[Loren Schweizer]

Daimler-Chrysler aren't doing too well selling their diminutive 'Smart' car over in Europe; the U.S. market is their last/best shot. They need a real 'tour-de-force' to pull this off. A major domo, even. Who do they pick for the job?

Roger Penske is who, of racing fame (your top Indy team guy) and who knows how to sell a car or two (his United Auto Group is the #2 new car dealership operator in the U.S.), and is practically his own brand name.

Got the 'street creds', as they say.

Who, on our watery planet, does the Yacht Business have that is comparable in this regard?
And why do you think so?

[Teenna]

As an organisation, Nigel Burges, to my extend. But not all the individuals there are on the same level.

As an individual...hmmm, old foxes, like Herbert Dahm, Sten Rasmussen, Mike Kelsey Senior (rest in peace) would come to my mind ten years ago (when I was a kid, basically), but I can't find an equivallent personality on the market of today.

Paolo Vitelli, has as does Norberto Ferretti to much of a local (italian) image on the global market, I could see one of them well in covering the Med but not the world though. I should have say Gerard Rodriguez, but the man retired and the cousins are definetly not on the level.

In US you would probably want to involve someone as Marine Max or perhaps an individual as Irwin Jacobs?

But globaly, as a yachtsman today there isn't an individual strong enough to acy as an testimonial. Just take a look at Russell Coutts, a man won the AC and yed his image is not enough to launch a small sailing racer (RC 44) onto the market (http://www.russellcoutts.net/)

[KCook]

Would owners qualify? Example: Paul Allen?

Kelly Cook

[Teenna]

Originally Posted by KCook

Would owners qualify? Example: Paul Allen?

Kelly Cook

He's a bad image. What would the market expect from a product he's a testimonial to? Perhaps comparing it to the best microsoft product and it's bugs? Naaaa, I'd say Jim Clark rather than Allen.

[yachtbrokerguy]

When I think of well known names in the industry in the US who are still active, there are:Ted Hood, Tom Fexas

[Loren Schweizer]

Well, the thread was mostly to stimulate your excellent brains.

I like Teenna's Mike Kelsey, Sr., although I'd probably give the Ferretti brothers(one gone, sadly) higher marks for putting together sail + power + engineering + styling into a small empire.
Irwin Jacobs gets my vote, too with his "empire", plus he's a rags-to-riches guy and I always like the underdog.
Rodriquez? Maybe too soon to tell although he seems to be on his way.

Yachtluver's Ted Hood is also a good choice since he was/is broad-based with both sail & power.

There are some very good posters on these pages, so it's enlightening to hear your thoughts. The yachts are nice, but it's the thinking and the people behind all the eye candy that I find intriguing.

[foundrycourt]

I'd have to say Fabio Perini and Ron Holland.

[ychtcptn]

I don't think you could mention the US yacht business without Felix Sabbates.

[Loren Schweizer]

ychtcptn gets my vote--Felix Sabates is our Roger Penske---on this side of the pond, anyway--- of the yacht biz.
Probably no coincidence that they are both car guys, would kill to race you down the isle in your local supermarket, and yet who are down-to-earth types who'd rub elbows over a beer at the boat show.