Is Quonset Point, RI the Proposed Sight for Mega Yacht Servicing?

With a lack of servicing areas on the east cost north of Florida, developers are eyeing properties along the Rhode Island coast for a mega-yachts servicing facility. Development Corporation is considering the move forward with a waterfront marina that would cater to mega yachts. A New York City developer was tapped for discussions to determine if such a project is possible.

The proposed area is Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The waterfront area used to be state-owned land that housed a Navy base.

Locales like Newport are famous for the wealthy residents. For instance, during the summer months it’s possible to catch a glimpse of the mega yachts in port. As David Preston, a representative for Development Corporation says, “You’ve got a lot of wealthy folks with yachts — 100, 200, up to 400 feet long — that require servicing,” Preston said. “There’s no place north of Florida where this kind of servicing can happen.”

Preston cautions, however, that there will be no marina in Quonset Point. Rather, the vision is to have a developer serve as a landlord for a service center that would cater to the yacht owners. There are still several factors to consider with the Quonset Point location, such as how big the facility might be, how much it would cost and how much revenue it would generate.

The latest development at Quonset Point is an $80 million complex called the Shops at Quonset. While the project will create about 750 jobs and include stores like Lowes and Kohl’s as well as a hotel and office space, state officials feel the 3,000-acre site is still underused. They have yet to decide the fate of the mega yacht project.

For more information on mega yachts, please visit Fraser Yachts.