The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 5, Milford, Kosciusko County, 17 February 1982 — Page 31

PONTOONS Riviera Cruisers 6xlo Mini-Cruiser *I,BOO c«n Bxl6 Fun-Deck *2,800 m Bx2o Fun-Deck *3,120 c* I— SUPER SPECIAL DEMO —I 1981 RC 2022 Bxl6 Deck Chocolate Brown Full Stem Seats — Full Bow Seats Convertible Top — Mooring Cover With 1979 20 H.P. Mercury, No Hours On Engine, Full Warranty h .w 5 5,950 00 / OUTBOARDS SPECIAL 4.5 H.P. k List* 850**skoal * 728°° 9.8 H.P. List *1,309'* skoal *1,175°° 18 H.P. List *1,960** skoal *1,725°° 25 H.P. List *2,085'* skoal *l,Bso®° Special Sale Ends April 18 - MANY GOOD USED PONTOONS & BOATS - Open March 1 Wick’s Marina Horth Shore Big Barbee Lake Sales — Service — Storage — Ramp — Gas 834-7993

Wed., Feb<47,l9B2—Today And Tomorrow

i At ' ■ K U WV B y CANVAS i?oat si-AT | COVERS NEW SERVICE — Ken Coverstone and hjs wife. Rita, will be offering a new service at Wick’s Marina this year. K and R Canvas Shop. The Coverstone’s will repair ’ torn canvas, boat and seat covers as well as making canvases for boats. Coverstone stated this is one service in which the customer will not have to lose out on the pleasure of his boat to get the canvas repaired.

Wick's Marina stresses service

Wick’s Marina, on the north shore of Big Barbee Lake z about 24 miles southwest of North Webster, was established as a marina about 19 years ago. having previously been a summer resort. In August 1981 two brothers. Don and Ken Coverstone bought the marina from Bill and Dot Brittan. The brothers own and operate the business, with Don working part-time on evenings and week ends in sales and customer service. His brother Ken works full time and serves as manager, relying on his six years of experience to provide quality service. At the time of the business exchange there was a danger of the marina closing up and a large number of customers were leaving. "People were uncertain what was going to be done. In the past season we have retained 90 per cent of the previous customers and added 30-35 new customers who will be permanent customers." commented Ken Coverstone. "We have tried to stress service work rather than sales this past year." mentioned Coverstone who added this was one area the marina was weak in before. “We feel we know how and the majority of our customers are confident of us maintaining their boat or pontoon forthem.” Both Coverstones are qualified to service boats and since Wick's Marina is the only marina on Big Barbee, they serve boaters on the Barbee Chains. Coverstone remarked there was only one other active marina on the Barbee Chains, but Wick’s have boat service and more capacity for boat storage. The biggest change in the marina since

I^""■■ I I'fi , | ASSEMBLED IN MILFORD — Shown here are a few of the products Sprague’s Milford plant assembles. These containers hold fluid used in the windshield washer and wiping systems that are manufactured by the firm. See article on pages 11 and 12.

the new ownership will be K & R Canvas, under the direction of Rita Coverstone. K & R Canvas will be providing boat and pontoon covers, vinyl seat recovering and special canvas or vinyl products. Coverstone stated it is another service being offered at the marina without having to load the boat up and taking it out of the area for repair. “It doesn’t take long to pattern a boat and the customer can have the boat back until the fitting. It makes for better availability without the loss of boat usage,” commented Coverstone. In addition to the canvas facilities, * Wick’s offers Mercury Motors, Sea Nymph boats, Riviera Cruiser and J.C. Pontoons and Rinkerbuilt Boats. They have a fully equipped shop and provide winter storage for about 60 boats and 35 pontoons. Wick's are open seven days a week from April 1 through November I and are currently open part-time. Marina History The marina was once a resort but when Floyd and Ann Wickersham took over 17 years ago, they decided it should be a marina. When it was owned by Harold Petty, there used to be a small grocery store, cottages, bait store and one gas pump on the bank. t The transformation into a marina didn’t happen overnight. Ove-all, it took eight to nine years to make it into a full marina. Wick's is situated on five acres and has two storage buildings, a show room, a parts department, a repair shop, plus an accessory room and office. There is a boat launch, sea wall, four gas pumps and an 80-foot gas pier. Wickershams sold the marina to Brittans.

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