Probably deserves 1 star but (sorry to say) boat yard owners are typically a shady lot -- especially on Chautauqua Lake -- so there may be worse operations. Lone exception was the old L.S. Aero Marine (now Lawson Boat Center museum in Bemus Point) which was run by a former licensed marine architect & magazine editor (brother & sister) who took on the business out of a family passion for boating. Shore Acres labor force is typically made up of neighbors who work under the table for merchandise, gas, etc. so don't expect a highly motivated or well trained bunch. Unless you're needing gas or something pretty simple, I'd be careful about dealing with Shore Acres; the owner Dick Sparling (like his father Charley Sparling before him) will rip you off if he can. Plenty of horror stories of ruined summer vacations going back over 50 years. You might have better luck at other boat yards on the lake, but be careful. read more

The service is as bad as the place looks!! While on vacation, I had a problem with my 2017 90 hp Mercury outboard. Since this dump was conveniently located across the lake from us, I made the mistake of taking the boat and motor to them. What a mistake!! I was told that they would have to replace the impeller. The job was to take a day, but ended up being 2 1/2 days. The explanation given was that a bolt had broken and needed to be repaired. The motor was used a couple times at the lake before being brought home. The second time it was used upon returning home, the alarm, indicating overheating, went off again, just as it had at the lake. It was taken to a dealer and, lo and behold, the impeller that had been replaced by Shore Acres was scorched and found to be an aftermarket part and not Mercury. Talking to the owner of Shore Acres just got me more upset. He had every excuse imaginable, going as far as accusing me of running the motor in my driveway. As far as he was concerned it was not his problem any longer because I didn't somehow get it on my trailer and haul it 2 hours back to him so he could look at it. Before taking anything to this place, think twice. The work done is as bad as the place looks!! read more

Corrupt. Incompetent. These are the two best words to describe Dick (the owner). I left my boat there for a simple sensor malfunction. 4 beeps every two minutes- either water in fuel or low oil which I knew both were not issues. Trailered it in myself. Took three weeks for them to get to it. Claimed he could not read the computer and that it needed a new one and that was why sensor was going off. His answer was to disconnect all sensors. Boat ran perfect when it went in. He said the fuel pump was low pressure and without asking claimed to replace it. I drove by the marina everyday - I pass it going to work. He never looked at the boat until two days before I picked it up. Claimed tons of hours and tried to charge me 1000 dollars. Lied in my face about moving the boat all around for two weeks working on it -impossible based on where I left it in his yard and my observations. He was "going to" do a test run in the lake to see how it was running but he was afraid to put the boat in because there was tape around a through hull plug. They forgot or improperly reconnected the throttle so the boat wouldn't run when I dropped it in myself. This marina has ZERO knowledge about outboard engines. The staff are all old geezers that probably predate computers in engines. They don't listen or take notes on what the problem is you are experiencing. They will lie about work they "did" and rip you off. To shorten a long story; I had to take the boat to another marina. New marina hooked back up the sensors, could read the computer, replaced the sensor in the oil reservoir that I told Shore Acres was bad when I brought it in, fixed the throttle Shore Acres broke, and now I am back in bizness. Lost a month of out two month summer because of those scoundrels in Bemis Point. DON'T GO THERE! Wish I could give zero or negative stars. read more