Shady Creek

What Shady Creek does

Shady Creek Sales & Marine is a privately held boat dealership and marina founded circa 1994 and headquartered on El Dorado Lake in El Dorado, Kansas. The company operates Kansas's only on-water boat dealership, selling new boats under exclusive area franchises for Cobalt, Chaparral, Ranger, G3, Bennington, and SunCatcher, alongside a certified pre-owned inventory spanning brands such as Hurricane, Lowe, Tracker, Skeeter, SeaDoo, Formula, and Malibu. Boat prices range from approximately $40,000 to $358,000. The on-water location enables pre-purchase water testing and post-repair lake verification, a structural advantage no Kansas competitor replicates.

The business operates six interlocking revenue streams: new and pre-owned boat sales, parts and accessories, full-service repair (Volvo Penta, Yamaha, Mercury, Mercruiser) staffed by three year-round certified technicians with Premier Mercury/Mercruiser status, annual dock slip rentals at $1,300-$3,450 per contract across A-G dock tiers, seasonal pontoon and tritoon rentals (May through September), and an on-site Marina Grill operating Memorial Day to Labor Day. Financing is delivered through an integrated credit application portal connected to indirect lenders. Distribution is direct-to-consumer at the physical marina, supplemented by an online inventory platform and active social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, newsletter) targeting Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, Topeka, Derby, and the broader Central Midwest.

Shady Creek has earned regional recognition including Best of Wichita Gold in Boat Repair and Boat Dealership in 2024 and 2025, and back-to-back Cobalt Western Region Awards for Outstanding Customer Service in 2019 and 2020. The company is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent entity, and no subsidiaries; headcount is reported at 11-50 employees. The operating model blends high-ticket transactional sales with smaller recurring marina and service revenue, anchoring long-duration customer relationships through slip contracts and ongoing maintenance.

Name

Shady Creek

Legal name

Shady Creek Sales & Marine

Website

https://shadycreek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shady Creek Sales & Marine is a privately held Kansas boat dealership and marina, founded circa 1994 and located on El Dorado Lake, selling new and pre-owned boats under exclusive franchises, supported by service, parts, slip rentals, and seasonal boat rentals for recreational customers across the Wichita and Central Midwest region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boat Dealership & Marina Services

NAICS

Boat Dealers (441222), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Boat & Personal Watercraft (PWC) Retail (CRAMAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM), Docking, Anchoring & Mooring Equipment Retail (CRAMAIAI)

Keywords

• Boat dealership
• Marine sales
• Boat service repair
• Marina operations
• Boat rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

El Dorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Boat Sales: New and pre-owned boat sales across multiple manufacturers including Cobalt, Chaparral, Ranger, Bennington, G3, SunCatcher, and others. Offers both in-stock and custom order options.
2. Service and Repair: Full-service repair and maintenance for Volvo Penta, Yamaha, Mercury, Mercruiser, and other watercraft brands. Three certified technicians on staff year-round.
3. Parts and Accessories: Wide selection of parts and accessories for boat maintenance and customization. Orders available by phone, in-person, or online request.
4. Dock/Slip Rentals: Annual dock slip rental contracts with various slip sizes ranging from 10' x 20' to 16' x 40'. Includes shore power hookups and water. Covered slips include outdoor trailer storage.
5. Boat Rentals: Pontoon and Tritoon rentals available May-September. Includes Tammy (Pontoon Cruiser), Kiki (Tritoon), Myrtle (Tritoon), RaeRae (Tritoon). 2-hour minimum rental periods.
6. Marina Grill: On-site grill open Memorial Day to Labor Day serving breakfast and lunch/dinner on weekends. Weekend breakfast 8am-10:30am, lunch/dinner Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday 10:30am-9pm, Sunday 10:30am-6pm.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shady Creek Sales & Marine is Kansas's only on-water boat dealer, operating a boat dealership and marina on El Dorado Lake. The company sells new boats from premium franchise brands (Cobalt, Chaparral, Ranger, G3, Bennington) and pre-owned boats, and provides boat service and repair with three certified technicians, a parts department, annual dock slip rentals, seasonal boat rentals, and an on-site marina grill.

