about
Marine Group Boat Works, LLC
Marine Group Boat Works, LLC (MGBW) is a family-owned, full-service boat construction and superyacht refit facility occupying over 15 acres of land and water. Located at the southern part of the San Diego Bay in Chula Vista with a second facility in San Jose del Cabo Mexico, MGBW specializes in refits, repairs and new construction of boats up to 220 feet (91 meters) long. Featured on The History Channel’s Modern Marvels, MGBW is recognized worldwide for its 665-ton travelift, making it the premiere San Diego superyacht refit facility for the West Coast. Its specialties include haul-outs, bottom paints, Lloyds’ and ABS-class surveys, aluminum and steel hull extensions, engine repowers, mechanical repairs, propeller service, custom fabrications and more. Specific to the commercial and government sectors, MGBW also provides highly specialized services including new construction, custom metal fabrications and emergent work repairs for vessels ranging from range training support crafts, patrol boats, dive boats, workboats, tugboats and barges.
history
Formerly known as South Bay Boat Yard, Marine Group Boat Works has provided top-notch service since its inception in the 1980s. It quietly became San Diego’s largest boat yard, calling over one million square feet of land its home. The success of the business brought forth opportunities to serve growing segments, specifically the superyacht market. In 2006, Marine Group Boats works invested $6.5 million to redevelop its facility and upgrade equipment, allowing it to accommodate superyachts and large commercial vessels.
Expansion began in April 2006, with South Bay Yard officially rebranding to Marine Group Boat Works, a name synonymous with west coast vessel repair, refit, and construction services. Key developments of the expansion included:
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- Construction of 150-foot piers for the incorporation of a new 665-ton travelift (a six-story moving boat crane that was transported to the facility from Wisconsin in pieces aboard 19 semi trucks)
- Construction of a 25,000-square-foot office and workshop complex
- Demolition of 20,000 square feet of structures
- Paving of four acres
In January of 2007, Marine Group Boat Works completed the renovation project and opened its doors with brand new, on-site workshops allowing them to provide customized work ranging from painting to fairing, to mechanical and electrical refits. With the incorporation of the new lift, the facility can accommodate loads up to 665 tons or 1.3 million pounds (220 feet long and 54 feet wide). This was the second lift over 500 tons ever to be made in the U.S. With the incorporation of this new travelift, Marine Group Boat Works has since lifted over 4000 vessels weighing 100 tons or greater!
Marine Group Boat Works continues to focus on its newest division since its expansion. The Superyacht division offers clients their own office space, concierge service, parking, and other high-class amenities. In addition, the Superyacht division is comprised of the industry’s most respected and knowledgeable professionals, including Captain Fred Larsson of MY ATTESSA and Eric Lundeen of MY ORION.
The New Construction division was formed to encompass Marine Group Boat Works’ array of new construction services including hull extensions, fly bridge extensions and other fiberglass and metal fabrications. This new division was formally created shortly after Marine Group Boat Works was awarded a contract valued over $30 million to construct three 110-foot Range Training Support Crafts (RTSC) for the U.S. Navy. Marine Group Boat Works has a long history of designing and constructing boats including the police boats for the Port of San Diego and Port of Los Angeles along with Net Skiffs for the American Tuna Fishing Fleet.
Making Headlines
Marine Group Boat Works has been featured on The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” for having the largest Travelift in the nation. In 2008, the boatyard was awarded Fastest Growing Company by bizSanDiego Magazine and San Diego Business Journal for its 88% increase in revenues.