A Growing Marine Business Built on Trust, Skill and Community
Salty Boys Boat Works isn’t just another marine repair outfit—it’s a rapidly growing, family-run business that has carved out a reputation across Puget Sound for reliability, technical skill and a straightforward approach that customers say can be hard to find.
From mobile service calls stretching from Olympia to Port Townsend to complex in-shop rebuilds, the Bremerton-based company has built its name on keeping boats running—and their owners confident on the water.
“Mostly what we’ve heard from customers is that it’s hard to find an honest shop and my big philosophy is always to treat people fairly,” owner Rick Willhite said.
That reputation didn’t come overnight. It was built through a mix of experience, timing and a willingness to take a risk when circumstances forced a career shift.
From Layoff to Launch
Salty Boys traces its roots to 2019, when Rick was working as a lead technician for Toyota Lift.
“They let go of all of their upper paid people due to COVID before the incentives kicked in,” he said. “I think they fired or laid off four of us all together at once.”
The layoff could have been a setback. Instead, it became a turning point.
That same day, friends at a yacht club gave him an idea.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, well, great. Now you have time to work on our boat,’” he said.
Rick began taking on marine repair jobs on his own, building a client base organically. By 2021, he had filed for a business license and formally launched what would become Salty Boys Boat Works.
Early work centered around a yacht club on the Washington side of the Columbia River. Demand was steady—but seasonal.
“There were slow periods in the winter,” he said. “Nobody likes to boat in the rain.”
The real shift came after he and his wife, Mary, bought a sailboat in Tacoma. Rick wore his work shirts around the marina, and conversations with other boat owners quickly turned into new jobs.
“Business started growing and eventually far outpaced Portland,” Rick said. “That’s how we ended up in the Puget Sound.”
Growth, Setbacks and a Move North
The company began hiring in 2022, but growth came with challenges.
“We went through some rough patches, some growing experiences,” Rick said.
At the same time, the Portland side of the business began to falter.
“When I moved up here to grow the business, my partner down there at the time didn’t continue with the advertising, and so business really fell off, and we ended up closing that office,” he said.
About a year and a half ago, the Portland operation shut down completely, leaving Salty Boys fully focused on Kitsap County and the surrounding region.
For a time, the business operated entirely as a mobile service. That changed in the summer of 2024, when the Willhites secured a shop space in Port Orchard. The addition allowed them to work on smaller vessels and qualify as dealers for brands like Yanmar, Nanni and Cox diesel outboards.
Eventually, they landed in Bremerton, where the business continues to grow.
When they first walked into their current space, it needed serious work.
“The building hadn’t been painted in 20 or 30 years,” Rick said. “There were so many cars out front you couldn’t pull in. There were 14 cars inside the shop. You couldn’t walk through there—you’d have to scoot sideways between everything. There was no drywall in this building, and there was no floor in this corner.”
Transforming it into a functioning marine shop took time, effort and long nights—but it also marked a turning point in establishing a permanent home base.
A Family Business with Deep Roots
Rick’s experience with engines started long before Salty Boys.
He attended trade school in Southern California for diesel performance and spent years working in heavy equipment and trucking. The couple also owned a transportation business with big rigs before shifting into marine work.
“I grew up in Southern California, so we’re always sailing and fishing on the water,” he said. “It wasn’t really until COVID that I realized that there’s actually a pretty lucrative career in this, and most of my training switched over pretty easily. All the same engines are used in heavy equipment.”
Mary, who recently became an official partner in the business, has long played a central role behind the scenes.
“Kind of the way most LLCs are run, or at least couple-owned businesses, the wife is always doing paperwork and handling customers and making sure the taxes are in order and the funds are there, and she’s been doing it without recognition,” Rick said.
With a background in accounting, Mary manages payroll, taxes, scheduling and day-to-day operations.
“I want people to be able to give life to their boats and make sure that they continue to run,” Mary said. “That they’re able to go out and use them and have a safe time on the water, not have to worry about getting out there, getting stranded. Peace of mind.”
