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Born on the North Coast of Oregon I attended Portland State University as well as several junior colleges before spending a decade as a successful commercial salmon, tuna, and crab fisherman. My fishing grounds were the Pacific West Coast from British Colombia to Central California, and my home port was the “Graveyard of the Pacific”, the Columbia River. I was an owner operator of various boats ranging from a 20’ Oregon City Salmon Dory to a 50’ Ed Monk design Salmon and Tuna Troller. These were long range displacement speed vessels which were capable of withstanding the harshest of conditions which were routinely encountered. After logging well over a hundred thousand miles at sea I hung up my rain gear and float coat for the warmer climes of Florida. I moved to Saint Petersburg in 1981 where I bought my first boat dealership and was the dealer for Compaq sailboats. I then owned a charter sailing operation and managed a bareboat trawler service before venturing into full time power yacht brokerage in 1987. I purchased the oldest existing yacht brokerage in Florida in 1991 (West Florida Yachts) and successfully operated it for 17 years at the same facility at Maximo Marina until present. I have had the same secretary for 14 years, still with my first wife, have owned my current boat for 12 years, have lived in the same house for 17 years, and have had the same cell phone number for 20 years.

I am an avid fisherman, a frustrated golfer, sports car enthusiast, and the head janitor and dishwasher at my offices. My Daughter Summer and wife Pat both share my love of boating and we enjoy our boating vacations in the Keys and the Bahamas.

As a veteran in the industry I value the relationships that I have developed over the years with my many great clients and fellow brokers. I believe that honesty, and loyalty are the cornerstones to life and business and inviolate between client and broker. Yachting is a privilege that we are fortunate enough to be a part of, And I love and appreciate every moment of it.

Earning Your Trust One Boat at a Time....

Roger Cole