High tech and old timers …
Today I was taking an “errand day” which included visiting an aluminum fabrication shop and 2 of the most successful and longest term boat dealerships in the area . I drove about 2 hours away and each stop was about equal distance apart . The first stop was the fabricator and I had the unpleasant task of returning an unacceptable item to them. Their shop was almost abandoned with the extreme slowdown in the marine industry . They had been working with manufacturers that were going out of business one by one . It was a local business I have known from the beginning of their careers and have done my best to support them. The owner immediately got defensive and assumed I was just trying to return something I couldn’t sell . His son who is a partner in the business came out to see what I had brought to the shop to return or repair . He understood immediately and said he would talk to the other son/partner . The fact remained I was unsatisfied with the product and HE was concerned about it .The fact that business was slow was not clouding HIS vision regarding the product .We boat guys have to see through the slow times and keep customer service in focus.
The second stop was to a fellow boat dealer that had a part in stock [a console] that I wanted for my project 13 Boston Whaler . He has a huge inventory , great products ,and sets a good example of how folks should be treated in a boat dealership .He is smart and operates with a small but super efficient staff. He has always been gracious,friendly and helpful to me as the “new kid on the block” even when we sold competitive brands . I didn’t worry about getting a “deal” and we chatted about business and a young man that worked for him and has since come to work with us . He is one of my best guys and I can easily see where it came from .
Stop number three was to another of the most successful dealerships in the area . They have been in business for well over 30 years in the same location and it is a father and son operation . We had asked them to do a Pre Delivery Inspection on a Mercury Verado motor that one of our customers ordered on a Champion Bay Boat [ we are not a Merc dealer]. Now , we are very competitive in that particular style of boat , but they went out of their way to see we would have a successful and timely delivery . They charged us a very fair price and I feel confident that our customer got the best possible service . When they have a Honda or Suzuki issue [ our fields of expertise] , we will always be there for them as well .
So what about the high tech and old timers ? I was towing this boat home and decided to stop at the grocery store . I live in a small town and if you own the marine dealership you usually know everyone who boats ,and almost everyone here boats . So one of our old customers [from long before I owned Wefings] asked me about the boat I was towing . Its is a state of the art 24′ Champion Bayboat with a huge 250 H.P.Mercury Verado motor that looks like its going fast sitting on the trailer in the parking lot. He was in awe . After the inevitable “how much does a rig like that run”? I told him a few technological highlights of the motor . That opened a floodgate of memories for him about fishing the river,old boats that were notable enough to remember , and the time the old Mercury 40 fell off the transom of their river boat after dark .He spoke of the search for that motor cause they couldn’t go home without it . He also vividly remembered the first “Hall Effect” breakerless electronic ignitions systems from 1969.He was smiling and so happy to relive those moments .
That was a full day of good ,bad, new and old as it relates to a day in the boating industry . The love of the water spans so many social and economic levels . That is one of the reasons I never get bored with what I do . I have the passion , and no matter whether its a million dollar yacht or a 13 foot Boston Whaler , I still get excited.
Marc