Business View Magazine | May/June 2022

55 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 5 at Chatlee Boat & Marine elaborates, “We can offer our clients full services. We have are proud to offer sales, finance, full service department, rigging department, fiberglass repair shop, parts department and Pro Shop .” The company is a long-time, highly regarded institution in the community and collaborates closely with multiple partners, including the North Carolina Farm Bureau. Their valuable long- time relationship with Chatlee is a strong one that, according to Martin, “Provides consistently fantastic financial services.” Chatlee Boat & Marine has a reciprocating loyalty with all their partners, including manufacturers. Martin adds, “To be honest, these strong ties have come in handy.” The last few years have presented outdoor industries of all types with unique problems. But in the aftermath of COVID, there’s been an explosion in recreational spending in the U.S., with demand for RVs and boats increasing steadily. “This demand and change has turned the industry on its head,” says Martin. “During March and April, pre-COVID, we’d have between 200 and 300 stock boats on the lot, but since COVID, we’d be lucky to have between 25 - 35 boats.” This has been a real challenge for a company that has always operated with high volume sales. To alleviate the shortage of new inventory, Chatlee Boat & Marine buys as many pre-owned boats as they can. The company’s sales team actively seeks out stock and buys models as old as 12 years that are in good condition. Before putting the boats on the lot for sale they are all water tested and checked out through Chatlee’s Service Department. CHATLEE BOAT & MAR INE