Port Canaveral Marinas: Operator Agreement on Oct 28 Agenda

The Canaveral Port Authority's October 28, 2026 agenda asked the board to approve an agreement with Founders 3 Management Company to run Cape Marina and Bluepoints Marina, the two Port Canaveral marinas. Staff recommended approval. Minutes of the meeting were not posted as of November 2, 2026.

Why Port Canaveral Marinas Are Changing Operators

Bluepoints Marina is scheduled to close at the end of 2028 for the planned Cruise Terminal 4 on its site. Cape Marina will be redeveloped into a new, full-service marina with wet slips and dry slips for existing Cape Marina and Bluepoints customers and the general public.

The planned location of the new marina is covered by three leases between the Port Authority and Cape Marine Services, Inc. Those leases expire December 31, 2026. The Authority owns Bluepoints, which Bluepoints International Fisheries, Inc. runs under a management agreement signed July 1, 2026 for up to one year. That operator has told the Authority it will end the agreement no later than May 31, 2027.

Founders 3 Management Terms

Founders 3 would manage day-to-day operations of both marinas. The Authority keeps all marina revenue and pays all operating expenses, including the management fee. Cape Marina's fee is $9,500 a month, or $114,000 a year. Bluepoints' fee is the greater of $12,000 a month or 4.5 percent of revenue, less the cost of fuel and goods sold. The Authority also pays one-time start-up fees of $22,500 for Cape Marina and $20,000 for Bluepoints.

Management starts January 1, 2027 at Cape Marina and no later than June 1, 2027 at Bluepoints. The draft agreement runs through September 30, 2027 unless extended. Founders 3 is a Wisconsin corporation based in Brookfield. The agenda item says the agreement is not in the FY27 operating budget, and the marina revenue and costs will be built into the FY28 budget.

The draft also sets limits. Founders 3 must submit a Cape Marina operating budget by November 30, 2026. It may not sell alcohol at either marina. Spending of more than $10,000 outside the annual budget needs the Authority's approval unless it is an emergency.

See commercial investment listings in Brevard County and the earlier post on the Port Canaveral aquarium development agreement amendment.

If you own or lease marine-use or waterfront property near Port Canaveral, call 321-514-0876 or use the contact page.

Sources

• Canaveral Port Authority, October 28, 2026 Board of Commissioners agenda packet, read November 2, 2026: item 5.A, the agenda item request and the draft piggyback agreement with Founders 3 Management Company.

• Canaveral Port Authority public meetings page, checked November 2, 2026: the October 28 minutes were not posted.

Written by Cassandra Hartford, founder and CEO of Reach Commercial Real Estate. She has worked in Brevard County commercial real estate for 17 years, representing buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across Florida's Space Coast.