Channel Marine Being Sold
 

Just found out that Winnisquam Marine has bought Channel Marine.

This now puts Winnisquam Marine on the big lake which is great for many of us and for them.

Good luck to both parties involved in this transaction! Looks like a win win situation for all involved!

Dan

That would be awesome! I hope it comes through. I heard that another dealer on the lake was trying to buy it recently but that fell through.

channel marine
 

i thought irwin bought it months ago
i will find out im sure dan knows
i just bought a tritoon from ryan and a waterfront home on winni
that will be a great deal if it goes through

dave

It's a done deal... trust me!

channel marine
 

yes it true talked with ryan
thats great news thanks for info
taking down the big channel marine letters could the be a landmark change

Dave

Great News.
 

Grew up with Eddie, Ryan's dad. Both go-getters. Use to buy my 4-winns from them.

Since the Liitlefields sold the property, Channel Marine been going downhill fast! Sure miss the days Vinny was in charge!

Over the course of several owners, the name hasn't changed, nor has the sign. Often a big part of the purchase is getting the name. How long has it been since there was a Shep Brown? Or a Goodhue and Hawkins?

I talked to Ryan, its in the works. I had been told recently by a realtor that Goodhue and Hawkins was trying to buy it but that deal went south.

I got my first " real boat " from Mr. Callahan way back in 1973. It was a 1973 dark blue and white Century Raven 17 foot outboard with a big black merc ( for the day) - I sold a 1969 Glass-Par, G-3 to buy the Raven. Over the years, I upgraded to a green 19 ft I/O then to a 21 foot Raven - just like the patrol boats of that era.

Mr. Callahan was a good man, in my opinion

We loved Vinny too. We bought a 1983 Century from him! He had the best stories.

I bought a 1972 22 foot Century from Vinny Callahan at Channel Marine.

The first day on the lake we picked the boat up at Channel and a friend with ocean experience navigated while I drove the boat. We were going about 30 MPH and he asked me to slow down for a minute because he wasn't sure of the markers. Just as the boat stopped we settled on top of a large boulder in an area full of them. We both got out and stood on boulders and walked the boat backwards out of the area. There was no damage but if we had slowed 10 seconds later it would have been a lot different. Lucky, because I had not put insurance on the boat, but I did the next day!

It wasn't Irwin that was buying Channel Marine, it was the people that own Goodhue-Hawkins in Wolfeboro but that sale fell through. If the sale had closed Channel was going to be managed by East Coast Flightcraft.

I agree. Excellent point. The Littlefield's are good people with a real customer friendly attitude.

Channel Marine has not been sold to Winnisquam Marine at this point. They are interested in making the purchase as well as other buyers.

Have it on good authority its a done deal.

In my vast experience in buying and selling businesses, nothing is a done deal until it is actually signed and the deal closed. I have been involved in many transactions that were supposed to be "done" but fell apart close to the closing date or actually at the closing.

Maybe it is "closed' already?

Did it close?

wording ?
 

Just curious. Why does joey2665 initial response say "done" but FELL apart while Rattletrap copy over shows "done" but FEEL apart.

Dave M

:laugh: that is strange Dave M

Spelling correction
 

Because I corrected my spelling error when I had seen the quote by rattletrap, no mystery really.

Winnisquam Marine
 

Just to jump in and clarify we are working towards the closing. That process takes time but was far enough along that it was announced to the employees at both dealerships. This allows us to tour the Channel facility during the day to get a much better understanding of the marina.

There is a lot involved in a purchase as such but it's been great working with Vin towards something that will work for both parties.

We don't plan on "Making Waves" with the facility and it's employees, they have a bunch of dedicated and talented individuals that we hope can work with us and help make the place even better. There are definitely some improvements to the facility that we feel can be made that will benefit customers and employees.

We are very excited to have a location on Winnipesaukee and feel that it can only benefit all our great customers.

Stay tuned and happy boating!!!

Ryan Crawford
VP/GM
Winnisquam Marine

Congratulations Ryan and all of Winnisquam Marine!

It will be great to have you here on the big lake! Looking forward to many years of continued business with you and the rest of your crew!

Dan

Congratulations and good luck in your new location. These deals can be very stressful and emotional.

Congrats! We bought our first boat from Winnisquam Marine this year, and the experience with your staff has been top notch. Nice to hear you're expanding onto Winnipesaukee!

Channel Marine Sold
 

It's good to see that the new owners are contemplating some improvements. I have been a boathouse renter there for four years. Unfortunately, the current owners spend little, if any, money on maintenance -- yet alone any improvements. It's in dire need of some TLC.

Channel Marine Sold
 

Will you bring Crest Pontoons over to Winnisquam?


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I do not believe so.

They do a rollicking business with Bennington, so I don't see a benefit for them to take on Crest.

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Channel Marine
 

My father bought a boat from Mr Callahan in the late 60's, I always thought that he was just a super nice regular guy. As a fifteenish year old I thought he resembled John Wayne every time I saw him, too funny.

is it possible the name will change?
would hate to loose the awesome neon lights and signs

good luck and I hope it works out, would love to see you guys on the big lake

Ryan,

Thanks for jumping in and taking away in questions... I am sure it will be a interesting transition for all involved.... And over time it will be interesting to see what boat lines you decide to maintain......

