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Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see our featured boat of the week.

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TO THE BOAT SELLER: We are a trusted business partner, and our commitment is to you. World Maritime Exchange will always hold steadfast our first priority, which is to act ethically and efficiently to meet the goals and objectives of our clients. Our professional network of brokers have received training in marketing, advertising, market analysis, and other strategies that are critical when expediting the sale of your vessel. Our goal is to get the best price in the shortest amount of time. No longer do you have to rely on local markets and services to sell your yacht. Our brokers are knowledgeable in the world market, and know how to get your boat in front of the global boating community!

TO THE BOAT BUYER: Our mission is to get you in the yacht of your dreams, in time for you to enjoy the boating season. We will coordinate the independent survey, financing if necessary, and shipping either by land or sea transport. Anticipating your individual boating requirements is a crucial part of our service. Our national network of brokers will help you find the right boat at the right price.

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YOU CAN TRUST THIS SIGN

Featured Boat
photo of 105' Lawley Elegante M/Y ***MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION - PRICE REDUCED $300,000*** (BJS)
105' Lawley Elegante M/Y ***MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION - PRICE REDUCED $300,000*** (BJS)
1922 US$ 550,000

Owner needs to SELL THIS WEEK!!

BRING ALL OFFERS!!

Owner is willing to offer financing to qualified buyer.


The Lawley Elegante is a charming and stately yacht that has been extensively refurbished and kept up to date with the latest equipment. A robustly-constructed steel hull has enabled this fabled yacht to stand the test of time, and she features beautiful appointments and a sprawling interior for grand cruising elegance. She has four staterooms, each with their own head for privacy and a comfortable salon that leads to her gigantic aft deck. She features extensive system redundancy, and her mechanical systems have back-ups for superior safety and reliability. With transatlantic range, time-tested construction, and a seaworthy ocean-crossing ready hull design, the Lawley is fine example of old world craftsmanship updated for modern yachting.

Please call for more information including a recent survey of this vessel.

THE HISTORY OF M/Y KEY LARGO The motor yacht KEY LARGO was built over a two year period at the Boston shipyard of George Lawley and Son and launched in the spring of 1922. At that time Warren G. Harding was President of the U.S. The yacht, originally christened CARITAS, was constructed of riveted steel plates and designed by the New York firm of Cox & Stevens renown for their over 300 vessel designs between 1910 and 1939 . Stevens background included ocean racing yachts used in America's Cup campaigns. Stevens' uncle , John C. Stevens, was the founder of the New York Yacht Club in 1844 . His father, also a boat designer and inventor was a member of the first America's Cup syndicate. His father also founded the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey at Castle Point Station which was the original location of the New York Yacht Club. Hull designs were tested for the America's Cups yachts at Stevens lab and this practice continues today. The Lawley shipyard had collaborated with Cox & Stevens often since the beginning of the 20th century on numerous commercial and sailing vessels. KEY LARGO (ex CARITAS) was a new venture into the luxury, non steam driven motor yacht era for both parties. KEY LARGO's hull shape closely resembles that of an ocean racing yacht and the fantail stern was a common feature on vessels of the era. While under construction in 1921, Yachting magazine featured the yacht in its February issue. When launched, KEY LARGO (ex CARITAS) was one of the largest private motor yachts of the time and was featured on the cover of the May 1922 issue of Rudder magazine. The yacht was commissioned by J. Percy Bartram of the New York Yacht Club and the original construction contract price in 1922 was $100,000. In todays dollars that would amount to a staggering $115,000,000. (since 1922 price inflation has increased 1,140% ). Commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1921 was J.P. Morgan and in 1922 it was H.S. Vanderbilt . The yacht was originally equipped with gasoline engines, an innovation of the time, but these were later changed to diesel. During the first major rebuild in 1957, the current diesel engines were installed . These engines are the same power plants used by the military in tank vehicles. By todays standards these engines remain extremely efficient and reliable. The vessel has undergone numerous renovations and improvements as technology has changed over the years. Air conditioning, radar, bow thrusters, stabilizers FM radios, auto pilots, electronic controls , GPS navigation equipment are a few of the technologies not yet invented or barely known when KEY LARGO was cruising New England and the Caribbean in the early days. Over time all of these technologies among others made their way onbaord today's yacht. Over the years much has survived, though. The teak deck house, the four inch thick teak decks, hand rails and cleats as well as much of the hull steel are original. The history of ownership spanning over 80 years has been as varied as could be imagined. The original owner J. Percy Bartram was so impressed with the vessel on delivery that he immediately commissioned Cox & Stevens to design a new 157 ft. diesel yacht. This new yacht ,which he also named CARITAS after his home on Caritas Island in Conneticut, was completed in Germany in 1925 and was the premier motor yacht of the time. Over its history KEY LARGO has changed ownership 22 times. The yacht has been cruising since the roaring 20's, through the great depression, a world war and has seen 15 Presidents come and go. Wealthy private individuals owned and operated the yacht in the beginning. The longest period of ownership was from 1932 until 1951 when the owner was movie director Wilbert Melville. Melville directed over 55 silent movies and wrote 38 movie scripts. Into the 50's and 60's ownership included executives and groups with ties to ownership of the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Wilbur Clark, the Desert Inn's general manager, was a staunch supporter of President Kennedy. Photos of Clark, Kennedy along with Joe Nottie and Peter Lawford are still on the yacht today. The 60's gave way to corporate business ownership. In 1965 the Amway Corporation purchased the yacht and used it for over 7 years as an annual incentive reward for sales personnel. Each year the yacht would spend the winters in the Caribbean sailing from St.Thomas on one week cruises hosting successful Amway sales and executive personnel. In the mid 70's the yacht went to the silver screen. In the ABC made for television movie era, KEY LARGO (ex ELEGANTE) was the venue for the movie "Beyond The Burmuda Triangle" starring Fred McMurry and Donna Mills. In the late 70's the yacht also was home base during the filming of the movie "Savage Loose" starring George C. Scott. The celebrity guest list from yacht records includes Lee Majors, Farah Fawcett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Andy Williams, Hugh Hefner, Gianni Versace, Clark Gable and Carol Lombard among others. Major renovations occurred in the 80's with the addition of the Captain's cabin on the sun deck , the aft deck bar, 15 individual air conditioning units and the large windlass on the fore deck . Recent major renovations include electronic controls, GPS navigation computers, a new sun deck and Bimini top, The Bimini top is the largest of its kind ever made by American Canvas of Hialeah, Florida the original inventors of todays "Bimini " top used around the world. In the late 90's the yacht became an inspected small passenger vessel, operating from Ft. Lauderdale, certified by the US Coast Guard to carry up to 100 passengers. For a short time the yacht called Key West home where it hosted celebrities and was chartered by private individuals through the Curry Mansion hotel The yacht has been in continuous charter service since the 90's and was renamed KEY LARGO in 2004. The current owner, coincidentally, is a graduate of the Stevens Institute of Technology, where it all began.

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