2005 Southwest VA Boat Show
Civic Center Show Helps SML Boaters Buy Local.  Area Dealers Specialize in Service to Lakers
By Jerry Hale

     “It’s our chance to show Smith Mountain Lake boaters why they should buy here rather than in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, or wherever else they may be coming from.” 
     So says Southwest Virginia Boat Dealers’ Association president Virgil Naff about the area’s largest boat show, moored at the Roanoke Civic Center this February 25 – 27.    “It kick starts the season for area dealers and gives prospective buyers a chance to browse the new offerings of 50 or so major manufacturers of boats, outboards and marine equipment.”
     Mike Ratcliff, who heads Conrad Brothers Marine’s Westlake store, agrees the show is a great place to comparison shop.  “The age of impulse boat buying is gone,” he says. “Buying a boat today is a big investment; people are serious about the process, and they come to us well-educated—thanks in part to the availability of manufacturer and dealer websites. To be successful, we’ve got to be ready to talk technical details and make sure the entire family gets excited about the boating experience.”
     Conrad Brothers will have over 50 boats at displays inside the Civic Center as well as out in the parking lot.  Shoppers who want to test drive before deciding can use the show to determine which possibilities merit that much of their time. “We usually arrange several in-water demos for soon after the show,” Ratcliff says. 
     Another big civic center exhibitor is Webster Marine, normally located off 122 near the north end of Hales Ford Bridge.  Sales Coordinator Paul Monroe orchestrates a large display--100’ x 40’ indoors, another 140’ x 50’ outside.  “Jim  (Mills, Webster Marine president) has been a major exhibitor at the SWVA Marine Dealer’s Show since the 70’s,” says Monroe, who values the show’s  far-reaching exposure.  “We see folks from the northeast, West Virginia and North Carolina who will be retiring to this area and have come here specifically to visit the shows,” he says.  “It’s a chance for us to begin a relationship that can last for years if we treat them right.” 
     Ratcliff agrees: “We try to make the purchase just the beginning of a positive long-term boating experience.  A local dealer can provide everything the customer needs for year after year of fun on the water with family and friends.  So it makes sense to buy close to where the boat will be used.” 
     And then there’s the economic impact.  “When people buy boats and marine services here,” says Naff, “their purchase dollars cycle right back into the Lake community—enabling local employment and growth to the benefit of everyone who loves and enjoys Smith Mountain Lake.”  Buying local also affords the customer the kind of service he or she expects and deserves.  “It’s just good business for a dealership to put its own customers at the head of the line should something need fixing on a busy summer weekend,” Naff says.  “Ask the dealer you’re considering how available service will be on 4th of July weekend when you’ve got a house full of visitors at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia!”
     “Members of the Southwest Virginia Boat Dealers’ Association are committed to matching each customer with a boat that is well-suited for their particular application—and then carrying through to provide a safe and satisfying boating experience,” Naff concludes.  “Buying from a dealer who knows the conditions at Smith Mountain and Leesville Lakes—and who offers local service--is a wise step toward carefree fun on the water.  The civic center show is a fun and easy way to peruse all the latest possibilities.” 

     Author’s Note:  Southwest Virginia Boat Dealers’ Association members, in alphabetical order, are: Ace Marine, Stuart’s Draft; Central Boat & Trailer Sales, Glade Hill; Conrad Brothers Marine, Moneta (Westlake) & Pulaski; Hughes Marine, Danville; Lakeside Marine, Dublin; Magnum Marine, Union Hall; Paradise Boating, Inc., Moneta; Shoreline Marina, Moneta; Smith Mountain Boat & Tackle, Penhook; Smith Mountain Yacht Club, Moneta; Lynchburg Kawasaki/Virgil Naff SeaDoo, Lynchburg; Webster Marine Center, Moneta.