Mobile, AL—Real Ships, the custom steel boatbuilder in Alabama, is pleased to now offer its American-made yachts to the European cruising market. Aventura, a 77-foot Expedition produced by Joe Johnson’s Real Ships, debuted at the October Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show and instantly caught the attention of Heikki Luoma, owner of Compass International.
Luoma’s Palma de Mallorca-based dealership in Spain will now provide exclusive European representation for Real Ships yachts. Luoma says, “Real Ships will have a competitive edge over other steel yachts in Europe because of the customization of each yacht for each individual owner. They also have a deep understanding of how an expedition type yacht really should be built and equipped for seaworthiness and reliability when the going gets tough, as it always will.” He believes European cruisers will be as impressed as he was which was evidenced by the strong interest in Real Ships by select consumers at the recent Dusseldorf show.
Compass International has been offering brokerage, mooring, charter, and yacht delivery services in Palma de Mallorca since 1986 and specializes in brokerage of expedition cruising and research vessels as well as conversion projects. Representing new custom Real Ships yachts will be an ideal balance to the existing inventory and allows Luoma to bring his yachting and dealer expertise to cruisers seeking quality long-range yachts.
He has been boating since age 25 and sailed professionally prior to beginning Compass International. Luoma holds a Finnish Captain’s license under which he has logged 60,0000nm. The majority of his time at the helm has been aboard steel and aluminum sailing yachts and includes four Atlantic crossings, once singlehandedly. His experience being at sea aboard metal yachts is an ideal blend with Real Ships’ belief that steel is the ultimate material in hull construction.
Compass International will provide the same Real Ships custom experience to each client as they determine how they will use their yacht, what range is necessary to meet their cruising goals, and what the accommodation, styling, and design details should include. The Real Ships team in Alabama will then work with all the client specifications to build the yacht accordingly. Owners will have the option of taking delivery in Alabama and setting off for their voyage or using a yacht delivery service to transport their vessel to Europe or other cruising grounds. European customers of Compass International will also have the benefit of the company’s relationship with a host of Mediterranean companies for service, repair, engineering, and painting in addition to their moorage and yacht delivery services.
Johnson looks forward to expanding the Real Ships presence across international waters through the dealer services of Compass International and sees this as a “positive relationship that supports the long-range cruising mission of Real Ships yachts.”
Real Ships Contact:
Joe Johnson
8700 Hemley Street
Bayou La Batre, Alabama
251.824.1706
Compass International Contact:
Heikki Luoma
Baron de Pinopar, 6, 9ª, 4º
07012 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
h.luoma@compass-int.com
+34.609.671344
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