'A big day for the future': Irwin Marine sold after 100 years in family

LACONIA — After over 100 years in the family, Irwin Marine has been sold

The marina, a century-old mainstay of the Lakes Region, will retain its well-recognized name despite the change in ownership, noticed Monday. Marina Holdings LLC is purchasing the business, in partnership with Resilient Marinas.

“We’ve been in business for 106 years,” Bill Irwin, owner of Irwin Marine, said in an interview Tuesday morning. “We're proud of the loyalty and dedication that our staff and customers have shown us.”

According to the purchase-and-sale agreement, Marina Holdings LLC will manage and operate the sales and service activities of Irwin Marine, and Resilient Marinas will own the marina property and real estate assets.

“Irwin Marine has built an outstanding reputation in the New Hampshire market,” Steve Arnold, owner of Marina Holdings LLC, wrote in a media release. “With the support of Resilient Marinas, we will be able to invest in the business, support the team, and continue delivering the high level of service customers expect.”

Between the expertise of the Marina Holdings team and Resilient Marinas’ capacity for investment in marine real estate, parties to the deal say they’re confident the arrangement will create a strong foundation for long-term growth and continued success.

“The collaboration reflects a shared commitment by Marina Holdings and Resilient Marinas to invest in quality marine businesses and support their long-term success while preserving the characteristics that have made them successful,” the release reads.

“It is designed to provide Irwin Marine with enhanced access to capital, operational support, and organizational structure — positioning the business to grow and thrive in the years ahead.”

Irwin said one focus is to take care of his employees, and treat people the way they ought to be treated, and he has a sense the folks at Marina Holdings and Resilient Marinas feel the same way.

“Irwin Marine’s been about people and relationships,” and he feels confident “they’ll take it to the next level." 

“It’s a big day for the future of Irwin Marine.”  

Customers of Irwin Marine should expect continuity — the business, while changing hands, won’t change names, and the team will remain in place. Daily operations, customer relationships and service standards will not change, either. The goal is to enhance, not alter, the foundation of the business.

“All of our employees have been retained at this point,” Bruce Wright, president of Irwin Marine, said Tuesday morning.

“Irwin Marine is a well-established and highly respected operation,” David Henry, managing partner of Resilient Marinas, wrote in a release. “We look forward to partnering with Marina Holdings to support continued growth and ensure the business remains a leader in the region.”

For Irwin and Wright, it was time to sell the business — they’ve got some retiring to do. 

“Now it’s time to look at the next chapter of life,” Irwin said. He’s going to focus on being involved in the community, to support the Lakes Region and the Granite State. “Lots on my plate to do.”

“Bill Irwin and I are the owners, and we’re both at that age to be retiring,” Wright said. “We felt that it was time to look for an appropriate buyer. I’ve been here for 48 years.”

Wright started at Irwin Marine washing boats in the summer while he was a college student. Later, he became service manager, and as the years crept along, so did the growth and development of the business itself, expanding to more locations.

“Our Laconia operation here grew substantially,” he said. 

The folks at Marina Holdings were known to employees at Irwin Marine; they’re familiar with their operations in Maine, and some of their employees know each other already. 

“We are definitely in a relationship business,” Wright said. “This is not just a transaction, when you buy a boat.”

Wright said he’d be helping everybody work through the transition before fully retiring, and customers should expect their experience and relationships to remain unchanged. 

“I’ll get to spend a little more time on the water myself.”