coastal flood warning in effect until 11 a.m. for Coastal Colleton and Charleston County.

"Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," says the NWS. "Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."

This warning is in effect until 11 a.m.

For either residents or campers of flood-prone, low-lying areas, take immediate action and seek higher ground. Follow evacuation instructions without delay. If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances. Avoid entering basements or rooms where electrical outlets or cords are submerged in water. If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping sounds, evacuate the area immediately. Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters. Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet. If you find yourself trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and contact emergency services, and dial 911.

During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Remember to never drive through water on the road, even if it seems shallow. According to the NWS, as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most cars.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. Hydroplaning is most commonly attributed to three factors:

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know:

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots South Carolina