Dockside Marine Centre

Over the past two summers, it has been increasingly difficult to ever get through to anybody to book repair service. No one ever seems to answer the phone, so I always leave a message, but very rarely does anyone ever get back to me. So after my second email, I finally got a gal to call me back a couple weeks later and I told her I was disappointed that I took her so long to call me and she said she basically just forgot about me but she promised me that she would get back to me in a couple of days with the price estimates that I wanted for my repairs. Once again, she never bothered to call back and I still have no prices. I've been trying for five weeks to get a couple of repairs done on my boat but no one will ever get back to me so now I have to wait until next spring and of course then, they always tell me it'll take a couple of months to get in because they are so busy. I really wish there was another Marine centre on the lake because then I think the Customer Service would be much better.

THE ABSOLUTE WORST! I would give minus stars if I could. These guys are the absolute WORST people to do business with. They are akin to highway robbers. They figure that just because they have the only travel lift in the Okanagan that they can charge absolutely outrageous rates for a haul out.and so they do. (there are other crane services in Kelowna that can lift boats and are much more reasonable). Their services are overpriced and the quality of the service is terrible, serviced by people who really seem to not care about their customers. I could go on but to waste more energy on these guys would give them too much credit. I will end by saying that it is well known in the sailing community around Kelowna and the Okanagan that they have become a business to AVOID AT ALL COSTS.do yourself a favour and avoid them. Cheers!

In the spring I bought a used 2020 Malibu LSV in a private sale. After a season on the water, I realized there were a few glitches that needed to be addressed, some maybe my lack of experience with surfboats, so I decided to make the drive from the Kootenays to Dockside, my closest Malibu dealer. The experience was worth the drive. Daniela is simply exceptional as the customer facing side of the service department. She is knowledgeable, quick to respond, with a clear and friendly communication style sprinkled with considerable humour and positive energy. She is an outstanding representative for Dockside. I never felt like I was being played, taken advantage of, or dismissed. I came with a list of questions and issues I wanted checked, at the end of the day, when I was reviewing the invoice and inquiring about some of the remarks she readily offered to see if the technician was still available to answer some questions. In countless visits to various car dealership service centers, I don’t think I’ve ever had a service rep bring out a mechanic. Ever. The invoice was not inexpensive, and this was a great move to inform me as to what the technician found, ameliorate any concern I may have had about the costs and to give me reassurance to return. Enter Dave. This guy is a keeper. He was very patient and not in the least bit condescending as he explained the work he did, and didn’t do, and the mechanics of some of the operating systems. My thanks to both.

Grey service, thorough, got us a quote before doing the work and waited for our approval before moving forward. They made suggestions and gave us options on repair! I would highly recommend!

Sorry to report a very bad experience with the service department. (July 2023) Have had my boat there for three months, yes 3! My family is disappointed as we’ve lost most of this boating season. Discovered in early May that fuel pumps needed replacement. Not sure if technicians are inexperienced or what but ordering parts went off the rails (twice) Throughout the three months I had such difficulty in getting information on progress. Had to chase advisors down for updates. Was given various excuses and apologies such as staff turnover and improper parts ordered. Rather than rushing deliveries they seemed ok with waiting. So today, out of complete frustration I just had to pick my boat up and take elsewhere to get repaired. I’m at a loss for words. Where are people who care about integrity in their work and care about their company’s reputation for customer service?

I would like to thank Taylor for his great work ethic, no matter what the concern is he is happy to facilitate by visiting your boat and trouble shooting to find a solution. He always completes the work that he has committed to in a professional and timely manner. Taylor is happy to review your bill personally and explain each and every item that was charged. I would recommend Taylor and his team as being the best service team in the Okanagan.

Friendly counter staff, gave me some advice to try no pressure to want me to bring it in. Ended up bringing it in anyways. Dealt with Conner who was friendly to work with gave me the honest run down on the problem and had it fixed.
I own a surf boat with teenage boys that I don't get to see much of, just the bills. So don't have a lot of spare money to spend. So it was great to see it was a simple and inexpensive fix.

We bought a used boat from Dockside. The staff and everyone we dealt with were just excellent. The boat was cleaned up beautifully and the service was incredible. I can’t imagine dealing with anyone else!

