New, Modern, Deepwater Marina in Bridgeport, CT

In what used to be an industrial center of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut now stands a remarkable new 220-slip marina. A father and son team of marina and real estate entrepreneurs are rapidly turning Bridgeport’s waterfront into a recreational marine mecca.  In addition to the new state-of-the-art marina, the complex includes a much-needed full service boatyard, Boca Oyster Bar seafood restaurant and a 150,000-sq.-ft. Bass Pro Shops superstore.  

Significantly, it is the closest deepwater marina to New York City and serves as an ideal location for megayachts and superyachts, in addition to motor yachts and sailboats. Steelpointe is now renting slips for the season, but that’s just part of the exciting story of Steelpointe. 

Creating a Boating Mecca

The RCI Group created Bridgeport Landing Development as the entity to manage the Bridgeport project. In addition to the marina and boatyard, the new Steelpointe development also includes complementary retail like a 150,000-sq.-ft Bass Pro Shops, which opened in late 2015, as well as a Starbucks, a Chipotle restaurant and a T-Mobile store, which opened in 2014. The Lighthouse, a 45,000-sq.-ft. waterfront building that houses the dockmaster’s office, Boca Oyster Bar seafood restaurant and office space, opened late last year and serves as the anchor of the development.

State-of-the-Art Marina. The Christoph father and son team are no strangers to large marina operations, having formerly owned Bahia Mar in Ft. Lauderdale, the Miami Beach Marina in Miami and Boston Yacht Haven in New England. They have meticulously planned for the needs of boaters.  Unlike most marinas in the area, which are often 50 years old or more, Steelpointe has all of the latest equipment, meets all current environmental standards, and is designed to be able to handle tropical storms that occasionally drift up to New England.

Docks are accessed with card-controlled security gates and the floating concrete docks have pedestals equipped with fresh water, and 30, 50, and 100-Amp power. Pump-out facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, diesel and gasoline fuel pumps, air-conditioned changing rooms, showers, and laundry facilities are also available in the main building.

Megayachts often have trouble finding slip space in the Northeast, but Steelpointe is specifically designed to cater to them. There are no suitable marinas for megayachts in New York City, making Bridgeport Harbor Marina the closest deepwater marina to the city. Superyachts have tremendous shore power needs, and many marinas, particularly the older ones, are not equipped to properly handle them. Bridgeport Harbor Marina offers bulk fuel, provisioning on site, and has a three-phase power supply system to keep breakers from tripping, with 100 Amp power flowing. With an approach depth of 25’, slips can accommodate vessels up to 250’ and are designed extra wide to accommodate the expanding beams of modern vessels.

Bridgeport Boatworks

Across a small channel from the Bridgeport Harbor Marina is the 13.5-acre Bridgeport Boatworks, also a part of the Christoph’s marine complex.   Formerly a Derecktor shipyard, it had the distinction of building the largest American superyacht, the 280’ (85.6 m) Cakewalk, which was launched on August 7, 2010.

This facility has 45,000-sq.-ft. under roof, 75’ overhead clearance, overhead gantries rated from 2 tons to 10 tons, plus a 75-ton and 200-ton Travelift. Bridgeport Boatworks offers full shipyard services, including mechanical and restoration service, full painting and fiberglass repair, as well as both indoor and outdoor winter storage.  It is, quite simply, one of the largest, best-equipped shipyards for recreational boats and megayachts in the Northeast. 

The Christophs are from Michigan and definitely exhibit a midwestern culture, which is considerably more genteel than what boaters are often used to in east coast boatyards. They are lifelong boaters and avid sailboat racers, who also enjoy sportfishing whether they are in Florida, the Bahamas or the Keys. Currently, they enjoy the work of sailboat racing on a J/ 21 which rounds out their experience as End Users of marinas who know what needs to be done to meet boater expectations.   So, while marinas are their business, they also understand what boaters want and need in a marina because they are lifelong boaters themselves.

This is a family-owned business, not part of a huge public company or private-equity investment firm, where the bottom line drives many management decisions. The Christoph’s are in it for the long haul, and exceptional customer service is their mantra. The home office of their company is headquartered in the Lighthouse building, and both father and son are happy to meet and greet their clientele, something not always found in large marinas. 

The Past is Prologue

Both of the Christophs have taken an active interest in the revitalization of Bridgeport, perhaps the last major city on the Connecticut coast to be redeveloped from the mid-century wasteland of industrial abandonment. Bridgeport is the most populous city in Connecticut, and creating jobs is an important objective of local government. Bob Jr. is a board member of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and is heavily involved in both local and state government. Everything that the Christophs envision involves creating local jobs, both to construct and maintain.

Future Plans.  Current plans for the $1 billion, 2.8 million-square-foot development, a combined effort between BLD and the city of Bridgeport, include 1,500-3,000 residential units, 800,000 square feet of retail, 200,000 square feet of commercial/office space and 300,000 square feet of hotel/meeting area overlooking the marina. The company has partnered with MGM Resorts International, and if enabling legislation is passed by the Connecticut assembly, Steelpointe could also become a prime Long Island Sound entertainment destination. However, it is already a “must-stop” transient resting place for boaters bringing their vessels back north.

Invitation-Only Yacht and Charter Show

Considering that the largest boat show in the world is held at the Christoph’s formerly-owned Bahia Mar Marina in Ft. Lauderdale, it is no surprise that annual boat shows figure important in their plans for Steelpointe. The first, a private, invitation-only Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show, is slated for June 19th-21st. Formerly held in Stamford, CT, the show has moved to its permanent home at Steelpointe. There will be a gorgeous lineup of yachts, rare and vintage automobiles, private aviation and other luxury goods and services for casual perusal in a fun, festival-like atmosphere, as well as live music and exceptional dining.

Fall Boat Show. The Steelpointe International Boat Show, a general admission type of show, is planned for September 24th to 27th, 2020, offering a breath of fresh air from its more traditional counterparts. The new, modern docks at Steelpointe, easy access from I-95, walking-distance the train station, private aviation opportunities at the nearby Sikorsky Airport and helipads onsite, as well as onsite parking all make the new Steelpointe show the preferred place to be this fall.

Perhaps just as important, the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport Ferry docks just across the channel from the Steelpointe Boat Show. This nearby convenience opens up the opportunities for easy and fun boat-buying excursions from Long Island, which is one of the wealthiest boat-owning locations in the country.  

Boaters interested in renting dock space at the Bridgeport Harbor Marina should call: 203-330-8787 or check us out at BridgeportHarborMarina.com

Boaters interested in service or storage at Bridgeport Boatworks should call: 203-330-8200.