Sherwood Marine Centre

This article originally appeared in the November 2010 issue of the Boat Journal

By Evan Seys 


It's no secret that the past couple of years have been tough for the marine industry, leaving many businesses struggling to stay afloat. But at least one local BC business is expanding:Sherwood Marine Centre, the largest dealer of pleasure craft on Vancouver Island, recently purchased the property
adjacent to their existing facility in Victoria and literally doubled in size overnight. Far from hunkering down, this company which has been servicing boater's needs since 1982 is growing. It's a clear signal of faith in the future from one of the most successful and knowledgeable marine retailers on the coast, and as such it represents good news for the recreational marine community as a whole.
 
From Humble Beginnings

Sherwood Marine already sells nine different boat lines and is one of the largest volume dealers of outboard engines in Western Canada. This is something that not a lot of people know, but if you call them up or visit the new facility it's easy to see why: They offer some really great deals on both new and used engines and will look at your old engine for a trade as well. When I arrived at Sherwood Marine recently I found CEO Barry Sherwood operating a forklift. He then hopped  down to chat with a customer before meeting me at his desk. From humble beginnings, Barry has steered his company through the minefield that is the marine industry to become a thriving success, and he is forever looking at how to best meet the challenge of servicing his customers and keeping them happy. His principle is that if you have happy customers you have a healthy business, and fulfilling that mantra is always top priority for him and his staff.
The facility provides an unparalleled list of services so that if you buy anything from Sherwood Marine, they can rig it for you. Buy any outboard engine and yes, they have a rigging  department to remove your old one and fit the new one. Buy a radar for that fishing machine and yes, they can fit it, along with any other accessory you purchase from them.  As one of the largest dealers for marine outboard engines in Western Canada Sherwood Marine offers an incredible selection, due in no small part to the fact that they are a full-line dealer for all four of the most popular outboard brands. Because Sherwood is such a high-volume dealer they are one of the places that manufacturers turn to to help sell overstocked engines. These often come at seriously discounted prices savings that Sherwood can pass on to the customer.   Anytime you are in the market for a new or used outboard, it certainly makes sense to check out what Sherwood Marine has to offer. 

A Team Effort

Barry Sherwood is keen to point out that the story of Sherwood Marine is really the story of his long-term team. These people have been with me forever, he explains. Keith Karlsson, the manager of the service department, has been with the company 20 years. He speaks about the success Sherwood Marine has had at cutting down the wait time for engine service. In the past, with the large volume of work coming in the door, it would sometimes take weeks to look at an engine. Today, with more and better staff they have got it down to just a few days or better. Keeping your stern drive or outboard running well, with trained technicians and proper OEM parts and lubricants, is a big part of what Sherwood Marine is all about.  Also, they try and keep at least one rebuilt inboard engine in stock in case you arrive for your vacation and find that ice has split your engine wide open over the winter (a common occurrence for visitors from the interior, apparently). With winterizing so affordable, Keith wonders why this should ever happen, but it does all the time. They can get the old engine out and install a new one in very short order so that, with luck, your holiday isn't ruined. But prevention is way better (and cheaper) than the cure! 
Kathy Weeks runs the parts and accessories side and has been with the company for 10 years. As she tells it, she learned from the best, and she knows her boat parts. There is not much that you cannot get for your boat at Sherwood Marine, and if they don't have it, they will get it. It's a welcome change if you've ever been to a marine store looking for parts and the guy behind the counter couldn't even read the parts book, let alone use the computer to find anything. You won?t have that kind of experience at Sherwood Marine training has honed this team into a unit that will help you better than you could hope for, with good advice and quality products.
Sales Manager Derek Joseph and his team cover the whole of Vancouver Island and have a enthusiastic following from satisfied customers all up and down the coast. Part of their success is owned to the extensive  selection of available in-stock boats. With the new addition to the facility Sherwood Marine now has a vast graded lot full of new boats for you to choose from. If it is a trailerable boat, then it is probably on display. From fishing machines (both aluminum and fibreglass), to bowrider ski and wakeboard boats, all the way up to some pretty sizable Sunbridge cruisers, Sherwood has them all here on display.
Having all these boats in one place is like a "Boat Show Every Day" as Sherwoods slogan goes. Sherwood is also the biggest retailer of inflatables on the island. New on the lot this season are the "Grand"inflatable boats which feature Hypalon tubes, nifty boarding steps at the stern, and great designs which put some of the more expensive brands to shame well worth looking at.
At yet another facility just down the road, Sherwood Marine Centre has a display lot for used and consignment boats, so yes, you can find a deal there too! The recent expansion at Sherwood Marine is proof that, even during some of the toughest times the industry has seen, people are still willing to spend money to get out on the water, and companies that can serve them well will continue to succeed. Sherwood Marine is one of those companies, and if you visit the sales centre in Victoria you will
see why they have a lot to offer and they put the customer first.