What his clients say.

Hi Jeff, it was just such a pleasure to read an overview with such depth and concise information as found in your presentation of the 87' Burger “Shepsl X”. I didn't think it possible but the overview PDF you sent was even more informative!! Well done, it's seldom that someone comes across a yacht that has been so meticulously cared for and even rarer for someone to do it justice with an overview like you prepared. Obviously, you know your craft inside and out. It's refreshing to see especially this day and age. It's really as I said, thought provoking and enjoyable to find someone so genuinely savvy about their business and not just another put on like so many. Thanks a lot for your overview and even more thanks for instilling the confidence that there are still businessmen that take the trade seriously and really do care! All the best Jeff you're top notch!!

Today was great, thanks. Boat is fabulous!!! We got to the north end of Lake Worth by around 1 and spent the afternoon checking out what we bought. Couldn't be happier, thank you very much. Both you and Gene were very accommodating. Thank you again, we really enjoyed working with you and very much appreciated how promptly you communicate, we never questioned where the deal was. Merry Christmas!

Jeff, enclosed you will find a small boat warming gift for you and your Wife to hopefully use on the new Stamas! I cannot thank you enough for how gracious you have been throughout the sale of 'Perfect Weekend'. You truly went above and beyond to make sure she was in Bristol condition prior to delivery. It has been a true pleasure getting to know you and I hope we can stay in contact. We hope to continue to make many new memories on what is now the 'One of One'!

Happy Boating!

Jeff, we took off on Friday and made it home yesterday without incident. First Love is now docked at home!

We can't thank you enough for your professional partnership to help make our dream come true. This journey took us the last three years to accomplish. Your patience and counsel over this time was unique. Your ability to always make us feel like we were your only customer when we know how busy you really are is very hard to find in today's 'transactional' world. Your accessibility, speed of response, and industry knowledge was always appreciated. Every buyer is unique and you always listened to exactly what our most important criteria's were for purchasing a yacht.

Susan and I were reminiscing one of the evenings onboard during our trip home this weekend. Even more importantly, when needed, you stood up and respectfully disagreed when we almost let this one slip away. Even when I had other trusted boat owning friends advise me to keep looking, you kept us focused and we ultimately trusted you and the surveyor's professional opinions.

Thank you again and we will keep in touch,

Jeff, I just wanted to thank you for all the time spent with us during the hunt for Mahi Dream and the sale of First Class. You always make yourself available and both Shannon and I appreciate the help and knowledge you bring to the table. We couldn't have been more happy with the last boat and are both excited about the journeys ahead with new boat. Thanks for the great experience, we'll have to do it again someday!

Jeff, I just want you to know how much I appreciate your professionalism and in my book you are the best yacht broker I have ever dealt with in the last 35 years. I have owned over 16 boats in that time and your service after the sale is phenomenal. I would recommend you and have for anyone buying or selling a boat. Thank you for all you have done for me.

My wife and I met Jeff Stanley via a business friend. Our first purchase was a Hatteras Motor Yacht after looking at over 10 different boats. Jeff was patient and NEVER seemed 'bothered' by how far or how long our process took us. After a few months, we were owners but that's just where the uniqueness of working with Jeff started. He offered to 'help' us complete the complex re-fit we envisioned and even took up the job of paying the various local techs, vendors and assorted folks that get involved with making a boat the way we wanted it. Even after that was all done, Jeff keeps paying our bills and keeping track of our boating expenses. I own several businesses so the convenience is wonderful but his watchful eye is priceless. I transfer money to my account with Jeff. He handles the rest. About 12 months ago, we purchased our second Hatteras Motor Yacht with Jeff's indispensable help. Suffice it to say, Jeff Stanley is an unusually high quality gem amongst many not so worthy.

What are the primary considerations one should consider when purchasing or selling a yacht?

Every boater probably wishes he had a nickel for every time he's heard the adage, "...the best day in a boater's life is the day he took delivery of his boat...and his second best, is the day he gets rid of it!" People who've never experienced boat ownership, the "uninitiated", will never know the pleasure that life on the water can provide. I would also guess that most boat owners would agree that there is a perilously thin line between "BOAT" being an acronym for "Bust Out Another Thousand", and the realization of a life well-lived, that is only enhanced by time on the water. The good news is that buyers can easily diminish the risk of eventually loathing their craft, by simply lending greater contemplation to an often overlooked component of the process of buying and selling.

What is overlooked? The Yacht Broker

When we buy or sell a house, we take the time to interview real estate brokers; we ask friends for referrals; we do some due diligence in order to differentiate the broker who will actually "sell" our property vs. the lazy idiot who just wants to take our listing. When we are buying or selling our home, the most significant asset that we may ever own, we want the best! Why should it be any different when we purchase or sell a yacht?

