New owners for US dinghy firm

A long-time supplier of dinghies and small outboards to the San Diego, California boating community has been saved from closure with its purchase by South Coast Yachts.

Barrett Canfield and Rick Day of South Coast Yachts are the new owners of Dinghy Doctor, who decided to step in and prevent the loss of what they considered to be an important vendor when learning that the investment group that owned the dealership was moving on to other interests.

“We just couldn’t envision the place closing,” Day told The Log. “It’s just too much a part of the San Diego boating community. We were so pleased they worked with us to keep the doors open, keep the existing staff in their jobs, and to breathe some new life into the place. We’re very excited about what the future will bring.”

The Dinghy Doctor will continue to carry AB, Achilles, Caribe, Honda, Taurus, Tohatsu and Yamaha product lines.

“The Dinghy Doctor has always been the first company people think of in San Diego when considering inflatable boats or small outboard purchases and service,” Canfield said. “The existing team is very talented and has the same core values that we encourage at South Coast Yachts.”

Terms of the sale were not disclosed.