After 10 years servicing the yachts and small boats of southern Sydney, Grant McKellar and Col Cole of Endeavour Marine Services are downing tools and moving on.

Operating out of facilities at Botany Bay Yacht Club (BBYC), on Kogarah Bay, the EMS team has provided expert shipwright services and advice for club members and other boat owners of Botany Bay, Georges River and beyond. Racing and cruising yachts alike have benefitted from the care and attention provided by Grant, Col and their team, including major and minor repairs and refits, as well as hull cleaning, antifouling and painting.

Grant and Col indicated that it was a particularly hard decision to finish up at the end of June 2021, given their fantastically loyal clientele and the mutually beneficial relationship with Botany Bay Yacht Club and its membership. “Unfortunately, age, family and health are our predominant reasons for ‘moving on’”, said Grant. EMS is open to any negotiation for purchase of plant and good will/induction – on the proviso of a completed leasing arrangement with BBYC.

Botany Bay Yacht Club slipwayA commercial boatyard has been located on the site at 44 Endeavour St Sans Souci for more than a century, and Botany Bay Yacht Club has operated there since 1964. BBYC currently has an active and competitive fleet of small yachts racing most Saturdays on Botany Bay, and Friday evening twilights during daylight saving. The BBYC cruising division is also growing, with organised monthly cruising events attracting increasing interest. BBYC members provide a steady customer base for the boatyard and associated commercial operations, which currently includes a sailmaker/ship chandlery. The facilities at BBYC and the quality of the service provided by EMS has attracted clients from other areas of the Georges River as well as Port Hacking.

BBYC has called for Expressions of Interest for lease of the boat yard comprising part of the premises. On-site facilities include 2 slipways recently refurbished below the high water mark (1×20 tonne and 1×10 tonne), 2 pontoons, hardstand, 2.5 tonne swing crane, dinghy storage, small workshop, office, separate retail premises and 25 moorings. Interested applicants are invited to register with BBYC at www.bbyc.com.au to receive the EoI package.

The deadline for receipt of completed EoIs addressing the criteria outlined in the package is 12th April 2021.Botany Bay Yacht Club WP1