Marinas Industry Profile

About 4,300 commercial marinas, excluding private yacht clubs, operate in the US, with combined annual revenue of $4 billion. Large companies include Westrec Marinas, Flagship Marinas, and California Yacht Marina. Only about 50 operators own more than one marina. Most marinas are privately owned, but some are operated by municipalities or state agencies.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Sales and ownership of power- and sailboats create demand for marina services. The profitability of an individual marina depends on location and good marketing. Large and multi-location marinas have the resources to advertise and negotiate better prices with suppliers, builders, and maintenance firms. Small marinas can compete by offering customized services or preferred locations. The industry is labor-intensive: annual average revenue per worker is about $100,000.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

The main business of marinas is renting slips (dockside spaces) and moorings (anchored buoys). Marinas also sell fuel and other items, provide maintenance services, sell food, and provide winter storage. About 40 percent of industry revenue comes from slip and storage fees, 25 percent from fuel sales, 15 percent from maintenance, and 10 percent from food sales.

A typical marina has 50 to 100 slips. But some have more, such as Dana Point Marina in Orange County, California, which has 1,500 slips. The major operating activities of a marina are similar to that of a hotel, and revolve around managing rentals, managing personnel, maintaining the property, and supplying services. Occupancy rates and rental ...