Meet Todd Roberts | President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Todd Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Todd, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I’ll never forget. . .There’s a notable superyacht owner who once told me in confidence, “I’m old. I have more money than time. Get it done.” Owners just like him come to Marine Group Boat Works for our ability to service their yachts, and work on them with impeccable speed and craftsmanship, so they can go back to connecting with the water, spending quality time with loved ones and creating long-lasting memories. Yet, people have misconceptions about¬¬ the industry we are in, and often imagine a dreary, industrious shipyard. This couldn’t be further from the truth. We specialize in refitting the ultra-high net worth’s floating assets—superyachts, megayachts, tenders and toys. Not only are the wealthy drawn to San Diego; their money cruises in with them, benefitting the economy and all local businesses. To put this into perspective, it takes roughly 10 percent of a vessel’s total value to operate it each year. For a $50 million superyacht, that’s $5 million each year just to operate and maintain it. Furthermore, audited statistics show for each $1 spent on yacht repairs, $7 are spent in the community. According to Marine Group’s superyacht revenues in the last five years, that’s an economic impact of $457 million, as yacht owners and crew spend their time in San Diego while we service their boats. They are staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants, buying local products, and taking part in local experiences.

What should our readers know about your business?
Marine Group Boat Works had humble beginnings. We were a small, family-owned boatyard only capable of working on boats up to 70 feet long. Things changed for us in 2004 when superyachts started trickling into our waterfront, and we saw what could be. We shifted focus and aligned ourselves with providing services to the superyacht market, spending $6.5 million on renovating our facilities to appeal to their demographic. What they say is true – if you build it, they will come. After installing a 665-ton travelift, MGBW was put on the map. We were and still are the largest travel lift facility on the west coast. We had a waiting list of notable superyachts, and then came dinner cruise boats, whale watching boats, ferries and more. The shift to serving superyachts allowed us to become the shipyard where all could come and expect the same quality service. A research vessel would get the same care – the same world-class mechanics, welders, electricians, and painters – as a superyacht or a patrol vessel or a tugboat in our yard. The fact of the matter is, we would not be able to do this for our customers had it not been for the superyacht market. Yes, we are in the wealth industry, but as I said before, everyone benefits from our services.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Great food, beautiful scenery, and unforgettable experiences are all things I mention to friends who visit San Diego. You cannot go wrong with being out on the water, but I’ll get into that. My perfect week in San Diego would go something like this: – Start the day with a morning surf offshore at Ralph’s in Point Loma. We’ll get there by boat and have the chance to catch waves you wouldn’t be able to near the shore. – Grab some MAN-mosas and breakfast at Point Break Café. Yes, I said MAN-mosas. – I’d make sure I got at least two to three lunches during the week at Ortiz’s Taco Shop. One trip might be alright for most people, but I know they’ll want to go again. – You can’t wrong with grabbing beers and watching a game at Harbortown Pub. – A stroll to Portside Pier for some coffee and gelato would be a nice way to wind down after taking a Bay Cruise. – Del Friscos would be THE SPOT for a fancy Friday night out. I’d have a hard time deciding which steak to get, but I know any choice would be worth it. – A Saturday ride through the Bayside Bikeway would probably be the best way to burn-off all that steak. – To keep things active, I’d take Lucy, the golden doodle, to Dog Beach and let her have some fun. – Sunday would start with a trip to the farmer’s market in Little Italy. There’s food for everyone’s taste and you’ll have to chance to grab a hand-made souvenir. – A perfect end to a week in San Diego would be a visit to the Hotel Del Coronado right as the sun sets. The view of the bridge and the lights is something that is uniquely San Diego. And of course, who doesn’t want another chance to be near the water?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could not think of any group more deserving of a shoutout than the hardworking craftsmen and -women who have made MGBW what it is today. These are people who perform such skilled jobs, while making them look effortless. They all have a great attitude when it comes to what they do, and because of them, we have been able to outperform deadlines, and shatter expectations of our customers. I would not have the chance to be featured here without them.

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