Denison Family History

BROWARD MARINE: THE EARLY YEARS

Frank Denison, the founder of Broward Marine, started his yachting career by buying boats on spec, making the necessary repairs, and then reselling them. In fact, “Mr. D,” as he was known to everyone, 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 shortly after.

BROWARD MARINE: PRIVATE YACHTS

The launch of Alisa V established Broward Marine’s position in the world of megayacht construction, and the vessels that followed were the start of a tradition of building wooden motoryachts based on the timber lamination techniques. Broward Marine began building some of the finest yachts for the world’s premiere yachtsmen, such as the Jonathan III built for Harry Blum, the founder of Jim Beam Distilleries.

In those days, few yacht builders in the U.S. could consistently build quality boats over 50 feet. As he built the organization, Frank Denison challenged his customers and associates to “Demand the Finest,” as Broward’s slogan announced, while Gertrude started Yacht Interiors, which became famous in its own right for outstanding interiors for Broward Marine.

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, and said: “If you build two boats the same, you haven’t learned anything.” That reputation for quality has endured for over 60 years.

’80s & ’90s

Innovations in yachting continued rapidly in the 1980s, as Mrs. Denison designed the first-ever “country kitchen” galley, which remains an extremely popular feature on yachts today. Also, in 1983, Broward built the first ever yacht with triple diesel engines in the 92’ JERVET.

By the late 1980s, another Broward innovation was on the drawing board: the 112’ Britannia. Her triple Detroit diesel 16V92 engines with two outboard engines utilizing variable pitch Ulstein drives and the center engine, powering a Riva Calzoni jet drive, powered her ahead at an unthinkable 43 knots.

The early 1990s saw the commissioning of Britannia, then Pegasus, a 130’ triple engine tri-deck. By the early 1990s, Frank Denison was looking to go larger, and he accomplished this with the 1996 156’ Bubba Too. At the time Bubba Too was commissioned it was the largest U.S.-built aluminum vessel.

Broward continued through the '90s and into the millennium with vessels like the 1999 Cocoa Bean, the 2000 Aquasition, the 2001 London Lady, the 2002 Sigrun, the 2003 Lady Nancy, and up to the launch of the 2005 Soulmate.

SKIP DENISON 

In 1975, Denison’s second son and his namesake, Franklin A. (“Skip”) Denison, took the reins of the shipyard’s service and repair business and grew the revenues from under $1 million to over $5 million in 1985, making a substantial profit for the company. In 1986, Skip left the family boat business to start his own company, Skipper’s Oil.

In 2008, Skip returned to his first love, yachting, when he joined the yacht brokerage business at Tower Marine in Saugatuck, where he was the top salesman. Skip later joined Downeast Yachting and was responsible for selling new Sabre Yachts and Back Coves in West Palm Beach, Florida and Michigan.

Skip joined Denison Yacht Sales in 2012, specializing in the sale of superyachts over 80', Downeast style yachts, express cruisers, center consoles, sportfish, and of course, brokerage Browards.

BOB DENISON

Bob Denison, born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, spent much of his childhood around the Broward Marine and Denison Marine shipyards with his brothers Chris and Eddy. Bob has experienced nearly every level of the yachting experience, from working as a laborer at the yard to helping with boat shows.

After graduating from the University of Miami, Bob worked with two visionary entrepreneurs in e-commerce and aerospace. These experiences helped shape Bob's knowledge of internet marketing and creative management strategies.

In 2002, Bob took the helm at Denison Yacht Sales. Since then, the firm has grown steadily, including new offices and new boat representation, with the support of his father and uncles and Denison’s more than 100 yacht brokers.

Bob's approach is simple: Focus on supporting your brokers, rather than competing with them. In 2005, Bob stopped wearing the hat of yacht salesman and started focusing on marketing and management. The fruit of this philosophy is represented by the excellent and diverse group of dedicated yacht brokers currently serving clients at Denison.

RIVERS DENISON

Rivers Winslow Denison was born on December 21, 2014.

He doesn’t know much about boats yet but is eager to learn.

Rivers spends most of his days working hard on the important things in life, such as eating, pooping, and trying his best to make his mom happy.