Very Well Established UK Heritage Sailing Charter

Very Well Established UK Heritage Sailing Charter Company

More than 30 years continuous trading as a large boat charter company for private hire, trips and special events

Location: Essex

Asking price: £210,000 + net assets

Asking price includes:
2024 Turnover: circa £420,000
2024 Adjusted EBITDA: circa £68,000 (before Director’s drawings)
2024 Gross Profit: circa £287,000
2024 Net Assets: circa £129,000

Vessels available by separate negotiation, recent valuations 2x £450,000 each, 1x £220,000

35+ years consistent trading
Fully equipped and modern equipment
Excellent repeat customer base
3x Refurbished and historically significant sailing vessels
Knowledgeable, experienced and motivated team
Comprehensive and detailed website
A popular sailing experience for thousands of happy customers

The Business:
This business is very well known among visitors, holiday makers, weekenders and events organisers around the UK as a popular sailing experience, made extra special by virtue of the historic nature of the vessels in use and their stories. They bring to life a bygone age of commercial maritime trade, once vital to local economies along the East coast of England, and they now enjoy new lives as refurbished, comfortable and reliable pleasure vessels for visitors.

The company was established in 1987 by the vendors as a means of preserving important vessels that would otherwise have become another vanished part of British heritage and re-purposed as pleasure craft, carrying passengers rather than coal, grain or straw. When they were built, few would have thought they would still be working well into the 21st century.

Since its founding the company has proven to be a successful and profitable business and this is expected to continue.

Revenue is generated from selling large sailing boat cruises, food and drink to the three types of customer outlined in a following section and from rental income on the yard.

The good cash flow results from receiving most of the charter fees and food income before the cruise.

In December and January the company generates a high volume of voucher and advanced booking sales.

Six staff are on the payroll, four crew members and two office staff. Hostesses and catering staff are employed on zero hours contracts for the season.

The Business is prudently managed, with many thousands of happy customers and provides services that include:

Regular visitor trips: These are a mix of daily cruises that can include end of day sunset trips, coffee, breakfast and other special interests

Private Hire: This is available and popular for special events including weddings, corporate events or social gatherings.

Multi day stays: Multiple stops and longer cruises for those who wish to enjoy the heritage cruise for a little longer.