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MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Buying and servicing a boat is about
to become a much easier task for consumers around the country thanks to
Boating Industry magazine's (http://www.boating-industry.com) inaugural Top 100
Dealers, a ranking of those marine dealers that are unsurpassed in overall
business operations, customer service, marketing and professionalism.
"While most industry awards are given to those dealers that sell the most
boats, our Top 100 program is much more qualitatively focused," said Matt
Gruhn, Editor-in-Chief of Boating Industry, "thereby leveling the playing
field for all dealers and directing consumers to those dealers that can best
deliver on the dream that boat ownership promises."
This first-of-its-kind ranking represents an incredibly powerful group of
marine dealers. Collectively, they generated more than $2.6 billion in retail
sales, which is nearly 10 percent of the entire $30 billion marine market.
The 2005 Boating Industry Top 100 employ nearly 6,700 people and operate
342 retail locations across North America.
Topping the list at No. 1 is Clearwater, Fla.-based MarineMax, followed
by: Skipper Bud's, based in Winthrop Harbor, Ill.; Surfside 3 Marina, Inc.,
based in Lindenhurst, N.Y.; Crystal-Pierz Marine, based in Brainerd, Minn.;
and Prince William Marina, based in Woodbridge, Va. The Top 100 Dealers were
honored at a black-tie celebration Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Stardust Hotel &
Casino in Las Vegas.
Boating Industry's editorial staff reviewed more than 300 applications,
culled from more than 2,000 nominations. The applications asked both
quantitative and qualitative questions regarding all aspects of marine dealer
operations.
"The Boating Industry Top 100 will, in short order, become the most
coveted award in the marine market," explained Tammy Galvin, Group Publisher
for Ehlert Publishing Group's trade magazines. "Marine dealers are on the
front line with consumers every day, and this is one way we can help provide
much needed benchmarking information for all other dealers to measure
themselves against."
To help bring the Boating Industry Top 100 to life, Ehlert Publishing
Group, the magazine's parent company, created the Leadership Alliance, an
elite group of the marine industry's leading suppliers. These companies were
invited to participate because they possess, as one of their corporate values,
a true belief in and commitment to raising the bar of professionalism across
all marine industry sectors, and particularly for dealers.
The 2005 Leadership Alliance members include: BRP US Inc., GE Commercial
Finance, Yamaha, boats.com, Watch Captain, SHURflo and the Marine Retailers
Association of America.
Meet the 2005 Leadership Alliance:
Boating Industry magazine, a 76-year-old business-to-business publication
owned by Ehlert Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Ventura, Calif.-based
Affinity Group Inc., is the most authoritative and widely respected magazine
serving the marine industry. Visit http://www.boating-industry.com
Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP US, Inc.), Sturtevant, Wis., has
been delivering quality recreational experiences for people around the world
for more than six decades. In 2001 Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines
joined the Bombardier family, and in 2003, after extensive R&D, the company
released Evinrude E-TEC, which revolutionized the outboard engine industry.
BRP also produces such innovative products and brands as Sea-Doo watercraft
and sport boats, Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Rotax karts and engines and
Bombardier ATVs and utility vehicles. Visit http://www.evinrude.com
GE Commercial Distribution Finance, Hoffman Estates, Ill., creates
customized financing programs to help manufacturers sell more products and
dealers stock optimal levels of inventory to drive more sales. With more than
50 years of experience serving the marine industry, GE CDF supports its
customers with the industry's most knowledgeable staff and provides a single
point of contact for support. GE CDF is a recognized leader in the marine
industry because it is dedicated to helping customers improve cash flow and
grow their business though an array of financing programs and services.
Visit: http://www.gecommercialfinance.com
Yamaha Marine Group, Kennesaw, Ga., has quickly become a leader in product
quality and technology by providing superior value and customer satisfaction.
The company has built a strong brand and loyal customer base in the marine
market for its outboard engines as well as its Skeeter, Century and G3 boat
brands. In 2000, the company introduced its High Pressure Direct Injection
technology that swept the top three industry awards for innovation, design and
engineering -- the marine equivalent of racing's Triple Crown. A more recent
award-winning and industry-defining introduction is the F225, the world's
first V6 four-stroke outboard. Visit: http://www.yamaha-motor.com
boats.com has distinguished itself as one of the most effective and
convenient pathways for boat dealers, builders and resellers to get in front
of boat seekers. More than 1 million people visit boats.com each month to
shop more than 100,000 new and used boats by brand, boat type, dealer, region
or price. As an Internet marketplace, boats.com is a 24/7 virtual showroom
for its dealers and builders. That exposure results in significant numbers of
qualified leads and ultimately more boats sold. boats.com is owned by Trader
Publishing Co., Virginia Beach, Va. Visit: http://www.boats.com
Watch Captain, the only Microsoft.Net-based dealer management technology
built specifically for the marine industry, makes life easier for dealers by
streamlining everyday business processes. Watch Captain, Marion, Mass.,
technology integrates every aspect of the business, from point-of-purchase and
sales functions to service and inventory management. As a result, not only
are dealers better informed, they are able to better manage their resources,
serve their customers and sell more boats. As a Microsoft Certified Partner,
Watch Captain can offer its customers the advantage of Microsoft's continuous
research and development as well as the ease of a true Windows-based
application. Visit: http://www.watchcaptain.com
SHURflo has been the marine industry's leading supplier of plumbing
products for more the 20 years. Through innovative product design, superior
service and close customer relationships, SHURflo's solutions support the
growth of the marine industry and ensure the satisfaction of boaters around
the world. A commitment to quality is at the heart of SHURflo's success,
beginning in the company's state-of-the art product testing and quality
control labs at its Cypress, Calif., headquarters. Through lean manufacturing
and a continuous process improvement and a team-oriented culture, SHURflo's
market and customer responsiveness is unsurpassed. Visit: http://www.shurflo.com
The Marine Retailers Association of America is the leading not-for-profit
organization aimed at promoting the recreational marine industry and the
welfare of the marine retailer. The association raises the standards of
retailing within the industry, provides its members a common source of
information concerning all aspects of marine retailing and serves as the voice
within the industry and in Washington regarding issues concerning marine
dealers nationwide.
