LOWRANCE SOUTH AFRICA Issue 7 | Page 31

This month we focus on our dealer in Pietermaritzburg KZN, Pitts Marine – a family business and one of the country’s oldest and most established marine concerns” Founder Roy Pitt, who was the Works Manag- er for Fred Nicholls Marine in Durban – build- ing and selling wooden boats in the late 60’s – left to start his own boat business in KZN’s capital city. Pitts Marine has been in their current premises for 25 years – and does everything in-house from building their own boats and trailers, to stainless steel and windscreens, fitting motors, services, repairs and refurbishing. A year later his son Dave, who’d completed his four-year training in shop fitting, joined the firm. At that stage, they were building the very popular car-top boats (fibreglass) with 3hp – 5hp Chrysler motors. They progressed to making the bigger 4.1m St Lucia bay and estuary boats with Johnson and Mercury motors. They sell Lowrance products, new and pre-owned boats and motors, spares and accessories and are Mercury agents. Dave says, “We’re not scared of anything and if we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you and make it happen!” For ten years Pitts Marine built a range of water- ski, cabin and runabout boats for Holiday Hyperm- art in Roodepoort - which was taken over by Waterworld. Their range broadened to include 15.6ft – 24.7ft Coastcraft skiboats. Now they build the Elite range of skiboats (16’, 18’ and 22’) and the 4.8m Discovery Centre Console with 60 – 130hp motors, which are proving very popular. Staff include our Lowrance Brand Ambassador Gareth Potgieter and Willie Hardman, a well-known outboard technician. Dave’s son Colin, also worked in the business for 20 years, as a technician, marketer and salesman – until a tragic incident left him unable to work any longer. For all your boating needs call Dave at (033) 394 4482 Or pop in to: 33 Clough Street, Pietermaritzburg