The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Mike Lilly with AC Marine Services works on a jetski at their Airport Industrial Park location. F. Brian Ferguson

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July 29, 2012

AC Automotive extends services

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter

AC Automotive Group, a full service and repair center located in Beaver, has recently extended its line of services to include boats and other watercraft.

The new business, AC Marine Services, opened for business at the beginning of July and has already been servicing boats and personal watercraft.  

Mike Lilly serves as the resident boat specialist and is already well-known for his work in the area.

Lilly has over 20 years of experience and has been trained to service personal watercraft, like Sea-Doos, Kawasakis and MerCruisers.

Manager of AC Automotive Michael Yon said the opportunity came up for their business to expand and he thought adding AC Marine Services would be a great partnership.

“We decided it would be beneficial for us both. He’s a well-rounded guy; he works on boats and cars.”

AC Marine Services is already seeing business, simply from word of mouth.

“Many customers already know him from around town and his boat reputation,” Yon said. “We’re just trying to start something new and help him out and help ourselves out as well.”

Lilly and Yon say there is no doubt that there is a need for this service in the area.

“West Virginia has some nice lakes and rivers. Being on the water in the summertime around here is a pretty popular activity, so we expect Mike will stay pretty busy.”

Lilly said he works on all models, but he says older models are his specialty.

“Repairs are relatively cheap in comparison to buying a new watercraft,” Lilly said.

Lilly has had quite a struggle in the past few years, working only seasonally, then getting laid off from a job in the coalfields, and recently losing everything he had in his shop in Grandview in a fire.

The partnership couldn’t have come at a better time, Lilly said.

“I’m ecstatic, I’m blessed and I’m very thankful for them to take a chance on me.”

AC Automotive Group and AC Marine Services are located in the Raleigh County Airport Industrial Park in Beaver on Phoenix Drive, across from Valley Bell Milk.

For more information, call 304-578-1090 or 304-578-BOAT(2628).

— E-mail: wholdren@register-herald.com



 

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