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WESTPORT REPORTS STRONG SALES AT FT. LAUDERDALE SHOW...

Westport Shipyards’ Yacht Sales division has completed its tally of contracts completed as a result of last month’s Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, and reports a total of $30 million in new yacht sales.

Phil Purcell, Westport’s Vice President of Sales, indicated that the aggregate quality of prospective buyers attending the show mitigated any diminishing effects of Hurricane Wilma, whose assault on southern Florida forced a delay of the show and shortened its run by one day. “While we weren’t sure what to expect following the hurricane,” he said, “we were committed to taking part in the show. While attendance was down, we observed early in the show that those who came to the show were serious, qualified buyers.” Purcell added that visitor traffic at the Westport display at the Hall of Fame Dock built through the weekend to near-normal levels, yet continued to produce a higher than normal percentage of qualified buyers.

Chief among attributes of interest to prospective buyers, Purcell noted, was “the overall design, finish and construction quality in a yacht that doesn’t force its owner to wait two or three years for completion and delivery.” Also of interest, he said were the yachts’ known performance and seakeeping abilities. “Many of our customer flew to the show on private jets,” Purcell said, “aircraft that are highly engineered, thoroughly tested and built in series, and these owners wouldn’t have it any other way. They understand that we build Westport yachts much the same way, for the same reasons: proven performance, known build standards and on-time delivery at the agreed price.”

Westport is the largest manufacturer of luxury motor yachts in North America, currently building vessels from 98 to 164 feet. The company operates shipyards in Westport, Hoquiam and Port Angeles, Washington, with sales offices in Seattle and Ft. Lauderdale.

For more information, contact the Westport Yacht Sales Division, 2957 State Road 84, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33312, (954) 316-6364. Email: info@westportyachtsales.com.