FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2003

CONTACT:

Boat & Motor Dealer 847.647.2900; Jerome Koncel - JKoncel@boatmotordealer.com

Robbie and Jeff Yow; Chatlee Boat & Marine, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Sanford, NC. 27330; 919.775.7259

Chatlee Boat & Marine
named Boat & Motor Dealer magazine's Dealer of the Year 2003

Chicago--Boat & Motor Dealer magazine has named Chatlee Boat & Marine its 2003 Dealer of the Year. The award recognizes marine dealer excellence in best business practices, customer service, profitability, training, community involvement, and dedication to the industry.

Chatlee is the leading boat dealership in North Carolina in terms of volume, with 250 boats in stock, according to Mike Bradley of North Carolina Marine Trade Services. He used to the word "formidable" to describe the sales of their principal lines: Stingray, Sea Pro, Sea Hunt, NauticStar, Godfrey, Yamaha, and Evinrude/Johnson. They have consistently been in the top three dealers of Godfrey Marine, and number one with Sea Pro and Sea Hunt boats.

The 36-year-old business, founded by Robbie and Jeff Yow's father, the late Charles Yow, has been lauded by Bombardier Recreations Products as "our top seller in 1999, as well as our largest Evinrude/Johnson dealer for the 2003 model year. From their highly trained staff of 35 employees to creating their own lake for on-water testing and customer demos, they have gone above and beyond in serving and satisfying their customers."

Even Chatlee's sales team has glowing remarks: Charlton Richardson says, "Jeff and Robbie go to extraordinary lengths to take care of both their employees and the customers." Ashley Beal says, "They have greatly contributed not only to me as a salesperson, but as a human being."

The judging panel at Boat & Motor Dealer magazine found that beyond its obvious profitability, Chatlee places significant emphasis on customer service. Boat & Motor Dealer Editorial Director Elizabeth Altick McCarthy says that the judges were impressed by the many testimonials Chatlee included with their award entry.

" For this dealership, success does not just revolve around profit margins," says McCarthy. "Smart management practices, community involvement, and maintaining customer satisfaction are all part of business as usual."

Members of the press will be invited to the upcoming awards presention at Chatlee Marine, where the Yows and their entire staff will accept the Dealer of the Year Award.

Boat & Motor Dealer will profile the dealership in its January/February 2003 issue. Boat & Motor Dealer, published by Preston Publications, is a monthly business magazine distributed to about 34,000 marine industry professionals.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Press is invited; photo ops are available.