Norton's Marina bought by Florida-based group

By John Howell
Posted 10/25/16

One of the longest family-owned and operated marinas in the city, Norton's on Greenwich Cove, has been bought by the Florida-based Prime Marina Group for about $4 million. Marinas are very historical places with long-term customers and we"

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Norton's Marina bought by Florida-based group

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One of the longest family-owned and operated marinas in the city, Norton’s on Greenwich Cove, has been bought by the Florida-based Prime Marina Group for about $4 million.

“Marinas are very historical places with long-term customers and we love that about Norton’s,” said Brian Ferrara, director of marina operations for Prime Marina.

Ferrara was at the marina Friday morning, as were several industry sales representatives anxious to be first in line as the new owners look to make improvements to the operation with 186 wet slips accommodating boat lengths up to 300 feet plus 100 moorings and 170 winter storage spaces. The marina also has a store, launch, and haul service, as well as a dockside restaurant/pub.

Ferrara said immediate plans, which should be completed by the time the boating season recommences in the spring, call for professionally built docks to replace many of the existing docks without altering the current layout.

Customers would be able to keep the slips they have had for years, he assured.

In addition, Ferrara said, Prime Marina would replace the northerly dock with a “heavy-duty” dock that would serve as a wave attenuator, thereby offering additional protection to the marina from northeasterly storms. He said that dock would be capable of accommodating vessels up to 300 feet long, although he thinks boats in the range of 100 to 110 feet would be more likely.

“That’s the big change people will see,” he said.

Pat Norton, who has operated the business for years, was at her desk Friday sorting through files. Visibly moved by the transition now taking place, she was not prepared to talk about the sale.

According to what could be found on the internet, Pat’s father, Frank, bought what was then a shipyard in 1945. Nicholas Butziger, whose wife, Roz, writes the Safe Boating column for the Beacon, remembers working there in the 1950s doing general yard work. At the time the yard was American Boat Building, and as Butziger recalls there was a retired head wood craftsman from Hinckley Yachts by the name of Chet Rice who “could do more with his eye and hand than anyone with precision tools.” As Roz tells the story, “Nick bought Rudy Vallee’s old boat – Banjo Eyes (named for Eddie Cantor) and renamed it Sea Maid III. Chet Rice put on the new stern and it was as perfect as a designer coffee table.”

Such woodworking skills are hard to find today, but according to the Prime Marina release, Norton’s will continue to offer a wide range of services including dockside cleaning, waxing, painting and canvas repair, marine electronics installation, engine service and systems repair, and winterizing and commissioning service.

Ferrara said Norton’s staff of 10 full-time personnel is staying aboard.

Ferrara, who previously worked in management at Marina Bay in Boston, the largest full-service marina in New England, will oversee operations. Diane Pregoni is assistant general manager.

Prime Marina Group is an owner and operator of mixed-use, destination marina properties on the Vineyard and Coconut Grove, Florida. With the Rhode Island marina, the company has the capacity for docking and storage of about 700 boats, Ferrara said.

“The company is focused on understanding how each of our properties and their individual operating platforms interact with one another, with the communities in which they belong, as well as with our most important asset, our customers,” reads the release.

Asked about future developments, Ferrara said immediate efforts would be focused on the docks.

“We want to be ready to provide customers an enjoyable experience.” He said once one “season is under the belt,” they would be looking at other additions or improvements. He thought the marina wouldn’t be larger than accommodating 200 boats.

As for what the Nortons have done and the multiple relationships established, he said, “we love what she and her family have built.”

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