What should a marina seller teach the new owner before stepping away?

Much of what makes a marina run never appears in the financial statements. It lives in the seller’s head: which cradle needs care, which supplier answers on a Saturday, which customer wants a call before the first launch. A planned handover turns that knowledge into something the new owner can use. It also tells slip holders what is and is not changing.

Haul-out and launch

Walk the buyer through a full cycle of hauling, blocking, storing and relaunching, including the equipment involved, the crew, the order of jobs and the safety checks. Explain the weather and water-level judgments you make. If possible, let the buyer run a few lifts with you watching, because practice teaches more than notes.

Fuel dock and daily routine

Show the fuel dock opening and closing routine, the deliveries, the record-keeping and the emergency steps. Then go through a typical day in each season. The buyer should leave knowing what must happen every morning and what can wait.

People and calendar

• Introduce the main slip holders and long-term customers in person.
• Share the supplier and contractor list with notes on who is reliable.
• Give the buyer a year-round calendar of recurring jobs and deadlines.

Agreeing the transition period

Decide how long you will stay, how many days a week, what you will be paid, if anything, and what you will not do. Put it in the sale agreement, and have your lawyer check it. Our page on how to keep slip holders after buying a marina shows what the buyer is trying to protect.