In June 1959, a young Andrew Jackson opened a yacht and aircraft sales office in Miami making what we today know as Atlantic Yacht & Ship, Inc., one of the earliest yacht brokerage firms in South Florida. Incorporated as Andy Jackson Yacht & Aircraft, Inc., the company had a private aircraft sales division and a commercial vessel division that specialized in tugs, barges and small ships.Andy decided to retire in August 1979 and sold the business to a local yacht salesman named Bob Skillen.
Bob moved Andy Jackson Yacht & Aircraft to the heart of the Yacht Brokerage Community, Fort Lauderdale. Yacht Captain Joe Marino along with Arpad Papp, a Power & Sportfishing Yacht salesman joined Bob in April of 1980 and in August 1984 purchased Andy Jackson Yacht & Aircraft, Inc. Understanding the revolution of an ever-changing industry, partners Marino and Papp officially changed the brokerage name to Atlantic Yacht & Ship, Inc. in October 1987.
The late 80’s and early 90’s brought about many changes in the Yachting Brokerage industry; Atlantic Yacht & Ship continue to thrive with more than a dozen licensed yacht brokers. In 1997 the brokerage strategically moved its location to Harbour Towne Marina in Dania Beach making it one of the few Brokerages to offer its client a water- front, full service marina.
Mack Carroll, a top-performing yacht broker from Berry Boger Yacht Sales located Myrtle Beach, SC, joined Atlantic Yacht & Ship in April of 1997 and by March of 1999 he had become the top yacht broker. Carroll eagerly joined Marino as partner of the brokerage. Charles “Ed” Biggie, a top broker from HMY Yacht Sales, was invited to become a third partner of Atlantic Yacht & Ship in 2002. In addition to his very diverse background, Ed brought a very strong marine service reputation.
In 2004, Atlantic Yacht Services was opened to provide full marine service for all our clients and the general boating community. AYS continues to diversify and build a solid sales staff with many long-term employees that continue today. From our humble 4-person beginning ever-growing over 55 years, to our 30+ colleague operations, that spans internationally, Atlantic Yacht & Ship maintains focus and a clear vision for growth into our future.
