Safe Harbor acquires US marina

An historic New Hampshire shipyard is the latest in a string of acquisitions by Safe Harbor Marinas, though the company remains tight-lipped about the purchase.

Shelbourne Shipyard was founded in 1820 by the Champlain Steamboat Company to make side-wheel paddle boat passenger ferries. The sale to Safe Harbor closed at the end of October, according to the Shelburne News, though the Dallas, Texas-based Safe Harbor has not commented on the report.

According to a property transfer document filed with government offices, Safe Harbor Marinas paid US$3m for the 15-acre property and eight buildings on site. The property was valued in November 2018 at US$3,244,700, according to town records.

Details on the business sale price were not available.

The shipyard had multiple owners throughout the 20th century, producing boats for the US military and later pleasure craft. Today the marina’s 106 slips are primarily used for recreational boaters.

The purchase of the Shelburne operation is the third marina on Lake Champlain that Safe Harbor has bought recently. The company’s website also lists two New York state marinas on Lake Champlain – Willsboro Bay Marina in Willsboro and Gaines Marina in Rouses Point.

Shelburne Shipyard’s year-round repair and refit operation helps offset the seasonality of the marina portion of the business.

Thus far, Safe Harbor has made no announcements about the acquisition or future plans for the facility.