Captain-turned-boat yard operator invests in Gold River Marina

Mar 14, 2023

Three years after acquiring, stabilising and growing East River Shipyard Ltd. into Atlantic Canada’s largest full-service marine facility, veteran mariner and operations manager Captain Brad Boutilier has bought out retiring Gold River Marina Ltd. (GRM) managing partner Leigh Robertson. As managing partner Boutlier will focus on strengthening GRM’s niche retail pleasure-boat and classic-yacht service business.

Boutilier is now partners with Gold River’s Topher (“Tuffer”) Wurts, the fifth generation of his Pennsylvania-based, classic-yacht-crazy family to summer in the nearby village of Chester. Wurts, who is a partner in three local classic yacht ownership syndicates, bought GRM in 2003 with Chester-based Robertson investing as managing partner soon thereafter.

gold river marina aerial 400“I have deep respect for Leigh and Topher. They turned GRM into a thriving yard serving a niche market of pleasure boaters and classic yacht enthusiasts. My job will be to ensure continuity of GRM’s customer service culture, then strengthen the business including expanding GRM’s service technician network with potential support from the East River team. From there, Topher and I will be considering some infrastructure improvements and specialty services for classic and historic yachts.”

Photo: Capt. Brad Boutilier is now managing partner at Gold River Marina on Nova Scotia’s scenic Mahone Bay (credit: Gold River Marina)

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