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Competition is keen among local boat dealers
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Area boat sellers are feeling the pressure of competition in a small market.
Annapolis (Map, News) - You might say that Wendy Gordon has salt air in her blood.
She grew up in and around the family marina, Sarles Boatyard & Marina, the oldest boat yard in Annapolis. After working a while at the Marina with her husband Rick, they decided to diversify.
They opened the Annapolis Boat Sales dealership in Stevensville about seven years ago.
“We try to be as honest as possible,” said Rick Gordon of what sets their boat sale business apart from others. “We are very low key. We aren’t salesmen here. We are just fortunate to represent good products.”
Indeed, the Gordons know and love boating which is why they sell top of the line Edgewater Boats and Bristol Skiff and Pilot boats manufactured by Holby Marina.
In addition, the dealership sells pre-owned boats and has one of only 40 master Yamaha mechanics in the United States on site.
While car and boat dealers have some similarities, Wendy Gordon points out a case can be made for cars as necessities; no similar parallel can be drawn to boats.
That, of course, makes the client list much smaller and competition keen among boat dealers.
“The marine industry is a roller coaster,” she said. “It’s important to remember that boating is a pleasure not a necessity.”
However, boating is one sport that cuts across all socio-economic groups.
Once someone owns a boat, they are generally hooked and want to upgrade as soon as possible, she said. Generally people want a larger size or boats that require less maintenance.
For example, Edgewater’s wood-free, unsinkable powerboats have lifetime warranties on their hulls.
Those extras give owners an extra degree of safety and less maintenance. The benefits, especially of less maintenance, are more time on the water.
“It’s great family time,” Gordon said. “You bond together as a family; basically you have to do that because you can’t easily leave once you’re out [on the water].”
Most clients who visit Annapolis Boat Sales have extensive boating knowledge and have owned at least one previous boat.
Most potential customers, though, want a test ride on a boat before they commit.
“We’ve certainly sold boats without test rides, usually to people who already know what they want” she said. “Most of our business comes from word of mouth. It’s difficult to top that.”
INFO BOX
Annapolis Boat Sales
» 337 Pier One Road, Stevensville
» 410-604-6962
» www.annapolispowerboats.com
