Wills Marine
Wills Marine is a privately held South Devon boat dealership founded in 1963 that sells new and pre-owned boats, outboard engines, trailers, and parts, and provides maintenance and storage services to recreational boaters across the UK.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wills Marine does
Wills Marine is a privately held, South Devon-based boat dealership operating from Kingsbridge, England. Founded in 1963, the company sells new boats and RIBs (Grand RIBs, Nordkapp, Sting Boats, Gelex), outboard engines (as primary UK distributor for Mercury, supplemented by ePropulsion electric motors), Admiral trailers, marine parts and accessories, and offers boat and engine maintenance plus storage services. It operates from two locations: a registered office at The Quay, Kingsbridge, and a flagship Torr Quarry indoor showroom claimed to be the UK's largest indoor boat showroom.
The business runs a sales-led, multi-product retail model combining physical showroom, a transactional e-commerce parts shop, and direct phone/email sales. Pricing is one-time purchase across hardware categories spanning £758 entry-level outboards up to £321,850 for the top Nordkapp Gran Coupe 905. Service revenue (maintenance, storage, pre-season checks) provides a recurring layer on top of the hardware business, supported by specialist engineers with over 60 years combined experience across Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, and legacy outboard brands. The company bundles third-party marine electronics (Garmin, Fusion), steering (SeaStar), comfort systems (Webasto, Lectrotab), and accessories (SeaDek, Rokk/Scansstrut) into boat packages.
The customer base is exclusively individual and small-commercial recreational boaters across four use-case segments (recreational boaters, watersports enthusiasts, luxury/cruising, and yacht owners seeking tenders) within the South Devon market. Wills Marine generates revenue through six streams: new and second-hand boat sales, outboard engine sales, trailer sales, parts and accessories, maintenance services, and managed boat storage. There are no disclosed funding rounds, parent companies, subsidiaries, executive team listings, or revenue figures in the available data.
Wills Marine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wills Marine
- Legal name
- Wills Marine Ltd
- Website
- https://willsmarine.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wills Marine is a privately held South Devon boat dealership founded in 1963 that sells new and pre-owned boats, outboard engines, trailers, and parts, and provides maintenance and storage services to recreational boaters across the UK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wills Marine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Dealership
- NAICS
- Boat Dealers (441222)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Wholesale-Misc Durable Goods (5090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail (CRAMAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Marine Outfitting & Interior Refurbishment (TLAKAKAL)
Keywords
Where Wills Marine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Wills Marine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Boat Sales: New and second-hand boat sales across multiple premium brands including Grand RIBs, Nordkapp, Sting Boats, and Gelex Boats. One-time purchase model with varying price points from entry-level to luxury vessels.
- Outboard Engine Sales: Sales of Mercury (primary UK distributor), ePropulsion, and other major outboard brands. Range from 2.5HP to 300HP+ engines.
- Trailer Sales: Sales of Admiral Trailers ranging from 2.5m to 8m capacity.
- Parts and Accessories: Spare parts, valeting products, and chandlery. Genuine parts supply for new and legacy outboards.
- Maintenance Services: Boat and outboard engine maintenance and servicing. Supports Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, and legacy brands like Mariner and Evinrude. Uses genuine parts with over 60 years combined experience.
- Boat Storage: Safe, convenient boat storage solutions for winter storage or between trips. On-site maintenance options available. Pre-season checks and servicing while in storage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mercury Outboard Engines - Entry Level |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mercury Outboard Engines - Mid Range |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mercury Outboard Engines - High Power |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mercury Outboard Engines - Premium |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grand RIBs - Compact Models |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grand RIBs - Premium Models |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grand RIBs - Luxury Models |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nordkapp Boats - Entry Level |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nordkapp Boats - Premium |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nordkapp Boats - Luxury/Coupe |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sting Boats |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wills Marine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wills Marine is a marine dealership in South Devon, UK, that sells new and pre-owned boats (Grand RIBs, Nordkapp, Sting Boats, Gelex Boats), outboard engines (Mercury and ePropulsion), trailers (Admiral), and marine parts/accessories. It also provides boat and outboard engine maintenance services and secure boat storage. Operations are anchored at the Torr Quarry showroom, billed as the UK's largest indoor marine showroom.
Product overview
Wills Marine is a boat dealership and marine services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of new and pre-owned boats, outboard engines, trailers, parts, and maintenance services. The core product lines include Grand RIBs (Silver Line and Golden Line ranges), Nordkapp boats (Avant, Enduro, Noblesse, Coupe, RS, and Airborne series), and Sting Boats. Engine offerings center on Mercury outboards (FourStroke and Pro XS series) as a primary UK distributor, supplemented by ePropulsion electric motors. Supporting services include Admiral trailers, parts/accessories shop, professional boat and engine maintenance, storage facilities, and test drives. The company operates from Torr Quarry showroom, the UK's largest indoor boat showroom, serving the South Devon boating community from Kingsbridge Estuary.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Boat Sales Sale of new boats and RIBs from multiple premium brands including Grand RIBs (Silver Line, Golden Line, Drive ranges), Nordkapp Boats (Avant, Enduro, Noblesse, Coupe, RS, Airborne series), Sting Boats, and Gelex Boats. Ranges span entry-level RIBs through luxury enclosed cruisers priced up to £321,850.
- Second Hand Boat Sales Selection of pre-owned boats and RIBs with regularly updated inventory of quality used vessels.
- Mercury Outboard Engines Primary UK distributor for Mercury outboard engines, supplying all major models including the FourStroke range (2.5HP to 150HP) and Pro XS high-performance range (115HP to 300HP).
