Merritt Island, FL - In a move serving up more product offerings and locations to boating enthusiasts considering fractional ownership, Merritt Island, Fla.-based SharedYachts (www.SharedYachts.com) recently announced a three-year agreement with sales and brokerage firm, Black Pearl Yacht Sales (www.BlackPearlYachtSales.com), as well as two new Florida locations.
The deal between the two Florida-based companies will extend the low-maintenance and flexible benefits offered by SharedYachts’ fractional ownership to Black Pearl Yacht Sales’ new product lines, including watercrafts from Renzo, Hunt, Post and Santa Cruz. It also contributed to SharedYachts’ recent expansion to Naples and Marco Island, which are located in Southwest Florida–one of the country’s most popular areas for boating enthusiasts.
“We’re extremely pleased to broaden the reach of SharedYachts’ ownership programs by partnering with Black Pearl Yacht Sales, one of the finest sales and brokerage firms in the industry, and to celebrate our geographical expansion,” said Mark Casburn, chief executive officer of SharedYachts. “Additional SharedYachts locations and product offerings will allow more consumers than ever to experience the thrill of cruising aboard a luxurious yacht without the cost and hassle of full ownership.”
According to Tony and Mary Balsamo, co-owners of Black Pearl Yacht Sales, the new relationship is viewed as mutually beneficial.
“We’re looking forward to even more yachting enthusiasts enjoying our product lines as a result of SharedYachts’ unique fractional ownership opportunities,” said Tony. “We also think it will be a great way to introduce yachting to an additional array of clients.”
The new boats from Black Pearl Yacht Sales, now available with SharedYachts’ flexible fractional ownership options, will be showcased at this year’s Fort Myers Boat Show in Fort Myers, Fla., to be held Nov. 8 - 11.
In addition to the new watercrafts and locations offered as part of the contract with Black Pearl,
SharedYachts currently offers fractional ownership and leasing, as well as limited chartering, on more than 14 yachts and boats from a variety of well-known manufacturers in coastal cities throughout Florida, including Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral, Merritt Island, St. Petersburg, Naples, Marco Island and Fort Lauderdale. Available yachts range in size from 30 to 60 feet and the company plans to offer a 98-foot vessel beginning in the first quarter of 2008. The company also is focused on expanding to additional locations throughout the east coast, California and the Great Lakes, as well as more exotic locales in the Caribbean and Virgin Islands.
According to Casburn, SharedYachts’ fractional ownership and leasing programs reduce the cost of ownership, eliminate upkeep time and allow even novice mariners to enjoy entertaining or vacationing aboard a fully maintained yacht. Each boat is owned by a Limited Liability Company (LLC), managed by SharedYachts, which handles all maintenance, accounting and administrative tasks for the vessel. Potential owners purchase a number of shares in the LLC, entitling them to the use of the yacht for a number of days proportionate to the size of their shared ownership. The owners are then billed monthly for their portion of operating expenses, which are typically less than dockage fees for the entire boat (under sole ownership).
Beyond reducing maintenance and administrative hassle, yacht management at SharedYachts includes concierge services to help plan special events or vacations, as well as yacht training to familiarize inexperienced boaters with their new purchase. The program also offers customer support 24 hours a day/7 days a week and convenient online scheduling. Plus, each yacht is always kept stocked with essential provisions to help make each voyage as worry-free as possible. Additional luxury services are also available, including catering, on-board chefs, transportation and yacht positioning.
To learn more about SharedYachts and the benefits of the company’s fractional ownership programs, visit www.SharedYachts.com or call 1-888-637-0312.
For more information on Black Pearl Yacht Sales and its selection of fine watercrafts, visit www.BlackPearlYachtSales.com or call 1-239-389-4321.