John’s lifelong love of all things nautical naturally led him to pursue a career in mega yacht brokerage.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, John moved to Jamaica at the age of four. There, his father introduced him to sailing and life on the water. “He gave me a love for the sea that grew with me. The first boat I sailed on was a 38′ wooden sloop out of the Kingston Yacht Club.”
After earning his 500-Ton U.S. Coast Guard Master’s License, John spent 18 years building a life around the ocean, logging more than 80,000 nautical miles. He has sailed on every ocean in the world.
“To be a competent captain, you have to have total knowledge of the yacht. The first job I earned money for in yachting was cleaning the bottom of a 90′ schooner in St. Thomas harbor. I worked my way up from there and have held every position on board, including chef and engineer.”
For many years, John ran his own business delivering yachts, managing projects, and working in systems integration and AutoCAD prior to his brokerage career. Over the past 35 years, his work has kept him traveling the globe.
Over the past 30 years, John has invested significant personal time and resources inspecting shipyards around the world, including well-known European yards. He has also actively sought out and evaluated lesser-known yacht and commercial yards with either a history of building yachts or the qualifications and capabilities to transition successfully into yacht construction.
Mr. DeCaro has identified several U.S. shipyards that offer exceptional quality and, given current exchange rates, outstanding value in U.S. dollars.
“As with other yards I work with in South America, Europe, and the U.S., one of the key elements I look for is a high degree of personal pride in the product the shipyard delivers—whether commercial vessels or yachts. I also look for a willingness, from the managing director to the craftsman fairing the hull, to collaborate with a team of professionals to improve their product, create a vessel of high standards and execution, and deliver excellent value for the investment.”
“One of the keys to building a great vessel is assembling the right team and helping them coordinate all facets of the project. I work directly with designers and owners on every project, drawing on my years as both a captain and broker in the new construction and brokerage markets. Often, something that looks great to a designer or an owner who has primarily done coastal cruising may not be practical in a real-world environment. I help bring these considerations to the surface and refine aspects of the design to ensure we are addressing not only the owner’s vision and the crew’s operational needs, but also protecting the investment by considering the vessel’s long-term resale value.”
“Working with designers, owners, and shipyards to chart the best course forward—and encouraging everyone to bring out their best ideas and strengths—is part of the job. It’s also incredibly satisfying and a lot of fun.”
“Some of my most enjoyable sales have been new construction projects, which allow me to use my experience as a project manager, design consultant, and CAD professional for the benefit of my clients. Interestingly, whether it’s an existing yacht or a new build, the benefits to the client are very similar. One of the most rewarding resale transactions was selling the 90′ motor sailer I ran as captain for four years to a client who loves the boat as much as I do.”
John has shepherded more than 30 Explorer yachts from conception to delivery. When asked to describe the service he provides, John replied, “I would say I am an information provider, putting more than 40 years of varied yachting experience at my clients’ disposal—a negotiator and a facilitator. My job is to make the entire yachting experience as enjoyable and rewarding for my clients as it has been for me.”
Mr. DeCaro has spent 20 years as a Senior Yacht Broker with two of the yachting industry’s most respected brokerage houses, and as CEO of All Ocean Yachts, an explorer and expedition yacht specialist firm focusing on design, new construction, brokerage, and charter.
John brings tremendous energy to his profession. Outside of work, he continues to enjoy sailing, spearfishing, discovering great restaurants, and savoring vintage red wine during his travels.
You can contact John via our Fort Lauderdale contact page.