The 2005 Top 100 Dealers:
1 MarineMax Clearwater FL
2 Skipper Bud's Winthrop Harbor IL
3 Surfside 3 Marina, Inc. Lindenhurst NY
4 Crystal-Pierz Marine Brainerd MN
5 Prince William Marina Woodbridge VA
6 Arrowhead Yacht Club & Marina Ketchum OK
7 Slalom Shop Boats and Yachts Lewisville TX
8 Russo Marine Medford MA
9 Village Marina & Yacht Club Eldon MO
10 Sail & Ski Centers Austin TX
11 Thunder Marine St. Petersburg FL
12 H&S Yacht Sales/Southwestern Yacht Sales San Diego CA
13 Port Harbor Marine South Portland ME
14 Parks Marina Okoboji IA
15 Gordy's Lakefront Marine, Inc. Fontana WI
16 Seattle Boat Co. Seattle WA
17 Lakeside Marine Inc. Lakeside OH
18 Buckeye Marine Bobcaygeon ON
19 Bassett Boat Co. Springfield MA
20 Clark Marine Manchester ME
21 Woodard Marine, Inc. Hydeville VT
22 Boats Incorporated Niantic CT
23 Strong's Marine, LLC Mattituck NY
24 Midwest MasterCraft Crystal MN
25 Action Water Sports Hudsonville MI
26 Comstock Yacht Sales and Marina Brick NJ
27 Hampton Watercraft & Marine Hampton Bays NY
28 Hobby Lobby Marine Toms River NJ
29 Schock Boats Newport Beach CA
30 Duchow's Boat Center Oconomowoc WI
31 JOA, LLC Marietta GA
32 Apopka Marine, Inc. Inverness FL
33 Lockwood Marine, Inc. Townsend GA
34 Ivancic Marine, Inc. Cleveland OH
35 Staten Island Boat Sales, Inc. Staten Island NY
36 San Diego Sundance Marine San Diego CA
37 Baert Marine Inc. Danvers MA
38 St. Barts Yachts, Inc. Charleston SC
39 George's Marine & Sports Ottawa ON
40 YouCorp, Inc. San Benito TX
41 Marine USA Inc. Worcester MA
42 Boat Town, Inc. Austin TX
43 Lynnhaven Marine Virginia Beach VA
44 Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales St. Clair Shores MI
45 Tri-State Marine Deale MD
46 Boatland, Inc. Escondido CA
47 Clark's Landing Boat Sales Chester MD
48 O'Hara Marine Inc. Brookfield CT
49 Marine Connection, Inc. W. Palm Beach FL
50 Cannons Marina, Incorporated Longboat Key FL
51 Link Recreational Minong WI
52 Islamorada Boat Center Islamorada FL
53 Gage Marine Corp. Williams Bay WI
54 Rambo Marine Hazel Green AL
55 Parker Boat Co., Inc. Orlando FL
56 Gone Fishin' Marine, Inc. Dixon CA
57 Lakeside Marine Inc. Harrisburg PA
58 Marine Specialties Sparks NV
59 Kelly's Port Osage Beach MO
60 The Boating Center Crestwood KY
61 D&R Boat World Green Brook NJ
62 Westport Marina Denver NC
63 Reed's Marine Delavan WI
64 Chatlee Boat & Marine Sanford NC
65 Silver Lake Marine Silver Springs NY
66 Onekama Marine Onekama MI
67 American Marine and Motorsports Super Center Shawano WI
68 Liquid Sports Marine Orlando FL
69 Texas Marine Beaumont TX
70 Walker's Marine & Yacht Sales Marco Island FL
71 Legendary Marine Destin FL
72 Dan's Boats St. Peters MO
73 Walstrom Marine Harbor Springs MI
74 Short's Marine, Inc. Millsboro DE
75 Marine Center of Indiana Indianapolis IN
76 Gulf Coast Marine, Inc. Corpus Christi TX
77 Cobalt Boats of Atlanta Buford GA
78 Boat And Motor Superstores Palm Harbor FL
79 Bayside Marine Corp. Duxbury MA
80 White's Marine Center Casper WY
81 Shipyard Marine Inc. Green Bay WI
82 Custom Marine Statesboro GA
83 MacCallum's Boathouse, Inc. Epsom NH
84 Omaha Marine Center Omaha NE
85 Sima Marine Eastlake OH
86 Glenn Marine Family Boating Centers, Ltd. Northport NY
87 Sportsman's Outfitter & Marine, Inc. Lee's Summit MO
88 Jackson Marine Sales, Inc. North East MD
89 East Coast Flightcraft, Inc. Middleton MA
90 Spicer's Boat City Houghton Lake MI
91 Mount Dora Boating Center Mount Dora FL
92 Olympic Boat Centers Bellevue WA
93 Erickson Marine Hastings MN
94 Austin Boats and Motors Austin TX
95 Bohner Lacefield Marine, Inc. Madera CA
96 Hammer's Ski & Marine, Inc. Petaluma CA
97 Pine Crest Marine, Inc. Cedar Lake IN
98 Sunrise Marine, Inc. Mary Esther FL
99 Lodder's Marine Sales, Inc. Fairfield OH
100 Marshall's Marine, Inc. Lake City SC
More information: http://www.boating-industry.com
This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by
Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com
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