By: Matthew Goins

Small. Family. Quality Oriented. For Manager Will Powell, these values built Doss Marine and have driven its continued success.

What once was a car dealership that opened in 1996 on HWY 76 in Chapin, South Carolina, is now one of the top dealerships and outboard service departments in the Midlands. Just ask anyone on Lake Murray.

“50 to 60 percent of our business is referrals and word of mouth,” said Powell.

The dealership is home to Yamaha and Suzuki Outboard motors, Premier Pontoons, Silverwave, SeaArk, and Aluma Craft boats.

Doss has been the top Suzuki Outboard dealer in South Carolina for ten consecutive years and one of the top 15 nationwide. It is the only authorized Suzuki Repower dealership in Midlands the region.

The team at Doss Marine prides itself in quality and efficient customer service, with a three-acre, 3,000 sq ft. service department filled with certified technicians.

“We don’t want to grow anymore. We want to get better,” said Powell. “We are going to get you in and out and back on the water as soon as possible.”

Powell has been lucky to have an experienced team of technicians at his dealership for more than ten years. However, the lack of industry workforce development concerns him.

“All of our technicians are over the age of 50,” said Powell. “Sooner or later, they are going to retire.”

According to Powell, dealers in the region share the same concern and hope the industry will work with high schools and tech schools to train and equip a young workforce to preserve the industry’s strength within the state.

“If you ask any shop around Lake Murray, Charleston, or wherever ‘If I could provide you with a quality tech today, would you take him?’ I doubt you’ll find anybody that would say no,” said Powell.

He believes a challenge the industry is currently facing, one he has witnessed countless times, is the heavy property tax on outboard motors.

“I’ve had a lot of people who were ready to write checks and then figured out what the property tax was and decided not to buy the boat,” said Powell. “It’s a significant cost and a huge detriment to the industry.”

SCBFA’s efforts to tackle the hefty tax and the cap on outboard motors led Doss to join the organization.

“For things to thrive, they need representation,” said Powell. “You’re not going to get anything done in today’s bureaucratic world without representation and people who go to bat for you.”

Powell believes the heavy presence of premier brands in the state makes the boating and fishing industry special.

“Just the sheer volume of boat builders, the things those builders do, and the number of people they employ,” said Powell. “People in this state are going to buy boats made in this state.”

Location and Hours of Operation:

1720 Chapin Road
Chapin, S.C. 29036
Sales: (803) 945-4755
Service: (803) 945-4756

Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
Sunday: Closed

If you or your business are interested in joining our efforts in making South Carolina a better place to boat and fish please email [email protected]

Click here to locate an SCBFA Certified Dealer near you.