Our History
It all started back in December 2004, when longtime friends and college fraternity brothers, Tim Coleman and Ken Guerins, met for dinner to catch up on life. Naturally, they started talking about their families, their overall passion for the outdoors, and specifically, their love of boating. “There’s no better way to spend quality time with family and friends than on a boat”. The conversation soon turned to starting a business together, and the idea of River City Boat Sales was born.
Four months later, River City Boat Sales opened its doors at a 4,000 square foot warehouse in the Sellwood District near downtown Portland, Oregon. In 2006 we realized the need to upgrade to a 38,000 square foot facility in Gladstone, Oregon. Also, we changed our business model from consignment only, to buying and owning our own inventory. This allowed us to focus on purchasing and selling the highest quality boat available in the Pacific Northwest.
In May 2009, River City’s growth required us to move again to our current facility at Boones Ferry Marina, where our Fun on the Water culture was created. The convenience of residing at Boones Ferry Marina helped us create the only Full-Service Dealership located on the water in the Portland Metro Area.
In 2010, we added Cobalt and Regal Boats to our inventory, two of the best names in the luxury performance segment! Two years later, we added Bennington Pontoons, the number one selling pontoon manufacturer in the world. Shortly thereafter, we welcomed Yamaha Jet Boats, the number one selling fiberglass boat in the world. This completed the current All-Star Lineup of manufacturers that we are proud to represent today.
As our business continued to grow, we discovered that many of our customers need storage options. So, we developed our preferred and elite storage programs which provide a turn-key, valet type program. Our program is so easy and convenient that we fill to capacity every season without any public advertising.
Given our consistent level of providing excellent customer service, we annual receive, Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) awards and Elite Sales and Service Awards from all our brands; Cobalt, Regal, Bennington, and Yamaha. Also, in 2018, we had the honor of being selected as of Boating Industry Magazine’s Top 100 Dealerships. This award recognizes the top boat dealers in North America for their business acumen, customer service, and dedication to the industry. We are honored to be part of this elite group every year.
Most recently, in April 2020, River City Boat Sales was chosen to take over marina slip and fuel dock management at Boones Ferry Marina. Now we can help with all your boating needs: Sales, Service, Storage, and Moorage!
Overall, River City Boat Sales is a professional sales organization with a relaxed environment that focuses on customer needs and product knowledge. We simply want to change the landscape in the boating market here in the Portland Metro Area and we have! So come join our River City family and have some Fun on the Water!