Fox's Marina & Boatyard
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersIpswich, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Fox's Marina & Boatyard firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Fox's Marina & Boatyard industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Fox's Marina & Boatyard is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ipswich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fox's Marina & Boatyard business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Yacht Sales: Fox's operates a separate yacht sales business (foxsyachts.co.uk) for buying and selling vessels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Winter Lay-up Special: Haul, scrub, lay-up & launch |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Storage Ashore (minimum 3 months) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Storage Afloat |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Combined Winter Lay-up Package (3 months) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fox's Marina & Boatyard product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Fox's Marina & Boatyard
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Fox's Marina & Boatyard technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Fox's Marina & Boatyard partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Morgan MarinecoreMorgan 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 MarinasminorFox's is a member of the TransEurope Marinas group of independent marinas, offering reciprocal berthing arrangements for berth holders across Europe.
- RaymarinecoreFox's is an approved dealer and preferred commissioning agent for Raymarine marine electronics, providing sales, installation, and service.
- SeldencoreFox's is a Seldén Advanced Technical Centre, providing rigging services and technical support for Selden mast and rigging products.
- BamarminorFox's has been appointed as Bamar's main UK dealer for marine handling equipment including roll gens and boat handling systems.
- British MarineminorFox's is a member of British Marine, the trade association for the UK marine industry.
- The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA)minorFox's is a member of The Yacht Harbour Association, demonstrating compliance with marina industry standards.
- Oyster YachtscoreFox'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 YachtscoreFox'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 YachtsminorFox'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
Fox's Marina & Boatyard competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Fox's Marina & Boatyard social profiles
Digital presenceFox's Marina & Boatyard financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fox's Marina & Boatyard leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fox's Marina & Boatyard subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Fox's Marina & Boatyard funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fox's Marina & Boatyard M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fox's Marina & Boatyard
What does Fox's Marina & Boatyard do?
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.
Is Fox's Marina & Boatyard a public or private company?
Fox's Marina & Boatyard is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Fox's Marina & Boatyard founded?
Fox's Marina & Boatyard was founded in 1927. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Fox's Marina & Boatyard based?
Fox's Marina & Boatyard is headquartered in Ipswich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fox's Marina & Boatyard make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Boatyard Services (Refit, Repair & Maintenance) is the primary driver. The others are marina Berthing & Storage, chandlery & Marine Store and yacht Sales.
Who are Fox's Marina & Boatyard's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Camper & Nicholsons Marinas and MDL Marinas. Morgan Marine is listed as an others. Direct peers are Trafalgar Wharf / Trafalgar Yacht Services, Universal Marina / Swanwick Marina, Dean & Reddyhoff, Hythe Marina, Hamble Yacht Services and Berthon Boat Co.. Woolverstone Marina is listed as a regional player.
Does Fox's Marina & Boatyard have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fox's Marina & Boatyard.
What industry is Fox's Marina & Boatyard in?
Fox's Marina & Boatyard's product category is Marina & Boatyard Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAMAA, Dry Docking & Dockyard Operations (Graving/Floating Docks, Docking Services), with a secondary code of IMAJALAG, Yard Layout & Production Facilities (Assembly Bays, Block Fabrication Shops, Warehouses). Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3730.