50 Years of Thorpe Bay Marine: A Legacy on the Water
In 1976, Thorpe Bay Marine (TBM) was born from a simple realisation: Southend had plenty of yacht chandlers, but no one was catering to the thrill of the speedboat market. We started in a modest seafront shop and quickly transformed it into a premier boat showroom.
In those early days, "Jet Skis" didn't even exist. We specialised in trailerable speedboats and became one of the first Suzuki Outboard dealers in the country. By 1985, we were the #1 Suzuki dealer in the UK, alongside legendary names like Fletcher, Picton, and Mercury.
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Pioneers of the Jet Ski
In 1980, we discovered the first Kawasaki Jet Ski—a revolutionary "bit of kit" from California. We became the first Kawasaki dealer in the country. Today, while most original dealers have disappeared, Thorpe Bay Marine stands as the longest-serving Jet Ski dealer in the UK.
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A Family Tradition
The business has always been in our blood. After serving as an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy, I (Andy) bought the business with my father, Alan, in 1989. We’ve seen the industry evolve from the original "stand-up" skis to the high-performance Sea-Doos of today. We took on the Sea-Doo dealership in 1992 and remain the only original dealer from that era.
In 2019, my son Clive joined the team full-time after his HGV apprenticeship. Though he’s been on the shop floor since he was three years old, he now brings the next generation of expertise to the business.
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Your Local Experts
As craft grew in power and stability, the personal watercraft (PWC) took over the market, offering all the excitement of a speedboat with easier ownership. Today, we are proud to be your local Essex Sea-Doo experts, carrying everything from Rec Lite and Tow Sports to High Performance models.
To our customers, friends, and family: thank you. You have been the backbone of this 50-year journey. Here’s to many more years on the water.
Andy and Clive.
