marina business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

18
RICHARD GRAVES & ASSOCIATES MARINA BUSINESS PRESENTATION © 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves Please click on the slide you are viewing to move on to the next slide

Upload: richard-graves-amp-associates

Post on 20-May-2015

7.718 views

Category:

Business


1 download

DESCRIPTION

This is an in-depth presentation on the marina business for those interested in owning and operation a marina business. It is also very informative for those wanting to sell or buy a marina. More info can be found on our Professional Marine Realty web site. http://www.promarine-realty.com

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

RICHARD GRAVES & ASSOCIATES

MARINA BUSINESS PRESENTATION

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Please click on the slide you are viewing to move on to the next slide

Page 2: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

HISTORY

The early concept of the marina, including public access and common ownership of waterfront property for commerce and transportation , dates to Roman Law of 2,000 years ago. The concept was lost during the Dark Ages, however, the Magna Carta restored public rights to coastal tidelands in 1215 AD

In the United States, marinas developed slowly. The U.S. Congress passed the River and Harbor Act of 1899, which authorized the Secretary of the Army, through the Army Corps of Engineers, to approve the building of any structure on or over navigable waters. Recreational boating increased and the wealthy built private harbors in the early 1900s. By the 1930s , the term marina (Italian for a small craft harbor) described a recreational boating facility. After World II, the middle class bought recreational boats with discretionary income thereby creating a demand for more marinas.

Until the 1960s most marinas were owner operated. Then developers showcased the marina as the first stage in long term, mixed use plans for Urban revitalization and resort complexes. As a result of the increase of recreational boating across the country. Congress broadened the River and Harbor Act in 1968 to require approval of building recreational structures, further protecting U.S. waterways.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 3: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

MARINA INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

• According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s estimate in 2002, there are about 12,000 marinas, boatyards, dockominiums, equity yacht clubs and private clubs operating in the U.S. Additional research shows of the 12,000 marinas, 60% are salt water and 75% are 25 years or older. About 70 percent of marinas are privately owned, profit-making businesses that sell services to the public. The remaining 30 percent are municipal and state marinas, which are open to the public at minimal cost.

• Today’s marinas are generally freestanding and dockage is considered the main profit center (40%) of the business. In addition to a stand alone, a marina may be an additional amenity to an upland project. Marina dockage rates are generally charged on a daily, monthly, seasonal and annual basis and dockage rates are normally calculated by slip size, either by a linear ft or sq. ft. There is also a close relationship between the marina business and the hotel business. Basically, a boat slip is like a hotel room, one accommodates the guest’s boat and the other the guest. Both deal with one of the most perishable products in the world. Once a slip or a room goes empty, that loss of revenue can never be recovered.

• As an alternative to a wet slip marina, dry rack storage operations are quite popular. By stacking boats on racks in a large building, an operator can handle hundreds of boats on less waterfront property than a conventional wet slip marina. This type of operation can also be adapted to storing both boat and trailer at an inexpensive inland location. Most Municipalities do not allow parking of boats on trailers on streets . Most Home Owner Associations (HOA) also forbid the storing of boats on trailers in driveways, yards and streets. This type of boat rack storage is an emerging market and quite popular in lake regions of the West Coast.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 4: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

FINANCE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS

• More than 70 percent of marinas are owner operated, stand-alone facilities. Investment sources are often friends, family and local banks.

• Depending on a marina's geographic location, cash flow can be highly seasonal. Other important financial issues are the high investment in facilities and management of accounts receivable. Because of the risk of accidents inherent in managing large numbers of people and boats, broad insurance coverage is necessary.

• Building and maintenance costs can be high, depending on weather and water characteristics, and soil conditions. Ocean marinas subject to heavy tides are generally more expensive to build and maintain than lake marinas. Pilings, floating docks, and other waterside structures need periodic replacement. Modern docks have a life expectancy of 40 years, but earlier structures have shorter lives. Costs per new slip are around $50,000 to $70,000. In addition to waterside equipment and services, marinas typically need large parking areas.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 5: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

PERFORMANCE OF MARINA PRODUCT LINES AS OF THE 2002 CENSUS

Product Description Sales of this Line($000)

Percentage of Industry industry Sales (%)

Industry total 3,351,721 100

Pleasure boat dockage, slip rental, launch fees, & storage

1,307,940 39.02

Merchandise sales 811,739 24.22

Personal & household goods repair & maintenance

487,217 14.54

Sales of food & beverages 271,011 8.09

Membership dues 189,689 5.66

Other 284,125 8.48

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 6: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

MEDIAN COMPANY STATEMENTS %2011

Page 7: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

MEDIAN COMPANY STATEMENTS $2011

Page 8: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

FINANCIAL RATIOS

FINANCIAL RATIOS2011

Page 9: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

HUMAN RESOURCES

Average Hourly Earnings & Annual Wage Increase Bureau of Labor Statistics

Industry Employment Growth Bureau of Labor Statistics

Due to the high percentage of manual and maintenance labor, the average hourly wage for marina employees is moderately lower than the national average. Personnel turnover rate is high in recreation-related industries. The industry’s safety record is on par with the national norm.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 10: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

• Sales and ownership of boats create demand for marina services. The profitability of an individual marina depends on location and good marketing. Marinas compete by offering amenities, customized services and/or a preferred location.

