As a child, time feels like it’s holding us back, then it slowly starts to feel like it’s slipping away. Spend it wisely and make precious memories of time well spent. My advice, for what it’s worth – charter or buy that boat. Hire the right people for the right reasons.
From your broker to your captain and crew, to your yacht manager and everything in between, this is a service industry. Perhaps in no other industry is the expression “time is money” more applicable, and having the right team in place will save time and money.
Cromwell Littlejohn President & Chief Commercial Officer Northrop & Johnson
Choose Extraordinary
Northrop & Johnson has grown from its American roots to an international yachting powerhouse.
For 75 years, you have trusted Northrop & Johnson to inform and entice you with new ideas and innovations in every aspect of luxury yachting. We look forward to continuing to guide all of our valued clients on their yachting journey as we steer a course towards our centenary year.
Northrop & Johnson has been purveyors of yachting expertise for over 75 years
75+
Welcome
The superyacht industry is unlike any other, specializing in the ultimate in luxury – superyachts. The evolution of the luxury market over the last decade has generated quality and service like never before, and, as a result, yachting companies have continuously adapted to meet these demands. Northrop & Johnson has been at the forefront of these evolutions, succeeding over the competition with our technological prowess, marketing acumen, and dedication to excellence. With all the glamor of superyachts, it can be easy to forget that superyachting is really about you, the client.
The name Northrop & Johnson has been synonymous with luxury yachting for over 75 years. Whether it’s buying or selling, charter or new build, few can rival our experience. We aim to continue expanding our boundaries in every area of the superyacht industry and offer you the benefit of experience with the added advantage of today’s cutting-edge technology and constantly evolving expertise. Ultimately, it comes down to giving you the freedom to explore the world’s most beautiful destinations. We look forward to taking you even further.
Our Origins
Considered the original American yacht brokerage, Northrop & Johnson has specialized in luxury yachting since 1949. Founded by two yachtsmen, Jim Northrop and George Johnson, during the post-war economic boom and era of glamor, style and elegance, the goal was to provide a quality yacht brokerage service to their fellow yachtsmen based on Long Island Sound, New York. They opened the doors to their first office on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue, the then epicenter of the era’s fast-living advertising and marketing industries, and so began Northrop & Johnson’s ‘Yankee’ heritage.
Northrop & Johnson saw rapid expansion during the 1960s, with satellite offices opening up in Connecticut, Florida and Massachusetts. The brand that had built up a solid reputation for being “Gentlemen Brokers” soon morphed into the most prominent yacht brokerage in the U.S. Building on that U.S. success, Northrop & Johnson then expanded internationally, becoming the first U.S. brokerage to open an office across the Atlantic, based in the yachting hub of Cannes.
By the late 1970s, additional offices had also been added in Newport, Rhode Island, California and Spain. Some of these offices were led by a few of today’s most high-profile yachting industry players,
including Northrop & Johnson’s current Chairman, Kevin Merrigan, who began his yachting career in the Newport office.
Seventy-five years on and Northrop & Johnson is a household name within the worldwide yachting community. Building upon eight decades of success and longevity, the company thrives primarily on its reputation for the integrity of its people.
Northrop & Johnson continues to be the largest U.S.-headquartered superyacht brokerage globally and the fastest-growing superyacht firm in Europe. Dedicated to providing nothing but extraordinary service, Northrop & Johnson offers a full suite of services, including charter, management, crewing and marketing of the world’s most prestigious superyachts. Additionally, Northrop & Johnson has created robust alliances with luxury partners in aviation, wealth management, real estate and various other sectors that cater to their clients.
Which brings us to today, and while these days Northrop & Johnson leads the industry through technological and marketing acumen, the company still prides itself on pushing boundaries and constantly moving forward. Acquired in 2020 by MarineMax, the world’s largest boat retailer, Northrop & Johnson is on a path to becoming the world’s preeminent superyacht marketing company.
