WORDS BY ANNIE STUDHOLME, IMAGES PROVIDED
East Coast Powersports Timaru (formally Timaru Can-Am) has been moving Mid and South Canterbury since 2008.
From its humble beginnings in a shed south of Timaru, East Coast Powersports has grown into one of the region’s leading dealerships with something to suit everyone’s needs, both on and off the water.
Located in Washdyke, Timaru, and covering the surrounding areas of Twizel, Fairlie, and Geraldine, East Coast Powersports Timaru stocks the unbeatable Sea-Doo PWC line-up, Can-Am ATV quad bikes, Can-Am SSV range, and Spyders, as well as Ironman 4x4 accessories and O’Neal protective apparel. They also have an extensive array of on-road motorcycles including Kawasaki, CF Moto and Royal Enfield.
Ben and Korine Stewart started the business in 2008. Ben is a fully trained diesel mechanic who has always been interested in motorbikes. With the Canadian-made Can-Am’s popularity growing nationwide, the couple saw a gap in the market to establish a local dealership in South Canterbury.
Having started with just five bikes, the business grew quickly. It changed premises twice before moving to its current location on the Hilton Highway. “Initially, we sold just Can-Am All Terrain Vehicles (ATV), but as Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) product range grew, so did we,” says Korine.
The introduction of Can-Am side-by-side machines to New Zealand in 2013 immediately proved popular with farmers due to their ability to safely seat two or three people and carry a generous payload. In addition to their already hugely popular high-performance vehicles, Can-Am is now the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association (MIA).
Wanting to increase the business’s recreational offering on the watersports side, they also added Sea-Doo Jetskis to their line-up at about the same time. Whether for fun or fishing, the Sea- Doo Jetskis are some of the most affordable, playful, compact, fuel-efficient and lightweight watercraft on the market. It also stocks the full range of Sea-Doo accessories and gear, including wakeboards, water skis, riding and lifejackets.
“It has added a really fun element to the business. The ATV and SSV side of our business keeps us busy during the winter, and the Sea-Doo’s keep us very busy over summer,” says Korine.
With the business continuing to go from strength to strength, at the end of last year, East Coast Powersports Timaru completed an extensive renovation and new fit-out of its store, diversifying its product line to include new motorcycle brands Kawasaki, CF Moto, Moto Morini, and Royal Enfield.
“This is an exciting move as we diversify into other brands and hold a larger presence in the on-road motorcycle segment. Having this large range offers a wide variety to choose from. There is something to suit almost everyone’s needs, from the Can-Am three-wheel Spyder, to two or four wheels on-farm and two wheels on the road.”
Recently, the Stewarts have also started stocking the Australian-built off-road Canyon Caravans, which are currently on show at Pykes Auto Court in Timaru.
In addition to its extensive product range, East Coast Powersports Timaru offers a full backup service. It has four fully trained motorcycle technicians, and two sales staff equipped to meet your needs for in-workshop and on-farm services and repairs for all types of ATVs and side-by-sides. They also stock genuine parts and offer an online vehicle booking service.
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