Charleston marina company buys Florida operation

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Charleston-based PORT 32 Marinas has acquired Lighthouse Point Marina in Lighthouse Point, Fla. The purchase is part of PORT 32’s renewed focus on acquisitive growth along both the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, according to a news release from the company. 

This is the second marina acquired by the company in the Fort Lauderdale area. Terms were not disclosed.

The purchase of Lighthouse Point represents the first marina acquisition by the new PORT 32 leadership team, which joined the company in late 2022. PORT 32 describes itself an owner, operator, developer and acquirer of a growing collection of marina assets.

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“Lighthouse Point Marina has been owned and operated by one family, the Spieker family, for over half a century,” Maureen Canada, former president of Lighthouse Point Marina, said in the news release. “As second-generation owner-operators, it was important for us to find a buyer that will respect what we have created and retain our staff and family culture with the intention of maintaining and even improving the site with time. We believe we have found that buyer with PORT 32 Marinas. On behalf of owners, Debbie Edwards, Christian Spieker and myself, we feel the Lighthouse Point Marina and Nauti Dawg Marina Café are being left in good hands, and we look forward to watching both entities blossom under the new leadership of PORT 32 Marinas.”

With the addition of Lighthouse Point, PORT 32 seeks to grow its family of marinas within Florida and to expand strategically into new markets along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

PORT 32 owns marinas in Florida including Jacksonville, Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Tierra Verde, Tampa, Naples, Cape Coral and Marco Island. The Lighthouse Point marina acquisition marks the company’s ninth marina.

Located at 2831 Marina Circle in Lighthouse Point, the marina on the Intracoastal Waterway close to Hillsboro Inlet, according to the news release. Featuring 102 wet slips that can accommodate 25- to 80-foot vessels, the 4,410 total linear footage marina had been family owned and operated for more than 50 years and had never been offered for acquisition previously, the release said.

“Lighthouse Point Marina is one of the most coveted marinas in South Florida due to its location near the Hillsboro Inlet and the surrounding area of Lighthouse Point. The owners have built a loyal customer base by providing great service, operating an excellent restaurant, and keeping the marina in impeccable condition,” Julie Fisher Berry, a senior vice president with CBRE in Fort Lauderdale, said in the news release. “CBRE is honored to have represented the owners and identified the buyer of this high-profile marina property. After a strategic offering process, PORT 32 Marinas emerged as the perfect buyer. CEO Austin Schell and his team have engaged with the owners and staff for a smooth transition that will continue the successful legacy that the Spieker family built.”

Less than a half nautical mile from the Hillsboro Inlet, Lighthouse Point Marina provides close access to the ocean, a significant feature for sportfishing enthusiasts.  Amenities include a fuel dock, live bait station, ship store, and other features. The sale also includes the onsite restaurant, The Nauti Dawg Marina Café.