Investing In Your Investment

By Andrea Lightfoot, Business Manager

Walstrom Marine is proud to be a full-service, one-stop shop for all things boating. From the sale of your boat, to dockage, service, and storage, we pride ourselves on being there every step of the way. As our dealership continues to grow, we are able to expand our services. This gives you a wide range of new options to add value to your boat before you even close on the sale. In just the past year our financing options have expanded, our extended warranty options are more diverse, and Ultimar (a protective product we apply to your boat) is becoming one of our most popular additions to boat purchases.

One of our most exciting expansions since I’ve come onboard has been growing our in-house financing options. The lenders we work with all have their own benefits specialized to the specific vessel being financed, from Tiaras to Jet Skis. Our job is to make sure you’re getting the best rate and terms available. We also have the ability to get you pre-qualified for financing, even if the boat you are interested in is on order. Why does this matter? It allows you to keep your money

in your pocket, set up a payment plan, and transition seamlessly into boat ownership from the moment when the boat is delivered, without the need to move funds around when the boat arrives. Working with Walstrom Marine eliminates the backand-forth you would otherwise have with a bank or credit union as I negotiate on your behalf based on your needs and wishes. Once approved, we set up the closing – a quick ten-minute process, and then I handle the rest. As the business manager I work directly with the sales department, service department, lenders, and State of Michigan to take the stress out of buying a boat: getting it funded, titled, documented, registered, name installed and MC numbers prepared for application.

Extended warranties are not just for used boats. We offer warranties from one year to three years for new and used boats, on top of the warranty coverage already included from the manufacturer, extending it by up to eight years once combined. You have the option to even choose the warranty that best benefits you and your needs. Adding a warranty takes the sting out of unexpected costs down the road after the original warranty has expired. Replacing an engine, generator, or even just a simple fuel line can be costly. Small projects can become expensive too. Depending on location they may have to pull the entire engine to replace one part. Without a warranty in place, it can end up costing you a lot more than what you plan. We like to keep the headache of owning a boat out of the equation. There are also protectant options not only great for boat buyers, but sellers and current boat owners alike. Imagine you’re thinking of selling your five-year-old boat, and you have a prospective buyer who is hesitant to purchase a used boat. They sea trial your boat with one of our brokers who points out that the hullside has no scratches or discoloration, the seats are not stained or punctured, and there is no smell or sign of mildew or mold on the boat. The buyer thinks you must have never used the boat! In reality, you’ve used it every weekend since you bought it. But since you had our protectant option, Ultimar, applied to your boat, it still sparkles like new. You took full advantage of the warranty to keep your boat free of visual defects that can depreciate your boat’s value. The resale value increases because your boat is so clean and you didn’t have to worry about constant strenuous upkeep while you owned it. Ultimar took all the hard work out of keeping your boat looking like-new.

As the business manager, I am here to facilitate making the purchase of your boat as easy as possible, offer you extended warranties for a worry-free investment, and provide Ultimar to keep your boat looking like the day you first set sail. I’ve seen firsthand how expensive boat repairs can be without warranty and I want to help you keep those out-of-pocket costs down. Everyone, especially potential buyers, notices the difference between a boat that is well kept and one that is not. We are proud to continue to be your one-stopshop for all things boating, and we share your passion for making your boat dreams come true!