Building the Right Team
As the business has grown, so has the team. Today, Salty Boys includes a lead technician, multiple technicians and front-office support.
Retention has become just as important as hiring.
“We weren’t able to supply healthcare. We have now grown to the point that we can, which I’m very happy about,” Rick said.
The company now offers paid time off, training opportunities and internships, while focusing on creating a workplace where employees feel valued.
“I think the biggest thing is that they feel valued in what they do, and that they’re making a difference,” he said.
A Full-Service Operation
Salty Boys operates as a full-service marine shop with a primary focus on diesel engines and retrofits, along with electrical systems. Much of the work is still mobile, with crews traveling daily across the region.
Each job begins with a detailed intake process, followed by an on-site consultation.
“We found that we have to charge a two-hour minimum to make up for the rising cost of everything,” Rick said, pointing to fuel, insurance and vehicle expenses.
From there, jobs are scheduled about a week and a half out, with technicians meeting each morning before heading to marinas and docks throughout Puget Sound.
Since they offer an emergency service Occasionally, the work goes far beyond Washington.
“Our most notable one is we flew to Sitka, Alaska, for a head gasket job on a sailboat because there was no one that could do it,” Rick said. “There was a transit crew, captain and crew sitting there waiting to leave, and the boat was inoperable. So we flew up there and got them going within a week.”
Problem-Solving at the Core
One recent project highlights the kind of challenges the team takes on.
A hybrid sailboat needed to be converted to a new 30-horsepower Yanmar engine. What seemed straightforward quickly became complicated when they discovered the fuel tank also served as ballast.
“For whatever reason, a genius engineer decided putting the fuel tank underneath the engine was a great idea and filling it with lead for ballast,” Rick said.
The tank extended into the keel and was encapsulated in epoxy, making removal impractical.
“Kind of had to switch gears and redesign the tank ourselves,” he said.
The team fabricated new components and rebuilt the system in-house, working toward a tight deadline.
It’s that kind of work that keeps Rick engaged.
“Fixing something that’s broken, being able to add life to something—especially in today’s culture, where we just throw things away when they’re broken—it’s nice to be able to work on stuff that’s 50 years old and give it a new life,” he said. “Put a new engine in that boat and bring it into the 21st century with fuel injection and all that. That’s definitely where things are cool.”
Protecting More Than Boats
Beyond repairs, Salty Boys has taken on a quieter role in environmental response.
The company has assisted with fuel and diesel spill containment, working alongside cleanup crews and the state Department of Ecology.
“Directly due to our response for free, we saved probably 1,000 gallons of diesel from going into the surrounding area,” Rick said of one incident.
They’ve also introduced a monthly service program aimed at helping boat owners stay ahead of maintenance costs.
Rooted in Community
Off the water, the Willhites are invested in their community.
They’ve supported North Kitsap High School athletics, sponsored youth baseball and provided equipment and clothing for families in need. Rick has also volunteered with a ROTC sailing program and participated in cleanup efforts.
Those efforts reflect the same philosophy that guides the business: take care of people, and the rest follows.
Looking ahead
As Salty Boys continues to grow, the focus is on expanding capabilities while maintaining the personal approach that built its reputation.
“Expanding our footprint so that we can accommodate more customers, a little more streamlined, and growing our staff, employee retention,” Rick said.
They’re also looking to bring more work in-house, including rebuilding specialized components like velvet drive transmissions.
Through it all, the foundation remains the same.
“One of my biggest pet peeves is, you know, nobody’s perfect,” he said. “You’re never gonna do a perfect job. We can strive to always do our best, but it’s fixing mistakes when they happen, and owning up to them”
That philosophy is what truly sets them apart.
In a region defined by its waterways, Salty Boys Boat Works has found its place—not just as a service provider, but as a trusted partner helping keep both boats and the people who rely on them moving forward.
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