Boating Industry names 2017 Top 100

Boating Industry announced the 2017 Top 100 dealers at a black tie gala Dec. 13 in Orlando.

“From the thousands of dealers in North America – and hundreds of nominations – these 100 dealers are the best of the best,” said Top 100 Program Director Jonathan Sweet. “These dealers excel not only at the business of selling boats, but also delivering a great customer experience.”

The Top 100 is the only independent ranking of boat dealers in North America.

The list recognizes dealerships that are unsurpassed in business operations, professionalism, marketing tactics, customer service and more. The Boating Industry Top 100 has recognized the top dealers in North America every year since 2005.

“As the Boating Industry Top 100 celebrates its 13^th year, the dealers on the list are stronger than they have been since before the Great Recession,” Sweet said. “The Top 100 and Hall of Fame topped $3 billion in total revenue in 2016, surpassing last year’s total by more than $400 million.”

With that growth also came increasingly tough competition to make the list, added Tim Hennagir, editor of Boating Industry.

OneWater Marine Holdings was named as the 2017 Dealer of the Year.

“After capturing Dealer of the Year honors last year, OneWater Marine Holdings hardly rested on its laurels,” Sweet said.

In 2016 alone, the company acquired five new dealerships – and 10 locations – to its holdings, with more in 2017.

HALL OF FAME, BEST IN CLASS HONORED

All five members of the Top 100 Hall of Fame were honored at the Top 100 Gala, including Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Legendary Marine, Prince William Marine Sales, Galati Yacht Sales and MarineMax.

Boating Industry also recognized eight other companies with special “Best in Class” awards, for companies that particularly excelled in one area of their business.

• Best Boat Show Strategy – Lake Union Sea Ray, Seattle, Wash.
• Best Customer Service – Port Harbor Marine, South Portland, Maine
• Best Events – Oak Hill Marine, Arnolds Park, Iowa
• Most Innovative Dealer – Futrell Marine, Nashville, Ark.
• Best Training & Benefits – Legend Boats, Whitefish, Ontario
• Best Marketing – Pride Marine Group, Bracebridge, Ontario
• Best New Idea – Clark Marine, Manchester, Maine
• Best Service Department – Off Shore Marine, Branchville, New Jersey

As in past years, the Top 20 members of the Top 100 were ranked, with the remaining 80 being recognized as Top 100 dealers.

For complete coverage of the 2017 Top 100, be sure to check out the January 2018 issue of Boating Industry.

The Boating Industry Top 100 is sponsored by the Leadership Alliance: Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, Manheim Specialty Auctions, Volvo Penta, Sunbrella Marine, Brunswick Dealer Advantage, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

The complete Top 100: