Blackline Marine

What Blackline Marine does

Blackline Marine Inc. is a privately held, single-location marine service company founded in 1980 by Campbell Black at Canoe Cove Marina in Sidney, British Columbia. The company provides yacht repair, composite fabrication, refinishing, rigging, metal fabrication, and kayak repair services to power and sail yacht owners, kayakers, and architectural clients primarily across the Pacific Northwest. Its core capability is hands-on marine composite and metal craft, employing factory-trained Awlgrip application, hydraulic swaging for standing rigging up to 1/2 inch cable, TIG welding across aluminum, stainless steel, bronze and steel, and advanced composite techniques including vacuum bagging and infusion on polyester, vinylester, and epoxy resins. Physical capacity allows the facility to haul and accommodate vessels up to 90 feet and 75 tons in heated buildings, with mobile rigging services available for on-site work.

The company operates eight distinct service lines spanning the full vessel maintenance lifecycle: fibreglass and gel coat repairs (structural collision, osmosis, custom colour matching); fibreglass fabrications and modifications (hull extensions, hardtops, deck boxes); painting and refinishing (Awlgrip systems); seasonal maintenance (antifouling, Propspeed, zincs); metal fabrication (davits, rails, arches); yacht rigging (standing, running, hydraulic repair); kayak repair and refit; and architectural rigging (railings, balustrades, facades). The extended architectural line indicates a deliberate vertical extension of metal fabrication capability into non-marine residential and commercial applications.

Blackline Marine generates revenue through project-based professional services with quote-based pricing tied to vessel specifications, scope of work, and material requirements — there are no subscriptions, retainers, or standard rate cards. Distribution is direct on-site at the Canoe Cove Marina facility plus mobile rigging deployment. Go-to-market relies on word-of-mouth referrals, an extensive customer testimonial base, marina co-location networking, industry association ties (ABCMI, Boating BC, Quadrant Marine Institute), and event sponsorship (Patos Island Race 2023). The company is founder- and employee-owned: Campbell Black remains President, Keith Swinney (25-year tenure, 10-year owner) serves as General Manager, and no external institutional or private equity investors are disclosed.

Name

Blackline Marine

Legal name

Blackline Marine Inc.

Website

https://blacklinemarine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Blackline Marine is a privately held yacht repair, composite fabrication, refinishing, rigging, and metal fabrication company founded in 1980 in Sidney, British Columbia, serving power and sail yacht owners, kayakers, and architectural clients across the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Repair and Refit Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ship Access & Working-at-Height Systems (Gangways, Ladders, Platforms, Railings) (IMAJAIAL)

Keywords

• Marine repair services
• Yacht refit services
• Composite fabrication
• Metal fabrication
• Yacht rigging services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sidney

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Marine Repair and Refinishing Services: Project-based professional services for yacht repair, refinishing, rigging, and fabrication. Revenue is generated through one-time service contracts for specific repair or modification projects rather than recurring subscriptions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Blackline Marine is a full-service yacht repair and overhaul facility based at Canoe Cove Marina in Sidney, BC, delivering fiberglass and gel coat repairs, custom composite fabrications, Awlgrip painting and refinishing, seasonal maintenance, metal fabrication, professional yacht rigging, and kayak repair. The company serves owners of power and sail yachts up to 90 feet and 75 tons in the Pacific Northwest, and extends its metal expertise to architectural rigging applications.

Product overview

Blackline Marine is a yacht repair and overhaul company offering a comprehensive suite of marine service offerings. The company operates eight distinct service lines covering the full lifecycle of vessel maintenance: Fibreglass and Gel Coat Repairs handles structural and cosmetic restoration; Fibreglass Fabrications and Modifications provides custom composite work including hull extensions and hardtops; Painting and Refinishing delivers Awlgrip-based paint systems; Seasonal Maintenance covers antifouling, Propspeed, and routine upkeep; Metal Fabrication produces custom stainless and aluminum components; Yacht Rigging services spars and rigging systems; Kayak Repair and Refit serves the paddlesports community; and Architectural Rigging extends their metal expertise to non-marine architectural applications. Together, these services enable Blackline Marine to handle everything from minor gel coat repairs to major structural modifications and complete re-rigs for power and sailing yachts up to 90 feet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fibreglass and Gel Coat Repairs
• Fibreglass Fabrications and Modifications
• Painting and Refinishing
• Seasonal Maintenance
• Metal Fabrication
• Yacht Rigging
• Kayak Repair and Refit
• Architectural Rigging

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Patos Island RaceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Blackline Marine serves as title sponsor of the annual Patos Island Race, providing brand visibility and community engagement within the Pacific Northwest sailing community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fairhaven Yacht Service: Yacht service and repair yard in Washington state offering hauling, refinishing, mechanical, and rigging work in the Pacific Northwest. Geographic neighbor and direct regional comparable to Blackline's PNW service area.
• Port Townsend Boat Haven: Public marina and boatyard in Port Townsend, WA offering haul-out, repair, and marine services to the Pacific Northwest sailing community. Comparable regional Pacific Northwest marine service yard serving similar recreational vessel owners.

Direct peers

• Zimmerman Marine: Full-service boatyard offering yacht repair, refinishing, rigging, and marine fabrication across multiple U.S. East Coast and Chesapeake locations. Highly comparable to Blackline's mix of structural repair, paint/refinish, and metal fabrication services for recreational vessels.
• Newport Shipyard: Full-service yacht repair and refit yard in Newport, RI serving power and sail yachts with paint, carpentry, mechanical, rigging, and metalwork capabilities. Directly comparable to Blackline's comprehensive in-house service model for yacht owners.
• Hartge Yacht Yard: Family-owned yacht yard in Maryland offering painting, mechanical, carpentry, rigging, and winter storage for power and sail yachts. Comparable small-to-mid scale full-service yard with similar service mix and customer profile to Blackline.
• Ancora Yacht Services: Yacht maintenance, repair, and refinishing provider serving the Chesapeake region with paint, carpentry, mechanical, and rigging services. Comparable boutique full-service model serving yacht owners with project-based work.
• Tidewater Yacht Service: Mid-Atlantic yacht service yard providing paint, carpentry, mechanical, and rigging for power and sail vessels. Comparable project-based, multi-discipline marine service business serving yacht owners.

Broad incumbents

• Hinckley Yacht Services: Established yacht builder and service company with yard services spanning repair, refit, refinishing, and storage. Overlaps with Blackline on the full-service yacht maintenance and refit value chain, though operating at significantly broader scale and brand recognition.
• Rybovich Spencer: Large yacht refit and service yard in Palm Beach, FL focused on premium and mega-yacht maintenance, paint, and engineering. Comparable service offering though at materially larger vessel size and scale than Blackline.
• MarineMax: Largest recreational boat dealer in the U.S. with significant service, brokerage, and marina operations. Comparable as a broad boating services incumbent touching yacht maintenance and refit, though primarily a dealer rather than a dedicated service yard.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackline-marine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Blackline Marine