The Dinghy Store was purchased in 1987 by Roger Fry from an established chandler called Roy Rigden. Roy Rigden was also a boatbuilder, and had run his chandlery in the town of Whitstable for over 25 years with his wife Madge.

Since the Fry Family took over we have enlarged the amount of stock held and have opened a second floor in the building just to accomodate clothing. In 1989 we purchased Whitstable Marine, an established shop selling Mercury outboards, Sports Boats and Fishing Boats, waterski equipment and a full workshop facility for servicing outboards and inboards. Once again we have increased the stock by adding Kayaks, fishing equipment, Tohatsu outboards and many other nautical bits. In 1992 we purchased the Bosuns Locker in Ramsgate Marina. Here we focus mainly on "big boat gear" ie charts, electronics, plumbing, fridges, toilets etc.

We have a regular delivery system between all our shops, especially the ones next door to each other, so if we haven't got what you want at one shop we are sure to have it at one of the others. Our Chandlery departments have stock from all the major suppliers in our Industry and our Clothing departments have every item of clothing such as foul weather gear, wetsuits, drysuits, buoyancy aids, lifejackets, thermal wear, fleece, casual jackets, boots, deckshoes and all types of accessories.

The shop is open 7 days a week during the summer months. The sailing here can be great and the sea is only 100m away!