In 2007 my wife and I decided to put our 56' Horizon up for sale. We listed our boat with XYZ company, who we had purchased our boat from, and they were the same company who had allegedly "maintained' our boat for 6 years. What we didn't realize at the time, was that XYZ company was long on promises and short on delivery. After a year without a single prospect even looking our yacht, we were lucky enough to be referred to, Jeff Stanley from Gilman Yachts. Having never sold a yacht before, I came to realize that I was clueless about all the things involved in the selling process. Jeff did a lot of hand holding; he educated us on the positives and negatives of the condition of our boat. While bad news is never pleasant to hear, Jeff was always honest and empathetic. And in August of 2009, after the worst financial crisis, since the Great Depression, Jeff sold our boat. The selling process was painful in 2007 and 2008. But when Jeff stepped in and took over, our stress levels dropped exponentially. When the sale was finalized, my wife and I agreed that if we were ever to purchase another boat, we would ask Jeff and Gilman to represent us. We had such a good relationship with Jeff, that we kept in touch with each other for 6 years!

September 2015 - I wrote Jeff to say that we wanted to look for another boat...but this time we wanted a Formula 34 PC. Within a week, Jeff had done his homework and he sent us 5 profiles of Formula 34 PCs. And after selecting a few boats to pursue, Jeff was our buffer to some rather unscrupulous brokers. And eventually he helped us navigate the maelstrom of the purchase process. He took the time to educate us on all of the things we had questions on; his integrity was unflinching; his effort was unrelenting. He watched out for us through every step from negotiating the purchase price, to being present during the survey and sea trials, to the closing and to selecting a captain who would deliver our boat and beyond. Jeff made the yacht purchase a life-enhancing experience. And in the end, isn't that really as it should be? We've done 2 transactions with Gilman and both were obviously a pleasure. But we are not alone...Gilman has other customers who have completed 20+ yacht transactions with them! There's a reason for that!

To Whom It May Concern,

This purpose of this letter is to provide an unqualified reference for Mr. Jeff Stanley. We have bought and sold six boats over the past 30 years, including 3 yachts since the year 2000. The last of these vessels was a 2005 Neptunus 62' Motoryacht sold last year in less than 90 days on the market with Jeff Stanley as the sole listing agent.

This Neptunus required a variety of maintenance prior to going on the market despite the best efforts in the prior part0time captain. Mr. Stanley made very helpful and insightful suggestions in order to best prepare for this vessel for sale and obtain maximum profit. We elected to move the boat to Ft Lauderdale in order to allow Jeff Stanley to select, negotiate with, and supervise the various subcontractors to work on the various yacht systems simultaneously. All of the work was completed quickly, under budget, and to perfection. As a result, the boat was put up for sale with all the marketings and showings by Jeff Stanley, and the boat sold quickly at the price we anticipated. Jeff Stanley's recommendations for list and sale price were spot on, and his advise during the negotions was prescient.

As a result of our experience with Jeff Stanley, we know him to be completely hionest and trustworthy, forthright, intelligent, reliable, and always helpful. We have retired from boating, but if the occasion arose again in the future, we would, without question, use only Jeff Stanley as our sales agent.

… share the listing because of his expertise in yachts similar to my 76' Queenship.

After a few months I terminated the listing with my original and let Jeff take the listing himself. Within a few months Jeff has found a buyer, negotiated the sale, survey and delivery all to my satisfaction.

Jeff's 36 years of experience was a benefit to me and the sale of my yacht.

It is my sincere pleasure to provide a reference for Jeff Stanley. In the 25 plus years that I have known Jeff, he has proven himself over and over again to be trustworthy, loyal, hard working, experience and knowledgeable. The relationships he has with other professionals in the yachting world is invaluable when we have purchased and sold vessels through his company.

My wife, DeAnne, and I are avid water lovers (two of the homes we own are on the water - one on the Eastern shore of Maryland and another in Jupiter, Florida). We have owned a 90' Hargrave (purchased and sold through Jeff), a 78' Hargrave (purchased and sold through Jeff) and 64' Hatteras (purchased and sold through Jeff). In addition, there have been numerous smaller boats that we have entrusted him to sell for us; he has guided us on pricing them and has always comes though in getting them sold quickly. He is always available via phone, test or email and keeps accurate records. Once a vessel is sold, he provides a complete, concise package with all the details (my executive assistant loves this!!).

I met Jeff Stanley in 1999 at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. I was impressed by his knowledge of the boat industry. I listed my 53 foot Carver Voyager with him to seel in 2003 and he sold the boat in a short amount of time. Since I live in Maine, Jeff personally removed many of the items we did not want, taking them to a local homeless shelter. In 2007 we started looking for a larger yacht in the 80 foot range. Jeff understood what our needs and desires were and he found us a 78 foot Hargrave Motoryacht with a skylounge. After enjoying the yacht for 7 years we listed it with Jeff and he sold it this past December. Since we did not want to give up our slip in Fort Lauderdale we decided to get something smaller while we take time to decide on a larger yacht. Jeff found us a 60 foot Sea Ray Express immediately after selling our Hargrave.

Whatever Jeff would represent I would find it to be completely accurate. Additionally, Jeff has always gone above and beyond his service to us and that of any other broker I have known. Jeff's networking ability and reputation with in the yachting industry is incredible.

My wife and I have enjoyed our long-standing relationship with Jeff Stanley. He has represented our interest with the highest level of integrity.

I gladly write this letter of recommendation and welcome any followup should the need arise.

We arrived in Longboat Key this afternoon, the boat performed incredibly well and we are very pleased. Robin and I have never experienced the high level of attention to detail that you provide. Your interest in us as buyers , your personal integrity, and the quality of service you provide is well beyond the norm.

Thank you for everything this has been a memorable experience.