March 27 2013
By all accounts the Palm Beach International Boat Show was one of the best shows the industry has had in many years. Those of us at Luke Brown found the traffic to be up and the interest amongst qualified customers to be higher than anything that we have seen in more than five years.
In the Mega Yacht area we featured TREVIA, a late model 110’ Broward, and MISS LISA, the like new 92’ Citadel Expedition Yacht. In the trawler section we displayed a new Nordic Tug, and in the brokerage section we displayed a 92’ Burger, 68’ West Bay Sonship, new 70’ Alaskan, and a 52’ Tiara.
MISS LISA was sea trialed for clients from Switzerland Sunday evening after the show. Offers are being conveyed from two clients on the vessels that we displayed. Luke Brown brokers feel that this was a show reminiscent of the “good old days”. It was a great way to bring an end to a good winter selling season with Luke Brown sales for the first quarter of 2013 exceeding the first two quarters of 2012. The market has finally come back and prices are starting to firm up. All indications are that business will continue to improve.
Due to this new found enthusiasm, Luke Brown Yachts has decided to become more active in the new boat market. We now representSelene trawlers, Nordic Tug, Alaskan Yachts, Out Islander Yachts, and Journey Catamarans. In all, these five brands represent 28 models ranging in size from 36 and 128 feet. Between our new boat product line and our brokerage inventory, we have emerged as the number one source for Offshore and Trawler motoryachts.
By Andrew Cilla