New online chandlery opens courtesy of Morgan Marine

Morgan Marine – a boatyard, workshop, chandlery and boat retailer – is further expanding its services. While the former offerings are all based on its site in Brightlingsea, Essex, the company is now moving online with an additional internet-based chandlery offering ‘premium boating equipment’. As such, the online store features everything from outboard engines to navigation tools, safety equipment, and boat accessories, all from leading brands like Yamaha, Helly Hansen, Jobe, Raymarine, and many more.

“It’s much more than just shifting existing stock online,” says Oli Miller, operations manager. “We’ve invested in building a comprehensive eCommerce platform that reflects the full scale of what we offer in-store – and then some. While our physical stock forms the foundation, we’re continuously expanding our online range and working closely with suppliers to offer a wide variety of quality products for boaters across the UK. This is a long-term commitment to growing our chandlery both locally and nationally.”

The company changed hands a few years ago. The business had been owned and run by the Morgan family for over 45 years until 2019 when Graham Miller and his son Oliver came onboard. Before the chandlery, the elder Miller had spent 20 years in a senior management position at Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, and the younger had spent five years building Mercedes race cars to impeccable standards.

“At Morgan Marine, we believe our service sets us apart,” says Oli Miller. “We take pride in personally assisting our customers – whether it’s picking up the phone to guide them through the buying process, or offering advice on our entire range of products. With the launch of our online chandlery, we’re providing boat owners with an additional way to access quality boat parts, clothing, and accessories. They can now order wherever they are, and enjoy fast UK delivery.”

He says the company is staying agile to help weather the current uncertainty across world markets.

“Global uncertainty like the Trump tariff situation does present challenges, especially in a specialised industry like ours where some products are imported. But we’ve built strong relationships with suppliers over the years, and we’re staying agile – monitoring stock levels carefully and being proactive about sourcing alternatives when needed. Ultimately, our focus remains on providing reliable service and fair prices to our customers, whatever the wider economic conditions.”

The company hopes that the new online platform will further strengthen Morgan Marine as a one-stop-shop for boat ownership. As well as providing new and used boats for sale from brands like Jeanneau and Highfield, Morgan Marine says its dedicated team is always available to guide customers through their purchases and provide support.

Ric Morgan, one of the Morgan family from whom the Millers bought the company, now acts as a sales consultant for the business.

“Our chandlery has a rich history dating back to circa 1873,” Morgan says, “when it was originally established as a builder and chandlers by the Blyth Brothers. It later changed hands to Orton and Wenlock, before being purchased by the Morgan family in 1971. During the 1970s and ’80s, Morgan Marine Chandlery became one of the largest chandlers in England — we even stocked every size of lighthouse wick, along with bars of rope tallow and wax.

“The Morgan family went on to purchase the boatyard in 1996, gradually relocating operations from the original waterside chandlery to the new Shipyard Estate site. By 2003, the move was complete – positioning us for the future while honouring our heritage. Throughout that transition, it was clear the retail landscape was changing. Customers were visiting us to view products and compare prices, then going online to buy. That was when we knew we had to evolve alongside our customers’ expectations.”