Charlotte RV & Marine specializes in the sale and repair of boats and motorhomes.

Say what? What do motorhomes and boats have in common? As it turns out, quite a bit.

First, they’re both recreational vehicles. Not many people use an RV or boat to commute to the office every day. More importantly, they both appeal to the same type of buyer.

“There are a lot of motorhomes out there that are towing boats,” says general sales manager Ken Brady. “A lot of owners of larger boats move to motorhomes as they get older” — presumably because they enjoy having an all-inclusive home away from home. As boat maintenance and shipboard chores take an increasingly uncomfortable toll on an aging body, it’s a natural progession to go to an equally luxurious — but less demanding — RV.

At Charlotte RV & Marine, where motorhomes have been sold since 2005 and boats since 2008, every vehicle on the lot or in the showroom is a consignment or a trade-in.

“It’s a lot less hassle for both the buyer and the seller,” says Brady. “We can act as representatives for both parties, ensuring that sellers get a fair price and buyers don’t overpay. Most sellers don’t really know what they’re selling, but we know boats and RVs. And we have a top-notch service facility on-site to take care of anything that’s in need of repair.”

Another advantage of consignments — with less overhead tied up in inventory, there’s less cost to pass on to buyers.

Unlike at many other used-boat lots, you won’t see any weeds sprouting between the boats on display. That’s because, except for a handful of watercraft on temporary outdoor display, Charlotte RV & Marine’s entire inventory is stored indoors in their massive showroom.

“We’ve got the only pre-owned boat showroom in the entire Southeastern U.S.,” says Brady. “We do that for the same reason many owners choose indoor storage – a boat is an investment, and it makes sense to protect that investment.”

The purchase of a used vehicle always carries with it the specter of buying someone else’s problem. Having a state-of-the-art service and repair shop on the property helps to shield Charlotte RV & Marine’s customers from the risk.

“Before going into our showroom, all the boats we sell undergo a diagnostic inspection to find any problems,” says marine sales manager Mack MacPherson. “The owner may not know if something hidden is wrong, but we’ll find it here.”

At many dealers, sea trials are subject to an additional fee. Not here.

“We want our buyers to be confident in the watercraft they’re purchasing,” says MacPherson. “The opportunity to put a boat through its paces on the water is crucial in developing that confidence.”

Rvs also are subjected to a thorough checkup before final sale. When it’s time to make the purchase, sales staff can help to arrange financing if it’s required. They also take trade-ins.

Any necessary pre-sale repairs are done on-site. Lenny Leonard, manager of the Body & Marine Service Center, says it’s a source of pride for Charlotte RV & Marine to be self-sufficient.

“A lot of marine businesses around here have contractors to do their fiberglass work, painting jobs, whatever,” says Leonard. “We have the equipment, the staff and the expertise to do all those things in-house.”

“We’re the only dealership I know of in the country that doesn’t subcontract anything out,” says Brady.

“We’re also the only repair facility in the state with our own DuPont Marine paint mixing system, so we can match anything,” adds Leonard. “Boat or RV, we’ve got it covered.”

They’re also set up to paint just about anything. Their cavernous 56-foot convection oven paint spray booth is the largest in the area, and one of the largest in the state.

Boat or motorhome repair customers can be sure their vehicles are in good hands. Charlotte RV & Marine has been doing repairs since 2003 and is a direct repair facility with most insurance companies that cover boats and RVs. They also meet the criteria to be a referral facility for repairs with all the major insurance carriers, including Progressive and Geico.

Ultimately, it’s service that sets a business apart from its competitors, and service is where Charlotte RV & Marine puts its greatest emphasis.

“Service before and after the sale is the key to our success,” says Brady. “We’re not satisfied until the customer is satisfied.”