2006 Dealer of Distinction Awards, Top Dealers

An unprecedented 17 U.S. and three Canadian dealers take home the honor, Galati Yachts Sales is Crowned Top Dealer

OCONTO, Wis. (September 13, 2006) - Cruisers Yachts, Wisconsin's premier manufacturer of luxury yachts, recently announced its top dealers and the recipients of its fourth annual Dealer of Distinction Award (DDA) for excellence in customer satisfaction during the company's dealer meeting held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. in early August.

Top Dealers in Sales
The top five Cruisers Yachts dealers in sales for the 2006 model year, ranging from number one in sales to the number five position, are:

  • Galati Yacht Sales, Anna Maria, Fla.
  • Warehouse Creek Yachts Sales, Grasonville, Md.
  • Cape Fear Yacht Sales, Wilmington, N.C.
  • Wasatch Marine, Newport Beach, Calif. and Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Staten Island Yacht Sales, Staten Island, N.Y.

Cruisers Yachts also recognized its top international dealer outside of North America in sales:  Prosser Marine in Glasgow, Scotland.

Dealers of Distinction
The annual DDAs are Cruisers Yachts' way of recognizing their dealers who demonstrate excellence in customer service and play an intricate role in the yacht builder's continual honor of receiving the coveted CSI Award (Customer Satisfaction Index Award) from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Since its inception four years ago, the number of Dealers of Distinction has nearly doubled each year with four awarded in 2004 and 11 awarded in 2005. This year, an impressive 20 Cruisers Yachts DDAs were awarded to dealers located throughout the United States and Canada - many of these have received the honor multiple years.

United States

  • Bay Marine, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
  • Boat Town, Austin, Texas
  • Cape Fear Yacht Sales, Wilmington, N.C.
  • Dave Mungenast Yacht Club Marina, Osage Beach, Mo.
  • Erickson Marine, Inc., Hastings, Minn.
  • Galati Yacht Sales, Naples, Anna Maria, St. Petersburg, Destin, Fla.
  • Great Lakes Marine Services, Inc., Grafton, Wis.
  • Hawkeye Boat Sales, Inc., Dubuque, Iowa
  • Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales, St. Clair Shores, Mich.
  • Lake Wylie Boat & Yacht Sales, Charlotte, N.C.
  • Ship & Sail, Inc., Kemah, Texas
  • Sima Marine Sales, Inc., Eastlake, Ohio
  • Shy Beaver Boat Center, James Creek, Pa.
  • Staten Island Yacht Sales, Staten Island, N.Y.
  • Travis Marine, Knoxville, Tenn.
  • Wasatch Marine, Newport Beach, Calif and Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Zoller's Marine Center, Inc., Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Canada

  • Angus Yachts of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario
  • Blackfish Marine, Grandville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Marina Gagnon et Fils Ltee, St.-Paul-lle-aux-Noix, Quebec

Dealers are selected based on the results of surveys and overall dealer satisfaction from Cruisers Yachts boat owners. To be recognized, a Dealer of Distinction recipient must maintain an independently measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over the past year, based on information provided by consumers who have purchased a new boat.

"This is the first year that we've honored not only one, but three Canadian Cruisers Yachts dealers," said Jim Viestenz, president of KCS International, parent company of Cruisers Yachts. "We are proud of our entire dealer network and the high level of satisfaction they continue to provide to customers. They truly are among the finest yacht dealers in the world."

Headquartered in Oconto, Wis., Cruisers Yachts is a division of KCS International, Inc., which includes sister company Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts. Cruisers Yachts is known as one of the world's premier providers of midsize to luxury pleasure yachts and produces 15 models from 28 to 56 feet in its Oconto facility as well as their boatbuilding operation in Wilmington, N.C.