Northrop & Johnson is founded in New York, with an office located on Madison Avenue, Manhattan and a base in Fort Lauderdale, which later becomes Northrop & Johnson’s head office
1950s
The fledgling brokerage house Northrop & Johnson develops a reputation for honesty, integrity and fair play – Gentlemen Brokers
1960s
Northrop & Johnson expands its brokerage services and opens offices in Connecticut, Florida and Massachusetts
1971
Northrop & Johnson establishes a presence in Europe, opening a first office in Cannes, shortly followed by the opening of a second office in Puerto Banus, Spain
Late 1970s
Northrop & Johnson becomes the premier large yacht brokerage in the U.S. with new offices opened in Newport, Rhode Island and St. Petersburg, Florida
1987
New Newport, Rhode Island office opens
1989
Kevin Merrigan takes the helm, purchasing Northrop & Johnson
2008
Northrop & Johnson opens an office on the West Coast of the U.S. in San Diego
2010
Northrop & Johnson expands into Asia Pacific, opening offices in Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines
2010
Northrop & Johnson opens an office in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
2013
Sofia Antipolis office opens in the South of France
2015
Sofia Antipolis relocates to Antibes and Northrop & Johnson opens on the Gold Coast of Australia
2016
Northrop & Johnson’s Newport Beach, California office opens
2018
Northrop & Johnson establishes a presence in Monaco
2020
Northrop & Johnson is acquired by MarineMax
2022
Northrop & Johnson expands its operations in Florida with new offices in Naples and Palm Beach
2022
Superyacht Management (SYM) joins Northrop & Johnson to provide yacht management services in Europe
2023
Northrop & Johnson acquires U.S. yacht management company Fairport Yacht Support, merging it with SYM to become Fairport Global, one of the largest yacht management services worldwide
2024
MarineMax Superyacht Division launches.
Northrop & Johnson
Asia Pacific consolidates under one owner
Service is our mantra – every member of the Northrop & Johnson team strives to deliver impeccable service to each and every one of our clients, ensuring they enjoy their yachting experience to the fullest.
Offering a complete suite of turnkey services, designed to support yacht owners and charterers, our team of experts are ready to support, advise and assist clients in every aspect of their luxury yachting experience.
Benefitting from a worldwide network of offices, Northrop & Johnson has eight divisions that work hand in hand to provide a professional service in all aspects of yacht sales and purchase, new construction, charter, charter marketing, yacht management, crew placement, insurance and finance.
500 +
Sale & Purchase
Whether buying or selling a yacht, expertise and experience are the most important factors. With a reputation for honesty and integrity, Northrop & Johnson brokers are experienced in all aspects of yacht purchase and sales. Our brokers are regarded as experts, which is why our greatest source of business comes from repeat clients.
With 56 sales brokers located in 15 offices spread over five continents, Northrop & Johnson achieves maximum exposure among highly targeted buyers on the international market. Our brokers have access to not only an extensive contact database of buyers and sellers but also the most comprehensive market intelligence data in the industry. Produced by a dedicated in-house Deep Data department, our database correlates figures,
trends and statistics on a daily basis. This means we have the best-informed brokers in the business. With over 2,000 yachts typically on the brokerage market and another 13,000 off-market, this takes a lot of behind the scenes analysis and research. Our clients can relax in the knowledge that we provide them with facts that enable them to make the most informed decisions on pricing and negotiations. Valuations and sound market intelligence from trusted advisors are critical to any successful transaction.
From presenting the most suitable yachts, the organization of surveys and sea trials, and support with ownership structures and navigating legal complexities, to contract negotiations, our job is to ensure a smooth acquisition from start to finish.
Over 500 yachts sold in five years
2,500+
New Construction
Bound only by your imagination, a fully custom superyacht is the pinnacle of ownership, where every aspect of aesthetic and technical design is bespoke and constructed to the owner’s exact specifications. With such a high degree of personalization, building a yacht is a long-term project and a major investment – it is therefore critical to select the right team to make that dream a reality.
Drawing on Northrop & Johnson’s established relationships with the world’s leading yacht
builders, designers, project managers, naval architects, captains and suppliers, our brokers offer future owners valuable and measured advice on the construction of their yacht.
