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Recreational Boating Powers into Bright 2022, and Beyond

Posted by Patrik Jorgensen | Wed, Jul 06, 2022 @ 01:08 PM

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It’s a rite of passage for many young fathers: buy a boat and take your kids out on the water to enjoy the sun and the rippling currents. Depending on their age, maybe even let them steer on occasion. And despite a difficult economy, that rite of passage seems an enduring tale.

The Zodiac Adventures

iStock-1283369519When my own son turned 5, I had the financial means – modest though they may have been – to buy a 10-foot Zodiac RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with a small outboard engine so the two of us could putter down the local river in search of sun, fun, and maybe some fish. The smile on his face was infectious when I let him put his hand on the throttle and pull the tiller back and forth as he steered us across the still water, which was broken occasionally by the swell of some other pleasure craft. It was freedom and joy for both of us.

The recreational boating industry seems to rest on easy swells for the foreseeable future as record sales in 2020 was followed by the reported sale of 300,000 units in 2021, the first time the industry has hit that mark in 15 years. And 2022 promises to be just as stellar. With that outlook, boat dealers should take care to make every sale count by not only accepting checks, but also guarantee the payment with CrossCheck services.

iStock-96649878Now, there are obviously much more expensive motor boats, including some competitive ski boats whose price would rival the down payment on a California home in 2022. However, the Zodiac and small, 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke motor still cost nearly $6,000. For most, that requires some forethought and likely a check, as that amount will max out many preferred credit cards.

Guarantee Sales - and Payment - with CrossCheck

Even at $6,000, it’s quite a bit of money to shell out all at once, which is why CrossCheck has a number options that will help you – the boat dealership – seal the deal. With our C.A.R.S. suite of services, you will be able to offer your customer our Multiple Check option, which will allow the customer to write several checks to cover the cost. The checks will be written at the time of purchase but will be deposited at agreed-upon intervals, typically over the course of 30 to 90 days. No credit checks, no hassle. And of course, the funds are guaranteed by CrossCheck’s Check Guarantee.

iStock-993481846With our services you can be the boat dealer who waves and smiles at the toothless 5-year-old kid whose only thought right now is to take the tiller away from his father in one of many “firsts,” both past and future, on his or her way to independence.

 I eventually sold that trusted old Zodiac, which carried us through many adventures, including my little boy (nine years old by then) besting his surprised and somewhat perturbed father with a 20-inch striped bass; all I caught was a 5-inch bullhead. Lest you despair, however, please know that I used the money from the sale of the Zodiac for a valiant purpose: a down-payment on my son’s first car. It is not without some melancholy that I write these words, but at least the auto dealership let me pay by check. And now he is (safely) completing another in a long line of “firsts,” on his way to independence.

Check Guarantee and More with C.A.R.S.

iStock-1323901813CrossCheck’s C.A.R.S. was developed specifically for auto dealerships but is ideal for both boat and power sports dealerships as well. The C.A.R.S. suite of Check Guarantee solutions include Remote Deposit Capture, Multiple Check, and Check on Delivery, the last of which specifically allows dealerships to pre-approve payment for parts orders for attached service departments. With our Mobile Pay app, you can even simplify matters by using your phone or any smart device to easily photograph and deposit a check into your account.

 

C.A.R.S Insider's Guide

Topics: Retail, Small Business, CrossCheck, Check Guarantee, Multiple Check, C.A.R.S., Boat Dealerships

Written by Patrik Jorgensen