One of British Columbia's largest marine companies, the Oak Bay Marine Group (OBMG), has been acquired by Vancouver-based Graham Clarke Group (GCG).
Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
The deal includes OBMG's four Vancouver Island marinas — Oak Bay Marina, North Saanich Marina, Ladysmith Marina, and Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina -- as well as the OBMG Boathouses and Marina Dockside Eatery in Victoria. OBMG also owned the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! World of Adventure in Newport, Oregon, which will now fall under GCG ownership.
OBMG was founded in 1962 by entrepreneur Bob Wright, who died in 2013, and began by offering moorage for recreational boaters. It later added sport-fishing and tourism businesses, including floating fishing lodges and three hotels, which have since been sold, according to the Vancouver Sun.
All of the Oak Bay Marine Group staff, including chief executive Brook Castelsky, are expected to remain with the company.
The Graham Clarke Group (GCG) is an influential player in marine tourism and transportation. GCG owns Harbour Cruises, Coal Harbour Marina, the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, and Western Pacific Marine -- a BC-based ferry operator and shipbuilder. With the move, GCG will now have operations across the Georgia Strait -- a keynote portion of BC's waterways that divides Vancouver Island from the mainland.
“This acquisition is deeply personal for me,” said the 81-year-old Clarke, owner of GCG, in a press release.
“Having grown up in Oak Bay, I’ve always admired Oak Bay Marine Group's legacy. This is more than business growth—it’s about honoring a company that has played a vital role in the community. Our aim is to preserve what makes OBMG special while creating new opportunities for the future.”
GCG has pledged a seamless transition for OBMG’s customers, employees, and partners.
“When Bob Wright founded OBMG, his vision was to connect people with the beauty of our coastal environment and deliver unforgettable experiences on the water,” said Brook Castelsky, CEO of OBMG.
“Graham Clarke Group shares that vision, ensuring OBMG’s legacy continues while we serve our communities and customers.”
GCG is headquartered in downtown Vancouver and dates back to 1908 as the New Brighton Ferry Company. It became Harbour Navigation Incorporated in 1920. Harbour Cruises is currently Canada’s oldest continuously operating marine transportation company.
As for the marina properties, Coal Harbour Marina boasts 250 slips in downtown Vancouver for vessels up to 330 feet. Western Pacific Marine offers ferry services under contracts with BC Ferries and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
Western Pacific Marine is also currently building Canada’s first electric-hybrid ferry for Kootenay Lake in BC's interior.
Burkett & Co. acted as the financial advisor for OBMG in this transaction. #news
