Martin Marine in North Vancouver closed in early 2026 after 62 years, following the retirement of owner David Goodman. The closure was voluntary and solvent, with inventory sold at auction. The store was beloved by the boating community; boaters now look to Poco Marine in Port Coquitlam as the main alternative.
What Happened to Martin Marine?
Martin Marine’s closure in early 2026 signified the end of an era for the Pacific Northwest boating community. The iconic North Vancouver marine chandlery at 1176 Welch Street officially shut its doors, not due to bankruptcy, corporate acquisition, or e-commerce pressure, but because of David Goodman’s retirement after six decades leading the business.
One point of confusion persists, the official Martin Marine website continued displaying a “WE ARE OPEN!” banner with regular Monday to Saturday hours throughout 2026, even after the physical store had permanently closed in early 2026. This probably resulted from automated domain renewals and CMS hosting remaining active without manual updates. As of now, the Martin Marine website remains online and has not yet been updated to reflect the closure, causing confusion for some customers seeking the current information. According to sources, the website is scheduled to be taken down or updated to indicate the permanent closure within the next few months. In the meantime, the store itself is permanently closed. Major business directories such as Yellow Pages, Yelp, and MapQuest all correctly list the location as permanently closed, and the local boating community on North Vancouver’s Reddit forums confirmed the shutdown directly, calling it “a huge loss for any boaters.”
As one community member put it plainly: “Dave retired, that’s it, done.”
62 Years of Serving Pacific Northwest Boaters (1964-2026)
Martin Marine North Van was founded in 1964 and originally operated at the prime intersection of 1st Street and Lonsdale Avenue. This central location served commercial fishermen, recreational sailors, and professional riggers working the North Shore waterfront until later decades.
As Lower Lonsdale gentrified over the following decades, rising lease rates and pressure from luxury redevelopment in the 1990s and 2000s pushed the business inland to its final home at 1176 Welch Street, North Vancouver. While the Welch Street location lacked waterfront visibility, the warehouse space allowed Martin Marine to maintain the deep, specialist inventory which defined its reputation.
The store was run by the “Dave and Dave” pairing, owner David Goodman and senior operator Dave, supported by longtime staff Chelsea and John. Regulars described the shop as part marine retailer, part nautical museum. Goodman gave personal tours of antique maritime collectibles, and staff were famed for steering customers away from wrong or unnecessary purchases, a consultative ethic rare in modern retail.
The inventory was unmatched on the North Shore, marine-grade brass fittings, stainless fasteners, Mustang Survival gear, Interlux and Pettit antifouling paints, specialized chemicals, and marine electronics. Beyond retail, Martin Marine was embedded in local sailing culture, a long-time Gold Sponsor of the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race, a principal donor to the Martin 242 Fleet One, and a community space that hosted nautical book launches and welcomed boaters with their dogs.
Why Did Martin Marine Close? Not Bankruptcy
Martin Marine’s retirement and liquidation in 2026 exemplified an SME succession crisis distinct from a business failure. When David Goodman reached retirement age in early 2026, no successor was prepared to take on the operational complexity of a deep-inventory marine chandlery, a business that demands expertise in hazardous-materials logistics, specialized supply chains, and decades of localized technical knowledge.
This stands in deliberate contrast to corporate chains like West Marine, which have faced Chapter 11 bankruptcy threats from leveraged debt and unsustainable expansion. Martin Marine was entirely debt-free and solvent at the time of closure. All vendors were paid, all accounts settled, no receiver, no bankruptcy trustee.
Longer-term structural pressures, rising commercial property taxes in North Vancouver, increasing insurance premiums, and industrial gentrification didn’t bankrupt the business but did raise the bar for any potential successor, making it harder for the next generation to justify taking on a large physical retail footprint in an expensive urban market.
How was the Inventory Was Sold?
Because the business was closed while still solvent in early 2024, the remaining assets required an organized commercial dispersal. Martin Marine handed its entire remaining stock to Able Auctions, a prominent BC-based commercial liquidator. Their marketing described the cache as “over $1 million in inventory from one of Metro Vancouver’s largest marine specialty stores”, a fitting summary for 62 years of accumulated, highly specialized stock.
| Logistics Detail | Information |
| Auction Date | Saturday, March 28, 2026 (9:30 AM PST) |
| Preview Day | Thursday, March 26, 2026 (10:00 AM–4:00 PM PST) |
| Auction Location | Able Auctions, 19757 92A Avenue, Langley, BC |
| Inventory Value | Over $1,000,000 CAD |
| Bidding Format | Online-only via Able Auctions portal |
| Buyer’s Premium | 20% + 5% GST + 7% PST |
| Payment (invoices >$999) | E-transfer or bank wire only |
| Sale Condition | As-is / Where-is |
Bidding was conducted entirely online, opening the Able Auctions marine inventory in Langley to buyers from Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, and the US. A preview day allowed in-person inspection of sensitive electronics and hardware before bids were committed. Heavy items like bronze anchors, chain, and antifouling paint require specialized freight; Able Auctions recommends carriers such as Comox Pacific, Coast Line Express, and Canada’s Most Wanted Movers.