Thank you Taylor Doll for the exceptional service you provide every time we have our boat serviced. Your tremendous knowledge, work ethics, honesty and genuineness is first class. Anyone looking for a boat or has questions on repairs must see Taylor. You will always receive customer service beyond your expectations. As a result, Taylor saved us from a potential situation on the water because of his care and pro-activeness of our boat needs. He and his staff member Conner provided immediate and excellent assistance on resolving our issue. Superb.

I have been using Dockside Marine for over 5 years. I have found them to be okay for sales and service. They always seemed to be more interested in sales rather than service - until recently. Dockside was sold last fall and the new owners recruited Taylor Doll as the new Operations Manager. There was been a significant uptick in morale and a culture shift to be more service focussed. So far this year, I am very pleased with "new" Dockside Marine. I hope they keep this up as my experience with Dockside has been much improved. Thanks

Every once in a while you want to give credit where credit is due.
We bought a new Sea Ray Sundancer 350 and got it brought up from California last spring. Arriving at Dockside they had the equipment and staff to unload, launch, winter store, maintain, and safely return it to the waters this spring. My hat goes off to Taylor and his team of professionals who have looked after our boat so far.
Taylor is currently working with Sea Ray on some warranty issues and I am confident he will satisfy me once again. Hoping that eventually they get the Sea Ray franchise back again.
Thankyou Dockside!

We couldn't be happier with the quality of the work we had done. The attention to detail, the proactive communication and advice all made for a great experience and confirmed that we made the right choice in having Dockside take care of our boat.
A great team and a big shout out to Taylor and Conner for making our project list happen!

Very impressed with dockside marine Mason was the best sales representative we have ever dealt with! What he said he would do, he did! The whole team was friendly, very helpful, and we will tell all our friends to buy their next boat here! Unbeatable staff and service!

Dockside Marina team,

I want to give a huge shout out to the Dockside Marina team for all their hospitality and awesomeness. Each one of you played a part in making our dreams come true from the moment I contacted Dockside Marina to driving away with our dream boat. Mason, you were a superstar from the start to finish line. I appreciate all you did for us by being helpful, respectful, funny, and very approachable. It was awesome each time I came back to Dockside to look at the boat before taking it home, you would have the boat uncovered, shined up, and would show me something new I had no idea was on it lol. Thank you for being more than a salesperson, more of a friend. I had so much fun going for the first ride and thankful for you showing me the do’s and don’ts around the boat. Alex, you are one heck of a parts person and appreciate all you did for us from finding cool additions to the boat to staying late making sure I was safe to drive home, that goes for you to Mason, Brad and the two technicians. Chris, thanks for being a top-notch financier, you made this possible for my family. Brad, thanks for all you have done throughout the process too, your management skills and hospitality will not be forgotten. Mark, thank you for going the extra mile getting all the installations completed before the deadlines. I highly recommend anyone looking for their dream watercraft to go see Dockside Marina, you won’t be dissatisfied, you will leave knowing you made the right decision. I wish there was a way to click more than 5 stars because each of you deserve the high credit and recognition. I’m already looking forward to returning in the near future and upgrading to a next level dream boat. Again, thank you everyone.

Sincerely,

Bryce Galisky

I have been a proud and grateful customer of Dockside Marine in Kelowna for over 10 years, and I can't praise them enough for their exceptional service and extraordinary generosity. This review is long overdue, but it's never too late to acknowledge a business that consistently goes above and beyond.

One incident that truly stands out in my mind is when I lost the keys to my glove box. I was worried about the hassle and expense of getting a replacement, but the team at Dockside Marine surprised me with their incredible support. They immediately sprang into action, utilizing their expertise to solve the issue in real-time, and what's more, they didn't charge me a dime! Their dedication to customer satisfaction is unparalleled, and I was blown away by their willingness to go the extra mile.

In addition to their exceptional problem-solving skills, Dockside Marine surprised me once again by detailing my boat out of the blue, completely free of charge. I was astounded by their generosity and the level of care they showed for my boating experience. The attention to detail in the boat's cleanliness was immaculate, and it truly showcased their commitment to ensuring that their customers have the best possible time on the water.

Another aspect of Dockside Marine's service that I deeply appreciate is their valet service. They understand that convenience is key, and their valet service has made my life so much easier. Whether it's launching my boat or retrieving it after a day on the water, the Dockside Marine team takes care of everything, allowing me to focus on enjoying my boating adventures. The valet service is an invaluable offering that truly sets them apart from other marine service providers.

