About Us - Marine Industry Business Solutions
Real-World Marine Industry Experts - 25 Years of Proven Success
In 1998, at just 26 years old, Clay Holcomb took a bold leap and purchased Chesapeake Boat Basin, a struggling marina that was in need of significant transformation since its founding in 1948. At the time, the marina had only 35 usable slips, no working service department, and no active boat sales, leading to a mere $155,000 in total revenue the previous year. With insights from marine industry experts, Clay aimed to turn the struggling business into a boat dealership success.
Fast-forward nearly 25 years...
Clay and Lisa Holcomb sold the marina in 2022. The once-failing business underwent a remarkable marina business transformation, evolving into a thriving, award-winning operation recognized for its boat dealership success with $12 million in annual sales, top-tier boat dealership status, expanded facilities, and a reputation for excellence in both service and customer care, as confirmed by marine industry experts.
What happened in between? Grit. Vision. Relentless problem-solving. And a lot of hard work.
Together, Clay and Lisa achieved remarkable boat dealership success by rebuilding the business from the ground up. They added a full-service department and modernized the ship’s store, which played a crucial role in their marina business transformation. Their efforts positioned them as one of the top 3 Maritime Skiff dealers nationwide. Additionally, they built strategic relationships with Triton and Boston Whaler, earning accolades as a Triton Boat dealer for both sales and service and as a Boston Whaler dealer recognized for sales, service, and customer satisfaction. They also achieved Clean Marina Certification and acquired adjacent property, where they added a swimming pool, expanded transient dockage by removing the old boathouse and installing floating docks, and implemented a 50-ton travel lift. By securing and utilizing federal grants for capital improvements, Clay and Lisa cultivated a team-driven, customer-focused, family-run business that stands out among marine industry experts.
And they did it all while wearing every hat in the operation...
From sales, tech work, and dock repairs to HR, IT, bookkeeping, marketing, and more, the journey of boat dealership success is multifaceted. Their achievements in marina business transformation weren’t simply due to luck; they were earned through experience, strategic thinking, and a day-in-day-out commitment upheld by marine industry experts.
