UK Outfit Sees Broker Lawsuit as Opportunity To Expand Into American Market

Boatshed's Chapman Says Buyer Reps, YachtWorld Like a 'Conspiracy'

Neil Chapman, who says he is a passionate offshore sailor, founded Boatshed in 1999. He’d like to bring his sales system into the U.S. market.

Neil Chapman is keeping an eye on the litigation now threatening to disrupt the way America buys and sells boats. What’s more, this British sailor and brokerage boss says his company’s approach—the company is Boatshed—is poised to expand into the U.S. amidst any resulting wreckage and rubble.

Chapman was “beating up the coast of Portugal” recently, mulling the litigation entitled Ya Mon Charters vs. International Yacht Brokers Association et al, when he reached certain conclusions, including “that there is a conspiracy.”

Lawsuit Rocks the Yacht-Sales World

Chapman sees the issue as one of toxic symbiosis between buyers’ brokers and the venture-capital ownership of the YachtWorld multiple listing service. Together, they are preying on their customers, he said, writing after he had arrived at his next port.