Fox's Marina & Boatyard

What Fox's Marina & Boatyard does

Fox's Marina & Boatyard is a UK-based, privately held marine services company founded in 1927 by Charlie Fox in Ipswich, Suffolk. The company operates from a 15-acre site on the River Orwell offering 100 pontoon berths and ashore storage for over 200 vessels, with accessibility at all states of tide and no lock gates. Its core business is full-service yacht refit, repair, and restoration delivered by in-house teams of engineers, craftsmen, riggers, electricians, and fabricators across 30+ specialist departments, distinguishing it from competitors that rely on subcontracted specialists.

Fox's generates revenue across four streams: professional services for boatyard refit and repair; recurring marina berthing and storage fees; chandlery and marine equipment retail (both on-site and online at foxschandlery.com); and yacht brokerage via foxsyachts.co.uk. The company serves private yacht owners (its primary segment), commercial and workboat operators, yacht builders and dealers (including long-standing relationships with Oyster Yachts and Spirit Yachts), insurance companies, and charitable trusts. Disclosed unit pricing includes winter lay-up packages at £105 per metre for three months and ashore storage at £18 per metre per month. Fox's holds Official Service Centre, Technical Partner, and approved dealer status with major marine brands including Raymarine, Seldén, Harken, Lewmar, Dometic, Fischer Panda, Webasto, and Coppercoat, and is authorised under the UK Inward Processing Relief scheme for VAT-free refit work on eligible non-UK vessels.

In January 2026, Morgan Marine acquired Fox's Marina, Boatyard and Chandlery, forming the Morgans Group to combine two established UK marine businesses with 150+ years of combined experience. Both companies continue to operate under their existing names, management, and locations, with the 35-minute distance between Fox's Ipswich site and Morgan Marine's Brightlingsea site enabling shared stock, parts, supplier relationships, and workshops. The company is led by Managing Director Will Jones and employs 50+ staff, approaching its 100th anniversary in 2027.

Name

Fox's Marina & Boatyard

Legal name

Fox's Marina & Boatyard

Website

https://foxsmarina.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fox's Marina & Boatyard is a 99-year-old privately held UK marine services company operating a 15-acre Ipswich facility offering yacht refit, repair, marina berthing, chandlery, and yacht sales to private owners, yacht builders, and commercial operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marina & Boatyard Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Marinas (713930), Marinas (71393)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Dry Docking & Dockyard Operations (Graving/Floating Docks, Docking Services) (TLAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yard Layout & Production Facilities (Assembly Bays, Block Fabrication Shops, Warehouses) (IMAJALAG), Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists) (IMAJALAD)

Keywords

• Yacht refit services
• Marina berthing storage
• Boat repair maintenance
• Marine electronics installation
• Chandlery marine store

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Boatyard Services (Refit, Repair & Maintenance): Comprehensive in-house boatyard services including yacht refit and repair, teak decks, GRP repairs, spray painting, rigging, marine engineering, electronics, stainless fabrication, and race preparation. All services delivered by own teams of skilled craftsmen.
2. Marina Berthing & Storage: Marina berthing services offering 100 pontoon berths for vessels up to 3m draft and 25m LOA, and ashore storage for over 200 vessels. Revenue from berthing fees, storage charges, and travel hoist operations.
3. Chandlery & Marine Store: On-site chandlery and marine store offering a huge selection of chandlery, electronics, marine clothing and equipment. Products available in store and online.
4. Yacht Sales: Fox's operates a separate yacht sales business (foxsyachts.co.uk) for buying and selling vessels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fox's Marina & Boatyard operates a 15-acre full-service marina and boatyard on the River Orwell in Ipswich, Suffolk, providing 100 pontoon berths and ashore storage for over 200 vessels, alongside comprehensive in-house yacht refit, repair, and restoration services across 30+ specialist departments. The company also operates a Fox's Chandlery retail and online store and a Fox's Yacht Sales brokerage. It is authorised under the UK Inward Processing Relief scheme to provide VAT-free refit work on eligible non-UK vessels.

