Quick answer: HBW has been on Rice Lake in the Kawarthas, Ontario since 1947 and a Mercury dealer since 1965. Three generations of the Harris family, a current Mercury Marine Premier Dealer, and the only Mercury dealer on the lake. We post installed pricing online, quote...
Quick answer: HBW has been on Rice Lake in the Kawarthas, Ontario since 1947 and a Mercury dealer since 1965. Three generations of the Harris family, a current Mercury Marine Premier Dealer, and the only Mercury dealer on the lake. We post installed pricing online, quote complete packages on the spot, and stand behind every motor we rig. Most marine dealers still say "call for pricing." We don't.
Harris Boat Works has sold and serviced Mercury outboards since 1965. Three generations of the Harris family have rigged Mercurys, maintained them, and stood behind them. We are a Mercury Premier dealer, the highest tier Mercury awards, which gives our customers factory-direct support, priority parts access, and a shop built entirely around one brand. We sell Mercury exclusively because the math works for our customers and our shop.
Quick recommendation
If you are buying a Mercury outboard in southern Ontario, HBW is worth considering, and we are the only Mercury dealer on Rice Lake. HBW is exclusive Mercury, a Premier dealer, and we carry the largest Mercury and Mercruiser parts inventory in Ontario.
We are biased. We sell only Mercury and we want your business. But the bias is downstream of the math. Our exclusive Mercury focus produces deeper expertise and faster service than multi-brand shops can typically deliver. That is why three generations of customers have repowered at HBW.
What sets HBW apart
1. Three generations of family ownership
The marina was founded in 1947. We became a Mercury dealer in 1965. Three generations of the Harris family have operated the business in Gores Landing on Rice Lake without interruption.
My grandfather George founded Harris Boat Works in 1947 and ran it until 1978. He added the Mercury dealership in 1965. My father Jim ran the business from 1978 until his passing in 2015. I took over in 2016 and run the shop now. That continuity means some of our long-term customers have done business with three generations of our family. The institutional knowledge transfers. The relationships outlast specific transactions.
That is not a sales line. It's just how it worked out.
2. Mercury Premier dealer status
Mercury rates dealers in tiers based on volume, service quality, customer satisfaction, and operational standards. Premier is the top tier, and it's not decorative.
What Premier status gives our customers:
- Priority parts allocation during high-demand periods
- Earlier access to new product launches
- Factory-direct technical support for complex service issues
- Mercury-certified technician training at the highest levels
- Faster warranty claim processing
Our Mercury-only focus is part of why we maintain Premier status.
3. Exclusive Mercury focus
We sell Mercury exclusively. No Yamaha. No Honda. No Suzuki.
Other brands aren't bad motors. The depth-vs-breadth tradeoff just strongly favors depth for our customer base. Our customers are mostly Ontario freshwater boaters whose boats came Mercury-rigged from the factory. Building deep, single-brand expertise serves them better than splitting our attention.
The expertise compounds over time:
- Three generations of technicians have learned only Mercury
- Parts inventory and tooling are Mercury-specific and exceptionally deep. We stock the largest Mercury and Mercruiser parts inventory in Ontario
- Training investments focus on Mercury
- Customer expectations are calibrated to Mercury
And because we are the only Mercury dealer on Rice Lake, a boater can buy, rig, store, and service a Mercury-powered boat without ever leaving the lake. That gives Rice Lake boaters a simpler path from quote to service.
4. Local Ontario freshwater specialization
We rig boats for Rice Lake, Kawartha lakes, Lake Simcoe, Lake Ontario, and connected waters.
- Boat-to-motor matching specific to Ontario hulls and use cases
- Prop selection based on real sea-trial data from local lakes
- Service patterns matched to Ontario seasonal cycles
- A customer base that overlaps with yours
- Reputation accountability in a small market where quality gets noticed
5. Full-service marina capabilities
- Mercury sales and service (the core business)
- Legend Boats sales
- Haul-out and launch services at the marina
- Outdoor winter storage with shrinkwrap (we do not offer indoor heated storage)
- Winterization and spring commissioning services
- Used boat sales and trade-ins
- Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) administration for repower customers
What HBW does for repower customers
- Honest hull walk-around to confirm the boat is repower-worthy
- Use-case-driven motor selection matched to the specific boat and use
- Live pricing transparency on the motor selection page
- Prop selection during the sea-trial to confirm performance
- PCL update as part of the project
- Service log entry for warranty support and resale value
- Repower financing at 5.48% APR through TD Financing (via Dealerplan Peterborough, OAC, canonical rate through Dec 31, 2026, as of July 2026; see current promotions) for qualified buyers
- Trade-in evaluation for old motors
We don't push repowers that aren't needed. Sometimes a customer comes in with a motor that has seasons of life left. We tell them that, and they go fish.
Every repower gets an on-water test on Rice Lake before pickup. No exceptions.
Ready to talk repower? Call (905) 342-2153 or build your Mercury quote online.
Common questions about HBW
"Are you the most competitive on Mercury pricing?"
Mercury sets MSRP. Dealer pricing is competitive across the network. Our pricing is in line with other Mercury dealers. We compete on service quality, expertise, and long-term relationships.
"Can I get a better deal at a multi-brand dealer?"
Sometimes nominally on motor price, but the long-term math usually favors HBW. Our parts inventory, service speed, and Premier-level support often save more than a small upfront price difference.
"Do you handle non-Mercury motors?"
Some non-Mercury service we handle. But our parts inventory and tooling are Mercury-focused, so non-Mercury service may take longer.
"What if I bought my boat elsewhere?"
We service Mercurys regardless of where they were purchased.
"How long has HBW been in business?"
Founded 1947. Mercury dealership since 1965. Three generations of family ownership. Continuous operation in Gores Landing on Rice Lake.
What HBW does not do
- Saltwater servicing
- Sailboat-specific outfitting
- Personal watercraft (PWC)
- Jet boats or jet drives
- Most non-Mercury repowers
If the work falls outside our core, we'll tell you that and point you toward a shop that's better set up for it. We'd rather you get the right service than take a job we can't deliver at our standard.
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