Portsmouth boat entrepreneur’s mission to kick-start the boating industry for the summer
Trafalgar Drystack has launched a scheme to help all boat brokers, dealers and manufacturers incentivise their boat sales until the end of June 2020. A free boat storage space inside the indoor Drystack, with unlimited launches and recoveries, is available for any company selling brand new RIBs and motorboats of 6 to 9 metres, to offer to their customers.
The collaborative scheme is the brainchild of Jonny Boys, MD of The Trafalgar Group based in Portsmouth Harbour. In 20 years of selling boats, he thought he’d experienced every up and down the industry had to offer. Yet, despite the Government assistance, with loans and furlough schemes helping some businesses, the impact of the lockdown on many boat sellers means immense pressure to sell boats over the next four weeks, simply to stay in business.
“There’s been nothing like this lockdown for the marine industry, and we’ve noticed much more industry co-operation, rather than competition.” Jonny says. “It’s time to get back on our feet – and do it together. We’re all trying to sell more boats, and now is the time for ‘we not I’. So, in a brainstorm moment, I asked what can we do to help everyone kick-start boating and boat sales?”
Just prior to lockdown, the Drystack’s interior racking was expanded by 50% and it received a brand new roof. On the recent Spring Bank Holiday the Drystack team lifted, launched and recovered 100 boats in a single day.
“There’s no doubt people want to get on the water, judging by the number of launches we are doing,” adds Jonny. “Yet people want to be safe too and are considering UK staycations. Family boating is a great way to enjoy the summer and do just that. We’re excited that this offer of free Drystack space to other boat sellers, which offers no-hassle storage for new boat owners, might just tip the balance for the boat buyers and help the boat brokers.”
The boat storage space, which is worth up to £3,095 for 7 months, extends not just for the summer but for the whole of 2020. Brokers, boat sellers and buyers can sign up to the scheme here.
