November 2, 2009
A new owner is repositioning the old South Chesapeake Marina and Yacht Yard to attract megayachts.
Now known as the South Chesapeake Megayacht Center in Cape Charles, Va., the marina has 450 feet of linear docks and a 150-ton lift, with plans to upgrade to a 300-ton lift, said Mike Ladas, owner of Bluewater Group, which bought the yard in 2006.
“We have another service facility [Severn River Marina] 9 miles across the bay that handles bigger yachts,” he said. That yard is well versed in commercial work and includes certified welders.
“We want to bring in other players, like Lauderdale Marine Center,” he said.
The facility is 12 miles from the Atlantic Ocean through the Cape Charles Canal, which has a depth of 18 feet.
With a background in banking, Ladas said his yacht center stresses customer service.
“We feel there is a market for quality yacht services where we are,” he said. “We’re midway between the big yards in Florida and Newport.”
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