DEALER GUIDE

Owners:  Ken & Kari Michalek

The Sail & Ski Center
12971 Research Blvd.
Austin, TX 78750
Phone: (512) 258-0733
Fax: (512) 258-9204
www.sailandski.com

What can I say, these folks still insist they are a dealer for Hunter even though you'd be hard pressed to know from their print advertising or website.  They actually removed all references to Hunter from their website.  Although a Sail & Ski representative at the 2001 Austin Boat Show admitted that they continue their relationship with Hunter, my personal experience with their showroom salesman make me wonder if this is true.

If I were interested in a Hunter, I'd look for a higher volume dealer that can offer the necessary service and at least a modicum of enthusiasm about sailing.

Texas Sailing Academy
103-B Lakeway Drive
Austin, TX 78734
Phone: (512) 261-6193
Toll Free: (800) 864-7245
Fax: (512) 261-8351
Email:  texassailing@prodigy.net
www.texassailing.com

I've known for quite awhile that the Texas Sailing Academy chartered sailboats and offered sailing instruction.  I didn't know they were a Beneteau dealer until the 2001 Austin Boat Show.  I now know they will be happy to offer you a deal on a new or used Beneteau.  You can even place your new Beneteau in their charter service to reduce your ownership costs.

They also broker other models including powerboats.  For more information, visit their website.

Inland Sailing Center
5965 Marina Drive
Garland, TX 75043
Phone: (972) 226-2200
Fax: (972) 226-4623
www.inlandsailing.com

This is a Catalina dealership in North Texas on Lake Ray Hubbard east of Dallas.  Another satisfied Catalina owner referred them to me when I was shopping for my Catalina 250.  Although I never met Todd, I spoke with him on the phone a number of times.  He was very friendly and responsive.   He was also quick to give an honest, written bid on a new boat.  Although he couldn't beat the Sailboat Shop's price, I'll give him another shot should I want to "trade-up" to a larger Catalina in the future. 

From what I've learned, Inland Sailing Center sells quite a number of Catalina sailboats to people here in central Texas.  If you are looking for a new Catalina, give them a call and a chance to make an offer.

Sea Lake Yacht Sales
Watergate Yachting Center, Pier 23
1500 FM 2094 (aka Marina Bay Drive)
Box 1611
Kemah, Texas 77565
Phone: (281) 334-1993
Fax: (281) 334-4795
Email: findyachts@aol.com
www.yachtworld.com/sealake

This dealer for Catalina, Beneteau, Pacific Seacraft, J-Boats and Ericson is located on Clear Lake in the fun city of Kemah.   Vince (the owner) is very friendly and encourages you to "touch and feel" the yachts at his dock.  My wife and I spent an afternoon on a number of new Catalinas and Beneteaus.  At the time of our visit, Vince's new boats included: (1) Catalina 42, (1) Catalina 380, (2) Catalina 320s, (1) Beneteau 321, and three or four other larger Beneteaus.  He also listed fifty-two brokerage boats ranging in size from a 1995 24 ft. Seaward to a 1981 53 ft. Pearson.  Vince said that his philosophy on new boats is to have them shipped to Kemah for commissioning and test sailing.   Once the owner is completely satisfied, the boat is then shipped to the new owner's lake of choice and re-rigged by his trained personnel.  He has found that this method reduces the "pain" associated with fixing the inevitable problems from afar.

(Entrance to Watergate Yachting Center is located 1.2 miles west on FM 2094 from Hwy. 146; turn right on Admiralty Way, at stop sign turn right, road ends in parking lot.)

Blue Water Cruising
200 Shipyard Drive
Seabrook, Texas 77586 USA
Phone: (281) 474-5100
Fax: (281) 474-5255
Email:  bwcys@bluewatercruising.com
http://www.bluewatercruising.com

I met the owner of Blue Water Cruising, Jeremy Hood, at the 2002 Houston In-the-Water Boat Show were he was proudly displaying a new Gib'Sea by Dufour.  Jeremy also acts as a distributor for Sabre, Tayana and Eagle trawlers.

His web site includes a number of great sailing and cruising related articles he's written.  Check it out! 

Sailventure
2094 FM 2094
Kemah, Texas
Phone: (281) 334-2727

Sailventure is one of the regional MacGregor sailboat dealerships.  It is located just west of the Blue Water Ships Store in Kemah.  Travel 1.7 miles west on FM 2094 from Hwy. 146.  I called them on 3/24/99 and they said they have two new boats on the way.  One is sold and the other is pending sale.  I suspect (from the photo above) that they also broker used MacGregors.

Ship and Sail, Inc.
Waterford Harbor
300 Admiralty Way
Kemah, Texas
Phone: (281) 334-0573
www.shipandsail.com

This is one of the larger Hunter dealerships and is located both in Kemah, TX and Ft. Walton Beach, FL.  They are also a dealer for Island Packet and Jeanneau  yachts.

Unfortunately, my Kemah visit was short and I was unable to spend any time with this dealership.  I'll try to round up more information next time.

They are located in the same area as Sea Lake Yacht Sales.   Take the entrance to Watergate Yachting Center which is located 1.2 miles west on FM 2094 from Hwy. 146; turn right on Admiralty Way, at stop sign turn left.  The dealership will be located on your left.

Lynn Sailboats
7717 Gulf Freeway
Houston, Texas 77017
Phone: (713) 644-8161
www.lynnsailboats.com

1/2 Mile South of Loop 610
Exit I-45 at Broadway
Go North on Feeder

I met Jeff Lynn at the 1999 Houston International In-the-Water Boat Show held in Kemah, TX in early October.  Jeff is a very friendly and knowledgeable businessman; he proudly displayed a new Seaward 25 and Com-Pac 27/2.  The Com-Pac was a georgeous boat . . . and well it should be to sell in the mid-$60,000s.  Give Jeff a call if you are interested in Hunters, Com-Pacs, or Seawards.

Click the photo at left to view the entire Com-Pac 27/2 brochure & options/price sheet

Austin American
Sunday Classifieds
for Boats--Sailing/Canoe/Kayak
http://www.austinclassifieds.com

Although obviously not a dealer, this is a great place to look for used boats in the Austin area.

Soundings (Sailboat Classifieds)
www.soundingspub.com

Check this site out if you want to compare local prices to those of boats being sold around the country.  Or, you might want to even buy one of these boats.  Soundings is one of the largest boat classifieds in the country typically listing 9000+ vessels.

YachtWorld
www.yachtworld.com

I found this link through the N.A.D.A. Marine Appraisal Guide.  Their website says: "Are you searching for a new boat to buy, lease or charter? If so, you have arrived. YachtWorld features the largest photo database of power and sailboats on the World Wide Web -- over 13,000 new and brokerage boats for sale and charter."