BUYING & SELLING MARINAS

Our bi-monthly look at what's going on in the marina real estate market place.

Investment opportunity on destination island

CANADA: Montague Harbour Marina, one of the most popular marinas and boating destinations within the Gulf Islands in British Columbia (BC), is situated on the southwest shore of Galiano Island.
Offering transient and annual moorings, the facility has a fuel dock, restaurant, general store, kayak and moped rentals, and caters for boaters and island residents. Operation is seasonal – May to September. The facility is well-run with tenured key staff, making it suitable for an owner/operator or an investor.
Montague Harbour is the only marina on Galiano Island and located in one of the largest natural harbours on the BC east coast. It is an oft visited and established destination along a famous cruising route.
Price: CA$3,000,000
Contact: Alan Johnson (Colliers Canada) +1 604 661 0842

Visitor hub for the Scottish Isles

SCOTLAND: Located on the northwest coast of the Highlands in an area renowned for its unspoilt beauty, white sandy beaches and superb sailing waters, Arisaig Marina benefits from a good range of day-to-day amenities in Arisaig village and excellent transport links to major cities and airports.
The marina is well sheltered and located at the head of Loch nan Caell, an ideal safe and secure mooring spot. There is adequate car parking and profitable additional income streams from a café and gift shop, both of which are very popular with peak season tourists.
Arisaig Marina has 45 seasonal moorings, 25 additional moorings for short to medium term stays and hardstand for wintering up to 70 yachts. There are buildings for boat repairs and storage; offices; sanitary facilities for boaters; and fuel services.
Two passenger ferries (one with 80-person capacity and another for ten passengers), which transport day trippers to various small islands including scenic Eigg and Muck, are included in the sale of the business, as is a further boat currently under restoration.
The shoreside land is held under absolute ownership/heritable title and the water space is leased from the Crown Estate from 2021 for 25 years.
Price: Offers over £1,250,000
Contact: Neil Calder (Shepherd) +44 (0)1463 712239 or Euan MacCrimmon (Strutt & Parker) +44 (0)1463 723593

Thames moorings in Kew

ENGLAND: A rare opportunity to acquire a picturesque moorings business ‘Kew Marine’ on the River Thames in Richmond comes with a new 50-year lease (with statutory renewal) and includes 170m (560ft) of pontoon moorings on the south bank of the river. A Thames lighter barge ‘Lambeth Bridge’, which has been converted into a large rental property, is also included in the sale.
Kew Marine is just a stroll away from world-famous Kew Gardens and the business is in a quiet setting on the river which is mainly used by recreational and rowing boats. A boat service runs through this reach of the Thames and there are good public transport connections.
The residential and leisure moorings business, which has been owned by one family for over 20 years, brings in an average annual turnover of £140,000 and, subject to consents, there is opportunity to extend the pontoons and divide ‘Lambeth Bridge’ into two rental properties.
Price: Offers over £1,500,000
Contact: Ed Jefferson (Colliers) +44 (0)117 917 2011

Boutique appeal in Panama City

FL, USA: A boutique facility ideally positioned at the heart of revitalised downtown Panama City, Bristol Harbor Marina enjoys good steady income with potential growth opportunities. It has excellent access to the Gulf of Mexico via the nearby Saint Andrews inlet.
The marina infrastructure comprises new fixed piers for 49 boats, all with water, electricity and in-slip pump-out. There is gated security, car parking, a commercial office and retail unit and an outdoor covered pavilion. Bristol Harbor is home to several commercial and recreational charter operations, further enhancing its appeal and visibility.
Boasting the highest ranking for environmental sustainability and resilience, Bristol Harbor is recognised as a ‘Resilient Marina’ by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
There is opportunity to boost income by raising slip rates, which are currently well below the norm for the local market, and revising rental fees for long term commercial tenants in the recently renovated three-suite office building. The space is currently leased through to 2025.
Bristol Harbor Marina is being marketed by Safe Haven Advisors (SVN) in partnership with Five Bridge Real Estate Services.
Price: US$2,550,000
Contact: David Kendall (SVN) +1 561 723 8463 or Josh Sheppard (SVN) +1 407 399 1120

Busy oasis in the Carolinas

NC, USA: An increasingly busy and popular stop-over for yachts travelling locally along the east coast, Dowry Creek Marina in Belhaven offers seclusion in a scenic environment while also being close to services and shopping.
Family-owned and operated, it is widely believed to be the busiest transient marina in the Carolinas and was designated the third best small marina in 2023 by Marina Life. It accommodates around 73 boats at docks part-owned by the Boataminium Owner’s Association (BOA), which pays 75% of the dock maintenance cost. The marina management owns 40 slips or 55% of the slips, and all the real estate and buildings.
Amenities include a large clubhouse, fuel dock, swimming pool and clubhouse apartment. There is a kayak, paddle board, canoe and pedal boat rental service. The 235-seat restaurant is available to the buyer as an option but could be retained by the sellers who would then lease the building from the new owners.
Dowry Creek Marina is set in 14.8 acres (6ha), around 5 acres (2ha) of which is designated for a potential RV park.
Price: US$4,000,000
Contact: Jeff Spilman (LIPG) +1 813 956 3275