- ePropulsion Electric Outboard Engines Electric outboard motor sales from ePropulsion, providing eco-friendly propulsion alternatives alongside Mercury petrol engines.
- Admiral Trailers Stockist of Admiral trailers ranging from 2.5m to 8m capacity, including road trailers and roller coasters suitable for most boat sizes in the dealership's portfolio.
- Parts and Accessories Shop Spare parts, valeting products, and chandlery including genuine parts for new and legacy outboard engines, sold via a dedicated online storefront at shop.willsmarine.co.uk.
- Boat Maintenance Services Full boat maintenance services delivered at Wills Marine's large, modern, conveniently located workshops in Kingsbridge, including pre-season checks and ongoing servicing.
- Outboard Engine Maintenance Services Servicing for all major outboard brands including Mercury, Yamaha, and Suzuki, with support for legacy brands like Mariner and Evinrude. Engine maintenance specialists use genuine parts and hold over 60 years of combined experience.
- Boat Storage Safe, secure boat storage solutions for winter storage or between trips, with on-site maintenance options and pre-season preparation services while the boat is in storage.
- Boat Test Drives Arranged test drive opportunities for prospective boat purchases, allowing customers to experience vessels before purchase.
Companies that use Wills Marine
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wills Marine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Wills Marine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mercury MarinecorePrimary UK distributor for Mercury outboard engines, supplying all major models including FourStroke and Pro XS ranges from 2.5HP to 300HP+.
- ePropulsioncoreUK distributor for ePropulsion electric outboard engines, complementing Mercury product line with electric propulsion options.
- Grand RIBscoreUK distributor for Grand RIBs including Golden Line, Silver Line, and Drive model ranges. Premium RIB manufacturer with aerospace-inspired design and construction.
- Nordkapp BoatscoreUK distributor for Nordkapp boats including Avant, Enduro, Noblesse, Gran Coupe, RS, and Airborne model ranges. Premium Scandinavian craftsmanship.
- Sting BoatscoreUK distributor for Sting Boats including 485 S, 530 S, 610 S, 610 BR, 610 DC, 630 FT, 730 FT models. Practical, functional Scandinavian-designed boats.
- Gelex BoatsminorUK distributor for Gelex boats, offering additional boat brand options in their product portfolio.
- Admiral TrailerscoreUK distributor for Admiral Trailers ranging from 2.5m to 8m capacity, covering trailer needs for most boat sizes in their portfolio.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Wills Marine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boats.co.uk: One of the UK's largest online and physical boat retailers, selling new and used boats, engines, and marine parts across multiple brands nationwide. Directly comparable as a multi-brand UK marine dealer with both showroom and digital channels.
- Ribshop: UK specialist RIB retailer focused on rigid inflatable boats and associated engines. Comparable as a UK RIB-focused dealer with deep product expertise in the same RIB category Wills Marine distributes.
- Ancasta International Boat Sales: Large UK and European boat broker and dealer with multiple offices, selling new and used sail and motor yachts including premium brands. Comparable as a multi-location UK/European marine retailer serving the leisure boating market.
- Tingdene Boat Sales: Long-established UK boat dealer and brokerage operating from multiple locations, selling new and pre-owned motor boats, cruisers, and RIBs. Comparable as a UK multi-brand marine retailer with service capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Princess Motor Yacht Sales: UK luxury motor yacht manufacturer with dedicated sales offices serving the domestic and international leisure boating market. Comparable as a UK premium marine brand operator with retail/showroom presence, though focused on larger yachts than Wills Marine's RIB/cruiser portfolio.
- Sunseeker London (Sunseeker Group): UK-based luxury yacht manufacturer and retailer operating global dealer network. Comparable as a premium marine brand operator in the UK with showroom/sales infrastructure, though operating at a much larger scale and manufacturing rather than distribution.
Others
- Mercury Marine UK: Global outboard and sterndrive engine manufacturer; Wills Marine is one of its UK distributors. Relevant as the principal supplier whose brand mandate defines a core part of Wills Marine's offering.
Regional players
- Bourne End Marine: UK inland-waterway boat retailer and brokerage based outside London, selling motor cruisers and river boats. Comparable as a regional UK boat dealer with sales/service capability, though focused on river rather than coastal boating.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wills Marine social profiles
Digital presenceWills Marine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wills Marine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Wills Marine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wills Marine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wills Marine
What does Wills Marine do?
Wills Marine is a marine dealership in South Devon, UK, that sells new and pre-owned boats (Grand RIBs, Nordkapp, Sting Boats, Gelex Boats), outboard engines (Mercury and ePropulsion), trailers (Admiral), and marine parts/accessories. It also provides boat and outboard engine maintenance services and secure boat storage. Operations are anchored at the Torr Quarry showroom, billed as the UK's largest indoor marine showroom.
Is Wills Marine a public or private company?
Wills Marine is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wills Marine founded?
Wills Marine was founded in 1963. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wills Marine based?
Wills Marine is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Wills Marine make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Boat Sales are the primary driver. The others are outboard Engine Sales, trailer Sales, parts and Accessories, maintenance Services and boat Storage.
Who are Wills Marine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boats.co.uk, Ribshop, Ancasta International Boat Sales and Tingdene Boat Sales. Broad incumbents are Princess Motor Yacht Sales and Sunseeker London (Sunseeker Group). Mercury Marine UK is listed as an others. Bourne End Marine is listed as a regional player.
Does Wills Marine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wills Marine.
What industry is Wills Marine in?
Wills Marine's product category is Marine Dealership. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAB, Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail, with a secondary code of TLAKAKAL, Marine Outfitting & Interior Refurbishment. Its NAICS code is 441222 and its SIC code is 3730.