Staff Jennings Boating Centers Makes History with 75 Years in Business

In 1929, 28-year-old Stafford Jennings turned a tragedy involving family into a family triumph when he successfully started his own boating company. Eleven years earlier as a Merchant Marine on the steamer USS Dumaru during World War I, Staff suffered the loss of his father and 23 other crewmembers due firstly to a boat fire started by lightning, then to starvation and thirst during 26 days on the open waters of the Pacific in a life boat. Only nine out of the original 33 crewmembers survived, Staff being one.

Ironically, Staff's love of the water didn't wash away with the disaster. Instead, he returned to his hometown of Portland, Ore., and after working in several marine dealerships, he embraced the latest boating technology of the time--outboard motors (patented by Olin Evinrude only 18 years prior). Starting with repairs in a boathouse on the Willammette River, the company embarked on its 75-year journey and growth with three generations of Jennings at the helm. This Bayliner dealer now employs 32 in two locations, one still in its original location and the second location in Eugene, Oregon. In fact, Boat and Motor Dealer magazine listed Stafford Jennings, Inc., as the third oldest marine dealer in the United States.

Staff's grandson, Jeff Jennings now runs the company as its president and owner, integrating the personal touch among the customers and staff. "We always try to make our customers happy. The customer is always right," said Jeff, adding that he and his staff go that extra nautical mile to ensure happy customers.



Groomed from high-school up, Jeff applies his passion for the boating business with the good, old-fashioned tenet: treat your customers and employees the way you want to be treated. Making himself accessible to both customers and employees, you'll find Jeff's desk on the showroom floor side-by-side with the rest of his sales staff. "I'm always available. I want everyone leaving happier than when they came in," he said.

The result of this open-air philosophy? Repeat customers and loyal employees. Jeff said, "We have numerous repeat customers. Some trade up. Some just want the latest boat. One customer comes in every year to buy a new boat: every year we sell his old one and he buys the most recent model. This has gone on for quite a few years now."

Loyalty in customers is not the only yield at Staff Jennings. The average employment stint at Staff Jennings lasts more than 15 years, some having been there for two and three decades. That translates into expertise and satisfaction for the customer.

Another reason for expertise at Staff Jennings is training. The sales staff engages in continuous in-house sales training on the latest features and advances in boats and accessories as well as attending Bayliner seminars across state lines. Also, Staff Jennings provides its service staff with the up-to-date skills needed for top-quality service by sending them to factory schools and offering ongoing, internet service training.

Longevity and expertise are well-known qualities at Staff Jennings, which is perhaps why Bayliner conveniently fits in. They¿ve been carrying the Bayliner boat line for more than three decades. Jeff said, "We started with Bayliner in 1973. It filled the niche that we were looking for in family runabouts. It was a full-line dealer, a product line that had something for just about any need, plus it had the opportunity to trade up and stay within that product line." Even now as a runabout and cruiser dealer, the folks at Staff Jennings find that the style, performance, and value of Bayliner boats enable them to service their customers well. "You get the most for the dollar with the Bayliner," Jeff said. "The quality and workmanship is excellent. The style is state of the art and ahead of the curve. What the customer pays and what they get is exceptional." Jeff should know; he takes his family out on his Bayliner 305 every weekend.



With a passion for the water passed down to four generations over 75 years, the Staff Jennings folks provide know-how and value not only in terms of the Bayliner boats, but also in terms of the service after the sale. From financing, to parts and service, to temporary moorage, docking and refueling facilities, customers can rest assured that they've got a family friend in the boating business.

Staff Jennings Boating Centers

Portland Location:
8240 SW Macadam Ave
(West End Sellwood Bridge)
Portland, OR 97219
Phone: 503-244-7505
Fax: 503-244-7500
Email: jeff@staffjennings.com

Eugene Location:
2100 M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.
(2 blocks west of Autzen Stadium)
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: 541-485-2555
Fax: 541-345-0829
Website: www.staffjennings.com

Hours:
Portland Location
Monday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Summer hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eugene Location:
Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Summer hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.