The boat store on the Southside of Indianapolis has roots that stretch back over 50 years. Its story runs through two family businesses, a small city north of Indy, and a couple of old high school buddies with big plans. How did Denny's Marina become the place boaters know today? The answer begins in Peru.
- Denny's Marina opened in Peru, Indiana, in 1972, and the Decker family bought it in 1986.
- J Hurless and Monty Anderson took over Reeder-Trausch Marine in Rockville in 2018 and bought Denny's Marina in 2024.
- After the sale, the Southside staff grew from 11 people to 29, according to co-owner J Hurless.
Where Denny's Marina Got Its Start
Denny's Marina opened its doors in 1972 in Peru, a small city north of Kokomo. The Decker family bought it in 1986 and held on to it for over 38 years. For the last 17 of those years, brothers Dan and Greg Decker ran the show.
By the time they sold, the shop had become a Southside Indy fixture. People came in for new and used boats, parts, financing, repairs, and storage. Crownline, Lund, and Bennington filled the lot back then, and you'll still find all three in the showroom now.
A Studebaker Building in Rockville
The other half of this story starts in Rockville, west of Indy. In the mid-1970s, Larry Reeder took an old Studebaker building and turned it into a place to store boats. Over the years, that little storage business grew into a pontoon sales and service shop.
Larry handed the keys to J Hurless and Monty Anderson in 2018. The two had been classmates at Center Grove, and they first worked side by side at Ray Skillman Auto Center. These days, Hurless handles sales while Anderson runs service.
When they took over, Rockville was a three-person operation bringing in $375,000 a year, according to Trade Only Today. By the magazine's January 2026 profile, that same store had passed $24 million in yearly revenue. Not bad for a business that began as a place to store boats.
Two Family Shops Under One Name
At MRAA Dealer Week, Hurless and Anderson told the team at Performance Brokerage Services they wanted a second store. The brokers went looking and found Denny's Marina. Dan and Greg Decker were getting ready to retire, and the firm announced the deal in August 2024.
The dealership stayed in its Southside home and picked up a new name, Reeder-Trausch Marine Indy. Dan Decker said his family was glad to see the business carry on with owners who shared their values. That's a pretty good send-off for a shop with roots in the early 1970s.
A Fast Start After the Sale
Things moved quickly once the new owners settled in. Hurless told Trade Only Today the business did $10 million in sales with 11 workers in 2023, the year before the sale. By 2025, those numbers had climbed to $22 million and 29 people.
A few habits guide the team. Captains take new owners out on the water and show them how each system operates, right down to getting the boat back on the trailer. Staff members also hold a daily meeting to go over each active customer. Even the company's three values came from a staff vote, and the winners were teamwork, customer service, and accountability.
Running two stores took some getting used to. Hurless said keeping processes lined up at both locations has been steady work.
What a Dealer's Track Record Tells You
A long history gives you something to check before you buy. Ask how long the service team has worked on the brand you're eyeing, and find out what kind of help comes after the sale. If a dealer can walk you through launching and loading on day one, that's a good sign. Planning lazy weekends on Geist or early fishing trips on Lake Monroe? Those answers can matter as much as the price tag.
See the Next Chapter at Our Southside Showroom
We're proud to carry the Denny's Marina story forward as Reeder-Trausch Marine Indy. Our team can help you compare Bennington pontoons and tritoons, Lund fishing boats, Four Winns bowriders, and Crownline sport boats side by side. Climb aboard a few new models, ask all the questions you want, and tell us how you plan to spend your days on the water. Once you buy, one of our captains takes you out and walks you through launching, docking, and trailering. Our service and parts teams will stick with you long after that first ride. Come see us and become part of the story.
