OUR STORY

Spicer Marine has been part of the Clayton, New York waterfront since the late 1950s, serving generations of boaters throughout the Thousand Islands and along the St. Lawrence River. In 2011, the Frank family—Dan and Karen, along with their son Chris and daughter-in-law Alta—purchased the marina and began a new chapter rooted in family ownership, exceptional service, and a lifelong passion for boating.

From the beginning, this has been a family-owned and operated business. That is something we are proud of, and it shapes how we do things every day. We try to treat both our customers and our employees the same way we would treat family—with respect, honesty, and a genuine interest in taking care of people the right way.


One experience in particular left a lasting impression on us. During a family boating trip, a major mechanical problem nearly ended our vacation before it really began. We were helped by a service yard that understood the urgency of the moment and did everything they could to get us back on the water. That experience stayed with us.

It helped shape the way we run Spicer Marine today. We understand how much people look forward to their time on the water, especially in a place like this where the season goes by fast. We know boating is often about family, friends, tradition, and making memories. When something goes wrong, it matters.


Over the years, we have continued to invest in the marina, especially in our service department. Today, Spicer Marine is a full-service marina offering dockage, storage, fuel, repairs, electronics installation and troubleshooting, fiberglass and gelcoat repair, repowers, rentals, and new, used, and brokerage boat sales.


We are proud to be family-owned, proud to be part of this community, and proud to help people enjoy life on the water.


Our Philosophy

At Spicer Marine, we believe boating is supposed to be enjoyable.

That may sound simple, but it drives a lot of how we do business. We want people to feel comfortable here. We want customers to feel like they can ask questions, get honest answers, and know they are being taken care of.

A big part of that comes from our team. Most of our staff have been boaters long before they ever worked here. They understand the lifestyle because they live it. That perspective shows up in how we approach service, sales, and customer interactions every day.

We also operate with a strong sense of urgency. In Northern New York, the boating season is short. When the weather is good, people want to be on the water—not waiting on a repair or an answer. We take that seriously.

That doesn’t mean rushing work. It means being responsive, communicating clearly, and moving as quickly as we realistically can while still doing things the right way.

We believe in being straightforward, treating people fairly, and building long-term relationships. At the end of the day, our goal is simple: do good work, be honest with people, and help our customers enjoy their boats as much as possible.

Why Spicer Marine

What makes Spicer Marine different really comes down to how we approach the business.

We are family-owned and involved every day. We take the time to get to know our customers, we know their boats, and we care about the experience they have with us. That personal connection matters to us, and we think it matters to our customers too.

Our team is made up of people who have been around boats for a long time—many of them as boaters long before they ever worked here. That experience matters. It shows up in how they approach their work, how they diagnose problems, how they rig boats, and how they guide customers through decisions.

We also operate with a sense of urgency. We understand how short the season is here and how valuable time on the water can be. When we can move quickly and help someone get back out there, we will. At the same time, we stay grounded in doing the job right. The goal is to balance speed with quality, not sacrifice one for the other.

Our service department sits at the center of everything we do. It supports our sales business, our storage customers, and the long-term relationships we build over time. We have invested heavily in training, tools, and technology so we can properly support the boats we work on.

We also try to keep things approachable. We want customers to feel comfortable asking questions and understanding what is being done and why. Clear communication builds trust, and trust is everything in this business.

We know the waters we serve, and we tailor what we do to fit the way people actually boat here. Local experience matters.

We have intentionally stayed a size where we can still be personal. We want customers to feel known here, not processed.

Big enough to do it right. Small enough to care.