Due to the previous popularity of its models particularly in southern U.S. climates, Leopard Yachts once again has a dedicated presence in the United States. Leopard Yachts used to be sold through the Rodriguez Group, but the companies parted ways two years ago. Leopard established new connections overseas (including one recently with Sanlorenzo) but no…
One of the oldest yacht yards in the United States—which is also the oldest continually operating business in Miami—will be auctioned on February 3, due to foreclosure. Merrill-Stevens, founded in 1885 and operating on the Miami River since 1923, obtained a mortgage modification loan last year from Coconut Grove Bank, but the deal seems to…
“We’re excited! It’s a good opportunity for the family and company.” So say Dick Lazzara, chairman of Lazzara Yachts, the family-owned and -operated company that he and his brother Brad founded about 20 years ago in Tampa, Florida. Lazzara Yachts recently received capital from The Crest Group, a New York-based real estate development company focused…
A builder of high-tech racing yachts and megayachts owned by Vitters Shipyard is taking over Palmer Johnson’s former UK operations facility. Green Marine, which has built several of the Volvo Ocean Race participants and specializes in carbon fiber construction, is the company moving into the plant in Hythe, along the southern coast. Palmer Johnson shut…
A naval architect who has collaborated with a handful of yacht builders over the past 30 years has set up his own shipyard, focusing on megayacht tenders. Philippe Cabon is the principal of France-based Tender Shipyard, specializing in the design and construction of tenders from 3.4 meters to 12.5 meters (11 to 41 feet) LOA….
The year-long court battle over the now-defunct Sensation Yachts is finally resolved. The High Court in Auckland, New Zealand has ordered the removal of all unused equipment to prepare for selling the property. The ruling benefits HSBC, the bank which took over the yard last year from its owner, Ivan Erceg. According to court filings,…
In a sign of the times, more than 100 craftspeople that Palmer Johnson hired for its UK-based yacht-building operations have been laid off. Both the Daily Echo newspaper and Boating Business magazine reported earlier this week that the yard in Hythe, on the southern coast of England, planned to release 110 employees and shut its…
Consider it an ultimate dayboat or tricked-out tender for your megayacht. Either way, there’s never been anything like the Wider 42. And outside of Wally, there’s really never been a boatbuilder like Wider Yachts, focused on pushing the boundaries of convention to this degree. When you realize Wider Yachts’ founder is Tilli Antonelli, however, it…
If you take your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad everywhere you go, now you can shop for your next Sunseeker superyacht whenever you want, with the swipe of your finger. The Sunseeker Brokerage app, available for download for free from the Apple Store, was just released within the past two weeks. (The image here is…
When most megayacht builders want to expand their facilities, they build outward. In the case of Feadship’s Royal Van Lent, however, the yard is going underground — literally. The shipyard is on a small island, with few options to expand outward, given the proximity of other buildings and structures. Rather than permit this to restrict…
