Visiting with Aaron Dezell of Yacht Coast.
There is nothing quite like the energy of Shelter Island. As the beating heart of San Diego’s maritime community, it represents everything vibrant about the California boating lifestyle. So, when the leadership team at the California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA) decided to hand-deliver the grand prize from our recent statewide survey, we knew exactly where we had to go. Our destination? The brand-new Shelter Island office of Yacht Coast, to surprise Aaron Dezell, the official raffle winner drawn straight from the participants of “The California Yacht Broker Survey for 2026”. The visit wasn’t just about delivering a $300 gift card, it was a powerful moment of connection between CYBA leadership and an elite professional who represents the next generation of the maritime “gold standard.”
Strengthening the Sails: A Meeting of the Minds on the Island
When CYBA leaders stepped into Aaron’s new office, the conversation immediately turned to the future of our industry. For an independent brokerage like Yacht Coast, having the association’s leadership personally drop anchor at a new location highlights what makes the CYBA unique: we are a community of peers defending one another.
Steering a brokerage requires clear sightlines. Aaron understands that unified leadership is what keeps the West Coast boating industry safe, professional and prosperous. By taking the time to participate in our landmark survey, professionals like Aaron ensure that the CYBA can continue to champion the needs of licensed and bonded yacht brokers from San Diego and all the way up the coast.
The Statistics of Success: What We Discovered
The insights we discussed on the docks and extracted from the data in “The California Yacht Broker Survey for 2026.”
reveal a clear consensus on where the California market is heading:
- The Ironclad Standard: A massive 72% of respondents reported that they utilize CYBA professional forms exclusively for their transactions. This confirms that our contracts remain the undisputed legal anchor for maritime sales in California.
- The Hybrid Revolution: The “office” is evolving. Nearly half of all brokers (49%) are now operating in a hybrid capacity, balancing traditional office time with remote flexibility. Aaron’s investment in a physical Shelter Island footprint, combined with digital agility, puts him at the forefront of this trend.
- A Hunger for Expertise: The demand for professional growth is undeniable. Roughly 75% of the industry expressed a direct interest in attending upcoming CYBA webinars. We are already hard at work developing these sessions to cover the high-stakes legal and liability topics our members requested.
- Local Impact Over National Noise: When it comes to moving inventory, local expertise wins. Nearly 74% of participants cited Local In-Water Shows as their most valuable sales events, significantly outperforming major national shows.
Guarding the Gold Standard Together
When a client walks into a brokerage on Shelter Island or anywhere else along our beautiful coast and sees the CYBA emblem, they know they are protected by a professional who operates under a strict Code of Ethics and state-approved standards.
Congratulations again to Aaron Dezell on his raffle win and his beautiful new office location! We are honored to have leaders like Aaron helping us guide the tides of the California maritime market.