From talking through the different types, sizes and materials available, explaining the legal and financial aspects of a new build, and supervising the project’s entire build, Northrop & Johnson’s team of new construction experts transform what is inevitably a complex process into an enjoyable and fulfilling one.
Over 2,500’ (762m) of yachts under new construction during the last three years
Charter
One of the greatest advantages of a yacht charter is the ability to craft a truly bespoke experience –from customized menus prepared by a private chef to tailored itineraries and activities, every aspect of a yacht charter is meticulously designed to align with the individual charterer.
The experience and passion of our charter brokers over their many years in the industry have honed Northrop & Johnson’s charter offerings into a tailored experience in a class of its own.
Our charter brokers know each yacht, captain and crew intimately, and once they have defined your requirements, tastes and budget they can guide you through the myriad of options on the most suitable yacht. Like a global concierge, our charter brokers also know each port of call so they can provide recommendations and expert opinions – knowing the places to dine, drink, dance, swim, shop and bask in the sunshine is essential to curating the best possible charter scenario for each and every client.
Northrop & Johnson books more than 1,000 charters annually and holds a 98% Net Promoter Score, reflecting the company’s exceptionally high levels of positive customer feedback and dedication to creating extraordinary experiences
Charter Marketing
One of the key benefits of yacht ownership is the potential to generate significant income through charter. Success in chartering comes from expert management and Northrop & Johnson’s charter marketing managers are leaders in their field. Providing a vital link between charter brokers, the yacht owner and the captain, they navigate the complexities involved in chartering on an owner’s behalf.
The most successful yachts maintain a high profile and our charter marketers are committed
to promoting and marketing every yacht, increasing its presence on the market and therefore generating charter income. To make a yacht stand out from the crowd, you need to create a good story, and at Northrop & Johnson, we know how to tell a compelling tale. With their expertise and resources, our charter marketing managers weave a story that they then deliver to the right audience. By leveraging their industry expertise, connections and marketing channels, they creatively promote the yachts to the global charter community and generate charter bookings.
Over $1 billion worth of yachts in the charter fleet
200+
Yacht Management
Well-versed in the challenges and requirements of superyacht ownership, Northrop & Johnson’s yacht management division, Fairport Global, offers tailored services to meet your requirements.
From the day-to-day needs of yacht operation to safety, technical and administrative aspects of luxury yachting, with Fairport Global, your prized
possession is always in safe hands. With offices in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Antibes, Fairport’s team of master mariners, engineers, purchasing staff, accountants and crew managers have extensive experience in industry safety standards, compliance criteria, technical logistics, financial administration, crew administration and concierge services.
Over 200 years of combined expertise in yacht management
Over 100 vessels under management
Access to over 30,000 active résumés
30,000 +
Crew Placement
How many times have you heard that the right crew can make or break a yachting experience? From the warm welcome to all guests when they step on board to the cuisine to the long-term maintenance, a good crew is the backbone of a yacht.
Northrop & Johnson maintains a comprehensive database of qualified crew and works closely
with captains and owners of both charter and private yachts around the world to ensure every yacht in the fleet is in the most capable of hands. From personally interviewing every candidate to verifying qualifications and references, to advising on salaries and manning requirements, our crew placement experts position the best candidates to fit the criteria and help curate your dream crew.
Over 400 crew placements on average annually
360°
Northrop & Johnson is one of the most successful luxury yachting brands in the world, but how did the “Gentleman’s Brokerage” become the marketing powerhouse that it is today? Success is no accident. By staying true to its core values, and offering carefully crafted and consistent technological prowess and marketing acumen, Northrop & Johnson has established itself as a leader in the luxury yacht market. And this boils down to its people, which includes a dedicated in-house team of experts with decades of combined experience in marketing, events and technology. Their forward-thinking marketing pushes the boundaries, and under their continued guidance, Northrop & Johnson has become the most technologically evolved and forward-thinking superyacht firm in the industry.
By leveraging a strong team of experts, their marketing acumen, and their ability to create unique partnerships with leading luxury brands, Northrop & Johnson has become a yachting powerhouse that is sure to remain a leader in the luxury yacht market for years to come.
