Marina Merger
boosts growth
southaMpton boat
show set to iMpress
Dean and Reddyhoff is merging with Quay
Marinas to create the second largest coastal
marina group with the widest spread around
the UK. The group will control 4,000 berths and
150 staff across 11 marinas nationwide.
A £10 million investment program has been
planned for the next five years, and the new
business will also operate boat yards, boat
repair and maintenance, and boat sales.
Although the merger is not expected to
complete until later this summer, berth-holdersof both groups will be able to swap berths and
enjoy free nights at other marinas in the group.
Michael Prideaux, Managing Director of Dean
& Reddyhoff comments, “By merging with Quay
Marinas, we will be bringing the strengths of
both companies together and our joint ambition
is to make our marinas the destination of choice
for UK boaters.” Simon Haigh, MD of Quay
Marinas added, “We’re confident visitors can
look forward to us making it even easier for
them to spend time out on the water.”The organiser of the Southampton Boat Show
says that this year’s event will be the biggest yet.
Run over 10 days from the 13th-22nd
September, British Marine is promising boats
and products from over 600 global brands.
As well as being the first opportunity for
British showgoers to see a number of exciting
new models from Sunseeker, Princess and
Fairline, including the 60-knot Hawk 38, it is
also claiming to have a broader selection of
overseas craft than ever before. Azimut and
Ferretti will both have demo boats on show
while niche manufacturers, such as Hydrolift
performance boats and Iguana amphibious
boats, will also be exhibiting for the first time.
Accessibility and inclusivity will be the focus
this year, from the title sponsor, Borrow A Boat,
to Wetwheels, the official charity for 2019.
Wetwheels provides fun, highly sensory activity
experiences on board specially built accessible
powerboats for disabled children and adults of
all ages. The charity will be at the show offeringon-water experiences as part of the interactive
Try-a-Boat attraction.
New features this year include a replica of
the 1703 frigate built by Peter the Great, a
Try-A-Dive tank, a virtual reality sailing
experience, a completely new food terrace
offering a wide menu of choices, and a new
waterfront viewing area for people to relax
and watch the on-water activity.
Traditional events like Try-A-Boat, using fast
RIBS and sail boats, and Get Afloat, offering
paddle boarding and dinghy sailing, will still
remain at the heart of the show.
There’s also a new app for the show, which
will help people pre-plan their visit. They’ll also
receive top tips, guidance, the latest news and
offers, as well as free maps available to all
visitors at the show.5
4
THE 10R I G H T This year’s show promises to be bigger than
ever, with plenty of overseas craft and first-time
appearances from Hydrolift and IguanaR I G H T AND INSET
Simon Haigh, MD of
Quay Marinas, thinks the
merger with Dean and
Reddyhoff will offer UK
boaters an exceptional
place to berth