• Competition for discretionary income from other less expensive forms of recreational activities. Demand for marina services are tightly tied to boat sales and continued use. Power boating is not an inexpensive leisure activity.

• Boating Industry Forecast

The output for US boat building, an indicator for marinas, is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 4 percent

between 2012 and 2014. Data Published: October 2009

Boat Building Growth Peaks After Recession

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 11: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

SALES & MARKETING

• Rent varies according to the length of slip a boat needs. In high demand areas typical slip rents can be

as high as $15 to $20 per foot per month. Guest slip rates are usually between $2 to $3 per foot per

day. Some marinas still have flat slip rates of $120 to $250 per month. Dry stack storage costs are

mostly based on per ft rate and rack storage is generally only available on an annual contract basis –

payable monthly. Depending on the area annual stack storage rates can range from $2,500 to $4, 500

per year for a 25’ boat.

• Most marina owners cater to annual/seasonal slip holders and transients. Although transients may be

more profitable, their use of marinas is strongly affected by weather and the economy. Marinas

generally split their slips between annual, seasonal and transient customers.

• The types of marketing used by marinas depends partly on the mix of annual and transient customers

they cater to. Word-of-mouth is very important. Contacts with boat brokers and boat dealers are

important to attract annual customers. Cruising directories, newspaper and magazine advertising is

often aimed at transients. Boat shows are a major marketing tool, and Internet sites and on-line social

networking have become a very important new source of business for both types of customers.

• Special Events sponsored or hosted by marinas are becoming important marketing tools for promoting

the facility and producing additional revenues during off peak periods. Special events are normally

geared to location and the type of boater the marina attracts. Fishing Tournaments and Poker Runs

are the most popular marina special events.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 12: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

TRENDS

• More power boats, fewer sail boats.- Because operating a powerboat is easier than operating a sailboat, especially a large one, powerboats are more popular in recent years. Of the more than 700,000 boats and personal water craft sold in 2008 more than 200,000 were powerboats, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)

• In the realm of structural changes, docks and other structures are increasingly made of refined composite structures or concrete designed to withstand the elements more effectively than wood. Marinas have increasingly turned to new products with environmental and fire-resistant attributes. Engineers in the 1990s have also redesigned boat yard and dockside disposal systems to meet environmental regulations.

• In areas of the country with limited waterfront space for new wet slip marinas, dry rack storage facilities are an attractive alternative. By stacking boats on racks in a large building, an operator can handle hundreds of boats on less waterfront property than can a conventional marina. Drawbacks are the need for constant operation of special forklifts and the lack of accommodation for "transient" boaters.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 13: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

TRENDS IN SERVICES AND AMENITIES

• Utilities - The type and quality of utilities provided by the marina depend on the market it wants to attract. Utilities provided to yachts and megayachts are much greater than to other types of boats. Electrical power, sewer pump out stations, and Wi-Fi are all necessary utilities, and demand is greater for some type of upscale convenience and grocery stores to provide essentials.

• High-Speed Fuel Pump - A high-speed fuel pump can offer marinas the opportunity to

greatly expand fuel revenues, a major income component. Boats, especially yachts, require a lot of fuel. Installing a high-speed, instead of a standard, fuel pump can save many hours of fuel pumping for large boats. While expensive to install, if a marina is the only one in its market with such a pump, yachts from other marinas will be attracted.

• Online Reservations - Although most reservations for guest slips are still handled over the phone, bookings via the Web are increasing. Some marina operators offer automated reservation services and promotional information on their websites.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 14: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

BUSINESS TRENDS

• Destination Marinas - To attract both annual and transient boaters, marinas are providing more than just

docking facilities. Some are associated with restaurants, hotels, retail shops, condo developments, and golf

courses. Boaters increasingly are looking for destinations, rather than cruising or fishing.

• Megayacht Marinas - A niche market that is continuing to grow is the Megayacht segment. These are boats

in the 80’ + category and are priced anywhere from $10 to $ 100 million dollars and more. At present, due to

the fast growth of this segment of the market, there is a critical shortage throughout the world of marinas with

docks large enough to accommodate these boats. The dockage rate for this segment of the pleasure

boating community is generally 2 to 4 times higher than the rates for boats of a smaller size. Picking

Location - The location needs of the Megayacht markets are very different from cruiser or other smaller boat

size markets. “ Build and they will come” doesn’t work. There must be a reason for these boats of the ultra

rich to visit the destination.

• Slip Sizes- Development of new ocean access wet slip marinas with slips less than 40’ is becoming a rarity.