Product overview

Shady Creek Sales & Marine is a boat dealership and marina operating as Kansas's only on-water boat dealer, offering a diversified portfolio of products and services. The core product portfolio consists of new boat sales across five exclusive franchise brands: Bennington (pontoon boats), Chaparral (powerboats), Cobalt Boats (premium sterndrive/surf), Ranger Boats (fishing/recreational), and G3 Boats including SunCatcher pontoons. The dealership also sells pre-owned boats from various manufacturers and provides an extensive service ecosystem including repair/maintenance, parts, dock/slip rentals, seasonal boat rentals, marina grill/store, and marina services (boat lifts, launch/pull). Financing options are available through an integrated credit application system. The business model combines new/used boat sales with recurring marina service revenue streams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cobalt Boats Premium sterndrive, surf, and outboard boats sold as the exclusive Kansas Cobalt dealer, including CS, R, and Surf series models for individual consumer buyers seeking premium recreational boats.
• Chaparral Boats Powerboats sold under SSi, SSi OB, SSX, OSX, and GTS-Surf sub-brands, ranging from runabouts to surf-ready vessels for individual consumers seeking recreational and tow-sport boats.
• Ranger Boats Fishing and recreational boats sold under Fiberglass, Aluminum, Saltwater, and Pontoons sub-brands, with exclusive area franchise, targeted at anglers and water sports enthusiasts.
• G3 Boats Aluminum fishing and pontoon boats sold as part of the exclusive area franchise, including the SunCatcher pontoon line, for anglers and recreational boaters.
• Bennington Pontoon Boats Premium pontoon boats sold as a new inventory brand, featuring models across S, L, M, R, and Q Series for recreation and entertainment on the water, targeted at families and recreational boaters.
• Pre-Owned Boats Certified pre-owned inventory of boats from multiple manufacturers including Hurricane, Lowe, Tracker, Skeeter, SeaDoo, Formula, and Malibu, offered to individual consumer buyers seeking value-priced recreational boats.
• Boat Service & Repair Full-service boat repair and maintenance facility with three full-time certified technicians handling Volvo Penta, Yamaha, Mercury, and Mercruiser engines, offering lake testing for major repairs. Service for individual boat owners across multiple engine brands.
• Parts Department Wide selection of boat parts and accessories for maintenance and customization, with orders available by phone, in-person, or online request.
• Dock / Slip Rentals Annual dock slip rental contracts with six slip size options ranging from 10' x 20' to 16' x 40', including shore power hookups and water; covered slips include outdoor trailer storage. For existing boat owners seeking seasonal storage on El Dorado Lake.
• Boat Rentals Seasonal pontoon and tritoon boat rentals including Tammy (pontoon cruiser), Kiki, Myrtle, and RaeRae (tritoons), with a 2-hour minimum rental period. Bookable via Peek online platform or directly with the Marina Manager.
• Marina Grill & Store On-site marina grill open Memorial Day to Labor Day serving breakfast and lunch/dinner on weekends, plus an adjoining marina store for supplies.
• Marina Services Marina services including Hydrohoist boat lift sales, installation, and repair (H model, Level, UL2 series), plus paid launch and pull services ($55–$110). Included services for slipholders cover daily dock patrols, trailer handling, and utility upkeep.
• Shop Services (Boat Detailing) Exterior boat detailing services including buffing, waxing, water spot removal, scratch removal, and algae removal.
• Boat Financing Boat financing through indirect lending via a Salesforce-based credit application system, connecting customers with financing options for new and pre-owned purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Back-to-back Cobalt Western Region Awards for Outstanding Customer Service (2019-2020)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cobalt BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Cobalt Boats dealership with exclusive area franchise. Received back-to-back Cobalt Western Region Awards for Outstanding Customer Service (2019-2020). Kansas Cobalt Boats dealer.
• Chaparral BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive area franchise for Chaparral boats. One of the premier brands carried alongside Cobalt, Ranger, and G3.
• Ranger BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive area franchise for Ranger Boats. Major towboat and fishing boat brand in portfolio.
• G3 BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive area franchise for G3 boats. Sells SunCatcher pontoon boats under G3 brand.
• Mercury/MercruisercoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized service dealer for Mercury/Mercruiser engines. Holds Premier Mercury/Mercruiser service status with certified technicians.
• Yamaha OutboardscoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Yamaha Outboards dealer and service provider.
• Volvo PentacoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Volvo Penta service dealer for sterndrive engines. Capable of lake testing all major repairs.
• BenningtoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarries Bennington luxury pontoon boats. Multiple series available including S, L, M, R, and Q Series.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• OneWater Marine: OneWater Marine is a publicly traded boat retailer with a portfolio of dealership and marina locations across the U.S. Similar to Shady Creek in offering new/used boat sales, service, parts, and storage, but operating at materially larger scale and consolidating regional dealers.
• West Marine: West Marine is a large specialty retailer of boating parts, accessories, and supplies with both retail stores and online channels. Comparable to Shady Creek's parts and accessories arm, though West Marine does not sell new boats or operate marinas.
• MarineMax: MarineMax is the largest recreational boat retailer in the U.S., operating multi-state dealerships and marinas with new/used sales, service, and storage. Comparable to Shady Creek as a full-service boat dealership, but at national scale and with broader geographic diversification.

Others

• Brunswick Corporation: Brunswick is a major marine manufacturer whose portfolio includes Mercury Marine, Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, and Lund. A key OEM supplier through Shady Creek's Mercury/Mercruiser service and broader brand relationships, and a strategic counterparty shaping franchise economics.
• Malibu Boats: Malibu Boats is a manufacturer of premium towboats and wakesurf boats; Shady Creek retires pre-owned Malibu inventory. Comparable as an OEM partner whose product line and dealer program economics directly influence Shady Creek's sales mix and tow-sports segment.
• Boat Trader: Boat Trader is a leading online marketplace for new and used boats, connecting buyers with dealers and private sellers. Adjacent to Shady Creek as a channel that lists the dealership's pre-owned inventory alongside competitors, shaping price discovery.

Direct peers

• Eldean Boat Sales: Eldean Boat Sales is a long-established Great Lakes boat dealer with on-water display, service, parts, and storage. Directly comparable to Shady Creek as a multi-brand dealership whose on-water locations and service infrastructure mirror Shady Creek's El Dorado Lake setup.
• Sun Country Marine: Sun Country Marine is a multi-location boat dealer in the U.S. upper Midwest carrying premium brands and offering service, parts, and storage. Directly comparable to Shady Creek as a regional multi-brand boat dealership with similar manufacturer relationships and on-water service capabilities.
• Gordy's Marine: Gordy's Marine is a multi-brand boat dealership in the upper Midwest offering sales, service, storage, and marina services. A direct peer to Shady Creek in operating a regional full-service boat dealership with premium brand franchises and recurring service/storage revenue.
• Pier 121 Marina: Pier 121 Marina is a Texas-based full-service boat dealership and marina offering new/used sales, slips, service, and rentals. Comparable to Shady Creek in combining a multi-brand dealership with on-site marina operations and seasonal rental revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv2fRoXRdaYqxqR6dkikDFQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/shadycreeksales
• Instagraminstagram.com/shadycreekmarina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shady-creek-marina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shady Creek