Boat-owners seeking accessories, spare parts, and repairs can now drop in to a just-opened showroom in the East End following the expansion of Robert and Ricky Sousa?s AMR Auto Marine business at Southside.

For the past year the business has been open as a repair workshop. Now it has a showroom to allow customers to come in and look for the bits and pieces they need or to place orders.

The Sousas believe their auto and marine repair and accessory business is ideally located to tap into a market covering the eastern end of the Island, which happens to boast a large sailing and boating community.

Rather than customers needing to head into Hamilton, or beyond, to get the pieces of equipment or repairs they require, they can divert to Southside. The convenience is obvious for those who live anywhere from Flatts Village to St. George?s and St. David?s. There is also the promise of lower prices compared to elsewhere on the island, according to the Sousas.

Both the Sousas have been involved in boating for more than 25 years. Robert works in the repair shop behind the new showroom in Waller?s Point Road, St. David?s, in one of the outlet units off Stock Road and a few doors along from the Big Savings Zone store.

Members of the boating fraternity who attended a party at the repair business said they would be prepared to come to Southside to purchase accessories, which gave an added reason for opening a showroom section to the repair shop.

?We?ve got everything that people want. We do mechanics and have a workshop where we can do fibre glassing, spray painting, fitting rigs and even arrange to bring boats to the Island. We can do anything that is wanted,? said Robert.

And the rejuvenation of Southside, with new retail units in the immediate location and housing projects being planned, makes the Sousas feel they are ahead of the game to a certain degree.

?There will be an influx of people, and there is to be a boat storage shed across the road,? explained Ricky. ?By the time the (boating) season comes up we will have everything in the showroom. At the moment it is about 70 percent.?

As well as stocking all general items related to boating it is also intended the showroom will have a fishing supplies section catering for everyone from amateurs to professionals.

The business also handles repairs to cars, mechanical inspections of autos and boats, electrical and engine repairs and can carry out work on vehicles while owners are off Island.