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Once you walk through the gates of the Providence Boat Show, you’ll see 130 new power, sail and paddle craft inside the convention hall. But if you are open to exploring previously owned models, there are thousands more boats for sale through the Providence show, along with experienced brokers who can help you find the boat that fits your needs and wants.

“When you attend a boat show, one of the more important ‘products’ you come in contact with are knowledgeable marine professionals,” says Matt Leduc of Latitude Yacht Brokerage located in Jamestown (R.I.). “Brokers with years of experience who can help buyers find the boat they are looking for will be at the boat show.”

Leduc points out that winter is an excellent time to start your search: “The inventory is at a premium right now, especially if are looking for a particular model … Good boats that are priced right go quickly; if you wait until spring, you will be looking at picked-over inventory.”

There are companies exhibiting at the Providence show that focus solely on yacht brokerage, such as Leduc’s Latitude Yacht Brokerage. Marinas and dealers also represent pre-owned boats, so as your tour the show ask companies about their brokerage listings.

The best thing about starting your search at the Providence Boat Show is the ability to one-stop shop. You can talk with a number of brokers all in one day to find the professional you want to work with on your search.

According to Leduc, the process he follows is to first talk with a potential client to understand what that person is looking for in a boat. Together, they then narrow down the choices to a list of potential models and schedule a day to visit those boats together.

“If that person ends up with two, or even three, boats they are having a hard time deciding between, then I have done my job well!” he says.

So do your homework before getting to the Providence Boat Show. Make a list of the type of boat you are looking for, how you plan to use it, features you’d like to have on your boat, and what your budget is. The more information you can give to a broker, the better chance you’ll have of finding the right boat to get you on the water this season.

Written by – Cynthia Goss – Providence Boat Show

Sellers that don’t prepare their boat to get viewed and inspected by prospective buyers are putting the showing and sale at risk. Your boat will receive better offers and sell quicker if you consider the following low cost, low effort suggestions:

1. Declutter – Remove as much as possible from the boat. A boat that is open and can be inspected in all areas is more likely to have a positive impact on a prospect. Your boat will be very memorable when compared to others that are a mess and difficult to easily inspect. If taking all of your gear off the boat is difficult or not practical, find one spot on the boat to put everything. The best is one spot that can be sectioned off from the main cabin – V-Berth, aft cabin or cockpit locker.
2. Clean – A surface cleaning is easy and must be done. Additionally, these other spots have a huge impact: Bilge – Really get in there and get it dry and clean. Engine Sump – Clean, degrease, dry and put in new drip pads.

III. Odor – Your boat should not smell! Do not make the mistake and cover the smell with car fresheners or pot-pouri. Get to the source and replace hoses. Black and Gray water hoses do not last forever. Waste and organisms permeate the hose and cause the smell. This is the most expensive and effort detail on this list but it must be done. Smelly boats do not sell.

1. Stage – Many people remove fabrics, cushions and mattresses in the off-season. When your boat is for sale, you should keep them aboard. The first impression of the buyers is very important. The cushions and fabrics installed give it a warm, comfortable and livability feel that give the buyer a better idea of what it will be like to be onboard in season. Remember these buyers are looking at your boat in the off-season and it is probably cold and gray out. A comfortable, clean, uncluttered boat gets them feeling good about the boating season ahead.
2. Deck – Thoroughly clean the deck and lockers, organize gear and dry out the space before covering for the winter. Make sure the deck, cockpit scuppers, corners and crevices are clear of leaves and debris before the yard applies shrinkwrap.  Be in touch with the yard in advance so your notified before the cover is on.
3. Exterior Wood Work – Exterior varnish is huge effort and expense. If your teak needs some attention you should as a minimum strip or sand down to bear wood. It will allow the next owner to decide if they want varnish, oil or just let it go gray.

VII. Hull – Make sure all the growth is off the hull and that the waterline and prop/shaft is clear of stains and debris.  Go one step further by waxing your topsides, apply bottom paint and install fresh zincs in the fall, making the boat look ready to go in early spring!

VIII. Placement in Yard – Speak with your service or yard manager and request they locate the boat in a spot that is available for wintertime surveys and sea trials.  Some yards even have a set aside location for boats for sale.  The last place you want to be is buried by other boats and not available for an early spring launch.

If you follow these simple, low effort suggestions, you will increase your chances of a great showing, a possible offer and sale!

Another summer filled with memories of boating, beautiful weather and family time is coming to an end. At Latitude we’ve been out enjoying all that summer has to offer and are transitioning to one of the busiest sales seasons of the year.  Fall is a great time to list your boat, just in time for the Newport International Boat Show.  Come by our booth #64) in Tent D and let us help you start the buying or selling experience.  Call 401-560-0007 for directions.  

2004 Oyster 66 “RIVKY” – Concours d’Elegance Winner, always maintained with a full time crew and service performed at Hinckley Yachts.

