Bayliner Boats - Short's Marine purchases nearby Full Tilt Marine

Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from North American Waterway bringing you Bayliner Boats along with news and views from the boating industry. Short's Marine purchases Full Tilt Marine.

After 18 years of service to the Long Neck area, David and Kathy Ritter, owners of Full Tilt Marine in Long Neck, have sold their business to neighboring Short’s Marine. The acquisition was completed Friday, Aug. 1, roughly a month after negotiations commenced between the two parties.

Donald Short, proprietor of Short’s Marine, said the deal is part of an expansion project designed to benefit his company and the local boating community. He explained that adding a well-known, reliable business like Full Tilt will allow the watercraft and motor provider to offer greater accessibility to parts and boat maintenance, as well as provide customers with a shared experience of more than 75 years in the industry.

“Full Tilt has always been a very viable and successful business,” said Short.

“What we want to do is combine the best parts of both operations to create a better boating experience for everyone.”

The main office of Short’s Marine in Long Neck currently includes a 30,000-square-foot showroom with everything from parts and accessories to full lines of Bayliner, Azure, Maxum, Bennington and Trophy boats. Acquiring Full Tilt Marine has added a 4-acre facility with a 7,300-square-foot showroom and two large service facilities. Short will continue to supply the signature Full Tilt product lines found at the new location, including Tahoe pontoons, Carolina skiff boats, Honda and Yamaha outboards and Mercury engines.

While Full Tilt patrons may see the addition of Short’s Marine products at the location in coming months, they should not expect to see big differences in pricing or service operations, said Short. “For most of the customers, it will be business as usual,” he said. “We want to make this a very seamless change so as as not to disturb [Full Tilt’s] customer base.”

The extra space now available to Short’s will also allow the business to consolidate various operations - including its canvas division and boat storage - into one central location, he said.

Although Full Tilt was Short’s Marine’s largest competitor in the area, Short claims the move was not done as a result of market pressure or to monopolize the Long Neck boating industry. The Ritters were simply ready for a change, said Short, who said the friendly transaction was mutually beneficial to both groups.

After almost two decades of being in business, the Ritters said they were happy to serve the Long Neck area, where the marina was well known for its fast and efficient work. They said that when their company started, it was a service and maintenance provider that operated out of the back of the family truck. Through hard work and with support from the community, Full Tilt developed into a well-known venue that served the entire spectrum of boater needs, said David Ritter.

“Not a lot of people know that I actually started out working in Short’s Marine 19 years ago,” he said. “We have come a long way and now is a good time for us to retire.”

The Ritters said reaching out to the community held a top priority for them. The business donated three 24-foot pontoon boats to Camp Arrowhead, did service work for the Center for the Inland Bays and often gave discounted maintenance to many coastal outreach and environmental programs. “One of the greatest things is that we have been able to meet so many people through our business,” said Ritter. “We thank everyone for their support in past years.”

For more information of Short’s Marine’s expanded products and services, call 945-1200; Full Tilt will keep its previous number, 947-1122. Full Tilt Marine is located at 26022 Julia’s Lane in Long Neck. Thanks to Tom Walsh for this. tomwalsh@capegazette.com Visit Short’s Marine at: www.shortsmarine.com

CapeGazette.com - Covering Delaware's Cape Region - Short's Marine purchases nearby Full Tilt Marine