Performance Boat Center ‘Keeping People Working’

Though it’s far from the busiest time of the year at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri, Brett Manire, who co-owns Performance Boat Center in Osage Beach with Mark Waddington, said it’s “in some ways business as usual” for the full-service multi-brand powerboat dealership. But business as usual has taken on new meaning for everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for Manire and company that means adhering to all state-and-federal-prescribed safety precautions.

“We are very, very sensitive to this issue,” Manire said during a telephone interview this morning. “Of course, we want to keep our folks working but we are taking things extremely seriously.”

Performance Boat Center is open for business—within defined safety guidelines and restrictions—and the team there is getting ready for a busy week. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

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They’re also ramping up to-go food service from the Redhead Lakeside Grill which they’ve always offered but are particularly focused on given the social-distancing guidelines in place to battle the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Customers who wish to order ahead can reach the restaurant at 573-693-1525).

“People can order pizzas and wings or whatever by phone and pick them up dockside or curbside, and even stop by the outdoor Tiki Bar for a drink,” said Manire. “It’s 38 degrees here now, but it’s supposed to be in the 70s by mid-week.

“Folks are already getting out on the water,” he continued. “We had two service calls this morning. We have a couple of demos to do later today. Tyler Miller is out right now testing the new M-Con raceboat raceboat with (PBC staffer) Myrick Coil. All the shop guys are working. Life goes on.”

Manire said the entire Performance Boat Center team has been briefed and re-briefed on proper personal hygiene practices such as vigorous and frequent hand-washing with soap and hot water and distancing protocols in the workplace in the wake of the hyper-contagious virus. He also said they’ve “Lysol-ed every surface in the shop” and will continue to.

“We’re keeping our people working,” said Manire. “We’re a small, close-knit group. If we weren’t working, we’d be hanging out with each other anyway.”

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