Florida

Cheoy Lee Yachts Unveils New 127 Discovery Explorer

Cheoy Lee Yachts, the superyacht division of Cheoy Lee Shipyards, has introduced a new luxury expedition yacht, the Cheoy Lee 127 Discovery.Designed in collaboration with Nick Boksa of Boksa Marine Design in Lithia, Florida, the 127' megayacht offers the features and amenities of a 150-foot explorer yacht, combined with true transoceanic range, says the yard.The vessel features a full-displacement steel hull with sharp entry and spray chine. Like a commercial ship, its pilothouse is positioned forward for optimum visibility.

Bradford Marine Acquires Roscioli Yachting Center

South Florida full-service marina and yacht repair facility Bradford Marine announced the acquisition of Roscioli Yachting Center from OneWater Marine Inc. Bradford acquired all the real estate and service operations at Roscioli on October 1, 2023. As part of the transaction, Bradford and OneWater have entered a lease arrangement for OneWater’s sales organization to remain on the property, and for Bradford to provide support for the OneWater Yacht Group and Sunseeker brands.“This marks an incredibly important milestone for our growth as we bring together two esteemed full-service marinas…

New Zealand: A Leader in Boat Design and Production

With its diverse marine environments, from protected harbors to rugged ocean waters, New Zealand has made an exceptional impact on the global market. By focusing on the design and build of recreational products, New Zealand marine companies emphasize the use of materials that can withstand a diverse range of conditions, have a long lifespan, and can be used year-round. The kiwi boatbuilding expertise and equipment hardware capabilities have grown out of a thriving and ever-expanding recreational marine culture.

Marco Santoro Takes Over as CEO at RMK Merrill-Stevens

Industry veteran Marco Santoro has taken the helm as chief executive officer at Miami yacht repair yard RMK Merrill-Stevens.A naval architect and marine engineer, Santoro began his career in yachting as part of the technical department at Italy's Rodriquez Yachts. In 2003, he joined Italian yacht builder the Ferretti Group as an intern in the after sales and service department, and over the course of 20 years worked his way up through a number of leadership roles, culminating as the company's vice president of refit and retail works. “My journey in this company was amazing.

Cox Marine Expands Distributor Deal With Ring Power

Cox Marine, the manufacturer of the CXO300 diesel outboard engine, announced an expanded contract with U.S.-based distributor and Cox investor, Ring Power, to cover additional regions as the exclusive distributor. The Florida-based company is increasing its territories beyond the state of Florida and the Caribbean to include Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as Bermuda.Appointed by Cox Marine in 2019, Ring Power has a growing order book and is also hiring a team of qualified technicians and a skilled sales team to support the Cox Marine operation in the region…

Boateka Opens Sales and Refurbishment Center in Florida

Boateka, Brunswick Corporation’s certified pre-owned boat business, has opened a fully-integrated refurbishment and sales center in Merritt Island, Fla. The new 22,000-square-foot location is designed to enhance the boat-buying experience and provide continued synergies between Freedom Boat Club, Brunswick Boat Group, Mercury Marine, and Brunswick’s global parts and accessories businesses, the company said.Since its launch in 2021, Boateka has operated from the Brunswick Integrated Manufacturing Center in Central Florida…

Mercury Marine Partners with High Schools for Technician Training

Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation, has provided its Mercury University curriculum along with 90hp FourStroke outboard engines and tools to high schools in Florida, New York and Virginia to help prepare the next generation of marine service technicians and address the industry’s workforce shortage.In a survey conducted by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas prior to the pandemic, more than 85% of boat dealers suggested they had multiple positions in their businesses that were unfilled…

Raymarine and CMOR help Anglers, Divers Discover More

The best diving and bottom-fishing spots are the ones that don’t show up on paper or digital charts and aren’t marked on commercially available fishing maps. They’re the forgotten wrecks, the isolated reefs, the ledges hidden between the contour lines — the kinds of places that take hundreds of hours on the water and countless dollars in fuel to find.CMOR Mapping’s chartplotter-compatible bathymetry clearly reveals those spots. With resolution as high as one meter (each pixel represents a single square meter of bottom) and coverage of the entire bottom…

Suntex Acquires Seahaven Superyacht Facility

Marina properties owner and operator Suntex Marina Investors on Tuesday announced it has acquired Seahaven Marina located in Dania Beach, Fla.Broward County’s premier luxury protected harbor for superyachts, Seahaven Marina’s location offers an unparalleled yachting experience by land and by sea, Suntex said. Mere minutes from Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Seahaven provides easy, drawbridge-free access to the Atlantic Ocean for vessels up to 250 feet. The marina touts the region's most discreet and secure yacht harbor…

Suntex Assumes Control of Las Olas Marina

Marina properties owner and operator Suntex Marina Investors, LLC announced today that it has taken occupancy of the Las Olas Marina in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Suntex will now commence its plans to develop the marina and transform it into a world-class marine facility.Las Olas Marina is a centerpiece of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and Suntex said it looks forward to Las Olas Marina becoming a showcase element of the Boat Show once redeveloped. The transition of ownership and operation commenced on Friday, October 1, 2021.

