How Electronic Key Management Steers Marine Dealerships to Success

These days you’ll find more people angling on the water than embarking on a cross-country RV adventure or sitting in a deer blind. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, recreational boating and fishing were the number-one contributor to the outdoor recreation economy, outranking RVing, hunting, and other outdoor hobbies. As a result, the recreational boating industry reeled in $57.7 billion in sales in 2024.

As a marine dealer, it’s crucial to capitalize on this market. Effective key management provides a foundation for this growth by mitigating risks that stand in the way of your success and enhancing overall operational efficiency. Here are three critical ways improving your key control practices can help your dealership maintain steady sales:

Tackle Boat Theft

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, boat theft and fraud cost owners and insurance companies millions of dollars each year. Neglecting to secure inventory keys increases these theft risks that can sink your profits.

Boat theft and fraud cost owners and insurance companies millions of dollars each year.

If your dealership offers storage, maintenance, or repair services, the lack of secure key management could lead to unauthorized access to customer vessels, key loss, or theft. These incidents not only jeopardize your customer relationships but can also result in costly liabilities and legal disputes.

When you implement a key control system, you can automatically authenticate users, preventing unauthorized access. This proactive approach helps protect both dealership inventory and customers’ trust.

Manage Inventory More Efficiently

Although boating remains a popular outdoor recreation, demand varies by region, buyer demographics, and other factors. An electronic key control system can give you insight into your dealership activity and help you avoid inventory management challenges such as:

Missing Keys

When customers arrive for the initial test drive, quick and hassle-free access to keys not only saves time but also demonstrates your dealership's commitment to providing a smooth experience. If your customers are forced to wait around while you search for a missing key, you risk missing out on sales. Using a key control system that tracks when keys are removed and notifies you when they’re not returned on time allows you to take immediate action to retrieve or replace the missing keys. It also helps your salespeople avoid double bookings. As a result, your dealership can operate smoothly and maximize sales potential.

After the sale, if you want customers to service or store their boats with your dealership, they’ll want assurance that their valuable assets are secure. A reliable key control system helps safeguard their vessels by preventing unauthorized access and ensuring keys are safely stored and accounted for.

Maintenance Backlogs

By reserving keys for specific boats, you’ll be able to prioritize and schedule maintenance activities efficiently, preventing any delays or backlogs. As a result, boats can be prepared for sale or display in a timely manner, optimizing your inventory turnover rate. By keeping track of which boats are reserved, you can give each vessel the right amount of attention, avoiding situations where certain boats are neglected.

Siloed Inventory Data

When you have data spread out across multiple applications, it can be difficult to get an accurate picture of your inventory. Integrating your key control solution with your marina management software or dealership management system gives you a comprehensive look at inventory activity. For example, without switching back and forth between applications, you can identify:

• Excess or insufficient inventory based on how often customers ask about certain boats
• How often keys to those boats are checked out for test drives
• How many of those test drives result in sales

When you use key control as part of your inventory management process, you’ll be able to streamline your operations and make data-driven decisions.

From combating boat theft to optimizing inventory management, an effective key control system equips your dealership for success. As consumers continue choosing time on the water, be ready to claim your share of the outdoor recreation economy.

This post was originally published in 2023 and updated in 2025.