Jordan Point Marina
How Jordan Point Marina Opened a New Revenue Stream with Stellar by Storable
OVERVIEW
When the ownership group behind Jordan Point Marina acquired the property in eastern Virginia, they saw untapped potential. As Cody Cole, the marina’s General Manager, put it:
“We realized that in order to really change our path—and essentially make more money—we needed to have additional income streams.”
With limited competition in the area and a regional appetite for tourism around the James River, Cody and his team launched a boat rental program to attract more visitors and diversify their marina’s revenue.
THE CHALLENGE:
At the outset, Jordan Point Marina had no digital systems or prior rental operation in place. Everything was done with paper records.
Starting from scratch meant they had to figure out first the logistics of owning and renting boats, and second, how to manage operations, customer experience, and online visibility with a small team.
“We didn’t use anything before. When we bought the boats, that’s when we started looking for software.”
Cody’s goals were clear: get found online, let people book from their phones, and reduce the manual effort required from his team.
“My main concern was that if somebody pulled out their phone, wherever they were, and typed in ‘boat rentals near me,’our website would show up. And the first thing they see is to rent a boat and they click that and it jumps to the Stellar platform —where they can select a date, time, see the price, and pay there—all in just a few minutes.”
the SOLUTION:
Cody had a positive firsthand experience renting boats in other states, and one rental in Florida stood out to him—it was using Stellar by Storable. As the Jordan Point team was getting the boat rental program off the ground, he reached out to sign up.
The Stellar platform allowed Jordan Point Marina to launch their boat rental program with minimal friction. With support from the Stellar team, they uploaded boat photos, integrated online booking, set up pricing, and even automated the customer communication process.
“I’d be out working in the yard, and I’d get an email notification: ‘You’ve got a rental on Saturday from 10 to 4.’ I’d tell my guys to make sure the boat is cleaned up on Friday before the rental. At that point, I don’t really know how much more efficient you could be.”
Key features that helped:
- Seamless online booking with confirmation emails and digital payments
- Streamlined check-in and waiver process
- Dedicated support team and onboarding
- Flexibility to manage pricing easily
THE OUTCOME:
In their first season, starting in June with two pontoon boats and eight kayaks, Jordan Point Marina brought in about $8,000 in rental revenue. The following year, with better planning and more marketing, the numbers grew significantly.
“My goal was to double the revenue in year two, and we came close—if not surpassed it. The season ran smoother than it did the first time, with only two people that would operate the rentals. One to do check-ins, payments, and all the proper waivers. And another person to take them to the boat, do a safety inspection, and give them the lowdown before they go.
The Stellar platform allowed Cody to run a successful boat rental operation with only two people. Cody now focuses on operations and customer service without getting bogged down in admin.
Notable Outcomes:
- More bookings, less phone time
- Improved operational flow with minimal staff
- Higher visibility from integrated marketing and booking links
- Quick turnaround with little tech setup required
- Responsive support team
LOOKING AHEAD
With no plans to expand the fleet just yet, Cody’s focus is on optimizing the experience. And would he recommend Stellar?
“Absolutely. I even met another marina in Florida using it. We bonded over it—they told me they’d tried every software out there and stuck with Stellar because of the customer service and ease of use.”