Just amazing. I was looking for a specific motor that most shops were running me around on. With Boat Specialists, I was able to get confirmation that I was making a good choice and talk to someone th... See more
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I thought I would get better service & pricing from a Marine outfitter if it were closer to my home town & state. Kodiak, Alaska. That wasn't the case. Neither Washington or Oregon state marine outlet... See more
Company replied
I was a bit nervous about taking advantage of a great boat deal from Boat Specialists, being 3100 miles away... But, Kyle made it all easy by doing all the paperwork and arranging my purchase of a ne... See more
Company replied
I bought a Highfield Rib and 9,9 Merc. Prices were great and so was the service. I picked up my boat in Ventura, so I saw their operation and met the staff. They have a big, well stocked showroom, and... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Founded in Ventura, CA, in 1976, Boat Specialists has provided outstanding service, competitive pricing, and an excellent selection of boats and outboard motors to the boating community. Boat Specialists is an authorized dealership for all the major boat, outboard, and trailer brands, including Sea Fox, Barletta, Zodiac, Yamaha, Honda, Achilles, AB, Avon, Mercury, Tohatsu, Torqeedo, and more. With locations in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay, and over 50,000 square feet of showroom and warehouse space, we are able to offer our customers the very best selection of boats, outboards, trailers, parts, and accessories at unbeatable prices!
Contact info
2900 Golf Course Drive., 93003, Ventura, United States
- 805-644-6290
- info@boatspecialists.com
- www.boatspecialists.com
4.7
Excellent
353 reviews
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Hasn’t replied to negative reviews
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When UPS messed up a shipment I called…
When UPS messed up a shipment I called and they got me out the part needed in time for my planned cruise to the island. Great service every time.
July 6, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
We hope you had a great trip and thanks for the review!
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thanks, Jan, for your business and taking the time to leave a review!
I have used this company before
I have used this company before. I have an old Achilles inflatable that I have been keeping alive for a while. A combination of new valves and gaskets plus some sealer has kept it going quite well. Nice company to do business with, they have the parts, quick service.
July 2, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thanks, Tony, for your business and taking the time to leave a review!
Arrived on time but with the price…
Arrived on time but with the price should have came with a gas tank
June 30, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thanks, Richard, for the feedback! We are glad to hear you got your motor and will take your notes into consideration. Thank you and happy boating!
Simple easy and quality service
Simple easy and quality service. You can tell the well-managed companies when you work with them and Boat Specialists have their act together.
June 30, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Louis, for the positive review! We are glad to hear you had a good experience with our team.
No Matter Where You Are
After unsuccessful face to face search's locally I got online and found Boat Specialist. The first time was in 4/2022 purchasing a new boat motor. After an issue on my part I was shown what customer service is really supposed to be like. The kind of service when it's all over you feel like you used up all the luck you will ever get but I was wrong. Boat motor number two in 6/2023 was a lot easier but no less than the best top shelf customer service again. It's a shame that it is so hard to find these days.
June 28, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Clyde, for your continued business and taking the time to leave a review! We are glad to hear both outboard purchases went smoothly and look forward to working with you again on any future boating needs. Have a great day!
Sales Rep uninformed and “cold”
Saw the same sales rep twice. First time cordial and helpful. Second time a different person who acted like he didn’t care. The deal finally came together since I called to give feedback to sales manager and he put the deal together.
Original salesman was either badly misinformed or pushing for shop installed upgrades. He told us that “the warranty manager is pretty picky and will likely not warrant any part of the warranty if we put ANY mods on the dinghy including installing our own dinghy wheels. He told us the installation of 8 bolts would be $300.