The owners of boats of this size and larger are willing to pay higher dockage rates. Also, it is possible to

accommodate a smaller boat in a larger slip but not the reverse. In addition, many of the newer boat rack

storage buildings and marina fork lifts are designed to handle boats up to 40’.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 15: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

BUSINESS CHALLENGES

• Highly Leveraged Business - Marinas require heavy investment and have high fixed costs, so ongoing high occupancy is crucial to financial success. With PP&E (Property Plant & Equipment) high and variable costs low, marinas depend largely on the ability of the operator to achieve high occupancy rates through astute marketing and excellent services. Small changes in occupancy rates have a big impact on profitability, increasing the overall risk of this business.

• Dredging Regulations - Dredging regulations, coupled with limited dredged material management options, typically make dredging a significant operations' cost for marinas. While new work dredging, for the most part, is more strictly regulated than maintenance dredging, the biggest problems are created for marina operators in terms of permits and costs by the ongoing need to maintain channel and basin depths.

• By 2017 more than 27 million people are expected to reside along U.S. coastlines The desire of people to be on or near the water has caused a spiraling escalation of waterfront property values. This has created a new challenge in the marina business. With all this land being purchased for land side development of resorts, condominiums and rental apartment buildings there is less opportunity for building new free standing marinas. Many of the free standing marinas that have traditionally been small family businesses are selling out to land-side developers. Needless to say, the competing interests for valuable waterfront property and new environmental policies are creating major hurdles for new marina development.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 16: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

CRITICAL ISSUES

• Dependence on Economy - Boating, because it's recreational, tends to be more subjective to fluctuations in the economy than other activities. Demand for marina services are tightly bound to new boat sales, which in turn depend on the health of the US economy and consumer spending. The long economic expansion of the 1990s promoted steady increases in sales of inboard-motor and sailboats. In the current economic slowdown, boat sales dropped considerably over the past few years.

• Environmental - Marinas are subject to various state and federal environmental regulations concerning direct water pollution from boaters, contaminated storm water runoff, and dredging operations. Because of the high concentration of oils, fuels, soaps, paints, solvents, sewage, and sanded materials, in addition to unknowledgeable boaters, marinas must take extraordinary precautions to prevent water pollution. Voluntary standards have been established for best practices that result in a “Clean Marina” designation. Violations of environmental regulations can result in heavy fines and other penalties.

• High Construction Costs - Construction costs for new or expanding marinas can be $60,000 or more per slip, due to the extensive permitting processes, requirement for more durable materials, and because underwater soil must be environmentally tested. Although lumber costs fell 0.4 percent in January 2006 compared 2005; steel grew 13.3 percent; cement climbed 4.5 percent, according to Engineering News-Record. To produce a 10 percent return on such an investment, monthly slip rental and other income must average $600.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 17: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

SUMMARY

• Many inland marinas are starting to report greater customer volume as boaters leave expensive and damaged coastal marinas for safer and lower priced locations.

• Construction costs for new or expanding marinas can be expensive, due to the extensive permitting processes, requirement for more durable materials, and because underwater soil must be environmentally tested.

• Marinas require heavy investment and have high fixed costs, so ongoing high occupancy is crucial to financial success.

• Although most reservations for slips come over the phone, the internet is beginning to play a bigger roll in booking reservations

• Marinas near upscale retirement locations fare particularly well in times of increasing numbers of retirees.

• Property and construction costs, coupled with limited supply of prime locations, inhibit new marina development.

• Boating, because it's recreational, tends to be more subject to fluctuations in the economy than other activities.

• Many marinas are being bought by developers and converted into luxury waterfront residences.

• Dry stack facilities are common in areas with cold winters, and are also a launching alternative where waterfront is limited. This type of boat accommodation is ideal for casual boaters.

• Newer Marinas offer electricity, water, TV and phone hookups; bilge and sewerage pump outs; maintenance and repair services; fuel sales; grocery and supply sales; bar and restaurant sales; laundry services; boat sales; etc

• In some cases marinas can apply for federal grants under National Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (NBIG) to construct, maintain, and renovate docks; dredge waterways; install utility services.

• Marinas located in areas prone to adverse weather conditions such as yearly hurricanes and harsh winter storms are more likely to have higher insurance and maintenance costs.

© 2012 Unpublished work no portion of this presentation may be copied in whole or in part without written approval of Richard Graves

Page 18: Marina Business - info for investors, sellers, buyers

Richard Graves & Associates

Marketing

► Market Research and Analysis

► Strategic Market Planning

► Media Planning and Placement

► Collateral Design and Production

► Market Positioning and Competitive Analysis

► Customer Relationship Management

► Event Planning and Public Relations

► Full Marketing and Sales Representation

► Web Design and Positioning

Operations

►Start-up Management

►Staff Hiring/Training

► Grant Application Assistance

► Marina Acquisition Analysis

► Marina Expert Witness

►Feasibility Studies

►Operation Manuals

► Florida Certified County Court Mediator

► Marina Business Brokerage

1000 SE 4th Street - Suite 224 — Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

Phone: 954-524-2131 — Skype: rvgraves - Email: [email protected]

Richard Graves & Associates Web: http://www.rgassoc.com

Professional Marine Realty, LLC Web Site: http://www.promarine-realty.com