Summer’s Better on a Boat

As a high school student working in a marine shop, Don Morton knew he loved boats.

As a high school student working in a marine shop, Don Morton knew he loved boats. Thirty-seven years later, he still works in a marine shop, and he still loves boats. Morton Marine, which began in 1972 as a marine service center with a few used boats for sale, has become a full-fledged retail and service center.

Don and his wife, Sandy, serve area fishermen and pleasure boaters with their family-operated business. Their passion is boating in general and the fishing industry in particular. In March, April, June and September, Morton Marine hosts the Skeeter Tour bass tournament, in which more than 200 boats take to the waters for each event. The entire proceeds are paid back to the anglers in cash prizes. “It’s our way of taking care of the people who shop with us,” says Sandy. The April tournament resulted in 41 winners, with a $22,500 top prize payoff.

Morton Marine also hosts the annual Great Catch Tournament, held the first weekend in April. Virtually everyone who catches a fish wins a prize. Top cash prize for this year’s tournament was $4,000, and one lucky winner took home a $28,000 boat.

Just like automobiles, not all boats are created equal. Each boat is manufactured with a specific application in mind for the user. Morton carries fishing and pleasure boats from 10 to 25 feet. Simple fishing boats for the weekend angler start around $10,500. Serious anglers can choose larger boats, fully loaded with instrumentation.

“We have boat prices to fit every budget,” says Sandy, “and we stock what local fishermen and pleasure boaters ask for.” More than 50 boats are in their inventory. They feature Skeeter bass boats, G3 aluminum boats and Glastron runabout boats.

Sandy notes that pleasure boats have changed a great deal since they started their business. “In 1972, people pulled skiers with their boats. We have watched skiing evolve into tubing, boarding and other water activities.” Tow bars have become a popular accessory on boats. Not only can they pull skiers, they can accommodate several people at a time on all types of water toys that have recently become popular.  

Pontoons are also a favorite with pleasure boaters. They allow entire families to leisurely enjoy warm breezes and picnics on the water.

The Mortons’ son, Rod, works as sales manager and helps customers find just the right boat for the right price. Their daughter, Debbie, is in charge of finance and insurance. She finds the best possible financing, which is often a lower rate than customers are able to arrange through their personal lending institutions.

Service continues long after the sale at Morton, or even if the sale was from someplace else. They understand the anxiety of getting a malfunctioning boat back into the water. A master technician can diagnose just about any problem on any make, and will quickly and efficiently perform the repair at a reasonable cost. All work comes with a 30-day warranty. Their full service bay includes trailer repair and fiberglass and gelcoat repair.

A strong commitment to making customers happy has earned Morton Marine the honor of top Yamaha Outboard Motors retail sales dealer in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas for the past eight years.

Morton Marine is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Give them a call at (918) 272-1809.

For more information, contact

Morton Marine

www.mortonmarine.com

About Author Deanna Rebro

Deanna Rebro has worked in the publishing industry 30+ years, including eight years writing for Value News. She has also worked in real estate for the past six years. Deanna graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a B.A. in Journalism. Outside of work, she serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Pet Adoption League. “Every story I write is a learning experience,” she said.