Throughout the years, I have witnessed Dockside Marine's dedication to their customers and the boating community. Their commitment to excellence is unwavering, and they continuously strive to exceed expectations. From their well-stocked inventory of top-notch marine parts and accessories to their informative events and workshops, they consistently prove themselves to be the leaders in their field.

Dockside Marine, thank you for your exceptional service, generosity, and the countless times you have gone above and beyond to ensure my boating experience is nothing short of extraordinary. You have earned my deepest trust and loyalty, and I wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone seeking marine services in Kelowna.

I’ve dealt with Dockside Marine quite a few times now, and have always had a good experience. Whether it’s purchasing, selling, or servicing I would recommend Dockside over and over. They are honest, do quality work and even look out for their customers which seems to be more and more rare these days. I’ve recently had the pleasure of dealing with Mason Rice from sales and again have had a great experience. Thank you Mason for everything you have done, and I look forward to dealing with you guys in the future.

I was on the search for a new outboard motor, I had called and talked to many other stores and sales representatives. I dealt with mason, and he was phenomenal to deal with. He was able to work with me and my needs. I will certainly be going back for any of my boating needs. Some of the best customer service I have ever had! Thanks again mason!

My husband and I recently bought a boat at Docside and Mason was the salesman. He was very kind and efficient when assisting us. We work shift work so can be difficult to get things organized but Mason made the sale very easy and enjoyable. He goes out of his way to be helpful and quick to reply with questions. I would recommend Mason 10/10 to anyone wanting a good sales experience. The entire team at Dockside is a great group to work with.

Five stars from me…As I start my 'storey' about my experience with Dockside Service Department, you will wonder why I gave them 5 Stars. Read on and you will see why they deserve my rating.

I took my boat in to Dockside early Sept 2022 for low compression (2 cylinders) in the right engine. For over a month the boat just sat there; nothing happened while we had beautiful fall weather and I had no boat! Finally, when the heads were removed, they miss-diagnosed the problem. (K&S Engine shop in Kelowna, quickly diagnosed the correct problem and fixed the heads & valves.)

It took till mid Dec to put the heads back on the engine. Then I received the bill that was more than double what I'd been led to believe it would be. Christmas was now a week away and I told the service advisor that we should leave this till after Christmas; he agreed.
Early January, I got a call from Dockside's newly appointed Service Manager, Mr. Taylor Doll. I told him in great detail, what had happened and he stated that this was not the way Dockside was going to do business going forward and he committed to 'fix' this problem.and he did just that.

He called the next day and committed to basically cut my bill in half, store my boat in their yard over the winter. Come spring time, he said he would take it for a sea-trial to confirm that the work was done properly and to ‘his' standard. Then he would detail the boat and deliver it to me in Vernon.all at no additional cost!

Taylor has not only committed to make changes for the better at Dockside but also to be fair with its customers; not only with the cost it charges for work done, but also with the way they treat their customers.

If you’ve had some bad experiences in the past at Dockside, I would say go and give them a try again. And if you don't feel you've been treated well and fair; knock on Taylor's door and he will make it right. Five stars from me…

Mayson at Dockside provided amazing service and professionalism. Mason was quick with answers and easy to deal with, we will be using dockside for all of our services. I would recommend dockside everyone there was great. Brad the manager and mark at the service department were excellent to deal with.

Fantastic experience purchasing a boat from Dockside. Thank you, Dale, for all of your expertise and customer care, and kudos to Chris for great service as well. Highly recommended! This team ensured that we were well informed and they definitely went the extra mile! -Ken and Alisa Barnes

Mason helped me purchase my Malibu 247 LSV from Dockside. The purchase process was smooth and the delivery was even smoother! Thanks Mason and Dockside for a perfect boat shopping experience!

Mason is the only guy to buy a boat from.
My experience was fantastic. He knows what he is talking about and he cares about the experience. Management team was also great.

The process of buying a boat was much easier and smooth then I expected.

We bought our boat in 2019 and every year we drop by either to add an accessory or for maintenance. When we walk in we are greeted by all in a friendly matter. Mason is exceptional always rembering our name's taking the time to catch up with us. Showing us tricks of the trade to help us maintain our boat's appearance and performance. They have never been pushy and always look for best selling price. We feel like family everytime we walk in.

We purchased a pontoon boat from Mason Rice at Dockside Marine. He was very professional to deal with. Everything was handled quickly and efficiently. He was very thorough during the orientation and was a pleasure to deal with. We would certainly recommend him as a sales representative. Carol and Lloyd Petersen and Dave and Evelyn Waddell