Tasmania’s Channel Marine Wins Mercury Marine Dealer of the Year

Tasmanian marine dealership Channel Marine has once again set the bar for the Australian boating industry. Taking out Mercury Marine’s top national honour—Australian National Dealer of the Year 2024—for the second year in a row.

Based just south of Hobart, Channel Marine has made history as the first Tasmanian Mercury dealer. Winning this prestigious award not just once, but twice—and back-to-back no less. It’s a proud moment for the Apple Isle and a milestone achievement for a business that continues to go from strength to strength.

Specialising in the full suite of Mercury outboards, MerCruiser engines, and genuine marine parts and accessories, Channel Marine has become a go-to name for Tasmanian boaters, commercial operators and fishers alike.

A Legacy of Excellence in the Australian Marine Industry

Mercury Marine’s Director of Sales, David Meehan, said Channel Marine’s continued growth, strong customer service, and support of the Mercury brand made them a stand-out among hundreds of dealers nationwide.

“Winning this award once is a great achievement, but doing it two years in a row is a real credit to the team at Channel Marine,” David said.
“Their passion for the Mercury brand and the work they do promoting it across southern Tasmania is second to none. They’ve seen strong growth across all categories—outboards, MerCruiser engines, and marine parts—and their reputation in both the commercial and retail boating spaces continues to grow.”

Channel Marine has played a key role in the transition of Tasmania’s fish farming industry to Mercury power, demonstrating technical expertise and deep local knowledge. More recently, their push into the recreational boating market has seen the business continue to expand its footprint across the region.

Decades of Recognition in the Boating World

Owned and operated by seasoned marine expert Alan Riley, Channel Marine has been a respected name in the industry for decades. The dealership has previously won Tasmanian Mercury Dealer of the Year five times (1994, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2007) and been crowned VIC/TAS Dealer of the Year in 2009, 2023 and again in 2024.

This year’s national awards podium also featured strong performances from Brisbane Marine (QLD)—a three-time national winner—and Mandurah Outboards (WA), with both tying for second place.

2024 Mercury Marine Dealer Awards – Celebrating the Best in the Business. Held annually, Mercury Marine’s Dealer Awards highlight the exceptional performance, customer service and business development of its dealer network across Australia and New Zealand.

Dealers are evaluated on key criteria including:

• Growth across all product lines (Outboards, MerCruiser, Parts & Accessories)
• Market share increases
• Business diversity and innovation
• Service quality and customer satisfaction

This year’s awards also recognised standout dealers across regional and specialist categories.

2024 Mercury Marine Dealer Award Winners: Full List

🏆 National Awards

Australian National Dealer of the Year – Channel Marine (TAS)

New Zealand Dealer of the Year – Marine Works (NZ)

📍 Regional Awards

Regional Dealer of the Year – Bay City Marine (QLD)

VIC/TAS Dealer of the Year – Channel Marine (TAS)

NSW Dealer of the Year – TR Marine

QLD Dealer of the Year – Brisbane Marine

NT Dealer of the Year – Precision Marine

SA Dealer of the Year – Christies Beach Marine

WA Dealer of the Year – Mandurah Outboards

💰 Mercury Finance & Insurance Awards

National Mercury Finance Dealer of the Year – Bay City Marine (QLD)

⚙️ Specialist Category Awards

Inflatable Boat Dealer of the Year – Waves Overseas

Parts & Accessories Dealer of the Year – Aquasports Marine

MerCruiser Dealer of the Year – Coorparoo Marine

MerCruiser OEM of the Year – Matrix Marine