MarineMax Evicts 30 Boats for being "Too Old"

[RichV2020]

January 2022 MarineMax - (NYSE: HZO) $2B Sales

With only 3 months before the boating season starts, MarineMax general manager for Massachusetts and Rhode Island Blake Phillips, is evicting 30 boats from the Quincy, MA location (Bay Pointe Marina) for being “too old”, according to Stu Piaseck marina operations manager.

They probably need to make room for the million dollar boats they plan to sell, and they may be doing it in other locations. With long waiting lists at most marinas, these boats will literally be left “High and Dry”.

The evictees include long-time customers, veterans, and retirees. Many are unaware because the official notice has not gone out yet, or they plan not to send the renewal notices at all, which is even worse. The list includes boats currently stored in the marina parking lot. Quincy is considered a working class city south of Boston, and the location of the nearby Fore River Shipyard, where 92 Navy ships were built, including battleships, carriers, heavy and light cruisers, and destroyers.

Source: investor.marinemax.com
MarineMax is the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, selling new and used recreational boats, yachts and related marine products and services, as well as providing yacht brokerage and charter services. MarineMax has over 100 locations worldwide, including 77 retail dealership locations, which includes 31 marinas or storage operations (25 brands; 6 east coast exclusive; including Aquila, Aviara, Azimut, Galeon). Through Fraser Yachts and Northrop and Johnson, the Company also is the largest super-yacht services provider, operating locations across the globe. Cruisers Yachts and Intrepid, MarineMax companies, manufactures boats and yachts with sales through our select retail dealership locations and through independent dealers. MarineMax provides finance and insurance services through wholly owned subsidiaries and operates MarineMax Vacations (Chartering) in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

[Jake Tanley]

What is the source for the article?

[Shrew]

Old derelict boats are becoming unwanted everywhere. A picture is worth 1,000 words. I'd like to see pictures of the 30 boats who's contracts are not being renewed.

[RaymondR]

Boats or people ageism is not a good thing.

[RichV2020]

I am the source of the article.
I know it's about the money and accept that, it is a business with shareholders. The main issue here is not who or what, is is how they are doing it that leaves a lot of boat owners stranded.

1. They could initiate the policy and grandfather existing customers (best).
2. They could let boat owners know during the summer months, or least at the end of the season, they won't be renewing.
3. Any method with some communication. Who knows how many of these boat owners are going to show up in May expecting to go in the water.

[Orion Jim]

Here is a list of 493 marinas in Massachusetts. It would seem the inconvenience is not insurmountable. I have always had slips in small, family owned marinas, and I have had to deal with a corporate takeover once.

https://marinas.com/browse/marina/US/MA/20

[Bycrick]

There’s no free lunch. I lived in a marina where the owner lived right at the head of the dock. There was no "big, faceless corporate bureaucracy" to deal with. But if you irritated him, you were GONE at the end of the month. He ran it as his private fiefdom.

[Tetepare]

I'd like to hear both sides of the story. Somehow I get the feeling if I knew the whole truth I'd have less compassion.

I can think of some boats in our marina that could get uninvited. Launched in spring, sit all summer unrigged, halyards banging, green algae all over the deck. Or those that do show up three times a year, bang into other boats, have to be pulled into the slip, etc. Yeah, I'd not be sad to see some go.

[jfischgrund]

I am sure there is more to the story, but I am wondering if this is yet another Safe Harbor type conglomerate.

[MyCatLife]

RichV, were you evicted? Can you provide more info on a vessel that was.

[kzmike]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Old derelict boats are becoming unwanted everywhere. A picture is worth 1,000 words. I'd like to see pictures of the 30 boats who's contracts are not being renewed.

Old and derelict are two different things. I have seen plenty of new derelicts at marinas. This is most likely a case of boating elitism run rampant by people who have no real interest in boats or boating, just money.

[MyCatLife]

Originally Posted by kzmike

Old and derelict are two different things. I have seen plenty of new derelicts at marinas. This is most likely a case of boating elitism run rampant by people who have no real interest in boats or boating, just money.

That's my gut instinct too. They want a marina full of modern pristine vessels.

But to be fair,... If I am trying to sell a new SeaRay 65 every week,... I don't want my clients walking past eyesores.

Edit: just checked their website... Ocean Alexander, Azimut,...

This may be a business going more upmarket

[gbowen]

I wonder if this could be an insurance issue. I have spoken with people who have had their insurance cancelled because their boat was too old. Marinas have different policies but carrying liability insurance could be one of them.

Interesting topic!

[Opie91]

Originally Posted by MyCatLife

That's my gut instinct too. They want a marina full of modern pristine vessels.

But to be fair,... If I am trying to sell a new SeaRay 65 every week,... I don't want my clients walking past eyesores.

Edit: just checked their website... Ocean Alexander, Azimut,...

This may be a business going more upmarket

Sounds like they are turning into a shiny boat parking lot full of dock queens.

If that is the way the marina was going I wouldn't want to be there anyway.

[jjt5795]

Originally Posted by gbowen

I wonder if this could be an insurance issue. I have spoken with people who have had their insurance cancelled because their boat was too old. Marinas have different policies but carrying liability insurance could be one of them.

Interesting topic!

FYI - Safe Harbor now requires hull value insurance.