The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN boat/yacht broker has seen an 80 per cent sales upswing for 2013 to-date, telling Tribune Business yesterday that most of the boats sold were over the $100,000 threshold.

Brooks Russell, marina consultant at Palm Cay and the Bahamas Sport Fishing Network’s (BSFN) principal, credited the sales increase to the success of the first annual boat show at Palm Cay last October.

“Last year’s show was a small show, it was our first event,” he recalled. “We had about 350-400 people turn out. We sold four boats at the show.

“This year, as a result of that show which was in October, we have had a dramatic increase in sales. From January to the current time, we have had a great start to 2013, with the most boats being sold over the 100,000 mark.

“We have seen an 80 per cent increase in sales,” he added. “I think there is a big shift, which is important for us since we are one of the first broker companies here in Nassau.

“More and more people are calling us first to look for boats before they go to Florida. I think people are realiaing that they can find really good boats here in Nassau without having to take that trip to Florida.”

Palm Cay, an upscale waterfront development on Nassau’s eastern shore, will host the second annual Bahamas Sports Fishing Network (BSFN) Boat Show on April 27.

“The boat show is turning out to be a very popular event. We have a wide range of vendors on-board who will be displaying products from all of the marina companies, to Berthas, to Pirates Pub, to Sands Beer and Bradford Marine,” Mr Russell said.

“All of these companies are coming on board, even Ocean Master Boats out of Florida that will have a booth displaying boats. The show is gaining a lot of momentum. We are having more and more people calling us every day to put their boat in the show, or look at possibly having a booth. We are excited about the show and just the exposure it will bring to the marine industry, which is long overdue here in Nassau.”