Our Story
B&E Marine, Inc.
Est. 1953More Than a Dealership. A Lake Michigan Tradition Since 1953.
Every great boating story begins with a love for the water.
Ours began in 1953 with Ronald Bensz — a carpenter’s apprentice by trade and the son of a milkman. Ron wasn’t born into the marine industry. He built his future the same way he built everything else: with his hands, discipline, and determination.
Outside of work, he was drawn to speed and water — racing hydroplanes, learning engines, and developing the mechanical foundation that would become B & E Marine.
Alongside his original partner, Roland Evett, Ron started the business in a basement. No big showroom. No outside investors. Just hard work, mechanical skill, and a belief that boating on Lake Michigan was only going to grow.
By 1954, the business moved to a piece of land on Trail Creek — a quiet canal just off Lake Michigan. At the time, the waterfront was industrial and largely overlooked. But Ron saw something different. He saw a harbor between Chicago and Michigan. He saw families cruising the lake. He saw opportunity.
In 1955, Ron acquired full ownership and began a steady, disciplined expansion. He reinvested in docks, built marina slips, expanded storage, and improved the property. What started as a 560-square-foot building grew into a boating campus.
He believed in doing things right. He believed in reinvesting. And he believed that if you treated customers with integrity, they would come back — and bring their children with them.
They did.
A Waterfront Legacy
Over the decades, docks were added. Slips were filled. Storage buildings rose. And generations of families made B & E Marine their home port.
Trail Creek transformed. The waterfront evolved. And B & E Marine became woven into the boating culture of Lake Michigan.
Today, our campus spans more than 100,000 square feet across ten waterfront buildings. We operate a full-service marina with permanent slips, heated and cold storage, fuel docks, multiple hoists and ramps, and factory-trained service facilities.
But the most important growth wasn’t measured in square footage.
It was measured in trust.
The Next Generation
In the mid-1980s, Ron sold the business to his sons, Barry and Rod — who had grown up on the docks, in the service bays, and around the marina. The transition was earned and intentional.
Barry and Rod carried forward the same philosophy: reinvest in the business, protect the reputation, and always put the customer first.
Under their leadership, B & E Marine expanded its brand partnerships and elevated its service standards. The dealership earned national recognition for customer satisfaction, became a MRAA Certified Dealer, and has received awards in sales and service from all of its boat and engine brands.
Growth continued — but the foundation never changed.
Still family-owned.
Still relationship-driven.
Still built on handshake integrity.
The Team Behind the Docks
While our history matters, our people are what truly define us.
Many members of our team have been with B & E Marine for 20, 30, and even 40 years. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from pride in the work, deep relationships with customers, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.
Our technicians bring decades of hands-on experience. Our sales team understands the lake, the brands, and the lifestyle. Our marina, service and storage staff know our customers by name.
They are not just employees.
They are craftsmen, mentors, problem-solvers, and caretakers of your time on the water.
They make us who we are.
Built Around the Boater
Boating isn’t a transaction. It’s a lifestyle.
It’s sunrise departures.
It’s long weekends on the lake.
It’s teaching your kids to dock.
It’s cruising 38 miles by water toward the Chicago skyline.
When someone buys a boat from B & E Marine, they’re not just buying fiberglass and horsepower. They’re trusting us with their time, their memories, and their family traditions.
We take that seriously.
A Commitment Beyond the Water
For more than seventy years, we’ve believed that a strong waterfront helps build a strong community.
We proudly support local boating safety initiatives and charitable organizations, including the Salvation Army of Michigan City and others that serve families in our area.
Because success isn’t only measured in growth — it’s measured in impact.
Still Building the Future
From a basement start in 1953 to a premier Lake Michigan marina today, our mission remains the same:
Serve boaters with integrity.
Deliver exceptional experiences.
Protect the legacy that began with a carpenter’s apprentice who believed in building things the right way.
The buildings are bigger now. The boats are more advanced. But the heart of B & E Marine is unchanged.
We are boaters serving boaters.
And we would be honored to welcome you to our docks.