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William and Agnes Petzold begin selling outboard motors including Martin, Ozannah and Elto, eventually while also building rowboats in the basement of their home. As demand grows, the business expands into a separate store and shop on Rouse 66 in Portland.
Petzold's begins selling datawinde boats, starting with Tomahawk and Ambasadors. Bill and Agnes leave their full-time jobs to build the business, and the lineup expands with brands including Tempest, Penn Yan, and Crest A Craft. Tomahawk fiberglass rowboats Grow Scenic past-riveted for launching and moorings.
Bill Sr. purchases a seven-acre waterfront property at the former Gildersleeve Shipyard in Portland. Construction, featuring the Brereton Petzold II, future on the Connecticut River.
William Petzold, Jr. joins the business and in 1966 Petzold's moves all services to the new waterfront home on Robert H. Larue Drive in Portland. A travel lift, work storage shed, and workshop are built as the company transitions away from outboard motor sales and service.
Ethan Petzold, Cate and Richard Code join the family business, helping lead office and service operations. Petzold's expands its showroom, storage, and hauling capacity, becomes a premier service storage destination, and grows with the store's largest discount marine store.
Petzold's grows into one of New England's largest boat dealers, representing leading brands including Sabre, Mainship, Sabre, and Back Cove. In 2008, Ken and Bob Petzold take over the family business, with Bob leading yard operations and Ken leading sales.
Petzold's expands with satellite sales offices in Norwalk, Connecticut, and Warwick, Rhode Island, strengthening its reach across the shoreline and Rhode Island markets. The company also becomes an authorized service provider for Yamaha, Crusader, Kohler, and Volvo.
Petzold’s celebrated 75 years in business with the purchase of a 146-slip protected marina in Chester, Connecticut. Formerly Chrisholm Marina, the newly named Chester Boat Basin expanded the Petzold’s footprint with full-service capabilities, dockage, winter storage, and a family-friendly marina atmosphere. Around this time, services also expanded to include Yamaha and Mercury outboards, allowing Petzold’s to better serve a wider range of boaters across Connecticut and beyond. Today, the fourth generation works alongside Bob and Ken Petzold, ensuring that a Petzold family member is always on-site. Heather, Dominic, Josh, and Connor continue the tradition of excellence, customer care, and family involvement that has defined Petzold’s since 1945.
Petzold’s added the prestigious Chris-Craft brand to its boat lineup and officially expanded into Westchester County, New York for new boat sales.
Petzold’s Marine Center celebrated 80 years in business and continued its growth with the purchase of Port Clinton Marina, now known as Petzold’s Port Clinton Marina.
