SW Marine Store is making waves in Salcombe

No question, as soon as the weather warms up the best place to be is out on the water and Duncan Bradford-Viles of SW Marine Store, is here to help you do just that.

Recipe for success

Duncan is no stranger to boating life. He’s been an outboard engineer for almost 20 years and started up a similar enterprise in Bristol ten years ago and which is still going strong. Together with partner Emily Pike, he hopes to continue their recipe for success in the South Hams.

‘The demand for RIBs and inflatables is still huge and there are many contenders in the marketplace. We’ve been on the look-out for some time for a product line which represents not only excellent quality and reliability but provides clients with both boat and engine in a streamlined package,’ Duncan says.

Introducing Selva Marine

The solution lay in relative newcomer, Selva Marine. Re-introduced to the UK in 2015, and part owned by Yamaha they are an innovative and enterprising Italy-based manufacturer that has gone from strength to strength. ‘We’ve seen how their product ranges and levels of customisation have progressed and we’re delighted to be their official South Hams retailer. We honestly believe that they have something to suit pretty much every need and budget,’ continues Duncan.

Emily and Duncan appreciate that many customers prefer to purchase boats and engines separately and have strong attachment to some of the more widely-known brands, so Grand Marine RIBs and inflatables also figure strongly in their line-up along with Latvian GRP boat brand Latrex. Fjordstar RIBs are also firm favourites and this brand has just launched a model with a pioneering foam-filled unsinkable hull with an inflatable tube.

The pair is also keeping an eye on the growing demand for fibreglass hulls, especially amongst more mature and family-orientated boat owners who are seeking more locker/storage space, defined seating and safety features like high sides and flooding keels for even distribution of weight. ‘Hard to believe, but we have budget options available for under £5000,’ they say.

One-stop shop

If you’re in the market for an engine, then you won’t go away disappointed either. SW Marine Store are dealers for Tohatsu Marine which provides an impressive seven-year warranty for its in-house range products from 2.5hp to 50 hp. The 60hp to 250hp Tohatsu outboards are manufactured by Honda. Tohatsu is the world’s largest manufacturer of outboards and the range offers models in both petrol and LPG fuel options.

New and existing clients can expect excellent servicing and repairs provision, too. ‘We’re not a chandlery but we aim to support our product range as much as possible with the more commonplace items kept in stock. From experience, lost fuel tanks and pumps feature quite highly along with replacement propellers for example,’ says Emily. ‘Anything we don’t have in stock we can usually have delivered within one to three days,’ she continues. The store also stocks safety equipment like life jackets and kill cords, along with stunning genuine sailcloth bags, other essentials and even paddle boards and kayaks.

Keeping it local

This is exactly the kind of service that local and visiting boat owners want and need, and they won’t have to travel far to get it. SW Marine Store is located next to West End Garage at the top of town. If you’re in Salcombe during Regatta week, call in to Whitestrand on Boat Show day where they have a stand and say hello.

SW Marine Store is located alongside West End Garage, Main Road, Salcombe, TQ8 8NA, tel: 01548 842868. They’re currently open from 9am to 5pm (closed Tues and Suns) but will extend their opening hours over summer. ‘If you see the green sign and the flags out, we’re in, and if you need urgent help, you can always give us a call – we’re never far away!’ For more information, view their directory listing here