West Shore Marine — Local services in Bristol

I booked a pontoon on May 1st 2019 with someone on the phone. The rate was the same as last year $220. I confirmed everything on March 15th. On May 31st I showed up at 9 am as scheduled and there was no one there. I called the Marina Nd they said they had no record of the appointment. After being placed on hold off and on for twenty minutes they said they would be there in thirty minutes with a driver. After 30 mins a driver shows up with a pontoon and said are you guys waiting for this? He said you’re all set. I have rented from them before as well as other lakes and I know you go thru a check list, inspect the boat and prop plus they take a look to make sure you have your license. The guy stated, “ you’re all set, you can head out”. After my four friends and I finally get on and start off which we already lost an hour, we head to the other side of the lake to fish. Lines are in and we start fishing only to get a call from the Marina 45 mins later. They said we took someone else’s boat and the owner is looking for it. She apologized and said the one we rented was behind schedule but should be there when we got back. Got back to the dock, got in the other boat and explained to the boat owner. Still no one there from WEST SHORE, just s boat running. I called them again to make sure it was our boat, after being put on hold for ten minutes they confirmed. ..We fished all day and when we went back to return it, a young lady was there to have us sign paperwork saying all floatation devices are on board and there are no scratches and prop is in good condition. I refused to sign it because I never did a walk thru in the morning. Then I saw the price went from $220 to $325. She said the rates just changed the other day. I told her that is a bait and switch. I should of been locked in for the $220. I confirmed that price twice and we lost a total of two hours in the morning. She called the office and after going back and forth they took a little money off but we still ended up paying over $290. Worst service, radio gets two stations, zero drink holders and the engine ran extremely rough. Newfound Lake needs to have another option besides...

I can't share enough positive feedback about my experiences with West Shore Marine, where I have been a very happy customer for 6 years! This organization services my boat every Spring and Fall, and stores it in the winter. Greg (owner), Nikki (MVP) and their team members are all extremely nice, professional and great at what they do. Their work is exceptional and prices reasonble, and they truly go "above and beyond" in solving customer problems (for example, dealing with my ongoing frustrations with the cheap gauges installed by my manufacturer). I admire the way Nikki multi-tasks, juggling a seemingly endless volume of work and the demands of often "entitled" customers. Greg and Nikki make sure all expections of quality and value are consistently exceeded. And though the retail store is relatively small, they always seem to have whatever supplies I need. They even have impressive young people working at the gas dock. I particulalry admired the amazingly calm manner in which Haley (spelling?) handled a situation I witnessed in the Summer of 22 where 2 clearly drunk knuckleheads were banging into other boats as they tried to maneurver theirs to the pumps. The other employees seem to look up to her, and while I don't know whether or not she's in an official management role, she certainly meets all the criteria of a leader. I hope Greg keeps West Shore Marine in business for at least as long as...

OK, I've been holding off for a while to see if time would ease my angst. Back in July I rented a boat mid week from these folks. The day was to cloud over and rain in the afternoon so I wanted to go out early. The boat was to be ready at 9 AM. I got to the dock at about 5 past 9 and no one was around. I called the office at 9.15, 9.30 and was just about to call again at 9.45 when non other than the owner pulls up to launch a boat and says....you waiting for a boat rental? Yes. Did you call the office? Yes, twice in fact and I was about to call again. He (insert excuses) and he sais OK let me see if I can get someone down here to help you. I was on the water after 10 AM. No apologies. No, let me take a few bucks off for you sitting around the parking lot for an hour. Just a stern reminder that if the boat was not back by 4 then they would charge me $50 for every half hour after that. $300 a day to rent a boat is no bargain and the message I got was my time is worth zero and their time is worth 100 an hour. The boat was in OK shape so I'll give it a second star for that. But as someone pointed out they have a monopoly on the lake so they get to do what they want, when they want and charge whatever they want. Just know that next time it...