When we started Alliance Marine Holdings, the goal was never just about scale. It was about creating something bigger than any single property: an alliance of marinas and services designed to strengthen the industry, protect owner legacies, and elevate customer experiences across the boating community.
Owning a marina is different from owning any other kind of real estate or hospitality asset. It’s personal. Marinas are often family businesses, handed down for generations, rooted in local communities, and tied to memories that span decades. Yet they’re also complex businesses, balancing transient boaters, long-term tenants, upland amenities, fuel sales, service, and hospitality. That complexity requires more resources, more investment, and more professional systems than ever before.
For decades, the marina industry has been highly fragmented. Most facilities are independently owned, operated with pride, and deeply tied to the communities they serve. These marinas aren’t just businesses; they’re local landmarks where generations of families have learned to boat, tied up for weekend adventures, or found lifelong friends. They are cultural and economic anchors.
But times are changing. Rising costs of maintenance and labor, shifting customer expectations, new safety, and environmental standards, and increasing demand for high-quality waterfront access are putting pressure on individual owners like never before. Owners tell us the same story across Florida and beyond… running a marina today requires more capital, more scale, and more resources than ever before.
That is why we built Alliance Marine Holdings.
Why an “Alliance”?
The word “alliance” is intentional. This is not a roll-up strategy. This is about creating a network of marinas and marine service companies that support one another, share best practices, and collectively raise the standards of the industry.
When a marina joins AMH, it doesn’t lose its identity. Local names, trusted staff, and customer traditions stay intact. What changes is the support system around the business:
- Operational expertise: Owners gain access to proven systems for staffing, hurricane preparedness, insurance, and capital planning.
- Financial strength: Together, we have the resources to reinvest in docks, amenities, and upland improvements that an individual owner might not be able to fund alone.
- Customer experience: Boaters increasingly want consistency, seamless booking, quality amenities, safety, and service. By aligning marinas within AMH, we create a standard that enhances every guest’s experience.
- Legacy protection: Instead of selling to a competitor or developer who may change everything, owners know their marina’s history and people are honored within the Alliance.
In short: together, we’re stronger than we could ever be alone.
The Current Market Reality
For marina owners, the market presents both challenges and opportunities.
- Demand is surging. Florida’s boating market continues to grow, with over 1.1 million registered boats in the state as of 2024 (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). Coastal and inland slips are at capacity in many markets, and waitlists for dry storage often stretch into years.
- Costs are climbing. According to industry data, dock construction costs have increased 20–30% since 2020, driven by inflation in materials and labor. Insurance premiums in hurricane-prone states have also risen sharply, adding to annual operating expenses.
- Consolidation is accelerating. Private equity firms, developers, and even hospitality brands are eyeing marinas as an asset class. Owners who wait too long to evaluate their options may find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to timing and valuation.
In this environment, independent operators face a difficult choice: continue shouldering rising risks and costs alone or explore partnership opportunities that can preserve value while unlocking new growth.
A Better Way to Transition
At AMH, we believe there’s a better way to sell your marina.
- Flexible options. Whether you want to transition out completely, stay on in a leadership role, or keep your family involved, we tailor each deal to the owner’s goals.
- Fair valuations. By pooling marinas together in a professionalized platform, we create efficiencies that allow us to value assets at higher multiples than a one-off buyer might.
- Operational continuity. Your employees stay employed, your community keeps its marina, and your guests continue to enjoy the same waterfront traditions.
This is what makes AMH different: we aren’t buying marinas to flip them or redevelop them. We are building an enduring platform that benefits owners, employees, guests, and the broader boating industry.
Looking Ahead
Our initial focus has been on Florida, where the need is greatest and opportunities are abundant. But our vision stretches well beyond. From the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas and up the Eastern Seaboard, we see an opportunity to create a coastal corridor of allied marinas that deliver consistent quality and reliability for boaters while preserving the individuality and legacies of each local operation.
For owners, the question becomes: do you want to navigate these changes alone, or do you want to be part of something larger?
Alliance Marine Holdings is not just acquiring marinas, we are creating a stronger, more resilient future for the industry. We invite you to join us in building it.
Final Thought
When I talk to owners about selling, they often share their biggest concerns: Will my people be taken care of? Will my customers stay loyal? Will my legacy endure?
My answer is always the same: Yes… because that is exactly why we built the Alliance.