A new general manager takes over in Fort Lauderdale
PORT 32 has appointed Brian Kelley as general manager of its Fort Lauderdale marina and boatyard, bringing more than 30 years of experience in marina, shipyard and yacht-service operations to the New River property. The announcement was reported at the end of September 2026, ahead of South Florida's busy autumn and winter boating season.
Kelley succeeds Matt Domke, who has led the site since 2022 and will stay with the company as general manager of its planned Palm Beach Gardens location. That move is linked to the latter marina's anticipated December opening, which remains a future operational milestone rather than a site already in service.
The appointment is a distinct management development rather than a second announcement of the marina's expansion in repair and refit capability. The wider facility improvements have previously been reported, and the new information concerns who will be responsible for their daily operation.
Day-to-day service quality matters to boat owners
Kelley's role includes working directly with the Fort Lauderdale operations team, maintaining safety procedures and keeping customers informed about work on their boats. In a boatyard, reliable scheduling and communication are especially important when an owner needs servicing completed before a seasonal departure.
PORT 32 chief executive Austin Schell highlighted Kelley's range of marine-industry experience when announcing the appointment. The company expects him to build on existing staff relationships and remain closely involved with on-site technical specialists rather than manage the property only from a distant office.
For yachts coming ashore for maintenance, the relevant questions often concern which trades are available, whether the vessel can be lifted safely and whether parts can be secured in time. A competent manager cannot remove all uncertainty, but can establish the procedures needed to keep owners, captains and contractors informed.
The New River marina combines storage and refit work
The Fort Lauderdale site is situated near Marina Mile and accommodates around 240 vessels across its upgraded wet basin and dry storage facilities. Wet berths can serve vessels up to approximately 180 feet, although owners should check the exact berth and depth suitable for their yacht.
The boatyard operates a 150-metric-ton Marine Travelift for handling certain yachts and larger recreational boats, with the company giving a length guideline of around 120 feet subject to the individual vessel's dimensions and weight. That rating is not a promise that every yacht of the stated length can be lifted.
PORT 32 describes services covering hull repairs, bottom painting, composite and fibreglass work, coatings, engines, electrical equipment, air conditioning and other mechanical systems. The site also has marine specialists working on running gear, stabilisers and plumbing, which can be valuable when an owner wants to coordinate several jobs during a single maintenance period.
Many of those jobs require a safe yard environment and suitable access while a vessel is ashore. The customer's timetable therefore depends on more than a quoted booking date, especially when additional survey findings require work to be changed.
A staffing change ahead of the Florida winter season
Florida's autumn yacht movements often bring a busy period for marina operators as owners return from northern cruising areas or prepare vessels for travel farther south. That pattern creates pressure on yards to balance planned maintenance with short-notice requests and available technical labour.
Kelley has stated that he intends to focus on safety, dependable service and close communication with captains and owners. The appointment does not establish changes in prices, the number of available berths or new technical equipment beyond what the marina has separately announced.
Customers planning a haul-out or significant refit should still request a current written estimate and verify the intended work scope, handling requirements and anticipated timescale. A new general manager may improve coordination, but it cannot substitute for careful engineering and realistic planning.
The image accompanying this report is an authentic PORT 32 Fort Lauderdale marina photograph supplied with its management announcement, not a generic Florida skyline or a rendering of the planned Palm Beach Gardens site. The distinction is important for owners choosing which PORT 32 facility to contact.
