Boat center touts personal touch

The Bonita Boat Center prides itself on having the best customer service in Bonita Springs.

And, that's what separates the boat center from the competition.

"I love boats and everything about them and here we offer great personal service," said operations manager Alex Dolinksi about the company that has been in Bonita Springs for 36 years.

The boating retailer specializes in selling, customizing, detailing and maintaining 11- to 32-foot long Boston Whalers.

"We carry the higher-priced models, but all boaters know that the Boston Whaler is the Mercedes Benz of boats," said Dolinski, who has been with the boat center for four years.
"We don't just let people buy a boat — we give them everything they need," he said.

The boat center offers all types of services, including delivery after purchase, and makes calls to remind customers in need of maintenance service.

"We follow up with service calls, and when you buy a boat from me, we do what it takes to make sure you are taken care of," Dolinski said.

Being taken care of includes boat pickup in need of repair or customized installations.

The center also offers a brokerage service for customers wanting to sell their used boats.

"We also sell used trail-able boats and help people sell them. We just act as a middle man and then the customer can buy a new boat from us," said Dolinski, whose boats range between $10,000 and $250,000.

Boston Whaler boats are easy to sell in Bonita Springs because the area caters to fishing and boating.

"The market for boating is probably the best place in the world," said Dolinski, who sells 80 new boats and 30 used boats a year.

As an extension of their services, the boat center offers customers membership into the Cruise Club.

"We get together every six weeks for lunch on the water or for an overnight trip to the Bahamas and places like that," said Dolinski, who plans the trips based on customer interest.

Customers also have the opportunity to hire a boat captain if they want to become more familiar with certain waterways in the area.

"We work hard to make sure people get the boat that is right for them. We ask when they will boat and what they plan on doing," Dolinski said. "We are rated top 10 as far as customer satisfaction in the country."