Southwind Marine Boating Center

I have stored by sailboat at Southwind for several years. They are really patient, friendly people who always go out of their way to help you out.

Because of our short season here I can imagine that every customer tends to demand service/launch all at the same time. It's not a fast food joint or a slick, streamlined corporation—it's a boating center. Whiners need to get a grip.

I'll be back.

It was a terrible experience I hope to forget. Southwind is unprofessional, not honest, incompetent and lacks the technical trained technicians or business training. It is a lousy position for a boaters to experience, all Marinas in eastern wisconsin on the lake Michigan shore are basically the same … somewhat unreliable. The problem is that most of these guys basically start this as a hobby, they are neither trained engineers or technicians, nor trained business people. The organization is usually poor. That is why they are behind and do mediocre work. If you get too pushy, upset or angry, they become worse, retaliate and then it is hard to get anything done. in the cases of incompetence or negligence you have to bite the bullet and be extra nice and just to get your boat out. After seeking a highly recommended full service marina in Manitowoc my boat sank out front their lift. They too promised care and despite all the information about my boats critical shape, they failed to secure my boat and it sank. The owner failed to acknowledge any responsibility. This marina also recommended a captain to transport my boat given the situation and the said captain didn't have a license. The captain did not check the valves even after we mentioned them and pointed out the locations. Get work in writing, be sure any marina that does work includes tax and added fees. Do not authorized costs that exceed the insurance fees. Marinas will use the oldest trick and charge tax over and beyond the estimate they provide the insurance carriers. This adds over 15% more to your bill. They hide it and use it as a means of extorting more money in a clever way.

South wind Marine in Milwaukee has to be one of the worst boat repair shops in Milwaukee. I had a quote of $150 for a carburetor rebuild, by the time I got my boat back.......

1. cost me $2500.00 without my approval

2. they dropped my boat and destroyed lower unit

3. Took the whole summer to get my boat back into my possession

4. Brian the owner treated myself and wife very rude and lied to us about employees having to pay for damages that they did to boat( he made them pay for the lower unit and replaced with used one.

5. damaged outside of boat hitting pier

6. left cover off of engine and air cleaner....It rained out and rained into engine.



Please if anyone else has same problem let us all get lawyer together and go after this Southwind Marine and get our money back from the people that take our money when they make mistakes or decide to charge us more.





KC Dembowiak

Awesome store! Very convenient to the Milwaukee lakefront. Product selection is extensive, prices are competitive, and the two young guys who run the place are very helpful.