Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard aerial Overhead boat running

Sea Ray® Celebrates 65th Anniversary with Dealers at The Westin Resort in Cape Coral, FL

Dealers Honored at Anniversary Awards Dinner

Published on April 5th, 2024

Knoxville, Tenn. (April 5, 2024) — Sea Ray celebrated its 65th anniversary at its marine industry dealer meeting April 3-5 at The Westin Resort in Cape Coral, Florida. During the event, attendees enjoyed training, business updates, award recognitions, and on-water product demonstrations of Sea Ray’s latest model line-up including the award-winning SLX 260 Outboard and all-new SDX 270 Surf. The event was attended by dealers from around the world. Sea Ray president, Keith Yunger, Brunswick Boat Group president Aine Denari and Brunswick CEO, Dave Foulkes, shared business updates and congratulations on the company’s long-standing heritage and view of the future.  

 

The anniversary awards dinner was headlined by legendary college football coach, Urban Meyer, also a Sea Ray owner. Sea Ray honored dealers in categories for Lifetime Achievement, Customer Satisfaction (NPS), Market Leadership, Overall Excellence and Legacy Recognition for 65 or more years in business.  

 

“It’s a pleasure to honor the incredible dealers who have been integral to our success,” said Yunger. “Reaching the milestone of our 65th anniversary is a tremendous accomplishment, and it feels even more special being able to celebrate with those who have been loyal to the brand for decades and through generations.”

 

Ronald Bensz from B&E Marine was honored posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was accepted on his behalf by his son and second-generation Sea Ray dealer, Rod Bensz. Individuals are selected for this award in recognition of their lasting impressions left on the marine industry, their place of business and their impact through their personal connections.  

 

“We are extremely grateful that our father, who passed this February at the age of 95, is being honored by Sea Ray with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Bensz.  “Dad lived such a full life, was loved by everyone, had a major impact in our community and the boating industry.  He was not only a dreamer; he was a doer!  We were signed as a dealer in 1973 and have been proud to be a Sea Ray dealer now for over 50 of our 71 years in business.”  

 

Here's a look at all the North American award winners from the 65th anniversary celebration:

 

Overall Excellence

Irwin Marine

MarineMax Brick  

MarineMax Fort Myers  

MarineMax Pensacola

Mau Marine

 

Market Leader

Erwin Marine Sales

Hutchinson's Boat Works  

Hyannis Marina  

Paul's Marine  

MarineMax Boston  

MarineMax Brick  

MarineMax Clearwater  

MarineMax Danvers  

MarineMax Fort Myers  

MarineMax Hall Lake Wylie

MarineMax Miami  

MarineMax Norwalk  

MarineMax Pensacola

MarineMax Ship Bottom

MarineMax St. Petersburg

MarineMax Wakefield

 

Unrivaled Support for Customer Service

American Boat Center  

B & E Marine  

Clews & Strawbridge  

Colony Marine  

Erwin Marine Sales

Erwin Marine Sales – Huntsville  

Fox Chapel Marine

Gone Fishin' Marine  

Irwin Marine  

Lynnhaven Marine  

M&P Mercury Sales

MarineMax Brant Beach  

MarineMax Brick  

MarineMax Clearwater  

MarineMax Danvers  

MarineMax Excelsior  

MarineMax Fort Myers  

MarineMax Huntington

MarineMax Lake Ozark

MarineMax Miami  

MarineMax Naples  

MarineMax Norwalk  

MarineMax Orlando

MarineMax Pensacola

MarineMax Somers Point  

MarineMax Venice

MarineMax Wrightsville Beach  

Mau Marine  

Prince William Marine Sales

Russell Marine - The Ridge  

Saba Marine

Sea Ray of Cincinnati

SkipperBud's of Madison

Smith Boys North Tonawanda

Smith Boys of Syracuse Sun Country Marine

Sundance Marine

Trudeau's Sea Ray  

Trudeau's Sea Ray – Portland

Walstrom Marine  

Watercraft Sales

 

Legacy Recognition  

B & E Marine  

Colony Marine Sales & Service

Dry Dock Boat Sales  

F.R. Smith & Sons  

Hutchinson's Boat Works  

Irwin Marine  

M & P Mercury Sales

Needham's Marine Limited

Paul's Marine  

Prince William Marine Sales, Inc.

Russell Marine

Sea Ray of Cincinnati

SkipperBud's

Smith Boys  

Trudeau's Sea Ray - Portland, Inc.

Trudeau's Sea Ray – Spokane

Walstrom Marine, LLC

 

Sea Ray would like to thank its 65th anniversary marine industry dealer meeting event partners:

Bluewater Finance

Boater’s Choice Insurance

Brunswick Acceptance Company

Brunswick Product Protection​

Fliteboard​

Fusion​

Great Lakes Boat Top​

Hyperlite Wake Company

Kenyon​

Mercury​

Navico Group​/Simrad

Powertex​

SeaDek​

Sunbrella​

Xtreme Towers


ABOUT SEA RAY
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Sea Ray is the world’s leading creator of superior quality pleasure boats. For 65 years, Sea Ray has pushed the limits of performance and craftsmanship to elevate the boating experience. Each Sea Ray is designed to make every moment exceptional, supporting boaters’ unique lifestyles with a customized balance of unparalleled comfort and performance and world-class technology throughout. Learn more about the Sea Ray Experience at SeaRay.com.
ABOUT BRUNSWICK
Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is the global leader in marine recreation, delivering innovation that transforms experiences on the water and beyond. Our unique, technology-driven solutions are informed and inspired by deep consumer insights and powered by our belief that “Next Never Rests™.” Brunswick is dedicated to industry leadership, to being the best and most trusted partner to our many customers, and to building synergies and ecosystems that enable us to challenge convention and define the future. Brunswick is home to more than 60 industry-leading brands. In the category of Marine Propulsion, these brands include Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and MerCruiser. Brunswick’s comprehensive collection of parts, accessories, distribution, and technology brands includes Mercury Engine Parts & Accessories, BLA and Land ‘N’ Sea. Our Navico Group and its industry-leading technology brands consist of Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Mastervolt, RELiON, Attwood and Whale. Our Boat brands are some of the best known in the world, including Boston Whaler, Lund, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Harris Pontoons, Princecraft and Quicksilver. In addition, our service, digital and shared-access businesses include Freedom Boat Club, Boateka and a range of financing, insurance, and extended warranty businesses. While focused primarily on the marine industry, Brunswick also successfully leverages its portfolio of advanced technologies to deliver an exceptional suite of solutions in mobile and industrial applications. Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill, Brunswick has approximately 19,000 employees operating in 27 countries. In 2022, Brunswick was named by Forbes as a World’s Best Employer and as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, both for the third consecutive year. For more information, visit Brunswick.com.
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