User:TheCrown13/sandbox

Broward Yachts, formerly called Broward Marine Inc. is an American luxury yacht builder company.

History

Broward Marine was founded in 1948 by Frank and Gertrude Denison when on their honeymoon, purchased Dooleys Dry Dock located on the New River in Fort Lauderdale. Renamed, Broward Marine they continued and expanded the service and repair facility that Dooleys had started. In 1951 they bid and received from the US NAVY, under the newly established NATO League of Nations, a contract for the construction of 11 Minesweepers for the US and Dutch Navies. Within the next 5 years, they were the largest employer in Broward County and the largest Defense Contractor in the state of Florida. During this program they also started their yachting business by first building STORMY II, a 55’ wood motor yacht, followed by the launching of ALISA V, which at 96,’ was the largest private yacht built in the US since WWII.

In 1975, they built a new plant in Saugatuck, Michigan at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River on the family's summer home there and until the companies sale in 2000, delivered over 100 aluminum yachts. In 1993, Broward Marine had the largest order book of yachts, over 80’, worldwide, and became the first American yard to receive this recognition. Broward built and launched BRITTANIA, a 112’ high-speed motor yacht, that brought the yard technological accolades for building the fastest and most fuel-efficient private yacht in the US, and with its ULSTEIN forward-facing drive systems, was the first to incorporate this technology that is widely used today.

Gertrude Denison’s established Yacht Interiors which was the first interior yacht firm dedicated solely to the design and implementation of large yacht interiors which started in the late 1950’s.

With its sale in 2000 the shipyard has had several owners and in 2008 ceased construction shortly after delivering the 124’ COCO LOCO.

Frank and Gertrude Denison founders of Broward Marine received Posthumous Golden Anchor Award in 2019.