New Owners Buy Marine Group Boat Works

Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a San Diego-based boatbuilding and repair company, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by co-founder and president Todd Roberts, who has joined forces with entrepreneurs Chip Besse, a MGBW customer with successful investments in multiple industries, and Skye Callantine, principal of investment firm Vigeo Investments. Besse will serve as Chairman of the board while Roberts will continue to actively lead the company in his new role as CEO, with a greater focus on growth and expansion plans made possible by the new partners’ substantial investment.

The acquisition included the purchase of MGBW’s two waterfront facilities and their assets – a shipyard on San Diego Bay in Chula Vista, California, and a boatyard in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. The deal also included Marine Group Global Services, the technical services arm of MGBW that provides specialized consulting and marine services worldwide. MGBW will continue to operate and manage Fifth Avenue Landing, a superyacht marina in downtown San Diego, under the Global Services division.

With roots dating back to the 1970s, the company started off as a small Chula Vista boatyard operation and was successfully relaunched 25 years ago as MGBW, a new state-of-the-art superyacht facility founded by Roberts and members of the Engel family.

All 250 team members across both facilities will continue with the company, and more are expected to be added to support MGBW’s growth plans. The entire management team will also remain in place.

Some of the immediate changes include a complete brand refresh; new improvements to the aesthetics, security and functionality of the Chula Vista shipyard entrance (adjacent to the new Gaylord Pacific Resort); greater engagement with the superyacht industry; expansion of its Navy repair capabilities; and growth of MGBW’s construction division in support of the revival of California boatbuilding and U.S. manufacturing.