Paul Liggitt 
Boats patiently waiting their turn to be serviced, repaired and/or customized. By Paul Liggitt
It is a stretch for some of us to think about boating on Hyco Lake or any of the other nearby lakes when the temperatures are so cold that the water itself may be frozen over. However, hopefully you have done what you needed to do and winterized your watercraft. If you are like me, though, those tasks fall prey to procrastination. Finally, when what you put on the back burner gets so hot that it starts to burn you in the you-know-what, that is typically when it gets your attention. There is nothing worse than trying to start a machine that’s been sitting for a while and it won’t start. The good news is that even if you haven’t done what you were supposed to with your boat, “I know a guy!” It’s probably more accurate to say I know a team of guys with a brain trust of marine industry knowledge that can help you get back on the water.
Pro Marine Service, centrally located in Burlington, has faithfully been meeting the service needs of boaters on the multiple lakes in the region, but mainly at Hyco and Mayo Lakes, since 1999. What makes Pro Marine Service so distinctive is that the business that David Terrell created has steadily grown because of a can do attitude seen in his comment, “I don’t think there is a boat yet that has left here that we couldn’t fix.” In 2024, however, David decided to set in motion a planned retirement that transitioned him away from ownership. He wanted to pass the torch to someone who, in his words, would “take care of [the] customers” he had spent years serving.
Little did he know that someone David had known as a child, who was an accomplished automotive dealer manager and industry-savvy boating enthusiast, would surface as a possible next-generation owner.
Beginning in 2005, Ritchie James wanted to own his own boat dealership, offering sales, service, and parts. Ritchie had many years in the auto industry and worked as a service tech as well as service and parts director at the corporate level, but life happens, so the dream faded a bit. It was not until many years later when his youngest nephew, Caleb, expressed interest in possibly becoming a boat mechanic that the coals of business ownership were rekindled. With the support of his wife, Tracy, who is a commercial graphic artist and has her own history with the founding of Hyco Lake Magazine, wheels were set in motion to discuss the idea with David in 2023. Fast forward to January 2024, and the deal was inked in.
OK, so what has changed and what has stayed the same? The philosophy of business will never change. Pro Marine’s commitment to serving the customer, with prompt responsible repairs to get them back on the water as soon as possible, is a foundational part of Ritchie’s business model. Although Ritchie is at the helm, David continues to work as the lead service tech and shop foreman. It seems as though each of them is perfectly complementary to the other. Ritchie said that, “people respect honest work for a fair price,” and almost as a continuation of the same sentence, David added, “we have nothing to gain by deceiving a customer but everything to lose.”
The process for boat service is still pretty standard; however, Ritchie will tell you there is no use guessing what’s wrong when the key to the repair is an accurate diagnosis. Simple to say, but not always easy to accomplish. Some of the biggest changes have come as modern boats have become more and more complex in their technology like touchscreen command centers and the advanced electronic modules that manage and control the tech.
When you are wake surfing behind a boat with a 600 horsepower engine and tap your smart watch to throttle the craft up or adjust the volume on the Wet Sounds audio system, that is indeed amazing. In order to work on the variety of boats they service at Pro Marine, like jet boats, inboards, outboards, skiffs, Jet Skis, the occasional antique wooden boat, cabin cruiser, and everything in between, it takes a unique but necessary team with tremendous knowledge and time-tested skills.
Pro Marine is up to the challenge. Along with David Terrell, there is a master marine tech on staff with over 35 years of experience, as well as other staff who possess the certifications to handle the electronic diagnoses and repairs. Because of David’s years in the business, he can also tap into a network of technicians that probably have a problem-solving gene in their DNA and are up for any challenge.
Even though the boating industry had slowed down a bit in 2019 prior to the Covid pandemic, that all changed. During Covid, the industry saw tremendous growth because of the need for people to get out, feel the sun on their faces, and pursue family entertainment that few authorities could argue with. During those days and now, Pro Marine Services has seen growth in general marine service and upgrading boats with music systems, wake surfing configurations, and just about anything that customers could think up, including decorative LED lighting and custom flooring. They do 95 percent of their work in the shop in Burlington and concentrate on larger jobs in the off season. Those may include customizations and up-fits to older boats that can give a customer that new boat feel and feature set for much less than the cost of a newer boat. However, when the boating season starts in April and May, Pro Marine is equipped with a mobile service boat and professional technicians that can service your craft at your convenience. David said, “Pro Marine is equipped to tackle everything from bow to stern.”
Finally, Ritchie said that he, “really appreciates the customers [they] have now,” and credits his brother-in-law, Richie Robertson for igniting his love of boating. David added, “I have no doubt in my mind that Ritchie will build the business and keep it the way it needs to be.” Tracy James offered, “Thank you to David for building a successful business, for staying on board to help us succeed, for not just signing the contract and ending with a handshake. Your thoughts, vision, and guidance are appreciated.”
So, if your boat requires a plumber, electrician, floor or audio installer, motor specialist, computer diagnostician, mechanical engineer, or a boat whisperer like David to work on your 1953 wooden boat that no one else could fix, you need to get to know the guys at Pro Marine. No doubt, the passing of the torch of Pro Marine Service to Ritchie James and crew will only serve to make the flame brighter for the region and the community of boaters of all sorts that enjoy lake life.
612 Floyd St
Burlington, NC 27215
336-229-1042
www.facebook.com/promarineservice
On a personal note: When I get to connect the historical dots of my past work with Tracy James in the early days of Hyco Lake Magazine and now meet her husband in their new venture, it’s satisfying. Tracy mentioned to me that working with Janna, the magazine’s art director “was one of the greatest joys of [her] life.” Not only that, but despite the fact they don’t live on the lake, Tracy remarked that “just being together on the water makes her heart smile.” Ritchie gave me a similar sentiment when he said “We don’t have customers, we have friends.”
