Denison Yachting Leads the Way for a New Marine Council [In the News]

Denison Yachting has a passion for not only being active in the marine industry at a high level, but also giving back to the communities they serve.

This article was featured on Miami’s Community News in May 2022

Bob Denison, Founder and President of Denison Yachting, became a Chairman’s Circle member of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce in January of this year. The Denison team located at the Miami Beach Marina has come in swinging. The kickoff was Denison sponsoring the cigar lounge at the chamber’s annual golf tournament. The lounge was set up as a great place to kick back out of the heat with a hand-rolled cigar and a cold beverage. On April 14, Denison was a junior sponsor at the 8^th annual City National Bank Better Beach Awards.

On May 3, Mirielle Enlow and Mike Kiely of Denison Yachting presented to the Executive Board of Governors the need for a marine council at the Miami Beach Chamber. The board unanimously voted to allow the formation of a new marine council.

On Wednesday, May 11, the chamber proudly presented a reception hosted by Denison Yachting at the Miami Beach Marina. Thanks to Mirielle Enlow, long-time chamber member and veteran council chair along with Bob Denison and Mike Kiely of Denison Yachting, marine industry professionals were invited to attend the reception to experience the value of chamber membership. Over 40 marine professionals that had never been to a chamber event attended, excited to learn about this new opportunity. Chairman’s Circle and Board of Governor members attended to welcome the marine professionals.

The marine industry is a multi-million dollar industry in Miami Beach and needs to be recognized. In the 100 years that the chamber had been in existence—in a city surrounded by water—the marine industry has been passed over. Denison Yachting plans to change that.

The Denison family is largely responsible for the yachting industry in South Florida. Frank Denison, the founder of Broward Marine, started his yachting career by buying boats on spec, making repairs, and then reselling them. In fact, “Mr. D,” as he was known, is credited with installing the first diesel engines in a yacht in the mid 1930s in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

In 1948, while on his honeymoon with his wife Gertrude, Frank bought the Fort Lauderdale shipyard Dooley’s Dry Dock, which had become a defense contractor during World War II building PT boats. Frank renamed the yard Broward Marine.

In 1954, Denison landed a large US Navy contract to build four 144’ wooden minesweepers for the Royal Dutch Navy under a NATO contract. He then added seven more AMS-class 173’ minesweepers for the US Navy, at that time becoming the largest private employer in Broward County. After the demand for minesweepers dropped due to the end of the second World War, Broward Marine began to focus on private yachts.

In those days, few US shipbuilders could consistently build quality boats over 50 feet.  Mr. D and his design team developed hull designs that became known and respected for being sea-kindly and seaworthy, as well as efficient and beautiful. The Denison family was proud of the fact that no two Broward yachts were the same.

The ‘60s and ‘70s brought changes in the materials used to build yachts and the ‘80s and ‘90s brought innovations such as the first-ever “country kitchen” on a yacht as well as the first triple deck tri-engine 130’ yacht.

In 1971, Frank’s oldest son, Kit Denison, joined his father at Broward Marine. In 1983, Kit started Denison Marine, which became known for the largest number of high-speed yachts over 100 feet long.  Later, Kit’s son, Bob Denison, started Denison Yacht Sales in 2002. Bob took the helm and since then, the firm has grown steadily, including offices throughout the US and its newest location in Monaco, with the support of his father and uncles as well as Denison’s more than 100 yacht brokers. In 2005, Bob stopped wearing the hat of yacht salesman and started focusing on marketing and management.

In 2022, Denison Yachting is now the #1 yacht brokerage in the world of yachts 80’ and longer. Denison continues to be the largest exhibitor at most boat shows across South Florida. Denison Yachting is on the leading edge of what yacht and boat owners want and need to buy, sell, and own or charter a yacht.

Denison has a passion for not only being active in the marine industry at a high level, but also giving back to the communities they serve. The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce is part of that community. At the recent kickoff event to bring a marine industry council to the Miami Beach Chamber, Bob Denison disclosed: “With over 20 offices across the US, Denison Yachting has had opportunities to join some of the best Chambers in the country. I have never witnessed a Chamber like Miami Beach. This Chamber of Commerce is not normal, in the best way possible. A great group of people that make a real difference in a very, very significant way.”

If you know anyone in the marine industry, please refer them to Danny Diaz, Mirielle Enlow, or Mike Kiely, so they can be invited to participate in the next marine industry event.