Investment firms Blackstone and Donerail are among the final bidders to acquire MarineMax, a recreational yacht retailer. The company, which has a market value of around $725 million, caters to a wealthy clientele through its 65 marinas and storage locations and 70 dealerships, mostly in the U.S.
MarineMax, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, has attracted significant interest at a time when the marina business has become a popular investment area. Donerail began pushing MarineMax to sell itself or replace its chief executive officer last year, intensifying pressure on the company.
Representatives for MarineMax, Blackstone, and Donerail declined to comment. A representative for Centerbridge, another bidder, did not immediately respond to a comment request. The company has made some changes aimed at addressing concerns of disgruntled investors, including replacing board directors.
Recent Deals in the Marina Industry
Marinas and superyacht services have seen significant dealmaking in the last 18 months, with investment firms being particularly active. Lower interest rates have supported high-end consumers’ spending on luxury items like yachts even as other economic brackets are forced to tighten their belts.
Blackstone, through its infrastructure arm, bought Safe Harbor Marinas in 2025 for $5.7 billion. Fellow infrastructure investor Stonepeak acquired marina owner and operator Southern Marinas in April.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
