Boating retailer expands mega yachts business

CLEARWATER — MarineMax, the nation's largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, is expanding its services with a new partnership.

The company announced Friday a partnership with Bob Saxon Associates and plans to expand into yacht management, crew placement and charter of luxury mega-yachts, according to a statement.

“Bob Saxon Associates is a natural fit for MarineMax, expanding the breadth of our offerings into the rarefied sector of yacht management,” Bill McGill, MarineMax president and CEO, says in the statement. “With the business acumen of MarineMax propelling it, and Bob Saxon at the helm, MarineMax's new Mega Yacht affiliate will be seen as an instant worldwide industry leader in this sector.”

Saxon has worked with more than 3,000 yacht owners throughout his career, the statement says. He most recently served as president of IYC, which specializes in the sales and charters of super-yachts.

MarineMax (symbol: HZO; recent price: $19.08) is a boat and yacht retailer that focuses primarily on premium brands, the statement says. The firm has 52 retail locations in 15 states.