Irwin Marine has posted a photo of a Crest Pontoon on its Web Site. Could they be taken the Crest line? Would like to have seen Winnisquam Marine grab it. Benn's are very good boats also very expensive.


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Congrats to Winisquam Marine ..........We are on our second boat from you and we couldn't be happier !!

It does look like they picked up the line. Premier has been going through some shakeups lately, but I hope they keep the line as I have been very happy with Premier. I don't think there was any interest from Winnisquam in picking up Crest.

I really liked my Crest and think they have some of the best layouts and philosophies.

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I agree, they make great boats from entry level to $$$. Innovative and stylish.

Visited Your Showroom LY
 

Have been boating on LW for over 25 years, now with a growing family the wife wants a pontoon; visited your showroom late last season and now that you are on the big lake will definitely be purchasing a new Bennington next year. Just never could get comfortable not having the selling dealer on the same body of water.

On our visit to your Winnisquam , your salespeople were terrific and Bryan you even stopped and spoke to us about Bennington...we were impressed.

Wishing you and your team the best.

Is this absolute fact?? Hearing rumors again

Phantom is hearing similar as well ............. done deal ? perhaps not.

Did notice that Channels satellite building over at Winnisquam has been rented or perhaps sold off
.

Mentioned here...https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ad.php?t=22603

Dan

I haven't heard anything, but the building in question is next to Joe's property, not at the Weirs location. That has been vacant for some time, and even if Winnisquam is still moving forward with the purchase they probably would have no need for that building. They have multiple over there now.

The LED sign on the vacant Channel Marine building is flashing "future home of the Tilton Trailer Outlet" so I would presume Joe now owns it or rents it...

Dan

Not surprised he picked it up, my point was it is kind of a useless building for Winnisquam to aquire but its a good location for Joe. People seem to be questioning whether the full deal is still on for the purchase of Channel, I can tell you after making a phone call on something else and asking the question, the Channel deal is still on!

Yes it is
 

Closing the end of this month. Closing, as in purchase complete.

Spoke with someone at winnisquam today who stated closing was near. Very excited to have Winnisquam Marine on the big lake. The Crawford family runs a top notch business.

Deal ??
 

Sounds like deal went south 2nd hand info but very reliable

Channel Marine
 

We are still on-track to purchase Channel Marine and hoping that the closing will be this week.

Bank of New Hampshire has been great to work with on this transaction and they have gone above and beyond to assist in the purchase.

Cybertron has also been an unbelievable partner in getting the 2 locations linked together with our software systems going in early next week before the close. We want to be as ready as we can be for the day the ownership changes.

We look forward to welcoming the crew at Channel Marine to the Winnisquam Marine family. Bob, Elaine, Chip and everyone else at Channel have been great to work with as we have been there the last few weeks. We hope to add some more employees to their crew where they need them to help get everything done during the busy winterize season.

We are looking forward to the close and what the future holds for both our Winnisquam and soon to be Winnipesaukee locations.

Ryan Crawford
Winnisquam Marine

Teriffic
 

Great to hear, & best of luck

Looks like it is closed, done deal!

Congrats Ryan and crew!

:cheers:

This afternoon I saw a used Crest pontoon being placed in front of Winnisquam marine


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Originally Posted by WinniMarine
You just have to love the internet. Everyone has a "reliable source", enough to post rumors on the internet, yet they do not have first hand knowledge of what is factual.

Thankfully we have a venue (the internet, not this site in particular) to throw speculation and gossip without repercussion.

It is a done deal
 

Good move and an improvement for Channel Marine. I'm not sure I would have changed the name, but the sale is still a positive change.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/newsx...m-channel-deal

Best Wishes
 

Best wishes to Winnisquam marine!
They are also building what appears to be a storage building on 106.

Welcome to the Crawfords. I'm sure they be successful.
Despite the new name on the letterhead, I expect a lot of folks will still speak of it as "Channel Marine". It seems like it was 15 years before people accepted that Gilford Marina was Mountain View Yacht Club, and Gilford Marina hadn't been there anything close to 75 years. Who else remembers when it started out as "Port Lauderdale"? Nostalgia ain't what it used to be (YB)

Just moved our toon over to the new Winnisquam Marine at Winnipesaukee for winter storage (great prices) and next season’s valet services.
Excited to be at a more central marina on the lake!
I’m happpy for their new presence on winnipesaukee and wish them luck in their new marina venture!

congrats, but I hope we don't lose the Neon signs on the channel

They are talking about “new signage” so my guess is bye bye neon! It is a nostalgic, piece of channel history though...be nice to see them utilize it as such.

That classic sign was just completely rebuilt a year or two ago. It's a landmark, like the sign on Rt 3 that is the entrance. "Winnisquam at Winnipesaukee" will get abbreviated to WAW. Awful.

Temporary signage was up on Saturday ................


.

New Name
 

Thanks everyone for the positive comments!!!

We are calling the new location WOW not WAW. Winnisquam on Winnipesaukee. Much better abbreviation for sure...

Stay tuned for many great things to come!!!

Ryan Crawford
VP/GM
Winnisquam Marine

Channel Marine
 

Hi hope you keep the iconic sign. (or ionic as a great mayor of Boston once said!)

second this!!!