The auction dispersed 62 years of localized inventory in a single afternoon, marking the definitive end of Martin Marine’s physical footprint.
Poco Marine: The Best Alternative for Lower Mainland Boaters
Why Poco Marine Is the Closest Like-for-Like Replacement
Among the remaining marine hardware stores in Greater Vancouver, Poco Marine in Port Coquitlam appears to be the strongest replacement for displaced Martin Marine customers. It replicates the specific balance of deep independent inventory and technical expertise that made Martin Marine essential.
Operational Details:
- Address: 1650 Kingsway Avenue, Unit 110, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 3Y9
- Phone: 604-464-8773
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.pocomarine.com/
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM; closed Sunday
Like Martin Marine, Poco Marine is an independent, locally owned business, insulated from the private equity consolidation reshaping broader retail. Staff are experienced local boaters who supply tailored advice on BC-specific waters, from prawn-trap setups in local inlets to outfitting vessels for the tidal currents of Desolation Sound. They maintain a BBB file (opened November 27, 2020) with an A+ rating, backed by over 200 verified Birdeye reviews.
What Poco Marine Stocks
Marine supplies in Port Coquitlam at Poco Marine cover the full spectrum of vessel needs:
- Engine parts and maintenance: Sacrificial anodes, Racor fuel separators, raw water impellers, exhaust manifolds, Mercruiser components, marine starters, sterndrive parts
- Safety and survival gear: Mustang Survival PFDs, thermal flotation coats, Transport Canada-compliant flares, fire extinguishers, EPIRBs, PLBs, coastal safety kits
- Marine electronics and electrical: Garmin and Raymarine chartplotters, fish finders, VHF radios, tinned copper wiring, waterproof fuses, battery banks, shore power accessories
- Pacific Northwest fishing gear: Crab and prawn traps, Scotty downriggers, Fraser River salmon tackle, lake fishing equipment
Is the Drive from North Vancouver Worth It?
Poco Marine is about 30–35 minutes (29 km) from North Vancouver, with free parking and easy public transit access. Convenient routes and on-site amenities make visiting straightforward.
For boat parts and supplies in the Lower Mainland, the commute is well justified. Martin Marine historically drew loyal customers from Vancouver, Richmond, and Burnaby across the Burrard Inlet for the same reason: deep inventory and real expertise. With Poco Marine, boaters can consult face-to-face, physically inspect parts, and return to their vessel for same-day repair, eliminating the 7–14-day wait typical of online warehouse orders.
What This Closure Means for the Pacific Northwest Marine Industry
Rising real estate values in the Lower Mainland are pushing out working waterfronts in favour of luxury development, making it harder for marine businesses like Martin Marine to survive. As independent shops close, boaters lose access to specialized parts and advice that big-box stores or online retailers can’t replace. Across BC, many aging owners are retiring, and without new operators, the region is losing critical marine infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Martin Marine closed permanently?
Yes, Martin Marine at 1176 Welch Street, North Vancouver, BC, permanently closed in early 2026 following the voluntary retirement of owner David Goodman, who had operated the business for 62 years.
Did Martin Marine go bankrupt?
No, the closure was a voluntary retirement, not a bankruptcy or insolvency. The business was entirely debt-free and solvent at closure, with inventory liquidated through an organized commercial auction via Able Auctions in March 2026.
Why does the Martin Marine website still say it’s open?
Automated domain hosting keeps the site live even though the physical store is permanently closed. Yellow Pages, Yelp, and MapQuest all correctly reflect the permanent closure.
What is the best alternative to Martin Marine in Vancouver?
Poco Marine in Port Coquitlam is the closest like-for-like replacement, independent, locally owned, with deep specialty inventory, expert staff, and additional technical services.
Does Poco Marine carry Mustang Survival gear?
Yes, Poco Marine stocks a range of Transport Canada-approved Mustang Survival PFDs, thermal flotation coats, and offshore safety gear, the same trusted brand that was a staple at Martin Marine.
Did David Goodman retire from Martin Marine?
Yes, David Goodman, the principal owner of Martin Marine, voluntarily retired in early 2026, triggering the closure after 62 years of ownership.