YBAA was founded in 1920 to unite yacht brokers throughout North America to: establish, promote and enforce high standards of professional competence and ethical conduct; foster public recognition of, and support for, YBAA and its member brokers; facilitate cooperation among member brokers; and, enhance each member's success.
Since that time, YBAA has expanded its national membership, trained thousands of yacht brokers and helped develop knowledge and awareness of the services of the yacht brokerage community. Northrop & Johnson is proud to be affiliated with YBAA.
YBAA hosts an Annual Conference providing members with the opportunity to network with industry peers and participate in critical educational sessions, roundtable discussions on the changing maritime environment & issues and presentations covering a variety of business and industry topics.
Programs address such topics as: Sales Management, Marketing Strategies, Legal Updates, Broker Relations, Foreign Vessel Sales and other critical issues affecting members. Often sessions are provided in conjunction with the National Yacht Broker Certification program, allowing members to prepare for the CPYB certification exam. In addition to the business sessions, attendees can meet with exhibitors representing Affiliate Member companies, who are some of the most prominent members of the international yachting industry. YBAA also organizes social and recreational events designed to strengthen networking member opportunities
Under the leadership of YBAA's Professional Development Committee, the association now offers a comprehensive broker certification program, designed to raise the professional capabilities of yacht brokers, while addressing the needs of boat buyers and sellers who are demanding more service and support from the industry. YBAA members and representatives of FYBA & NYBA played a large part in launching this important project. The Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) designation is awarded to qualified brokers upon successful completion of the CPYB exam.
Northrop & Johnson offers agents well versed in the boating community and trained to offer the highest level of service and expertise.
YBAA offers members four different standardized, copyrighted contractual forms to help them in their daily brokerage practices: Yacht Purchase & Sale Agreement, Central Listing Agreement, Open Listing Agreement and Acceptance of Yacht. When properly used, the forms should minimize the possibility of litigation and disagreements resulting from the procuring of a sale. In co-op sales with other YBAA brokers, you will know what to expect in the way of documents to be signed. In addition, you have the support of the industry Association as a standard-setting body, which encourages confidence on the part of the seller and buyer. YBAA forms are provided to each member annually, in electronic format, as a free member service. Hard copies are also available for purchase
YBAA's Professional Standards & Ethics Committee counsels members on how to successfully achieve accord on disputes between brokers - a major benefit of YBAA membership. Members of the Standards & Ethics Committee may sit as arbitrators or may recommend, by reason of geographic proximity, other qualified members to assist in settling disputes. This procedure allows the panel to hear all of the pertinent facts at one time and have adequate time to deliberate and render a decision.
YBAA is a proud sponsor of two major brokerage boat show events each spring: the Bay Bridge Boat Show Sail/Power in Annapolis, Maryland and the Newport Spring Boat Show in Newport, RI. YBAA members receive reduced exhibit fees for both in-water and land spaces reserved for these shows
YBAA continues to evolve as the yacht brokerage industry expands
with larges yachts and more international transactions.
