Achievements

Boating Industrymagazine names Port Harbor Marine to 2006 Top 100

MINNEAPOLIS -- Buying and servicing a boat has just become a much easier task for consumers around the country thanks to Boating Industry magazine's second-annual 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 ranking, which was highlighted in last week’s release of the January issue of Boating Industry magazine, represents an incredibly powerful group of marine dealers. Collectively, they generated $2.88 billion in retail sales, which is nearly 8 percent of the entire $37 billion marine market. The 2006 Boating Industry Top 100 employ more than 6,500 people and operate 357 retail locations across North America.

Port Harbor Marine, based in South Portland, Maine, and its four locations, ranked 27th on this elite list, which recognizes the best-of-the-best of the more than 5,000 marine dealers in North America.

“Port Harbor Marine’s focus on customer satisfaction is evident throughout its organization,” said Gruhn. “Underscoring its customer-centric philosophy is its unique initiative to provide its technicians with cell phones so that they can be in constant communication with customers, thereby exchanging information and easing concerns.”

Boating Industry'seditorial staff reviewed more than 400 applications, culled from more than 3,000 nominations. The applications asked both quantitative and qualitative questions regarding all aspects of marine dealer operations.

“The Boating Industry Top 100 has, 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 2006 Leadership Alliance members include: BRP/Evinrude, GE Capital Solutions, Yamaha, BoatTrader.com, Watch Captain, SHURflo and the Marine Retailers Association of America.

To see the complete ranking of the Top 100 dealers, visit:
www.Boating-Industry.com.

More Port Harbor Achievements:

~In August 2007 On The Water Magazine featured an article written by our own Captain Jeffrey O. Irish along with photos by Jenni Ricci. The article and photos were on the topic of shark fishing.

~Port Harbor electronics installers have once again become Raymarine certified! Starting in January of 2005 Port Harbor Marine crewmembers have taken the extra training and tests required to become Raymarine certified.

~For the fifth year in a row the Port Harbor Marine store is a Shimano Top Shelf Dealer.

~2005 Boating Industry Top 100 #13-one of only two dealerships in all of Maine to make the list.