Stones Boatyard & Charter/Sailing School Bought By Tony and Mike Harris, Ken Schley and Andrew Babuin
The new ownership group met with Stones employees to celebrate the purchase
NANAIMO – Stones Boatyard and The Marine Store Chandlery, together with Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School has new owners as of April 1.
Tony and Mike Harris of the Harris Group of Companies, Ken Schley of Kelland Ventures and a founder and former owner of Quality Foods, and long-time Finning Canada Major Account Manager Andrew Babuin purchased the businesses at 1840 Stewart Avenue from Shari and Ian Macpherson and Lorraine Bell.
The businesses encompass the full-service boatyard and haul-out facility at Stones Marina, the Marine Store and Chandlery, an inflatable boat repair division, Nanaimo Yacht Services and Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School.
Tony Harris
Stones Boatyard is a boat haul-out and marine repair facility featuring an 83 US-ton Marine Travelift and is open seven days a week that is the largest facility of its kind between Campbell River and Victoria. The yard offers washdown facilities complete with run-off filtration systems, fully powered stalls in the paved and clean yard, scaffolding, ladders, tarps, power tools, fork lifts and cranes as required together with a team of professional boat repair and service people.
“The on-site Marine Store and Chandlery services the public and the haul-out facility,” says Tony Harris. “Thousands of parts are available including zinc and aluminum anodes, marine paint and painting supplies, stainless steel nuts, bolts, and fasteners and so much more. The team at Stones Boatyard can handle all marine maintenance and major repairs on boats up to 85 feet.
“Andrew was a Major Account Manager with Finning Canada for the last 15 years, and he’s a long-time family friend,” Tony Harris adds. “Andrew is a passionate boater, like Ken, Mike and I, and we have all wanted to get into the marine business for a long time. When the Stones Boatyard and Nanaimo Yacht Charters opportunity came along, we felt it was a great fit for us, and we are thrilled to have Andrew as our business partner and General Manager in this exciting new venture.
“Andrew is a terrific person and he is knowledgeable and passionate about boats. He also has deep experience serving customers and this will translate well into his role serving our team of 30 employees and thousands of loyal customers across all business units.” Nanaimo Yacht Charters offers bare boat and skipper/instructor yacht charters as well as professional yacht management services for owners who don’t have the time to do it themselves. The Sailing School allows clients to learn to sail or powerboat in the Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, or around Vancouver Island teaching courses from Crew to Yachtmaster for individuals, couples, or families.
“We have a fleet of charter boats that are maintained to professional standard and this region is a globally renowned cruising and sailing destination and our clients range from locals to those all over the world,” says Tony. “Our boats are available as bare-boat charters and we also provide skippers for those looking to expand their sailing or powerboating knowledge and seeking a worry-free experience.
“Shari Macpherson has been exceptional to work with as a vendor and we are grateful to her and her team; the employees are incredibly dedicated and we are going to have a lot of fun working with them in this business for decades to come. In addition, we are thankful to Mark Stones for his continued friendship as we navigated this acquisition which is inherently reliant on his Stones Marina upland and in-water site.”
The Harrises are widely known for their pedigree in the auto and cellular phone businesses where the brothers are partners. Mike oversees the Harris Auto Group and Tom Harris Cellular.
The Auto Group has eight dealerships representing 11 OEM Brands and is led by partner and company President Craig Sabourin. Tom Harris Cellular is Canada’s largest Telus Authorized Dealer with 51 locations in B.C. and Alberta and is led by partner and CEO Greg Marriette. Mike also owns OK Tire in Parksville and Parksville Qualicum Self Storage and RV Sales and Storage with partner Andy Lankester.
Tony has aggressively expanded into real estate development and has a portfolio of commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family projects at various stages in the cycle.
“Although the marine business is a new vertical for us, we are confident we can apply knowledge and learnings from our other businesses to these ones,” notes Tony Harris.
Schley’s success at Quality Foods is well documented, and he continues to run a large property holdings, management, and development company as well as a hospitality division including the Qualicum Beach Inn. Schley’s, meticulously restored S.S. Minnow, the original vessel from the iconic TV series Gilligan’s Island, will become available for day-charters through the group’s Nanaimo Yacht Charters business.
Schley’s Vancouver Island Marine Sales & Service owns the Canadian distribution rights to SeaLegs amphibious boats and the companies will now work closely together on the servicing of outboard motors. The group is currently finalizing agreements to secure the rights to two additional globally renowned rigid hull inflatable (RIB) lines of boats and plan to expand into boat and outboard motor sales.
By Mark MacDonald, Business Examiner