Product overview

Fox's Marina & Boatyard operates as a full-service marina and boatyard providing integrated yacht refit, repair, and maintenance services. The company offers over 30 distinct services all under one roof, including marina berthing (100 pontoon berths plus 200+ vessel storage), yacht refit and repair, teak deck installation, rigging, marine engineering, electronics, stainless fabrication, spray painting, GRP repairs, race preparation, and winter lay-up services. These services are delivered through dedicated in-house departments staffed by skilled craftsmen. The business also operates ancillary retail operations including an on-site Chandlery store and Yacht Sales brokerage. The company was acquired by Morgan Marine in January 2026, forming Morgans Group, but continues operating under its existing name and locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yacht Refit, Repair & Restoration
• Marina Berthing & Storage
• Teak Decks & Traditional Boat Building
• Rigging, Ropes & Splicing
• Commercial & Workboat Services
• GRP & Composite Repairs
• Sprayshop & Hull Finishing
• Marine Engineering
• Outboard Servicing & Repairs
• Stainless Steel Fabrication & Metalwork
• Race Preparation & Support
• Marine Electronics Sales, Installation & Servicing
• Winter Lay-Up Services
• Fox's Chandlery (Retail & Online Marine Store)
• Fox's Yacht Sales Brokerage

Quantifiable outcome

• Potential VAT savings of up to 20% through the Inward Processing Relief (IPR) scheme for eligible non-UK vessels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Morgan MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Morgan Marine completed the acquisition of Fox's Marina, Boatyard and Chandlery in January 2026, establishing the newly formed Morgans Group. Both companies continue operating under their existing names and locations. The approximately 35-minute distance between sites enables closer operational coordination including shared access to stock, parts, supplier relationships, and workshops. The acquisition combines more than 150 years of industry experience.
• TransEurope MarinasminorOthers · 14 March 2014Fox's is a member of the TransEurope Marinas group of independent marinas, offering reciprocal berthing arrangements for berth holders across Europe.
• RaymarinecoreTechnology or IntegrationFox's is an approved dealer and preferred commissioning agent for Raymarine marine electronics, providing sales, installation, and service.
• SeldencoreTechnology or IntegrationFox's is a Seldén Advanced Technical Centre, providing rigging services and technical support for Selden mast and rigging products.
• BamarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFox's has been appointed as Bamar's main UK dealer for marine handling equipment including roll gens and boat handling systems.
• British MarineminorOthersFox's is a member of British Marine, the trade association for the UK marine industry.
• The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA)minorOthersFox's is a member of The Yacht Harbour Association, demonstrating compliance with marina industry standards.
• Oyster YachtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFox's joined the Oyster Group in 1985 and became a key supplier to Oyster Yachts. Oyster Yachts was sold in 2008 but Fox's continues as a major customer to this day, providing new yacht commissioning, rigging, and refit services for Oyster vessels. Fox's is also a Service Partner for the Oyster World Rally.
• Spirit YachtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFox's is a key supplier to Spirit Yachts, providing structural work, stainless fabrication, and bespoke fittings on Spirit Yachts new builds including the Spirit 111 superyacht and Spirit P70 motoryacht.
• Gunfleet YachtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFox's has completed fit-outs and commissioning for new Gunfleet 58 and Gunfleet 43 yachts, and has provided ongoing refit support for Gunfleet vessels preparing for world cruises.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Camper & Nicholsons Marinas: Historic international marina and yacht services operator with sites across the Mediterranean and UK, offering comparable berthing and superyacht services at a larger, multi-region scale.
• MDL Marinas: Large UK marina operator running over 20 marina sites with berthing, boatyard and chandlery services, providing a broader portfolio alternative to Fox's single-site model.

Others

• Morgan Marine: Brightlingsea-based boatyard acquired Fox's in January 2026 to form Morgans Group; offers comparable marina, chandlery and yacht services and is now the parent entity of Fox's.

Direct peers

• Trafalgar Wharf / Trafalgar Yacht Services: Portchester-based marina and boatyard offering yacht berthing, hard standing and refit services to UK yacht owners with a similar scale and service mix to Fox's.
• Universal Marina / Swanwick Marina: Hamble and Swanwick-based marina group providing berthing, storage and on-site boatyard services to sailing and motor yacht owners on the South Coast of England.
• Dean & Reddyhoff: Independent UK marina and boatyard operator (Haslar, East Cowes, Weymouth) providing berthing, storage and on-site yacht services to private owners.
• Hythe Marina: Southampton Water marina and boatyard offering berthing, storage and yacht maintenance services to a similar UK private yacht owner segment.
• Hamble Yacht Services: Hamble-based boatyard offering yacht refit, repair, rigging and berthing on the South Coast of the UK, directly comparable to Fox's vertically integrated in-house service approach.
• Berthon Boat Co. Lymington-based UK yacht refit, repair, brokerage and marina operator with a comparable full-service boatyard model serving sailing yacht and motor yacht owners on the South Coast.

Regional players

• Woolverstone Marina: Ipswich-based competitor marina on the River Orwell providing berthing and basic services to local boat owners in the same geographic market as Fox's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foxs_marina
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoxsMarina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foxsmarinaandboatyard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fox's Marina & Boatyard