The brokers of Emerald Yachts advocate legislative changes requiring all individuals selling yachts in the State of Washington to have a thorough criminal background check, pass a standardized yacht broker’s examination, secure a fidelity bond and be regulated by the state.  California and Florida already require full licensing for all yacht brokers and we believe Washington consumers deserve the same level of professionalism and protection.  Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA), the organization created and exclusively run by yacht brokers, is ill-equipped to police itself or its members and NYBA’s aversion to maintaining an open, accessible or responsive form of arbitration for non-members is in direct contrast to the cornerstone principles of our state government.  

Although advocacy for consumer protection should be universally accepted by other Puget Sound yacht brokers, it is not.  In fact, it has made Emerald Yachts a target of numerous bad acts and unethical behavior by our neighboring yacht brokers.  Those who may have something to hide and are opposed to State of Washington licensing, have turned to defaming and vilifying Emerald Yachts and its yacht brokers.  The owners and representatives of a few NYBA brokerages have engaged in making false representations regarding Emerald Yachts in an attempt to deceive and prejudice prospective clients.  

Emerald Yachts requested on three occasions that NYBA intercede to stop the unethical behavior by their member brokers, but no action was ever taken.  We were forced to file complaints with the State of Washington Attorney General’s office, the State of Washington Consumer Protection Agency and pursue legal action in the local courts, filing lawsuits against two South Sound yacht brokerages.

The brokers of Emerald Yachts believe irreproachable ethics are essential in the yachting industry and hold ourselves and our competitors to these higher standards.  Slanderous comments made by our competition make for interesting conversation and fodder for lawsuits, but they have no basis of truth.  Unfortunately this type of character assassination is cancerous and can spread throughout the yachting community if individuals do not question the source and motive of those making disparaging comments about their competition.