What I buy
Established businesses that serve and supply the marine industry.
I'm looking for founder-owned businesses, trading for twenty years or more, that the boating world quietly relies on, here in Southeast Florida.
The idea, simply
Why "Upstream"?
Every boat and fleet depends on a chain of businesses: the marinas and yards that look after them, and further up the stream, the people who supply, service, certify and fabricate what they need.
Those businesses are often steady, respected and built over a lifetime. That's what I want to buy, look after and grow. I partner with the owner, strengthen the business, and buy it over time, with the team continuing to lead the day-to-day.
What this means for your business: it keeps its name, its team and its customers. I back it for the long term. Over time, I hope to add complementary businesses that can work well alongside it.
Sectors
The kinds of businesses I look for
- Marinas, service and repair yardsMarinas, boat storage, and service and repair yards and facilities that look after boats and their owners.
- Regulated and recurring servicesLife raft servicing and recertification, fire suppression and extinguisher servicing, EPIRB and safety gear certification, hydraulic hose crimping and field service, propeller reconditioning, rigging inspection, refrigeration and watermaker servicing, shrink-wrap.
- Components and consumablesAnodes, propellers, shafts and couplings, bearings and seals, hydraulic hose and fittings, electrical panels and wiring, sanitation gear, rope and mooring gear, boat lifts, davits and dock hardware.
- Raw materials and chemistryResin and gelcoat, sealants, adhesives and fairing compounds, core materials, teak and decking, marine paint and antifouling, fasteners, marine fabric supply.
- FabricationCanvas and enclosures, upholstery and flooring, custom stainless, aluminum fabrication, plating and polishing, joinery, molds and tooling.
- Customs, FTZ and logisticsYacht customs brokers, duty and FTZ administration, bonded warehousing, freight forwarding, registry agents, yacht transport.
- Sportfishing supplyRigged bait, terminal tackle and rigs, line and leader, custom rods, reel servicing, outriggers and towers, fighting chairs and rod holders, livewells.
- Something related?If your business serves or supplies the marine industry, I'd still like to hear from you.
What I don't buy: yacht brokerages, charter operators, yacht management companies or consumer retail stores.
A good fit
What a good fit usually looks like
- Founder-owned and trading for twenty years or more
- Loyal, repeat customers across the industry
- Work that recurs: servicing, recertification, or parts that wear out
- A team that knows the work
- An owner thinking about stepping back or planning what comes next
- Annual revenue of roughly $500,000 to $7 million
- Based in Southeast Florida
These are guidelines, not rules. If you're unsure whether your business fits, just ask.
Where I'm looking
Southeast Florida: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and Monroe counties.
Size
Businesses with annual revenue of roughly $500,000 to $7 million.
How I like to do it
- Partner first, and buy over time if that suits you
- Part of the price paid over time, by agreement
- A role for you during the transition, if you want one
- I intend to keep your team and trading name
- Confidential throughout
Think your business might be a fit?
Tell me a little about it. I'll give you an honest answer, even if it's not for me.
Every conversation is private. Nothing is shared without your say-so.
I'll call you back myself within one business day.