Allied Marine

Ferretti Yachts recently procured an esteemed boat dealer, Allied Richard Bertram Marine Group, an acquisition which will enable the Italian yacht company to sell directly to U.S. buyers.

The recently established company, Allied Marine, intends to sell American-made Tiara yachts in addition to Ferretti's nine lines of luxury yachts.

Previously, MarineMax was Ferretti's sole U.S. dealer, and as the country's largest boat dealer, it provided stability in a declining economy. Ferretti's contract with MarineMax expired this year, ­they chose to not renew.

MarineMax's general manager, Bob Fritsky, stated that it will direct more focus towards selling luxury yachts from another reputable Italian builder, Azimut.

The new president of Allied Marine, Rob McDougal, recognizes that it is an arduous time to become a dealer, but is ultimately optimistic and enthused about "providing a higher level of service and being closer to the customer."

Moms on the Water

On May 11, 2008 people everywhere will wax lyrical about how much they appreciate their moms. Why the well-deserved outpouring? Because that second Sunday in May is Mother's Day; a day for praise, cards, and breakfast in bed. And—in the eyes of MarineMax—it's also a great time for moms to hit the water.

Participants in MarineMax's Mother's Day Celebration (held on May 4, 2008) can attend one of the company's Women on Water boating classes. These sessions will be held at 60 MarineMax dealership locations nationwide and will introduce women to boating-basics such as maneuvering, line handling, and docking. I attended a WOW class back in July and was very happy to go toolin' around in a Sea Ray 44 while learning how to back in and use a marine radio.

If you are a mom, have a mom, or know a mom who has any inclination to learn more about boat handling, the Mother's Day event promises to be a good introduction to boating and a great way to spend a spring Sunday. Classes are open to the public but registration is required. For more information, check out MarineMax's web site.

Women on Water

Earlier this week, I braved the NYC traffic and headed to Liberty Landing Marina to participate in a beginner boating class for women. Women on Water is a program created by MarineMax. The aim of these free, four-hour-long seminars is to teach women (who all too often leave the boat handling to men) how to run a boat.

My class was small, due in large part to the rather nasty weather. It was an oppressively hot morning and the afternoon forecast was for rain. The good news was that the limited numbers meant more personal attention for us all. We started indoors with a classroom discussion. Our very able instructor, Capt. Merrill Miller (see photo, with a member of my class), a US Coast Guard licensed 100 ton Master, covered some basics. And because we were a particularly inexperienced crew, I mean basics. We took turns tying lines with everyone chanting, "round and round and reverse loop."

After that, we got on our boat, a Sea Ray 44 Sundancer. Each woman took turns maneuvering her around the marina and then out towards the Statue of Liberty. Capt. Miller was great—informative and lively—and I could see the benefits of being in an all-female class. There was no pressure or judgment. We were all in it together.

At the end of the day Capt. Miller’s message was clear—there’s nothing inherently difficult about running a boat. All it takes is a little practice, patience, and perhaps a trip to one of MarineMax’s Women on Water classes.