Fort Lauderdale — One of the biggest names on SE 17th Street is changing hands again. OneWater Marine announced on September 9, 2026 that it has signed a definitive agreement under which OceanWorld Group will acquire a majority ownership interest in Denison Yachting. OneWater, which has owned Denison since 2022, says it will stay invested in the business.
The deal is expected to close before the end of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and required consents. No price, valuation or stake percentage has been disclosed.
Who is OceanWorld Group?
OneWater describes OceanWorld as GCC-based, meaning it operates in the Gulf states. Its CEO is Lydia Pascarelli. The group’s companies include Sunseeker Gulf, the official Sunseeker distributor for the region, based at Marsa Al Arab in Dubai. It also runs the Galeon Yachts distributorship for the Gulf, Eastwind Gulf brokerage, charter and management, Clean Seas Yacht Care, and crew and beach-club businesses. In May 2026, OceanWorld joined the shareholders of Italian builder Wider Yachts.
“Denison is an exceptional brand with a remarkable history, an outstanding team and a very strong position in the US and international yachting markets,” Pascarelli said, according to Superyacht Investor.
Why OneWater is selling
OneWater says the deal “aligns with our broader portfolio optimization strategy,” letting it focus resources on core assets. The Georgia-based company runs about 90 retail boat dealerships and six distribution centers across 17 states.
Austin Singleton, OneWater’s executive chairman, said OceanWorld “is the right partner to support Denison’s growth while preserving the entrepreneurial culture and customer-focused approach that have made the business successful.”
Denison president Bryan Braley was upbeat. “We could not be more excited about this partnership,” he told Beyond the Sea.
A Fort Lauderdale name with deep roots
The Denison name goes back to 1948, when Frank and Gertrude Denison bought Dooley’s Dry Dock in Fort Lauderdale, the yard that grew into Broward Marine. Kit Denison founded Denison Yachting as a brokerage in 1999. OneWater bought the company in April 2022, and in September 2025 merged it with OneWater Yacht Group under the Denison name. The combined firm reported 23 offices across the US and Europe, about 180 brokers and more than 800 active listings, and calls itself the world’s largest Sunseeker dealer.
What we don’t know yet
The announcements promise a platform spanning the US, Europe and the Middle East. They don’t say what happens to Denison’s leadership roles, its headquarters at 1550 SE 17th Street, its brokers, or its dealer agreements with brands such as Sunseeker, Absolute, Riviera and Prestige. One detail worth watching: once the deal closes, the world’s largest Sunseeker dealer and Sunseeker’s Gulf distributor would share a majority owner.
With the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show running October 28 to November 1, expect those questions to come up on the docks. Citywide.TV will be there.
Quick answers
Who is buying Denison Yachting?
OceanWorld Group, a Gulf-based yachting group led by CEO Lydia Pascarelli, is acquiring a majority ownership interest from OneWater Marine.
When does the deal close?
Before the end of calendar 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and consents.
How much is OceanWorld paying?
The price, valuation and stake percentage have not been disclosed.
Is Denison leaving Fort Lauderdale?
Nothing announced says so. Denison’s headquarters remains at 1550 SE 17th Street.
Related: United Yacht Sales names Denison’s former sales chief president · Marine Directory · Marine Events Calendar. Sources: OneWater Marine (Sept. 9, 2026), Soundings Trade Only, Superyacht Investor, Beyond the Sea, Denison Yachting, YachtBuyer. Logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Photo-style illustrations are AI-generated and do not depict real events.