The marina market proved to have holding power in 2025, retaining its footing as a sound investment, both in the U.S. and abroad. According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), the Marina Market Size was estimated at $19.52 Billion in 2024, with the marina industry projected to grow from 20.22 USD Billion in 2025 to 28.78 USD Billion by 2035. The marina market is exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% during the forecast period 2025 – 2035.
At Simply Marinas, we continued to feel the draw to the marina industry, closing our year with strong sales momentum. In the fourth quarter, we saw a total of $120 million in marina transactions with assets across the U.S. from New York to Florida and Texas to Tennessee. We added confidential sales on the Pacific Coast and have a few more currently under agreement.
Our sales over the past four years have exceeded $450 million, which is one of the highest sales volumes in the industry. Through our company’s history, we have facilitated more than 270 marina sales and accumulated a network of over 14,000 marina buyers. Our experience, when combined with our top-tier specialists and award-winning outreach, has left us ready to handle the anticipated significant growth in the coming year.
Why Investors Choose Marinas
On a more micro level than the study performed by Market Research Future, we’re seeing investors attracted to marinas due to the benefits of accelerated depreciation and favorable cap rates, which differ tremendously from other commercial real estate right now. The limited supply of available marinas and the barriers to entry create a unique opportunity for substantial upside.
We see demand for marinas continuing despite a downward trend of boat sales that spiked during the pandemic. Those who became boaters in the past few years are sticking with it and need to hold on to places to store and maintain their vessels. Recreational boating has taken hold as a tourist attraction, with boat rental and boat clubs growing in popularity, both of which need marinas in which to operate from.
Marinas have become resorts in their own standing, no longer just places to store boats, but complete vacations with on-site restaurants, attractions, lodging, and more. As the amenities expand, the popularity grows, and the sales prices remain steady.
If you’re considering a sale, now is a good time to get those plans into place.
Selling a Marina
There is much to consider in putting a marina on the market and starting early is a key to success. Take a good look at your property and take note of those projects and repairs you’ve been putting off. Addressing deferred maintenance will put your marina at the top of the list for potential buyers.
Similarly, taking a deep dive into your records and finances is essential. We recommend you work from the start with a marina consultant and tax professional to put your marina in the best light. At Simply Marinas, we help buyers prepare for outside scrutiny of their records by going over everything and addressing any shortcomings well before a buyer is involved. We look over P& L statements, balance sheets, slip rates and occupancy, tenant leases, and more to build a complete picture of your marina’s value.
Our team can also help you decide whether you want to sell your marina on the open market or take advantage of our confidential buyers’ network. There are pros and cons to each approach that depend on several factors beyond whether you want anyone to know you’re selling. We can walk you through the process for both and help you determine which will work best for your situation. Our buyers have been carefully curated through our decades in the industry and we’re confident in their ability to close a transaction.
Another consideration is how you want to transition from ownership. Some sales include retaining the current leadership in some capacity for a set amount of time to keep consistency. Other times, sellers are ready to retire and walk away. Think through whether you’re ready to say goodbye or would like to ensure a smooth transition by remaining involved in some capacity.
Private or Corporate Buyer
Many buying groups have sprung up in the past few years and have been quickly expanding their footprints across the US and beyond. However, there are plenty of private buyers and sales. If you’re simply not comfortable with the idea of selling to a corporation, you still have plenty of options.
There are potential pros and cons of selling to either corporations or private individuals, and we can help walk you through both. We’ve had plenty of practice and seen much success with both types of sales. One is not better than the other, but they do have distinct differences in practice.
There is a lot to consider if you’re planning to sell your marina. We’re happy to discuss your marina valuation and how best to approach your marina sale. We developed the Simply Marinas Seller’s Guide to get you started. Marina owners can request their free copy here.
Let’s discuss how to optimize your marina value.
Michelle Ash, MBA, PhD, Broker/Owner: 305-439-9581 ash@simplymarinas.com
George Ash, National Director: 352-262-5784 george.ash@simplymarinas.com