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About Managing Director Gary Fretz

Celebrity Yachts: Manufacturers of Prout Catamarans and Other Custom Yachts
    Yacht Depot, Ltd: Purveyors of Fine Brokerage Yachts, A Division of Celebrity Yachts
        Prout Catamarans: The World's Pre-Eminent Catamaran Builder
 
Gary Fretz, CPYB     Gary Fretz has been in the yacht brokerage and yacht sales business for over 18 years and has supervised over 1,400 yacht sales. So, in his words, he is "just getting the hang of it." Gary started out with Florida Yacht Charters and Sales in the 1980's and taught ASA Cruising Courses. Then he founded Moorings Yacht Sales which quickly became the top volume yacht brokerage in the US averaging 125 yachts sold/year. As Yacht Sales Director of Footloose Yacht Charters, a division of Moorings, (for 5 years) this business was also built up rapidly. Gary was a catalyst in the launch of the highly-successful Leopard catamaran line. Then as Sales Manager of The Catamaran Company sales doubled. He has sold many yachts from 30-132' and seen just about every problem that can happen so he can protect his clients. Author of Insider' Secrets to Buying Catamarans, Insider Secrets to Buying Sailing Yachts and Insider Secrets to Buying Boats, Gary gives away all his yacht market tips to save money, use your time wisely and stay away from trouble. So, he has a distinctive perspective on yacht buying and selling and a strong point of view about what works and what doesn't.

    Hailing from New Orleans where he bought his first boat for a dollar, Gary has owned over 35 boats over the years and has performed many refits. So, he has learned the hard way about refits and will pass on some advice about this to any listener. He has been called a "Boataholic" and readily admits that he is stricken with this malady. His other interests and experience encompass the following:

  • 2001 2.4 Meter (Mini-Twelve Meter) Class U.S. National Champion
  • Olympic Class Racer. Olympic Trials Finalist (1980 Stars). Winner of many Regional and State Championships (Sunfish, Etchells, J24, Stars, Shields, Cape Cod Mercury, Fish Class), logged 11,000 miles of offshore handicap racing). Was asked to represent the U.S. in the 1980 (Alternative) Olympics (Stars).

  • Cruised to every major Eastern Caribbean island, the Mediterranean and UK areas. Cruised the U.S. East Coast from New England down to Florida and over to Louisiana twice. Cruised the Bahamas many times. Explored the jungles and coast of South America and Costa Rica.

  • From Gary's Captain's Log: … hit by lightning in a yacht three times. Have been dismasted three times. Have run aground in racing situations 66 times.

  • Educated at Tulane University (“Harvard of the South” in New Orleans…undergraduate and MBA program)

  • Pilot Single-Engine Land Aircraft license with aerobatic and jet training. Amphibious ultralight training.

  • Attended FBI's Southeast Regional Tactical Weapons Training Facility.

  • U.S. Coast Guard 50 ton License

  • Worked on London's Baltic Exchange chartering ships.

  • Taught at ASA Sailing Schools in Chicago and Miami (Beginning and Intermediate Coastal Cruising) and at local Yacht Clubs.

  • Founded Moorings Yacht Sales and managed it for 10 years.
  • Favorite anchorage in the world: Hawksnest Bay, St. John, USVI off the Caneel Resort beach.

  • Favorite snorkeling hole in the world: Sandy Cay National Park, Abaco, Bahamas

  • Favorite bar: Hopetown Harbour Lodge poolside/beachfront bar, Abaco, Bahamas

  • Member of Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans, since 1970), Member of Lauderdale Yacht Club, member of Palm Beach Sailing Club, former member Houston Yacht Club, former winter member Larchmont Yacht Club, former member St. Katherine's YC (London, England), former member New Orleans Rice and Cotton Exchange
   Contact Gary at GaryF@Shop4Yachts.com.

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Prout Catamarans Yacht Depot Celebrity Yachts

Prout Catamarans, Yacht Depot, Ltd. and Celebrity Yachts

1126 S. Federal Hwy Suite 253
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 		  Tel: 954.609.6282
Fax: 954.337.0544
boats@proutcats.com
 
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