South Florida

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…

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…

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.

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.

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…

New CEO Takes the Helm at RMK Merrill-Stevens Shipyard

Industry veteran William Clewes has been appointed CEO of Miami yacht repair yard RMK Merrill-Stevens, charged with leading Florida's oldest shipyard through a period or redevelopment, reopening and beyond.“I am excited about building a team and a new facility to bring the RMK Merrill-Stevens facility back to its former glory and beyond,” said Clewes in January after accepting the position. Clewes will lead the North and South yards, which straddle the Miami River, the ongoing redevelopment of both…

Shipbuilding: Diversity Drives Derecktor

Derecktor is a diverse boatbuilding organization, with a multitude of yards and long experience building  hundreds of yachts, workboats and military craft. Its shipyards today include:• Robert E. Derecktor: The company headquarters located 25 miles north of Manhattan in Mamaroneck, NY, and the original Derecktor yard. Today, the site remains as the company’s new construction base, and it also provides repair services for a variety of yachts and commercial craft.• Derecktor Robinhood: Located in Riggs Cove…

'Sea the World' Reveal At Huizenga Center

South Florida’s marine industry is a $12 billion/year economic engine that provides the region with 142,000 careers and jobs. With an aging workforce and a unique skill set, the maritime community is facing a workforce that’s aging out with skilled labor being very hard to find. To assist, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises/AMESOLUTIONS.COM, and 23 marine industry companies have joined forces with Junior Achievement of South Florida.On May 1, 2019, Junior Achievement of South Florida will unveil the Marine Industry Storefront…

Two Valentine's Day Boat Shows in Miami

If you love boats, there’s no better way to enjoy Valentine’s Day than in Miami, Fla. among 2,000 of the world’s most spectacular yachts and pleasure craft. With temps forecasted in the mid 70’s F, Miami welcomes the world to two different boat shows in three locations, Miami Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show, amid breathtaking views, exotic sports cars, beautiful, stylish women and hand-rolled cigars.In its first year downtown on Miami’s Biscayne Bay, the 31st annual Miami Yacht Show takes place February 14 -18. Many yachting veterans will miss the show’s location on Collins Ave.

Bradford Marine sold to Fort Lauderdale Yacht Harbor

Bradford Marine rang in the new year with new ownership closing on January 2, 2019. Fort Lauderdale Yacht Harbor (FLHY) acquired Bradford Marine's Fort Lauderdale and Bahamas refit-service shipyards and its brokerage division.Paul Engle will continue as Bradford's president; he told YachtingJournal.com. “To fund improvements, the new owners will be injecting additional capital into both yards.”Incorporated in 1969, Bradford aims to be a megayacht destination shipyard, insomuch as it is surrounded by South Florida’s marine industry titans…

Concierge Yacht Repair, Service and Maintenance for Engine Rooms

As vessels increase in size, engine rooms increase in complexity. With superyachts approaching the size of small ships, qualified engineers with commercial and military experience operating larger vessels effectively prevent and troubleshoot problems.FHG Marine Engineering (FHGME) is a niche contractor with a business model providing concierge mobile preventative and routine yacht maintenance with emergency repair to luxury yachts in South Florida, minimizing downtime for vessels with 24-7 operations.

Best Yachts, News from FLIBS

Nearly 2,000 megayacht captains blared their boat horns in unison for one full minute on Sunday night at exactly 6 p.m., a traditional symphony of ocean commotion signaling the official end of yet another FLIBS or Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.The consensus is the 58th consecutive FLIBS was one of the best shows in many years. Propelled by a strong economy and two, active hurricane seasons prompting new vessel purchases, repairs and refits, the five day show from October 31 - November 4 was well attended.

11' Jet-Powered Tender to Debut in Ft. Lauderdale

Amid the grandeur of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will be an 11' jewel glistening in the South Florida sun. The Argos Nautic 330 Jet is a bespoke five-passenger RIB tender powered by an intercooled turbo engine coupled to a waterjet. Marrying unbridled adrenaline with lavish opulence, its FLIBS debut is at Orange Zone Land 1001.A Boating Industry Top Product, the Argos Nautic 330 Jet was designed to solve the space issues common in many 50'–70' yachts. With an innovative center console that folds down and no bulky outboard, its storage size is a mere 129" L x 68" W x 40"" H.

World’s largest marine forklift transfers go-fast boats in Miami

Need a lift? Your performance power boat can get a ride on Atlas, the world’s largest marine forklift, at Haulover Marine Center located at Bill Bird Marina in North Miami Beach, Fla.Atlas, a Wiggins Marina Bull forklift, has a 70,000 pound lifting capacity and is the cornerstone of the Haulover Marina’s recent $25 million renovation. Operated by Westrec Marinas, the unique five-tier dry stack features an innovative elevator lift system for retrieving and launching vessels in a fully enclosed facility rated to withstand a category 5 hurricane.

Yachting Life: Marina Palms introduces condo owners to yachting lifestyle

An almost primitive connection draws humans to the water. Calming ripples lapping at the shore wash away concerns. The curiosity of what’s over the horizon, accessible only by boat, lures one to the land’s end. That indigenous appeal is the business model of The Reserve at Marina Palms, a luxury, high-rise condominium with the newest, private marina in South Florida.With breathtaking water views, Marina Palms introduces a unique, yachting lifestyle with a boat club for residents of its new, affluent condo in vibrant North Miami Beach, FL.

RMK Merrill-Stevens commissions new 100T Marine Travelift

Adorned with stars and stripes, RMK Merrill-Stevens’ newly commissioned 100T Marine Travelift Old Glory increases lifting capacity by 30-percent, enabling the iconic Florida shipyard to now lift and dry dock megayachts in the 70 - 90-foot range.Commissioned on August 3, 2018, a 33-foot Sealine was the first vessel lifted at RMK Merrill-Stevens’ south yard, followed by a 42-foot Cruiser Catamaran and an 82-foot Ferretti.The 133-year old shipyard has embarked upon a new era of yacht refit and repair with a complete yard modernization program to service megayachts with haul-out…

FB Marine Group Acquires Shield Marine

FB Marine Group has announced the acquisition of yacht management and service company, Shield Marine. Combining forces enables the newly formed division, FB Shield Marine, to enter into new markets, benefit from economies of scale, grow their customer base and expand their workforce. Founded in 2010 by Matthew Hayes and Jeff West, Shield Marine provides personalized yacht management service related to the operational requirements of many yachts in South Florida and around the globe.

ACR Electronics Named South Florida Manufacturer of the Year

Broward County based survival gear manufacturer catering to the marine, outdoor, aviation and military markets has announced that they were named South Florida’s Manufacturer of the Year. ACR Electronics, Inc. was recognized by the South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA) at their “Annual SFMA Recognition of Excellence” banquet and awards presentation, hosted at The Signature Grand where there were over 400 people in attendance. The SFMA celebrates excellence in manufacturing by recognizing companies that have demonstrated success in leadership…