Family sells Bay Pines Marina after more than 50 years 

St. Petersburg-based Bay Pines Marina, which was owned and operated by the Travis family for more than 50 years, was sold to Bowline Marinas Aug. 5 for an undisclosed amount.

The 7.9-acre property, located at 5000 92nd Street N., features a 31,500 square-foot prefinished metal structure that provides 300 dry stack spaces, 60 wet slips and an on-site tiki bar and restaurant.

Manager Kyle Travis told the Catalyst that it was a “hard” and “emotional” decision. 

“We have a lot of core memories built up here throughout the years,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges was trying to make a good business decision.” 

Family conversations between multiple generations took place, he explained. 

Travis said he spoke individually with his father, grandfather and wife about the idea, while also engaging in group discussions.  

One of the key reasons why the family decided to sell it was because they were “diving up some assets,” he said. This was in part due to the fact that they are growing and welcoming more children. 

The Travis family had discussed selling the marina in the past, he said, but the decision to sell it to Bowline Marinas was a recent one. 

Hurricanes Helene and Milton played a role. 

 “Ultimately, the hurricanes may have sped up our timeline a little bit with the massive flooding and everything we saw,” he explained. 

Houses in the nearby Harbor Lights Club mobile home community experienced significant damage. 

Travis contacted Marina Brokerage Advisors and “they were able to bring Bowline to the table.” After meeting with Bowline’s leadership team, he believed they were the right choice. 

“They are young and hungry,” he explained. “It seems like they truly do care about the personal relationships we’ve built and the family legacy.” 

For Travis, the decision is bittersweet. “It’s definitely the end of an era but the beginning of a new one,” he said. 

His family started to develop the marina in the late 1960s, he said. It opened in 1973. 

Travis worked at the marina since he was in high school. For the last 10 years, he has been involved in operations. He will join the Bowline team as regional manager for its Florida marinas. 

“I’m proud that I was able to build on my family’s legacy and run a successful business for a long time,” he said. “But, I’m also looking forward to creating my own legacy and continuing in the boating business.”