Northrop & Johnson marketing technology generates approximately 8,000 leads per year
Marketing Technology
Focusing on the yachting experience and using technology to bring the yachting dream to life has helped position Northrop & Johnson as one of the most recognized names in yachting. We have led the way in marketing technology for years and have created platforms and programs that not only enable Northrop & Johnson’s brokers to sell
yachts faster and at the best possible price, but also allow the broker to find the best yachts to purchase. Added to this, the charter team has access to the entire charter fleet at the push of a button, meaning that they can always recommend the perfect yacht and cruising ground for their charter clients.
Northrop &
has access to over 3,000 yachts listed for charter
Johnson
Brand Collateral
Northrop & Johnson’s strong, in-house digital and branding experts provide intelligent online solutions to promote a yacht in today’s competitive digital world and deliver strong on-brand solutions. It goes without saying that Northrop & Johnson is on the forefront of digital developments to ensure results for our clients.
Our website at northropandjohnson.com is constantly evolving, guaranteeing solid results and, ultimately, leads for the yachts in our fleet. Additionally, Northrop & Johnson is prolific across both print and digital media, representing the
Northrop & Johnson brand in the finest publications and at world-leading boat shows to the great benefit of our clients and their yachts.
When it comes to print, Northrop & Johnson is the only brokerage house that has produced a highly successful magazine, Navigator. Published quarterly in-house and personally mailed to Northrop & Johnson’s extensive database of owners, charter clients and valuable partner network, Navigator is a unique platform that provides maximum exposure to the Northrop & Johnson fleet of yachts for sale and charter.
Over 28,000 copies of Navigator magazine distributed annually
Strategic Partnerships
Northrop & Johnson’s Strategic Partnerships team has developed exclusive relationships with leading brands in various luxury sectors, positioning the company as a luxury superyacht brand and luxury lifestyle ambassadors. Through our partnerships with NetJets, Northern Trust
and Exclusive Resorts – just to name a few –Northrop & Johnson provides clients with services they may not otherwise have access to or even be aware of, enhancing their yachting experience, while at the same time helping boost the brand’s visibility and reputation.
Northrop & Johnson’s strategic partnerships are with companies that provide services to HNWI in eight different industrial sectors: Aviation, Finance, Horology, Hospitality, Real Estate, Technology, Travel & Yachting
Media Masters
Northrop & Johnson’s Public Relations team are masters in media. Through a mix of traditional and contemporary approaches to storytelling, the team creates content that resonates with their target audience. Northrop & Johnson has been able to remain relevant and popular across generations, appearing across a variety of platforms, having developed relationships with the world’s most respected journalists from traditional media outlets, including yachting and mainstream media publications, and social media outlets.
Utilizing the in-depth industry knowledge from Northrop & Johnson’s Deep Data department, the media team provides analytical data in story form to educate the yachting and luxury lifestyle press, ensuring genuine realtime clarity is communicated. The Northrop & Johnson dedicated team of specialist listings and intelligence managers correlate, investigate and report on figures, trends and statistics on a daily basis to ensure your yacht is positioned for maximum success.
Over 1 million visits per month to our YouTube channel Yachts For Sale
Over 250,000 subscribers to the largest yachting YouTube Channels –Yachts For Sale and Yachts For Charter
Image Creators
Northrop & Johnson is the only brokerage firm with an in-house Video Production team dedicated solely to the yachts in our fleet. With a global team of videographers, photographers, drone pilots and comprehensive in-house production capabilities, Northrop & Johnson can offer clients the immediate production of high-quality video footage and lifestyle photoshoots.
Additionally, Northrop & Johnson has an ongoing partnership with the largest yacht marketing video platform in the world, the Yachts for Sale and Yachts for Charter YouTube channels, where all content is distributed across this unrivaled online marketing platform. This ensures maximum exposure and an elevated level of marketing for all the yachts in the Northrop & Johnson fleet.