Raymarine Introduces YachtSense to the North American Market

Raymarine YachtSense is an advanced digital control system affording total command and complete awareness of a vessel's electrical systems. Its modular nature redefines the future of vessel automation for boat builders and technical installers. Engineered for reliability, flexibility, and ease-of-use, YachtSense offers scalable, customizable, and failsafe marine automation through intuitive control of onboard systems via any Raymarine Axiom multifunction display.Announced late last year…

Suntex Marinas Acquires Faro Blanco in Marathon in the Florida Keys

Marina owner and operator Suntex Marina Investors, LLC announced today its first acquisition within its new partnership with Centerbridge Capital and Resilient Capital Partners: the Faro Blanco Marina located in Marathon in the Florida Keys.Faro Blanco is a first-class marina that offers safety, privacy, entertainment, activities, parking, convenient fuel and pump out services, dockside hookups and a resort-owned restaurant facing the marina, all in a setting with magnificent sunsets and expansive views. The Marina consists of 74 slips and accommodates vessels between 35- and 140-feet.

Derecktor Shipyards Hires Steady as COO

Derecktor Shipyards announced on Thursday that Richard Steady will be joining the U.S. shipbuilding and repair company as chief operating officer.Steady has held many executive maritime positions prior to joining Derecktor. He began his career at Maritrans, the global shipping and transportation company, where he rose to the position of director of government and regulatory affairs. He also held key roles at marine construction and dredging operator Weeks Marine, where he was director of marine services…

Wagner Hired to Lead Derecktor's Florida Sales Team

Derik Wagner recently joined Derecktor Shipyards’ executive team as director of sales, bringing with him more than 20 years of global sales, business development and management experience. He will lead the Derecktor Florida sales team from Derecktor’s Dania Beach superyacht facility as the company prepares to bring its new Fort Pierce location online this summer.“Our company is growing and fortunate to hire someone of Derik’s caliber,” Paul Derecktor, president of Derecktor Shipyards, said.

Malibu Boats Acquires Maverick Boat Group

Malibu Boats, Inc. announced it has closed the acquisition of Maverick Boat Group, Inc. The transaction was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under its credit facility.Maverick designs and manufactures center console, dual console, flats and bay boats and has a strong reputation as a pioneer in flats and bay boats. With two manufacturing facilities located in Fort Pierce, Florida, Maverick designs and manufactures the Cobia, Pathfinder, Maverick, and Hewes brands.“As a strong…

Derecktor Breaks Ground on New Florida Shipyard

Plans to convert the century-old Port of Fort Pierce into a repair and refit facility for the global fleet of megayachts and large sailing yachts are moving full speed ahead.After a lengthy permitting and review process, Derecktor Shipyards has been granted approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Fort Pierce to begin construction of its newest shipyard – Derecktor Ft.

Sailors Rescued in Storm Sally off Key West

Two people aboard their sailing vessel Preston Point were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, Sunday, after they were in distress in heavy seas about 14 miles west of Ponce de Leon Bay off Key West, Fla., during Tropical Storm Sally.The sailing vessel's owners called Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders at approximately 6:30 p.m, Saturday, stating the vessel's engine was disabled and that they were adrift and in danger of capsizing. The watchstanders directed the launch of an…

Miami Shipyard RMK Merrill-Stevens to Hire 75 Staff

Miami shipyard RMK Merrill-Stevens says it is hiring 75 new employees over the next two months to staff its newly renovated North Yard and South Yard. The hiring campaign follows years full of updates after Rahmi M. Koç, a Turkish philanthropist, purchased the shipyard in 2013 while committing to restore the yard to its former glory. RMK Merrill-Stevens is known as the first shipyard in Florida and is now one of the most updated and capable shipyards in the region.RMK Merrill-Stevens provides yacht service…

First Cox Diesel Outboards Bound for N. America

Cox Powertrain said Tuesday it is shipping its first CXO300 production diesel outboards bound for North America to a distributor in Florida for the U.S. market.Following the delivery of Cox Powertrain’s first production CXO300 outboards to Singapore-based distributor Sime Darby, Cox has dispatched its next shipment to North America, where Florida-based distributor Ring Power is awaiting the engines' imminent arrival ahead of its customer demo program.With the majority of CXO300 customers located in North America…