California Marine Sports is a family-owned dealership that carries Nautiques by Correct Craft, Centurion, Pro Line, Blue Water, Reinell and Klamath boats.  Carrying on a rich family tradition of the love of boating are Grant and Tammy Fulford, owners of California Marine Sports.  In addition to boat sales, California Marine Sports also has a Pro Shop with marine accessories, parts and a service center providing maintenance and repair for all makes and models of boats.  Grant and Tammy started California Marine Sports after Grant was laid off as a manager for Napa Pipe.  They had prior experience operating a marine repair business in Petaluma.

Grant and Tammy first approached the SBDC in December 2007 when they were considering expanding the business by opening a second location on the Suisun City waterfront.  They were able to secure private funding to open the second location.  When the economic downturn hit in 2008, boat sales at their stores dropped by 50% almost overnight.  Most other boat dealers along the I-80 corridor went bankrupt and closed their doors.  Karl Dumas and Lorraine Fernandez at the City of Fairfield once again referred California Marine Sports to the SBDC this time for assistance in putting together an application for a city loan to help the business survive until their busy season and the market turned around.

Charles Eason, Director of the Solano College SBDC, worked with Grant and Tammy to develop a business plan and financial projections for the City loan application.  Grant and Tammy were also interested into moving into a more visible location near the I-80 and I-680 interchange in a location that had been vacated by Ultimate Sports when they closed their doors.  The site would only require minimal tenant improvements and to move their signage from their old location.  Mr. Eason and the Fulfords worked together to craft a plan to show the city how they planned to move their business and rebuild sales.

California Marine Sports was successful in securing the City Loan and also was able to make the move into the more visible location.  Sales have picked up significantly since moving to the new location.  The next challenge California Marine Sports is facing is securing a floor plan lender to finance their boat inventory.  Their current lender is no longer offering floor plan financing.  California Marine Sports in not alone in experiencing difficulties with dealer financing.  To address the issue, the SBA recently launched a new floor plan financing program for car and boat dealers.  Grant and Tammy are currently working with the SBDC to locate a lender participating in this new program.

“We want to thank you for all the wonderful help you gave us to write our business plan.  This loan was critical in helping us get to our busy season.”

Client:
California Marine Sports
Business Owner(s): Grant and Tammy Fulford
(707) 864-4007
Email: tammy@calmarinesports.com
www.calmarinesports.com