June 26, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
I am sorry to hear about any experience that is not excellent in our dealership, and any miscommunications or misinformation regarding a warranty. Warranties are set by the manufacturer of the product and not by our Warranty Administrator. Our Warranty Administrator and our service staff go above and beyond to work for any customer to get any warranty issue resolved as quickly as possible. In terms of installing an item like launch wheels, it can be a grey area for a manufacturer's warranty, and it does not matter whether we install them or a customer does. For example, if one installed launch wheels but did not seal the bolts properly, and a leak occurred in the transom due to sealant failure in holes that were drilled into the transom that lead to deterioration or weakness of the transom, then a manufacturer of a boat can say that the boat they built did not have holes in the transom when they built it, so this is not a manufacturing defect. However, if our company installed the wheels and the same issue occurred, we have a 1 year workmanship warranty on accessory install and would claim responsibility, and therefore would cover a repair for a customer within reason and a reasonable time frame. This isn't manufacturer warranty coverage of the boat, simply our company standing behind our products, our techs, and our work. In terms of the pricing for a launch wheel install, on certain aluminum inflatable boats there are lips on the rear transom that require additional hardware, such as custom built brackets, to allow the launch wheels to be stored in their upright position without hitting the lip of the rear transom. In some cases the launch wheel bases also can get modified to fit the "V" shape of the hull so that the bracket isn't overhanging. These types of installations require additional work. The salesperson was giving a ballpark figure of an install based on a certain type of launch wheel on a certain boat. Once a customer chooses a boat, and the launch wheels they want, with that information our outfitting department can determine the cost and quote that out specifically to the needs of the boat. Though it may seem like just a few bolts, we have a high standard for the work that we do and always aim for doing work that will last indefinitely without issue, while also having the aesthetics of a factory finish install.
Received the requested part
Originally I did not receive the part I needed but after making retailer aware a new part was sent. Ironically I received the original part and the new part just one day apart. I was impressed as to how quickly this was resolved. Thank you!
June 23, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
We are very sorry to hear this! I just spoke with Adam in our Parts Department and he has shipped out another item for you. Please feel free to reach out directly at 805-644-6290 with any further concerns. Thank you!
Great customer service and follow up.
June 15, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Brian, for your busniness and the 5-star review. Happy boating!
Received exactly what I needed for my…
Received exactly what I needed for my repair. Worked well!
June 12, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Great Team
The Boat Specialists team were very quick to answer questions I had before, during and after the buying process, which was extremely helpful. Every team member I spoke to was incredibly helpful, patient, and knowledgeable.
May 19, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Rob, for your business!
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Emily, for choosing Boat Specialists!
Easy online order and prompt response
Easy online order and prompt response. Also emailed and updated me on the process. Trucking and delivery was just as planned.
April 3, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thanks, Dan, for your business!
Product as described
Product as described. Price 10% better than anywhere else for the 10'6" Achilles RIB I got. Very prompt and courteous service. Shipped next day.
June 6, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thanks for your business and we hope you enjoy your new Achilles!
Everything you'd want in a buying experience.
Everything you'd want in a purchase experience: knowledgeable, professional, and cheerful staff work with you to get you what you need, and competitive prices seal the deal.
May 26, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Marcus, for the review. We appreciate your business and hope you have a great summer out on the water!
They failed to mail my paid for ordered…
They failed to mail my paid for ordered replacement part
Just heard from boat specialists. I got an apology and a credit and they mailed my replacement part.
June 4, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Good morning, Robert! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I spoke with our Parts Manager and he said you two spoke and the issue has been resolved. You should receive your part shortly. Let us know if you need anything else from our team!
My first experience with Boat Specialists
My first experience with Boat Specialists. Very easy to find the items I was searching for on the website. Impressive inventory of items and replacement parts. Ordering process was very easy. Packed and shipped in a very timely manner. Tracking of shipment was easy. Would recommend Boat Specialists. Will definitely use them in the future.
June 3, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Glad to hear about your experience with our company. Thank you for the business and happy boating!
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thanks, Stanley, for choosing Boat Specialists!
got what I wanted, good tracking, timely
just ordered a air valve, but got it quickly with good tracking and there was a good video on installation
June 1, 2023
Reply from Boat Specialists
Thank you, Bruce, for your business and taking the time to leave a review!
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