Sale Of Nauset Marine In Process

ORLEANS – Nauset Marine is in the process of being sold, and new ownership could potentially be in place sometime this spring.

The select board on March 13 voted to grant an Auto Class 1 license to AW Nauset Sales, LLC, whose principals, Jerome Kirby and Tristram Worth, are in the process of purchasing the business “and related entities,” according to their attorney, Andrew Singer.

Kirby and Worth appeared before the board alongside Nauset Marine’s current owner, Todd Walker. Singer said Kirby and Worth are in the process of securing a number of permits and licenses in support of the sale, including the Auto Class 1 license, which allows them to sell new trailers.

Singer requested that the license be granted with the condition that it go into effect only when the sale is finalized.

“They’re hoping to close in the spring, and so what they’re hoping…is the current license will stay in effect until closing day, and then it flips right over,” he said.

The license applies specifically to Nauset Marine’s three parcels at 45, 47 and 51 Route 6A, which house a retail space, a boat storage and work area and a sales office. The parcels collectively have an assessed value of $3,173,100, according to the town’s assessing database.

Kirby and Worth aren’t planning any changes to the existing business and plan to keep the existing staff, Singer told the select board.

“It’s just an ownership change,” he said.

“Congratulations, gentlemen. Welcome to town,” Select Board chair Michael Herman said.

In business since 1961, Nauset Marine sells boats and trailers and also provides a number of boat-related services including fiberglass repairs, boat launching and hauling, outboards, metal fabrication, boat storage and graphics and lettering. The business also operates a full service marina in Orleans at 235 Main St., which is assessed at $1,624,700.

Marian Rose, who also represents Kirby and Worth, said the pending sale involves all of Nauset Marine’s holdings and properties. That also includes a location on MacArthur Boulevard in Pocasset, which has an assessed value of $646,400.

“They’re in agreement,” she said of the status of the sale. “They’re going through all of the pre-closing reviews, including the permitting.”

Kirby and Worth are partners in the marine investment firm Apparent Wind Partners, according to their LinkedIn accounts. A professional sailor, Kirby is a past America’s Cup winner and the CEO of SailGP, an international sailing competition. He also owns Kirby Marine in Newport, R.I., where he grew up.

A former investment banker, Worth is president of Kirby Marine. He grew up on Nantucket and has experience in boat rentals and as a launch operator with the U.S Coast Guard.

Walker declined to comment further on the pending sale when reached by phone March 14. But Rose said that plans are for him to remain involved with the business “for some period of time” following the closing. She also said the new owners will have direct involvement in the business.

“They have a background in repairs with marinas and such, so they're going to be active here,” she said.

Messages left for Kirby and Worth were not returned as of press time.

Email Ryan Bray at ryan@capecodchronicle.com