In 1973 William H. "Bill" McGill, Jr. moved his family to St. Petersburg, Florida, and started Gulfwind Marine. Under Bill's leadership, Gulfwind became one of the largest boat dealers in the country and the largest Sea Ray dealer for many years.

In 1998, Bill McGill, Jr., and a group of America’s leading boat retailers, decided that the boating industry needed a change. By uniting companies, they maximize the efficiency of operations while sharing best practices on everything from insurance to mobile boat service and allowing team members to focus on what’s important: getting customers out on the water.

This new approach becomes MarineMax.

MarineMax went public in June of 1998 and was listed on the NYSE as HZO. The company's ticker symbol, HZO, is a play on H2O, the chemical symbol for water.

During the 2000s, MarineMax continues to expand by increasing its dealerships, and by 2007 the company has grown to include several locations with revenues exceeding 1.2 billion.

In 2009, the great financial crisis hit, but MarineMax weathered the crisis and emerged stronger and ready to expand.

MarineMax Vacations formed in 2012 with an initial fleet of 13 sailboats in the British Virgin Islands. Today, we've been voted the number one charter company in the British Virgin Islands twice, and our fleet has over fifty power catamarans. With more than 60 islands to discover, the British Virgin Islands has the world's best boating, and MarineMax Vacations offers the best charter experience.

In 2019, MarineMax set a new course with a strategic vision to continue growing the dealership business and diversify its industry presence. MarineMax continues to buy dealerships with marina and storage and enters the superyacht service business with Fraser Yachts.

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended many peoples' work lives and leisure time, participation in outdoor recreation increased. MarineMax's revenue did too. It soared to $1.51 billion in 2020, reaching a record revenue of $2.06 billion in 2021.

MarineMax continues to grow with the following additions/expansions:
• Boatyard
• Newcoast
• Northrop & Johnson
• SkipperBud's and its affiliate Silver Seas Yachts

Cruising into 2021, MarineMax is the world's best and largest boat and yacht retailer, with over 120 locations worldwide, carrying a wide selection of premium brands.

MarineMax's growth continues with even more stand-out additions, including new manufacturing capabilities:
• Cruisers Yachts
• Intrepid Powerboats

MarineMax continues to enhance its marina operations and build its super yacht business by expanding with the acquisition of Island Global Yachting LLC (“IGY Marinas”).

Retail operations. Superyachts. Manufacturing and exclusive brand partnerships. Emerging businesses from vacations, international operations, and digital business. Each of these segments is critical in driving MarineMax's growth in the future.

In summary, MarineMax is the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, selling new and used vessels and other related marine products and services. With over 125 locations worldwide, including 78 retail locations, MarineMax operates 57 marinas collectively and offers yacht brokerage and charter services, finance and insurance options, boating classes, Getaways!®, events, and more—and still growing!