Boats.co.uk appoints two new dealers for Kawasaki Jet-Skis

Kawasaki Watercraft UK, trading as boat dealership Boats.co.uk, has strengthened its dealer network for the Kawasaki Jet-Skis personal watercraft range (PWC) with the signing of two new main dealers.

The two new dealers are Bates Wharf, which will be selling the range from its Swanwick and Chertsey sites, and Ideal Boats, situated at the Pwllheli Powerboat Centre in Gwynedd, North Wales. Both companies have signed contracts to become main dealers for the sale, servicing, and after-sales support of all Kawasaki Jet-Ski craft.

“We are really excited about our new partnerships, with Richard Bates at Bates Wharf and Neville Williams at Ideal Boats as both dealers have exceptional reputations and excellent aftercare attitudes, which can be rare in this industry,” says James Barke, managing director of Boats.co.uk. “This, coupled with the New 2022 Kawasaki Range which launches in June means we are looking to have a cracking 2022 season.”

A family-owned business spanning over 50 years, Boats.co.uk sells on average 600 boats annually ranging from 14ft speed boats to 85ft motor yachts. As well as owning the Essex Marina on the River Crouch, in 2020 it became Kawasaki’s exclusive UK distributor for its extensive fleet and trades as Kawasaki Watercraft UK.

Consisting of personal watercraft, encompassing multi-seat and ‘stand-up’ Jet-Skis equipped with a range of supercharged or normally aspirated four-cylinder, the fleet also features four-stroke Kawasaki marine engines, offering power outputs of between 150-300ps.

In recent years with covid preventing people from travelling abroad, the UK has seen a surge in demand for boats and personal watercraft, increasing the desire for new water-related activities closer to home. This is a trend that’s expected to continue.

“Working with some of the best brands in the boating industry is an honour, so to become one of the few main dealers for this range of Kawasaki Jet-Skis makes us proud,” comments managing director of Bates Wharf, Richard Bates. “Everyone here is passionate about what we do and to add another world-class manufacturer to our offering is significant to us.”

Ideal Boats managing director, Neville Williams, says: “We are very pleased to become Kawasaki Jet-Skis retailers and to support the introduction of the range back into the UK. With over 30 years of marine industry experience as professional boat sellers and a previous dealer for Yamaha watercraft, we pride ourselves on unbeatable knowledge and service.”

The two new dealers join the rest of the network which includes PC Boat Sales in Jersey, Marine Sales Scotland near Glasgow, and Holshott MX in Salisbury.

Kawasaki is acknowledged as playing a part in the birth of personal watercraft, who also coined the term ‘Jet-Ski’ in 1973 and paved the way for the start of the personal watercraft market.