SAN DIEGO — Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a longtime fixture of San Diego’s working waterfront and a key player in West Coast vessel construction and repair, has announced a significant change in ownership and leadership that promises to shape the future of maritime services in Southern California and beyond.
The company has been acquired for an undisclosed amount by its Co-Founder and President, Todd Roberts, in partnership with entrepreneurs Chip Besse and Skye Callantine. Under the agreement, Roberts assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer while Besse will serve as Chairman of the Board. Callantine, principal of investment firm Vigeo Investments, completes the ownership group. Together, this new leadership team intends to leverage additional resources to fuel a new era of growth and innovation for MGBW.
The acquisition includes MGBW’s primary shipyard on San Diego Bay in Chula Vista, California, its boatyard in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and Marine Group Global Services, which provides technical consulting and support worldwide. The company will continue to operate and manage Fifth Avenue Landing, a downtown San Diego marina catering to the superyacht community.
Founded more than two decades ago, but with roots that date back to the 1970s, Marine Group Boat Works evolved from a modest Chula Vista boatyard into the largest superyacht refit and repair facility on the West Coast. For Southern California boaters — either operating private recreational vessels or working in commercial marine industries — MGBW has long served as a critical resource for construction, refit, maintenance, and repair services.
According to Roberts, the change in ownership reflects both continuity and forward momentum. “My team and I have a bold vision for expanding the MGBW brand and pursuing new market segments,” he said. “With the investment and support of our new partners, we now have the opportunity to make that vision a reality. The resources they bring to the table will allow us to enhance our facilities, grow our workforce, and offer additional services to meet the evolving needs of boaters in Southern California and beyond.”
In a region where the maritime economy is closely tied to both recreational boating and the marine trades, this growth has direct implications for boaters who rely on local shipyards for quality work, timely service, and industry expertise. With Southern California’s boating community growing in diversity — from private yachts and sportfishing vessels to commercial operators — the expansion of MGBW’s services offers new capacity and specialization that will help reduce bottlenecks and delays in an often-crowded service environment.
Marine Group Boat Works’ current status as a West Coast maritime leader is the result of a long history of adaptation and investment. Originally operated as Southwest Marine, the Chula Vista site served San Diego’s tuna fleet and performed Navy repair work. After expansion and rebranding over the years, the Engel family — longtime stewards of the property — retained the Chula Vista yard when selling Southwest Marine’s other shipyards in 1997.
In 2000, the Engels hired a then-27-year-old California Maritime Academy graduate, Todd Roberts, as vice president. Roberts had originally been tasked with closing the struggling yard. Instead, he persuaded the Engel family to invest in redeveloping the facility, targeting the superyacht refit market — a niche that was underserved on the West Coast but growing steadily.
That pivot proved successful. Under Roberts’ leadership, MGBW expanded its capabilities, investing in modern equipment and infrastructure. By 2006, MGBW was firmly established as a refit facility capable of handling the largest yachts and complex marine projects. The company later expanded operations to Los Cabos, Mexico, and launched Marine Group Global Services in 2024 to provide specialized technical support and consultation to clients worldwide.
In addition to its commercial operations, MGBW has been an important partner for the U.S. Navy, contributing to ship maintenance and repair programs and supporting national maritime readiness.
As part of the transition, all 250 current employees across MGBW’s San Diego and Los Cabos locations will remain with the company, ensuring continuity in expertise and operations. The management team will also stay in place, providing stability during the transition.
The new ownership group has identified several immediate priorities, including a brand refresh, aesthetic and security upgrades to the Chula Vista yard — located adjacent to the soon-to-open Gaylord Pacific Resort — greater engagement with the international superyacht community, expansion of MGBW’s Navy repair capabilities, and investment in the company’s construction division, supporting a revival of boatbuilding and U.S. marine manufacturing.
These changes will deliver direct benefits to Southern California boaters. The planned improvements to the Chula Vista yard will enhance both security and functionality for customers bringing vessels in for service. A larger and more diverse workforce will improve turnaround times, addressing a longstanding challenge for boaters who require haul-out, repair, or refit work during peak seasons. In particular, the expansion of services aimed at recreational vessels, commercial operators, and larger yachts will help meet demand in a region with one of the highest concentrations of recreational boaters in the country.
Roberts’ commitment to the local boating community remains a key part of the company’s identity. “We’ve come a long way, but I’d like to think we’re also just getting started,” Roberts said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue the Engels’ legacy and hope to make them proud for many years to come.”
For boat owners, yacht captains, and marine industry professionals throughout Southern California, Marine Group Boat Works has become synonymous with full-service, high-capacity vessel care. The Chula Vista facility encompasses 1.25 million square feet, with 2,000 feet of dockage and specialized equipment including an 820-ton boat lift, cranes, machine shops, and metal and propeller workspaces. The Los Cabos yard adds another 300,000 square feet of operational space, with lift capacity to accommodate a range of vessels common to the regional fleet.
For local boaters, these facilities represent access to skilled tradespeople who can handle everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs, repowers, or large-scale refits. The company employs ABS-certified welders, shipfitters, pipefitters, mechanics, electricians, painters, and other specialists, ensuring that work is performed to high standards.
Southern California’s recreational boating season is nearly year-round, with peak demand for maintenance and repair services coinciding with busy summer and fall cruising and fishing periods. The expansion of Marine Group Boat Works’ workforce and facilities will offer local boaters and captains more flexibility in scheduling yard time and ensure that vessels are serviced efficiently.
As Marine Group Boat Works prepares for this next phase, the company’s leadership emphasizes that the core values that built the business — commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and support for employees — will remain unchanged.
The Engel family, which retained ownership in other key waterfront businesses including Flagship Cruises & Events, Coronado Ferry Landing, and Fifth Avenue Landing marina, will continue to have a presence in the San Diego maritime community, while MGBW moves forward under Roberts’ leadership.
For the Southern California boating community, these developments signal continued access to a trusted local shipyard, expanded services, and improved facilities at a time when the maritime industry faces both increasing demand and ongoing challenges.
For more information about Marine Group Boat Works and its services, visit marinegroupboatworks.com.
