“I can’t believe it!” is a phrase John Hall loves to hear, and he hears it often from satisfied customers. John Hall owns Premier Propellers in Bremerton, a business included in Kitsap County’s marine industry cluster.

“Tuning the propellers on your boat has a much larger impact than many people realize,” notes Hall. Educating boaters on the importance of propeller tuning takes almost as much time as the actual tuning. Hall reminds people there are really only two things that make boats go – money and propellers. He doesn’t supply the first, but his company has a dramatic impact on the latter. Word of mouth from satisfied customers and being the first to use a computerized process to tune propellers on the west coast keeps business steady for Premier Propellers. Being the first US dealer for a Taiwanese propeller with near perfect pitch drives sales for the business. Propeller repairs round out the company’s services.

John Hall’s pleasure boat provided the impetus for this marine cluster company. He previously worked 20 years at PSNS and owned a Bremerton furniture store. A 1997 boating magazine article about “Prop Scan” launched Premier Propellers. He opened the company that year after receiving training and purchasing the system in Australia.

Premier Propellers was the first on the west coast and is currently only one of two using the system in the Puget Sound region. “Prop Scan” is a computerized measuring assembly that when combined with its software, enables propellers of any type to be re-manufactured to the highest possible accuracy levels. This results in more speed, reduced fuel consumption, vibration elimination, and more enjoyment from your boat. For more details about “Prop Scan”, see the company’s website at http://www.props.com.au/.

The “Prop Scan” software and assorted hammers used to land tempered blows are equally necessary to maintain the company’s reputation. Technology is one of the linked industries to Premier Propellers, and in a broader sense, the marine industry. Additional linkages are those associated with clients and customers, suppliers and referral sources. Using this line of thinking, potential linked businesses and organizations for Premier Propellers include: boat builders, boat owners, US Coast Guard, US Navy, defense contractors, freight companies, marinas, marketing consultants, web page designers, yacht clubs, boating organizations, boating publications, boat show organizers, office supplies and suppliers of grinder and welding equipment needs.

Several Kitsap County companies can be named when reviewing this list. Whether Premier Propellers and other marine-related companies utilize them is dependent on whether they know of their existence, compatibility, and price. The KREDC and other business organizations can assist with items such as resource lists, but pricing and compatibility are individually determined. Kitsap County companies that link to this marine related business is an important component in keeping Kitsap County’s primary business sector healthy. Determining any linkage gaps that are compatible with Kitsap County and this cluster help determine what businesses to recruit and which companies should be encouraged to expand or start up in Kitsap County. To which cluster does your business belong?

(Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council’s Business Assistance Committee. It is the first in a series on Kitsap County’s industry clusters.).