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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

Recent Refit – US Duty Paid
Valentine is the last hull built of the iconic Oyster 66 model. Featuring generous accommodations usually only found in much larger boats, the 66 is well-known for her expansive interior volume. Ocean-ready cutter rig offers effortless push-button sailing with in-mast furling hydraulic main, headsails and self-tacking staysail. Fully equipped for extended voyaging with all creature comforts.

The Newport Brokerage Show runs in conjunction with the Newport International Boat Show, Sept 15th through the 18th, 2016 

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).

Since its initiation in 2002, the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) program has certified over 500 yacht sales professionals (YSPs) throughout the U.S. and Canada. Eligible, experienced YSPs who meet the application criteria and who successfully pass an examination earn their CPYB credentials, setting them apart as knowledgeable professionals dedicated to the highest ethical standards and to continued professional education and training. Ongoing education and recertification is required every 3 years.

As a cooperative venture among the Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA), the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA), the Florida Yacht Brokers Association (FYBA), the California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA), the British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association (BCYBA), the Gulf Coast Yacht Brokers Association (GCYBA) and the Boating Ontario Dealers, the CPYB program continues to set the standard for industry professionalism.

Just as the program currently recognizes qualified yacht sales professionals, the Endorsed Brokerage program honors brokerage firms and dealerships that are committed to the high standards of the CPYB program and who support their YSPs’ investment in attaining and maintaining their CPYB certification.

The Connecticut Spring Boat Show sponsored by the Yacht Brokers Association of America, is expecting over 70 boats varying in size from 20-75ft to journey from as far away as Maine to the first annual 2016 Spring boat show. The exhibition is set for May 13-15, 2016 at Brewer Essex Island Marina located in Essex, CT and is attracting interested boat buyers from Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and beyond.

“We are excited to participate in the first in-water boat show of 2016. Essex Connecticut is a beautiful sailing village that I used to visit years ago when I worked on a 110’ Broward that lived on the CT River”, says Matt Leduc of Latitude Yacht Brokerage.

“We will be showing one of our brokerage sailboats at the show. Shows like this are great because you can see the boats on display and more importantly meet the brokers who have many other boats in their own inventory” Although there may be over 70 boats at the show, the brokers will know of hundreds more that are ready for new owners. If you are in the market, take the time to meet a broker that will work for you and help you in your search.” says Matt Leduc.

Visitors attending the free show will enjoy seeing a wide range of new and brokerage, power and sail models. Boating gear, accessories and service companies will also be on site. Sails Up 4 Cancer, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut will be on site raising money through food and beverage sales to benefit their organization. SU4C has been dedicated to supporting cancer care, education, prevention and research along the Shoreline of Connecticut.

Whether a novice or experienced boat owner, the process of purchasing or selling a boat can be a lengthy one, and as with any investment, it is always a wise decision to turn to those who have the resources to assist you in becoming a well informed and educated consumer in the boating industry.  Please stop by and discover the difference that is Latitude Yacht Brokerage.

Our booth (#406) is located on the right hand side of the show along the outside wall.  Please call if you cannot find us (401-560-0007).

by Matt Leduc

Good boats, that are priced right, with motivated sellers, sell first. The longer you wait the inventory gets picked over and your choices are reduced to boats that may be over priced, don’t show well or boats with issues.
In many markets, new boats sales have been very soft since the market recession in 2008. New boats have not been put into the aging fleet, like they have been in the past. It is very rare to find a boat that is 2-7 years old because of this fact. If you are looking for a pre-owned boat that is less than 10 years old, you better start the process ASAP! If you are looking for a brand new boat that is being built at the factory or in the dealer’s inventory, now is the time to buy! The boat need to be customized, commissioned, calibrated and sea-trialed before they are handed over to you. The earlier you commit to the boat, the quicker the builder and dealer can schedule your delivery. Better to have your new boat delivered in the early spring rather than the late summer.
So how do you get the best boat for you and your family?

Start your relationship with your yacht broker now. Do not wait until the spring. Do your homework, look at boats online and get out there and see them early. The highest amount of inventory is in the late fall and early winter. You may find it challenging to handle the cold and the short days but it will pay off in the end with a great boat.

The winter boat shows are a great place to meet brokers who know the local inventory. Get to know them, interview them and select the one you like best. A good broker will not only know their own inventory of boats but the entire market segment of boats similar to their own, or boats they have sold in the past. Challenge them to give you several boats to consider and vet them through your needs and requirements. If, in the end, they put two or three boats that meet the mark, they have helped you through step #1.

Don’t look at one boat at a time with every broker in the state. Use your own broker, use one car and schedule a day to look at 4-6 boats in one day. It is the most efficient use of time and resources to make progress through finding the boat. You will also have your thoughts fresh in your mind as you go from one boat to the next. Once you find her, it is not over. After all of that, it has just begun! Now you bring in the human element of the sales process. Two opposing forces now need to come together and agree on a deal. Experienced brokers have bought and sold hundreds if not thousands of boat through their selling careers. Make an official offer, with dates, contingencies and a deposit. Without these details, in black and white, there can never be a deal. Good brokers make deals happen. If no deal can be made, because you are doing the deal in the fall or winter, you can continue to look or wait it out and come back to her. Time is on your side, working for you, not against you. This is a huge advantage for the buyer that can only be leveraged in the fall and winter. The closer you get to spring buyers come out in droves, you are now competing with other buyers looking for the same boat you are. There is nothing worse than going through the above, finding the boat you love and discovering that she is Sale Pending!

You have agreed on a deal. The boat is out of the water and buried behind 100 other boats waiting to go in the water in the spring. How do you find out if she is in good condition and her systems work? Major investigation can still be made while she is out of the water by a certified marine surveyor. All of the major structural components, 12V and 110V systems can be tested and turned on at this time. A detailed Decommissioned Systems Escrow Document will protect you and the seller for systems that could not be fully tested. Ask your broker for details on this document and how it has worked protecting buyers and sells of boats in the Northeast and cold climates for years.

Congratulations, you have purchased your next boat! Getting her ready through the offseason makes the winter go by faster, your spring more enjoyable and a summer season on the water. It doesn’t get any better than that!