No one would have thought anything unusual when Graham Eubank and Fred Renken struck up a conservation at a party in October.
?Graham and I go back a long way,? Renken said. They?ve both been in business for about 20 years, their families are friends. ?Fred?s wife taught one of my children in kindergarten,? Eubank said.
Likely, they shot the breeze about boating. Renken is president of SeaFox Boats in Moncks Corner and Eubank, president of Palmetto Ford Inc., is an avid boater.
The Post and Courier
SeaFox boats, crafted in Moncks Corner, will be sold in Mount Pleasant and here at Palmetto Truck World on Savannah Highway. From left are Fred Renken, president of SeaFox Boats; boat stores general manager Tony Blanchard; and Graham Eubank, president of Palmetto Ford Inc.
This time, the talking at some point took on a more professional tone. Renken was eying a place to sell the boats, having added a new bay boat line to complement existing models.
For his part, Eubank had free space available at its Palmetto Truck World locale at 1625 Savannah Highway and next door to its Quick Lane tire and auto center at 558 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant.
Discussions continued in the days following the party. ?I was interested,? Eubank said. He was attracted to SeaFox by its expanding national presence and improving sales but most of all, its quality products. ?They have really good boating lines,? he said.
At the same time, Renken sought to capitalize on Palmetto?s top-notch reputation in the car and truck trade and its locations on major thoroughfares.
?For me, Graham?s passion is boating,? he said. ?If he were not selling cars, he would be on a boat.?
Talks came to fruition in early November, as Palmetto Ford Inc. agreed with SeaFox Boats to serve as its dealer in the Charleston area and beyond.
?I think it?s a home run,? Renken said.
The West Ashley outlet, called SeaFox Boats of Charleston, opened earlier this month at Palmetto Truck World. Eubank plans to showcase 20 boats at a time on the lot and eventually park a boat in the showroom.
Open about two weeks, the operation has recorded three sales already. One sale Thursday was a 24-footer ?rigged out? with a T-top among options, said Tony Blanchard, who was named general manager of the Charleston and Mount Pleasant stores.
?I grew up here,? Blanchard said, noting that he likes boating and people, which fits with his new job.
The Post and Courier
A first-in-the-industry enhancement, according to SeaFox, is this stern anchor locker on its 22-foot center console for easy access when landing on the area?s many beaches.
A week or so ago, the company received town of Mount Pleasant approval for refitting an existing building on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard east of the Cooper. The operation, to be known as SeaFox Boats of Mount Pleasant, should open by mid January and will have about 20 boats, Eubank said.
Boat retailers typically have larger coverage zones than car franchises.
?You don?t have a boat dealership every 10 miles,? Renken said. The reach via Palmetto will be up and down the coast to Georgetown and Beaufort and inland to Orangeburg.
Eubank said Palmetto can step right into boat sales, noting that some of its car lenders also handle boats. The company hired a long-time marine specialist, Robert Howlett, to handle service. He will be based on Savannah Highway.
Eubank said it?s a plus that the SeaFox plant is in the Charleston area. He visited the facility and was able to see the quality of the product first-hand. He was ?really excited, (to) see how a boat is put together. I think that it was a real positive.?
With the Savannah Highway SeaFox outlet being next to Palmetto Truck World, the truck business could attract shoppers who want to buy a vehicle to haul boats, Eubank noted.
But he said Palmetto didn?t get involved because of any sale crossovers, it was because of SeaFox?s strength in the industry.
SeaFox builds a range of boats ? center console, dual console, bay boats and walkarounds ? from 16 to 28 feet in length. And it?s not just models on either end of the size spectrum but 16 footers, 17 footers, 18 footers, etc. The SeaFox boats are fitted with Yahama engines as part of a package arrangement.
At the Charleston Boat Show next month, the manufacturer intends to introduce a new 18-foot bay boat priced around $20,000 that would attract buyers who aren?t quite able to afford the 20-, 22- and 24-foot editions now in the lineup.
The Post and Courier
New SeaFox boats are on display along the eastern edge of the lot at Palmetto Truck World.
?The 18 foot bay (boat) will really impact the market,? Renken said.
SeaFox has brought on design innovations, such as offering an anchor locker at the stern for easy access when pulling up to area beaches.
The deal between SeaFox and Palmetto comes at a time when SeaFox is showing a resurgence after a few economy-driven down years.
?We had a 50 percent (increase) last year to this year,? Renken said. ?The industry as a whole had a 10 percent gain.?
SeaFox has been signing up scores of dealers, notably in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Even without a smaller bay boat in the lineup, the company is the largest seller of bay boats in Texas and Louisiana, Renken said.
In a related move, SeaFox and the Palmetto-based boat dealerships are gaining the endorsement of local fishing guide Champ Smith. He also will be test-driving and fishing a SeaFox 22-foot bay boat. He will be based out of Toler?s Cove Marina in Mount Pleasant near the Ben Sawyer Bridge.
Palmetto and SeaFox?s joint venture should prove advantageous to both entities. In 2011, SeaFox Boats built 1,200 watercraft with sales of $37 million. Estimates for 2012 are a boost to 1,500-1,600 boats and $40 million or so in sales.
Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542.
Source: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/dec/24/palmseafox/
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