We are the brands we sell; it has been that way at Len's Cove since 1958. Even though we have little control over how a particular boat company does business (how it designs, builds, warranties its boats, supplies parts), we do have a choice in who which brands we choose to emulate and pursue to carry. We are always open to talking to boat brands that come calling on Len's Cove, and there have been many, which is flattering. However, the ones that we really want, the ones that are really worthy of our customers and our vision here at Len's Cove, are the ones we have to chase. As they say, anything worth doing is worth doing well and working for, and we feel that we need to work hard to prove we are worthy of a brand in return. You see, we are a reflection of their business and values, and it is a symbiotic relationship that ties our fates and culture.
Back in 2009 that is what happened when we saw a demand for dedicated water sports towboats. We worked hard to prove to MasterCraft Boats that Len's Cove was the right choice for their expansion into Eastern Ontario. We chased them, convinced them, and have been loving that relationship ever since. We are of one mind when it comes to delivering and servicing the most amazingly designed and built tow boats on the water.
Around that time we saw a shift in the boat buyer in the Rideau Lakes and Thousand Islands area towards more luxury, higher quality boats with superior design, styling and ride. Recognizing that consumers were demanding more for their bowriders, cruisers, and deck boats, we started the search for a boat builder that was the best in its segments, just like MasterCraft is. This proved to be no small task as all the quality lines were already represented in the Ottawa | Kingston | Cornwall triangle. We considered trying out some less known ones and help "build" a brand in the area, but kept coming up against the same dilemma....we only wanted THE BEST boats for you, our customers. You see, it's not that we are restless, just driven to provide you with the best possible boating experience you can have. We want to help you write the most amazing stories in the summer months with your family and friends.
Storing and servicing 100s of different boats every year, we get the opportunity to check out all boats in the most stringent ways. As we narrowed the field through research and considered some good boats, one kept coming to the top of the pack. We saw amazing design and styling, along with an impressive array of CSI satisfaction awards, and the best hull designs we have ever driven. That company is Chaparral.
Built in Nashville Georgia by the same people for nearly 50 years, Chaparral is now the largest single location boat builder in the world! Even during this last major economic down-turn, it continued to out pace the competition through aggressive R&D, and has consistently built market share over it's rivals. While other boat builders were closing factories, slashing employees, and cutting R&D and cutting corners, Chaparral invested heavily and has come out as the market leader in it's categories. The numbers are impressive. However, more impressive is the fact that they did all this while refusing to cut corners and consistently making their products better value for your money.
We had one major problem, there was already a dealer in Eastern Ontario! Chaparral being a loyal company, was not willing to "pull" a dealership from a good partner. We decided the right answer we to start building a relationship, proving the same tenacity and potential loyalty, biding our time until we had an opportunity to earn the right to sell these amazing boats. The wait eventually paid off. We are proud to announce that Len's Cove is officially the dealer for Chaparral Boats from Napanee, through Kingston and up the St. Lawrence and Thousand Islands to the Quebec border, over to Ottawa and on to Pembroke and Petewawa, and all the Rideau and other lakes in between!
I have just returned from the Chaparral dealer meeting at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. It was an incredible experience that made me humble to be a part of such a world class organization and surrounded by some of the best boat dealers in the world. The atmosphere was one of family, friendship, and an excellence and passion that I could feel from the moment I arrived. I am so excited to share these boats with you and service you and them going forward for many, many years to come.
We are about to place our 2014 booking order for stock, and we are very excited to invite you to see them at Len's Cove very soon and at the spring boat shows. I will outline some of the experiences I had and the models that I drove in a subsequent post. If you are interested in learning more about Chaparral SSI and SSX bowriders, Sunesta deck boats, or Signature Cruisers, I encourage you to reach out to Bruce, Fraser, or myself soon! We are ordering Chaparrals now for spring 2014 delivery. As we have covered in other posts, Fall boat buying is far and away the best time to get exactly what you want at the best prices for next season. Luxury, performance, and fun awaits!
