The Marina Industry: Building Moats, Storing Boats - [Business Breakdowns, EP.170]

This is Zack Fuss. Today, we are breaking down the U.S. Marina Industry. In the U.S. there are more than 11,000 marinas, grossing over $6 billion in sales. 

Today, there is a 12 to 1 ratio of registered boats versus the supply of rentable wet slips and dry storage spaces. Zoning regulations lead to limited supply growth, which has led to a sustained backdrop of strong, profitable growth for the industry. 

To break down the industry, I am joined by David Chesner, co-CEO of Grove Point Marinas, and Josh Koplewicz, managing partner of Thayer Street Partners. We discuss how Marinas are currently evolving from a largely local and independent model to one that is institutionalizing as an asset class and lowering the industry's cost of capital, helping to finance growth. And, to illustrate the unit economics, we cover the largest players in the space, including publicly traded Sun Communities’ Safe Harbor Marina business. Please enjoy this breakdown of the Marina Industry. 

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Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Business Breakdowns

(00:05:21) Overview of the Marina Industry

(00:08:00) Revenue and Margins in the Marina Business

(00:10:36) Operational Improvements and Best Practices

(00:12:54) Challenges in Marina Development

(00:14:10) Competitive Landscape and Market Players

(00:27:02) Growth Strategies and Financial Insights

(00:34:28) Risks and Resilience in the Marina Industry

(00:39:08) Lessons Learned from the Marina Industry