c nicklaus starling & associates

What c nicklaus starling & associates does

C. Nicklaus Starling & Associates, operating as Nicklaus Yachts, is a privately held yacht and sportfish brokerage firm headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. The company brokers pre-owned luxury yachts, sport-fishing vessels, and center consoles from manufacturers including Westport, Hatteras, Viking, Grand Banks, Merritt, Midnight Express, and others, with listed vessel prices ranging from approximately $179,000 to $4,999,000 and sizes spanning roughly 33 to 112 feet. In addition to its brokerage business, Nicklaus Yachts sells its own proprietary Front Runner brand of center console boats (33 to 47 feet), positioning the firm as both an intermediary and a small-volume manufacturer of sport-fishing craft.

The firm operates with a small team of named brokers—Charlie Nicklaus, Will Barrett Jr., Jeremy Floden, and Dennis Bennett—who engage clients directly via phone, email, and in-person meetings. It maintains no proprietary technology platform beyond a standard website (nicklausyachts.com) and social media presence (Facebook, Instagram); listings are surfaced through the IYBA / YachtBroker.org MLS ecosystem. Revenue is generated exclusively through transaction-based commissions on yacht sales, with no recurring or subscription components.

The company serves a narrow customer base of high-net-worth individuals seeking to buy or sell vessels, with active listings distributed across Florida (North Palm Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Miami, Stuart, Jupiter, Key Largo, Palm Beach) and extending to Alabama, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Costa Rica. The firm claims over 40 years of industry experience and leverages the Nicklaus family name and IYBA/YachtBroker.org memberships as its primary credibility signals. No funding rounds, M&A activity, subsidiaries, or external investors are disclosed.

Name

c nicklaus starling & associates

Legal name

Nicklaus Yachts

Website

https://cnicklausstarling.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Florida-based yacht and sportfish brokerage firm serving high-net-worth buyers and sellers across the U.S. and Costa Rica, also manufacturing its own Front Runner line of center console boats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yacht Brokerage Services

NAICS

Boat Dealers (441222), Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreational Fishing & Sportfishing Boat Manufacturing (IMAJAEAH)

Keywords

• Yacht brokerage services
• Sport fishing yachts
• Boat sales
• Luxury yacht dealers
• Center console boats

Headquarters

HQ city

Juno Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Yacht Brokerage Commission: The company earns commissions on yacht sales and purchases, acting as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of yachts and sport-fishing vessels. Revenue is generated through successful transaction completion rather than recurring fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

C. Nicklaus Starling & Associates (doing business as Nicklaus Yachts) is a full-service yacht and sportfish brokerage that connects buyers and sellers of pre-owned luxury yachts, sport-fishing vessels, and center consoles from manufacturers such as Westport, Hatteras, Viking, Grand Banks, Merritt, and Midnight Express. The firm also produces and sells its own Front Runner brand of center console boats ranging from 33 to 47 feet. Brokers work directly with clients on listings, viewings, valuation, and purchase negotiations, earning commissions on completed transactions.

Product overview

Nicklaus Yachts is a yacht and sportfish brokerage firm that operates as both a dealer for third-party vessel brands and a manufacturer of its own Front Runner center console boats. The company offers a dual approach: it brokers pre-owned luxury yachts, sport-fishing vessels, and center consoles from manufacturers such as Westport, Hatteras, Viking, Grand Banks, Merritt, Midnight Express, and others, while also producing its own Front Runner brand of center consoles in sizes ranging from 33 to 47 feet. The brokerage services and Front Runner product line together constitute the company's core business model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Front Runner: A product brand of yachts/catamarans sold by the company

Products and services

• Nicklaus Yachts Brokerage Services Full-service brokerage for buying and selling pre-owned luxury yachts, sport-fishing yachts, and center consoles across multiple U.S. and international locations. Brokers provide listing, valuation, marketing, and transaction support for buyers and sellers of high-value vessels.
• Front Runner Center Consoles The company's own brand of center console boats, produced in 33-, 36-, 37- (catamaran), and 47-foot models, designed for sport-fishing and offshore use with features such as five macerated in-deck fishboxes, transom seating, dual helm seats, and console with head.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• IYBA (International Yacht Brokers Association)minorOthersThe company is a member of the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA), a professional organization for yacht brokers. This membership provides access to industry resources, networking, and professional standards.
• YachtBroker.orgminorOthersThe company is a member of YachtBroker.org, an MLS (Multiple Listing Service) platform for yachts. This provides access to a broader network of yacht listings and potential buyers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• SYS Yacht Sales: Florida-based yacht brokerage specializing in pre-owned motor yachts and sport-fishing vessels with multiple broker locations. Directly comparable in operating geography and product category.
• HMY Yacht Sales: One of the largest yacht brokerages in the Southeast U.S., operating across Florida and the Caribbean with a similar model of brokering pre-owned luxury and sport-fishing yachts. Directly comparable in geography, customer base, and product category.
• Denison Yachting: National yacht brokerage and new yacht dealer with a strong Florida presence and sport-fishing expertise. Comparable as a competitor for HNW yacht buyers and sellers in overlapping geographies.
• Galati Yacht Sales: Sport-fishing-specialist yacht brokerage and authorized dealer for Viking, Hatteras, and other premium brands, headquartered in Florida. Closely comparable on sport-fishing niche focus and Florida-centric geographic strategy.
• United Yacht Sales: Established yacht brokerage network with multiple Florida offices and a national footprint, brokering pre-owned motor yachts and sport-fish vessels. Comparable commission-based model and inventory breadth.
• Luke Brown Yachts: Long-established luxury yacht brokerage in Fort Lauderdale with strong sport-fishing ties. Comparable as a relationship-driven Florida broker competing for the same HNW clientele and high-value inventory.

Broad incumbents

• Viking Yachts: Dominant U.S. sport-fishing yacht manufacturer whose vessels frequently appear in Nicklaus's pre-owned inventory. Comparable as a sport-fishing brand anchor that defines the category in which Front Runner competes.
• Hatteras Yachts: Iconic American sport-fishing and motor yacht builder whose boats are commonly brokered by Nicklaus. Comparable as a category-defining manufacturer in the sport-fishing segment where the company operates.
• YachtWorld: Dominant global online yacht listing marketplace operated by Boats Group. Comparable as the primary digital channel where Nicklaus's inventory is syndicated and where buyers increasingly initiate searches.

Emerging players

• Contender Boats: Sport-fishing center console boat manufacturer competing in the same size range (24-39 ft) as Nicklaus's Front Runner brand. Comparable as a direct competitor in the offshore sport-fishing center console segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NicklausYachts
• Instagraminstagram.com/nicklausyachts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about c nicklaus starling & associates