Oyster 66/10 is not just any ordinary Oyster 66. Among many things, she is a best-in-class example of this proven design, 2012 Oyster Concours d’Elegance winner, American owned, never chartered and maintained with no expenses spared by only the very best boatyards and fulltime captains.
Furthermore, as if it’s not enough that so much thought went into the construction of Oyster 66/10, her topside are painted in flag blue awlgrip, the toe rail is flawlessly varnished bright, there is a very desirable five cabin layout, HUGE cockpit with luxurious cushions and refrigerator, electrical davits, 50 HP tender, push button sailing at its finest and so much more!! Sparkling in every way this Oyster 66 is a must see example of Oyster’s build quality.

2005 Sabre 36 Sedan “Evening Star”

“Evening Star” is a beautiful example of the very popular 36 Sabre Flybridge Sedan that is nicely equipped with notable recent improvements.  Some key features include:

Flag Blue Gelcoat Finish
Upgraded 370 horsepower
Bottom Stripped, 2 coats epoxy barrier barrier coat and three coats ablative bottom paint (2017)
Bomar black anodized aluminum-framed windows (2016)
Onan Generator
Two Zone Air-conditioning 
Inverter with 2 extra batteries Selectable Racor Filters for engines

See Full Specs for a complete list of all the features and equipment.  “Evening Star” is dockside in Rhode Island and available for inspection.

The Newport Brokerage Show runs in conjunction with the Newport International Boat Show, Sept 14th through the 17th, 2017

Don’t miss the chance to view over 100 quality sail and motor yachts from 40′ to 140′ on display at the Newport Shipyard. Admission to the show is complimentary and offers a water shuttle to the Newport International Boat Show (admission to the NIBS not included).

At a young age I knew that life was better on a boat. Whether it be hanging out with family, digging for quahogs, or fishing for striped bass. Much like the striped bass I was hooked. Having the opportunity to grow up on an island and the opportunity of having a boat was a luxury that my family took full advantage of whenever we could. Growing up I always knew I wanted to do something in the marine industry, which led me to my first real job at a marina as a dockhand. Seeing that aspect of the marine industry was new for me assisting others with docking and having to care for others boats like they were my own. It was a fun and rewarding experience making tons of new connections and friends along the way. Then advancing into my junior year of college I decided to try and find something a little more professional and applicable to my future.

One day I came across a for sale sign on a 62’ Oyster at the marina I had been working for and was instantly hooked on the idea of selling yachts for a career. Through a mutual connection I was lucky enough to get an interview at Latitude Yacht Brokerage and was hired. Get involved as much as you can! Any real world experience is extremely helpful and is even more helpful when handing in resumes.

Starting out in the summer time was the perfect time for this internship to begin, I was able to go on sea-trials of vessels, attend showings of luxury 80’ sailing yachts, and experience my first Newport International Boat Show. Being the “all knowing” twenty year old that I am I came into this internship with what I believed to be a plethora of knowledge on boats. Boy was I shocked when I went on my first survey of an older 40’ sailboat. To my keen eye everything seemed to be fine and in order, nothing special but a well kept old boat with some character. I was shocked to find out that the deck of the boat was soaked; the coring had been completely saturated. Water had been seeping in through the gaps in the old caulking around the stanchions and had soaked the decks. Seeing this happen on my first showing of a boat was a bit of a treat and a little discouraging. Another thing that it happened to be was very insightful. I always knew what sailboats were but what were these cutter rigs? There’s a difference between a Ketch, and a Yawl? Bottom line: Anything I had already known was the fourth grade equivalent to what my employers know.

This wasn’t discouraging it was enticing and intriguing for me, to be able to learn so much more about a lifestyle that I love. My best advice for anyone looking to get into the marine industry is to get your foot in the door. I’m 20 years old and I realize that most people are not going to want to list their boat with a 20-year-old kid who hasn’t graduated college yet. What I do have though is the know-how and the experience that I wouldn’t have had until I had graduated and got involved in the business. Getting involved so early allowed me to gain knowledge in the brokerage area and the marine industry overall. Meeting with all these clients and people in the industry has given me a plethora of knowledge that I had not been exposed to before. The face-to-face contact alone was hands down the most important and helpful part of the internship. They can teach you all you want in school about terms and techniques but they can’t teach you how to interact with others in a professional setting. Only experience can do that. Get out there, get an internship, get some experience, and you’ll be on the road to getting a good job and a good career.

Latitude Yacht Brokerage is proud to announce that for the third year in a row (2015, 2016 and 2017), they have won Newport Life’s Best Customer Service Award. Latitude also won Newport Life’s Best Yacht Brokerage (2017). Matt Leduc and Ryan Miller attended the Awards Soiree at Rosecliff Mansion in celebration of the winners with proceeds from the event benefitting the Preservation Society of Newport County.

Thank you to all for the support!