New ownersYachtwelt Boltenhagen under new management

Jill Grigoleit

 · 12.11.2025

The Boltenhagen Marina with slipway, harbour office and adjacent Lindner Hotel.
Photo: Yachtwelt Boltenhagen
Marina Boltenhagen has had new owners since September. Dirk Levien and Thorsten Meindl have taken over the operation of the well-known harbour facility on the Baltic Sea with their newly founded Yachtwelt Boltenhagen GmbH. The long-standing friends and business partners are planning to expand the range of services and emphasise personal support.

The previous operators, 12.18 Marina GmbH, have handed over the reins to Dirk Levien and Thorsten Meindl. The two experienced water sports entrepreneurs have not only been friends for over 50 years, but have also had a business partnership since 2022. "We were in the right place at the right time - and it quickly became clear: this is our project. We are fulfilling a lifelong dream here," explain the new owners.

Expansion of the range of services

The new operators are focussing on continuity and further development. Yachtwelt Boltenhagen's tried-and-tested offering will remain, but will be complemented by additional services and even more personalised support. "We want to continue to grow in terms of our offering, but above all in terms of quality," explains Dirk Levien. The first changes are already visible: an additional jetty has been delivered and the harbour equipment has been expanded with new technology such as an additional tractor and a Roodberg slipway trolley. The main purpose of these measures is to speed up the seasonal slip processes and improve the service for boat owners.

Focus on used boat trading

According to the new operators, a particular focus will be on the used boat trade, which is set to become more important in the future. A separate exhibition jetty is being planned, which will offer interested parties the opportunity to view several boats at the same time. The concept includes professional preparation of the boats, a structured checklist handover and personalised advice. The proximity to the neighbouring Lindner Hotel means that buying a boat can become a weekend experience with a "boat shopping tour".

Full service marina

Yachtwelt Boltenhagen is a full-service marina with 350 berths, a slipway, fuel and washing area, two winter storage sheds, a large outdoor storage area, catering and modern sanitary facilities. A special feature is the highly qualified workshop team, in which boat builders, electricians, engine and wood technicians work closely together. Many of the employees are passionate water sports enthusiasts themselves and therefore not only have specialist expertise, but also practical experience. Particularly noteworthy is the service for large catamarans, which can rarely be slipped, washed and technically serviced all in one place in the region.

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New owners with maritime experience

Behind the takeover are two entrepreneurs with many years of experience in the water sports industry. Dirk Levien, born and rooted in Osnabrück, has been trading in new and used motor yachts throughout Germany for over 15 years and already runs his own location on the Baltic Sea. He has moved completely to Boltenhagen for Yachtwelt. Thorsten Meindl, also from Osnabrück, has been working in technical yacht service for many years and runs his own business near Lübeck.

Future plans and development prospects

According to the new operators, the focus in the further development of Yachtwelt Boltenhagen is on quality, personalised service and a growing range of offers. The characteristic harbour facility with its special location on the Baltic Sea coast will be retained, while the range of services will be continuously expanded. "We have been welcomed with open arms and feel really at home. Now we are starting into the future together - as a team that is passionate about water sports," emphasise Levien and Meindl. Their declared aim is to develop Yachtwelt Boltenhagen into one of the leading full-service locations for yacht owners and boat enthusiasts on the Baltic Sea.


Jill Grigoleit

Jill Grigoleit

Editor Travel

Jill Grigoleit was born in Hanover in 1985. An early childhood memory is the large collection of YACHT and SURF magazines from her sailing and surfing enthusiast father. However, growing up in a small Swabian village on the Neckar, she had less to do with water sports in her childhood, apart from a few trips to the Baltic Sea with her family. After studying journalism in Bremen and Hanover, she went into television for a few years. Through a few lucky coincidences, she ended up on the water in 2011 and then returned to the written word professionally. For over ten years, she lived with her family on a houseboat in their own harbor south of Hamburg and wrote a book about houseboat building and life with children on the water. Since 2020, she has mainly been writing travel reports and features about people who live and work on and near the water for BOOTE. She has been a permanent member of the Delius Klasing water sports editorial team since January 2024.

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