"Bill Kearney" wrote in message
...
I would not torpedo MarineMax based on a couple of bad transactions,
especially considering they are one of the largest boat dealers in the
world.

That's the paradox of consolidation. Trying to "go big" in the rather
small
boating market seems like financial suicide. One location screws up and
they all take a beating for it. I'd much rather go with a long time
regional dealer than a corporate outfit like MarineMax.

The very method that MarineMax used to "go big" was in fact to buy out every
regional dealer they could. The process is ongoing as we speak. They are
essentially using a model similar to AutoNation and others in the car
business. Point being, the regional dealer you buy from today, may well be
part of a corporate outfit tomorrow. It appears that there are now two
types of Sea Ray dealers. Those that have been bought by MarineMax and
those that will be.