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The Merritt Story
The Gold Coin...
It all started with a lucky five-dollar coin, a man, and the sea. Franklin Merritt started his dream and bought his first boat with the gold coin that he found while fishing. He and his wife Ennis started a charter fishing business and in 1947 they lashed the families DeSoto to the fore dect of their boat and headed for South Florida. First they purchased a 10-acre track of land on the Intercostals Waterway in Pompano Beach, FL. In 1948 they opened Merritt Boat and Engine Works, which still stands today after 58 years of business.
Buddy & Allen Merritt...
In 1955 the Merritt Boat Yard began building boats. Franklin and Ennis’ sons, Buddy and Allen took on the yards daily functions. Buddy ran the boat building division and Allen handled the business aspect of the yard.
Originally the boat yard was set up to primarily maintain the Merritt charter fishing fleet. The quality of work and the friendly customer relations soon enabled the boat yard to expand its capabilities.
An avid fisherman, Buddy Merritt built what he called “the perfect fishing boat." The famous Merritt 37’ was born and was built with one purpose in mind, to catch fish. In fact, hull number one is still afloat and is named appropriately, “The First." The Merritt name stands for QUALITY and fine craftsmanship.
On to the next generation...and Now!
Buddy’s son Richard followed in his father’s footsteps, working in the boat yard and fishing. Richard incorporated all that he had learned from his father and crossed over into the boat brokerage business. In the early 60's Richard worked for Richard Bertram and Co. after serving in the US Army. In the 70's Richard started his own company Merritt Yacht Brokers, Inc. The family tradition of high standards and quality remains in tact today. Today Merritt remains a family tradition for 3 generations in South Florida boating.
Richard Merritt...
The president of Merritt Yacht Brokers,Inc. was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale into a family that settled here in the 1920’s. Like his father and grandfather before him, Richard began his career on the water at an early age. His father, the late Captain Buddy Merritt, was a great sport fishing innovator and the builder of the famous "Merritt Boats" at Merritt Boat Yard in Pompano Beach, FL. In 1966 Richard began selling yachts, and 10 years later opened Merritt Yacht Brokers at its present location. Besides being an avid fisherman, Richard is a trophy-winning skeet and trap shooter, and enjoys coin collecting and growing orchids. He and his wife Lucille have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Email Richard at richard@merrittyachts.com
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