Choosing a boat dealer in Central Georgia means weighing which manufacturer brands a dealer carries, the mix of new and used inventory, the strength of its service and parts department, and how it handles registration and trade-ins. The three Macon-area dealers profiled below each carry a documented record of local operation, publish their inventory and contact details, and serve boat buyers across Bibb County and the surrounding counties. Buyers comparing options should confirm which brands a dealer is authorized for, check whether a boat is new or used and what warranty applies, and ask about service and trade-in options.
Macon sits near Lake Tobesofkee, and boat buyers in Central Georgia choose among pontoon boats, bass and fishing boats, and other powerboats, new and used. Boat dealers are typically authorized dealers for specific manufacturers, which lets them sell new boats with the manufacturer’s warranty and provide brand-certified parts and outboard-motor service. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas runs a certification program for dealerships, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association represents the industry. In Georgia, boats must be registered through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and a dealer can usually assist with the paperwork. Because a boat needs ongoing maintenance, the strength of a dealer’s service and parts department matters as much as the sale. Buyers should confirm which brands a dealer is authorized for, whether a boat is new or used and what warranty applies, and ask about service and trade-in options.
Quick Comparison #
| Dealer | Background | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Central Georgia Marina | Locally owned since 1987; full-service marina on Lake Tobesofkee. | New and used boats, pontoons, and fishing boats, plus service and storage. |
| The Sports Center | Perry-based boat and powersports dealer serving the Macon area. | New and used boats across many brands, plus outboard service. |
| Bass Pro Boating Center | Macon boating center within a national outdoor retailer. | New Tracker-family boats and ATVs, with service and parts. |
1. Central Georgia Marina #
Locally Owned Lake Tobesofkee Marina Operating Since 1987 #
Central Georgia Marina has served Macon-area boaters since 1987 and operates from 6500 Moseley Dixon Road on Lake Tobesofkee, the lake just west of Macon. The company is locally owned and describes itself as a full-service marina dedicated to helping families enjoy life on the water.
The dealership sells new and used boats and is an authorized dealer for several brands, including Bentley Pontoons, Phoenix Boats, Skeeter, and Excel, with Suzuki Marine and Mercury outboard motors. Beyond sales, it operates an in-house service department with certified mechanics, a parts department, boat storage, and financing, so a customer can buy, service, and store a boat at one location on the lake.
Nearly four decades of locally owned operation, and a lakeside location with full service and storage, are the central strengths here. Buyers should confirm which brand a quoted boat is covered under, whether it is new or used, and what warranty applies.
Address: 6500 Moseley Dixon Road, Macon, GA 31220
Phone: (478) 474-9995
https://www.centralgeorgiamarina.com/
2. The Sports Center #
Full-Service Boat and Powersports Dealer Serving the Macon Area From Perry #
The Sports Center operates from 1444 Sam Nunn Boulevard in Perry, in Houston County, and serves the Macon area as a full-service boat dealer. The company sells boats alongside ATVs, UTVs, and other powersports vehicles.
Its boat inventory is broad, spanning new and used pontoon boats, bass boats, and center console boats, and it carries a long list of brands including Carolina Skiff, Caymas, Tracker, Sun Tracker, Lowe, War Eagle, Sea Ark, Nitro, and Triton. The Sports Center is a certified Mercury, Yamaha, and Suzuki outboard dealership, which supports its outboard-motor sales and service.
The breadth of boat brands makes The Sports Center a fit for a buyer who wants to compare many models in one place. Because it is in Perry rather than Macon proper, Macon buyers should factor in the drive, and should confirm new-versus-used status, warranty, and the service department’s capacity.
Address: 1444 Sam Nunn Boulevard, Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 987-3580
https://www.thesportscenter.com/
3. Bass Pro Boating Center #
Macon Marine Showroom Within a National Outdoor Retailer #
Bass Pro Boating Center in Macon operates from 5000 Bass Pro Boulevard as the boating center of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s outdoor retail store. It functions as a full marine showroom and dealership within the larger store.
The boating center carries the Tracker family of brands, including Tracker, Sun Tracker, Regency, Nitro, Tahoe, Ascend, and Mako, covering fishing boats, pontoons, and other powerboats, and it also sells ATVs. It provides boat, motor, and ATV service and parts, Mercury outboard sales and repowers, trade-ins, and financing.
As the local outlet of a national outdoor retailer, Bass Pro Boating Center pairs a large showroom and the buying scale of a national brand with an on-site Macon service department. Buyers should confirm new-versus-used status and warranty, and ask about service scheduling, since wait times can be longer at a high-volume location.
Address: 5000 Bass Pro Boulevard, Macon, GA 31210
Phone: (478) 757-7580
https://www.bassproboatingcenters.com/locations/macon.html
Selecting Among These Three Macon Boat Dealers #
All three dealers profiled here are established marine retailers serving Central Georgia with verifiable addresses, published inventory, and a clear boat-sales focus. The practical difference is scale and structure. Central Georgia Marina is a locally owned, full-service marina on Lake Tobesofkee, with nearly four decades of operation and on-site service and storage. The Sports Center carries the widest range of boat brands and pairs boats with powersports, a fit for a buyer who wants to compare many models. Bass Pro Boating Center is a large marine showroom within a national outdoor retailer, with the Tracker family of brands and the buying scale of a national chain. Buyers should match the dealer to the boat: a brand carried by only one of the three points to that dealer, while a buyer who values a lakeside marina with storage points toward Central Georgia Marina. In every case, confirm which brand a boat falls under, whether it is new or used, the warranty, and the strength of the service department, since a boat needs ongoing maintenance.
Selection Methodology #
The three dealers above were selected from the broader Central Georgia marine field using these filters: a verifiable physical street address in the Macon area, a documented record of operation, a published boat inventory and service scope, and contact information that resolves to the named business. Length of operation, authorized brand status, an in-house service and parts department, and a clear boat-sales focus were treated as supporting signals. Operations without a verifiable address, boat-cover or accessory sellers that do not sell boats, and out-of-state listings were excluded. The order of the profiles is editorial and does not represent a ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions #
Q: What is the difference between an authorized dealer and a private sale?
A: An authorized dealer is approved by a manufacturer to sell new boats with the manufacturer’s warranty and to provide brand-certified parts and service. A private sale offers no such warranty or support. If you are buying new, confirm the dealer is authorized for the brand you want.
Q: How important is the dealer’s service department?
A: Very. A boat and its outboard motor need ongoing maintenance, winterizing, and occasional repair, and a dealer with a strong in-house service and parts department makes that easier. Ask whether the dealer services the brand you are buying and what the typical service wait time is.
Q: Are any of the three dealers paid placements?
A: No. The three profiles above are editorial selections drawn from publicly verifiable sources. No dealer sponsored placement.
Q: What should I check before buying, and how is a boat registered in Georgia?
A: For a used boat, ask about its history, hours, and condition, and consider a survey for a larger vessel. Boats in Georgia must be registered through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and a dealer can usually help with the registration and title paperwork. Confirm the full price, warranty, and any financing terms in writing.
Editorial Note #
This guide was published on 2026-05-17 and reflects research current as of that date. Verify inventory, phone numbers, and current business status before engaging any dealer.