Rib Shack Marine expands operations to Hamble Point with new boat club and headquarters
Business announces expansion
Shared boat ownership is making a splash at a family-run marine business which has announced an exciting expansion and relocation of its operations.
Solent-based business, Rib Shack Marine, has announced a new phase of expansion which will see the relocation of its operations to Hamble Point. The growth will also involve the launch of a new multi-brand boating hub incorporating shared boat ownership, boat club membership and private charter.
The move comes two years after the acquisition and merger of Rib Shack Marine with Southampton & Portsmouth RIB Charter, which brought directors Joshua Chapman and Akis Zissis into the business alongside founder Colin Vine. The merger marked the beginning of a new chapter for the long-established shared ownership company.
Joshua Chapman, director of Rib Shack Marine and Boat Club 73, said: “We've spent the last couple of years looking at where we could take the business next and, importantly, what people actually want from boating today. There is a sizeable gap between owning a boat and chartering one. Boat Club 73 is designed to sit in that space, giving people access to excellent boats, the flexibility to use them regularly and none of the traditional ownership administration.
“Investing in three brand-new Axopar 29s from the outset is a significant commitment for us, but we wanted to create a club that felt genuinely premium from day one.”
The new premises will provide a client-facing office and workspace for the group, supported by a dedicated crew facility to the rear for day-to-day operational work.
The development is intended to provide a central base for the group's expanding operations and create a more integrated customer journey across the group's boating services.
At the centre of the expansion is Boat Club 73 - a new membership-based boating proposition designed to sit between traditional boat ownership and chartering. Membership starts from £625 per month, with an annual membership option available at £6,750, giving members access to a fleet of RIBs and premium sports cruisers throughout the year, subject to availability.
The initial fleet includes three brand-new Axopar 29s — the Cross Cabin, Sun Top and CCX — alongside Highfield RIBs.
Ian Ainge, Head of Sales, said: “My relationship with Rib Shack started completely from the other side of the desk — I was a customer looking to buy a share in a boat. I never expected that a few years later I'd be working with the business.
Having spent more than 30 years in the motor trade, I know how important the relationship between a customer and a salesperson is. Moving into the marine industry has been a really exciting change, and with Boat Club 73 alongside the established shared ownership business, we're now able to offer customers a much wider choice of ways to get on the water.”