October 21, 2025

One of my associates at OP Media Group just shared a business email about brokerage boats and the brokerage business more broadly. The author of the email said that in the marine business, we are going through some significant changes.  One of the long-time yacht brokerage companies in Ontario has just closed their doors. After 50 years, Dave Harris has closed Harris and Ellis Yachts. A couple of their brokers have retired and others have moved on to other companies. A second long-time yacht dealer and broker, Pat Sturgeon Yachts, has scaled down, moving out of their office in Port Credit.

The tone of the email was pretty gloomy, but the changing demographics in the market make these changes understandable and even predictable.

Things are changing all the time and regular readers of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest may have noticed the obituary for Mark Ellis in our May 16, 2025 edition. I’m not close to Dave Harris but he lost his very long-term business partner and probably best friend. After 50 years of running their brokerage, should we be shocked that he might decide to retire?

I do know Pat Sturgeon and he’s a bright, energetic guy but he too, has enjoyed a great career and I heard that Pat wanted to dial it back and have more time for other things. People do retire. People do reach the point where they want to spend more time with family and friends.

The author of the email notes that brokerage sailboat inventory has dropped again. I understand that there are brokers making their living selling brokerage boats but the demographics of sailing are that people are aging out. The baby boom generation were keen yacht club members and sailors, but they may simply be aging out of the sport.

By the way, yacht clubs who have traditionally given big discounts on dues when members reach age 65, may find that they face revenue shortfalls.

Earlier that same day, I was talking to a dealer/broker who was in the thick of selling a 50-footer and had another hot deal on the go as well. These were big power boats and his clients are buying in now, to be ready for the summer of 2026.

Note in this edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest that the Maple Leaf Marinas group have just taken on several Beneteau brands. That’s a very positive development and I suspect we will see more in the coming months.

It’s just a few weeks to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and I’ll be there, running for my life with one appointment after another, new dealers, new people and lots of new boats.

I’ll be reporting on what I find in coming editions.

Andy Adams – Editor