OF MARINAS

THE CHANGING FACE OF MARINAS

Gone are the days when you needed to buy a boat outright to get out on the water. Dealerships and brokerage businesses are recognising that with the growing number of options available to sailors and motorboaters, they can no longer exist if they are just about the ‘buy and sell’.

Appreciating the changing nature of how people enjoy their leisure time and the impact this has on marine businesses, Ancasta International Boat Sales, part of the Ancasta Group, has successfully adapted its approach.

“The first question someone is now asked when they walk through the door of one of our offices is ‘how do you want to get out on the water?,” says Nick Griffith, Ancasta Group managing director.

“We can offer a wide selection of innovative solutions ranging from the traditional ownership route to shared or financed ownership and investment programs. Charter will also be an option in the near future too. The reality is that for anyone wanting to get afloat we have a solution for them, whatever stage they are at in their boating journey.”

But Ancasta’s approach goes much further than just the initial step of new boat purchase or brokerage sale, which ever acquisition option has been chosen.

At the beginning of 2021, the Ancasta Group’s commissioning and aftersales team and well-known Hamble Yacht Services Refit and Repair merged to create Ancasta Yacht Services, an allencompassing yacht repair, service and support business.

Expanding upon Ancasta’s aftersales, commissioning and spare parts services, the merging of HYSRR’s skilled refit and repair workforce with Ancasta’s operations team makes it easier for owners to manage and care for their boats.

Ancasta has the ability to seamlessly support new and existing customers throughout the lifecycle of their boat ownership. Not only can a boat be purchased and sold under the Ancasta brand, but it can now also be maintained, repaired and upgraded via Ancasta Yacht Services.

STREAMLINED SERVICE This holistic approach to boating is designed to offer a streamlined boat service and alleviate boat owners from time-consuming logistics and maintenance worries, allowing them to maximise their time on the water.

“We have always provided worldwide support for our yacht owners, but Ancasta Yacht Services enhances this,” continues Nick. “Building upon HYSRR’s 45 years of dedicated yacht maintenance experience the team at Ancasta Yacht Services offer the very best in yacht servicing and support.

“Being able to provide an in-house service capability with Ancasta Yacht Services gives enormous comfort to our existing and future customers, as they are secure in the knowledge that their boat is in safe and trusted hands.

“Through one established point of contact, our boat owners have access to a wide range of skills and services, so they do not have to coordinate a multitude of different tradespeople and suppliers – everything is project managed for them, no matter how small or large the job.”

Operating from MDL’s Port Hamble Marina, Ancasta Yacht Services’ extensive facilities include under cover workshops accommodating yachts up to 26m, a fully equipped engineering workshop, wood shop, laminating shop as well as a large joinery shop. On-site boatyard facilities provide two travels hoists lifting up to 80 tonnes in weight and 33.5m in length, dry boat storage, a large mast crane, expert riggers and marina berthing on-site.

The Ancasta office at Port Hamble Marina The Ancasta Yacht Services Team

Accommodating major refit and repair works for local vessels and any boats able to travel to Hamble, Ancasta Yacht Services also has mobile teams available to carry out smaller jobs at marinas between Chichester and Lymington.

JOIN THE CLUB Closing the loop and ensuring that its customers maximise their on-water leisure time, Ancasta runs a Motorboat Owners Club and a Yacht Club.

Whether a novice boater or lifelong sailor, Ancasta’s owners’ clubs aim to provide boat owners with fun trips, rallies and social events, locally and further afield, offering them an avenue to make the most of their boats and enjoy the boating lifestyle.

“Buying a boat with Ancasta is so much more than the initial transaction; it is the start of a loyal and supportive, long-lasting relationship.

We want to make boat ownership as stress-free and as enjoyable as possible for as long as someone owns their boat - it really is a lifetime of support,” concludes Nick. ancasta.com/yacht-services