LYMINGTON Marina has bought two New Forest marine businesses run by a father and son team.

The purchase of BHG Marine and Willow Marine means that David Martin will be retiring after 57 years in the maritime sector.

Son Paul, with more than 30 years’ experience, will be staying on to act as a consultant to both companies.

Both BHG Marine and Willow will retain all their staff and existing operations.

The Lymington BHG site will move from its existing Bridge Road home in Lymington to a new showroom in the Berthon yard at Bath Road.

BHG, which employs 13, specialises in the sales, service and parts for Yamaha outboards, Jeanneau motor craft and Zodiac inflatables and RIBS. BHG also distributes in Europe the range of PropGuards and Hurley Davits, and in the UK it distributes Turboswing and Motortoter plus the Linder range of aluminium dinghies and canoes.

Willow Marine, with a staff of eight, trades as BHG Service through two sites at Buckler's Hard. The original garage site services and repairs all brands of outboard motors and small craft. The chandlery and boat yard n offers additional inboard diesel engine servicing and maintenance. Willow Marine also distributes the Rigiflex boats in the UK.

David said: "It was a difficult decision to sell the family business, but we are relieved and reassured that we have found another family-owned company, who recognise our expertise and reputation, and who will retain the company names and brand, and retain our loyal staff. I will be helping to build the company further.

Dominic May of Lymington Marina commented: “David and Paul Martin have spent a lifetime building up a brilliant business, and we thank them both to entrusting its future to us. The BHG and Willow purchases enable us to offer our customers a much wider product range and servicing expertise. We welcome all the BHG and Willow staff and we will use our strong balance sheet to provide BHG and Willow with a promising future.”