Northrop & Johnson has a presence at all the major annual yacht shows:
1. Monaco Yacht Show
2. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
3. Cannes Yachting Festival
4. Dubai International Boat Show
5. Miami International Boat Show
6. Yacht Show Porto Montenegro
7. Singapore Yacht Show
8. Antigua Charter Yacht Show
9. Sydney International Boat Show
10. Palm Beach International Boat Show
11. Mediterranean Yacht Show
12. MYBA Charter Show
13. Newport International Boat Show
14. Newport Charter Yacht Show
15. Newport Beach International Boat Show
16. Palma International Boat Show
Shows & Events
Northrop & Johnson’s dedicated events organizers enable our brokers to cover all the most important shows and luxury events around the world. With expertise in high-end social and exclusive yachting events, the team increases the profile of the brand and the fleet of yachts.
From Miami to Monaco, Palma to Antigua, the annual yacht show calendar is packed full of yacht shows, the most coveted of which are a hub of activity with prospective buyers and charterers from all over the world coming to view the lineup of superyachts in one convenient location.
The events team guides the owner and captain every step of the way and organizes everything required to ensure the yachts are displayed in the best possible way. From reserving the berth, entry requirements and crew passes to shuttle tenders and events throughout the show, Northrop & Johnson is experienced in organizing yacht participation in all the world’s major boat shows.
Northrop & Johnson also host unique networking opportunities and glamorous parties in collaboration with strategic partners throughout the boat shows and at other luxury events.
Over 6,000 attendees visit Northrop & Johnson during events each year
Our USPs
The value of data within the yachting industry can be pivotal to a company’s statue, skill and success.
Northrop & Johnson recognized this early on and established an in-house Deep Data department to provide our brokers with a competitive advantage.
Deep Data Team
A dedicated team curates the world’s largest database of yachts, encompassing everything from yachts and shipyards to off-the-market deals. By collecting actual sold prices and providing precise insights, our systems equip our cleints with a significant advantage in every transaction, every time.
DEEP DATA TEAM
MARKETING
COMMERCIAL
Marketing
Our marketing team harnesses Deep Data’s intelligence insights to develop robust marketing strategies that are based on solid data.
Commerical
Our commercial team stays attuned to the market with detailed information on sold prices, inventory availability, shipyard order books, and more. This ensures precise and accurate numbers when listing your yacht for sale or charter, or when you’re in the market for a brokerage yacht or a new build.
In-house yacht database with specifications for over 15,000 yachts and 3,000+ yachts for charter
Deep Data & Intelligence
Yachting industry data is often confidential, making it difficult to obtain and sometimes inaccurate. This can hinder brokers from confidently discussing a yacht’s pricing, charter history, past sales, and refit details with their clients. Northrop & Johnson’s Deep Data department has an unerring passion for data and analysis and a clear vision for
how information can transform company strategy. Sourcing data from all over the world through various custom and proprietarily developed applications, as well as significant human resources, the team ensure our brokers have the most accurate and acute information in the industry, as well as having it first.
Solid Foundations
Northrop & Johnson is proud to be part of MarineMax, the world’s largest recreational boat retailer and superyacht service provider. MarineMax brands cater to various boating lifestyles and needs, providing a diverse selection of vessels to suit different preferences, ranging from small powerboat dealerships to superyacht brokerage and management. The group’s wealth of experience and diversity of brands and models is a great resource for clients worldwide. With over 125 locations, including 75 dealerships and 65 marina and storage facilities, the company offers the largest portfolio of marine services worldwide.
The MarineMax Superyacht Division is the specialized back-office organization supporting the operations of Northrop & Johnson and other superyacht brands operating under the MarineMax portfolio. By gathering the impressive collection of leading superyacht brands under one umbrella, the Superyacht Division is able to provide a more efficient and higher quality support to each company, while still maintaining each brand’s unique culture and independence in their customer-facing front-offices.
MarineMax – United by Water.
MarineMax has a massive global footprint of 75 retail locations in the U.S. alone, and the largest portfolio of marine services worldwide
There are many brokerage houses out there that stay in their lane.
At Northrop & Johnson, we let the wind fill our sails. Together with MarineMax, our shared goal is to lead with changes in technology and systems while keeping pace with the human side of the wants and needs of our clients around the world. We are committed to consistently providing the best possible service and experience of any yacht brokerage.
