Who We Are
Who We Are
Yacht Finders offers a wide array of options to buy and/or sell your dream vessel. We offer a personalized, hands-on approach and provide pre-inspection checklists and full market evaluations on every boat we offer for sale. We're a full-service brokerage handling all your needs from start to finish including:
- Advertising your vessel for sale on all the major online sites. Yacht World, Boat Trader, Boats for sale, Boats.com as well as print ads including Boats4sale magazine, Long Island Boating World and more!!
- Find your next vessel
- Finance/insurance
- Survey
- Closing
- Transportation services (available)
- Boating Lessons
- Management Services
- Winter Services (storage, winterization) at 3 of our locations, ask for details
Meet the Owners
Meet the Owners
“My passion for boating started at the ripe age of 6 years old. My dad was an avid boater who bought boats, fixed them up, and started the love of boating that my whole family enjoys. Boating has always been in my blood – whether I’m cruising or at anchor with my wife, Mary Jo, daughter Jillian, and son Jack on our 42 Sea Ray Sundancer or out 100 miles offshore running a charter or fishing a tournament.
Like my business partner, Bruce Parker, I started my professional career in the Auto Industry as a Sales/General Manager. After 26 years in the industry, I decided to follow my passion, get my Captain's license, of which I possess a 100 Ton Master License, and get into boat sales and brokerage.
That is where I met Bruce. We handled brokerage for MarineMax on Long Island. We worked very well together and built an honest, trustworthy reputation from Manhattan to Montauk and everywhere in between.
We always go the extra mile for our clients, whether they are our buyer, seller, or both, by walking them through the sometimes very difficult process of boat buying and selling. Nevertheless, it’s always a happy experience on both ends.
More than 10 years later, I have decided to join Bruce on a journey to make boat buying and selling a happy and fun experience. I am looking forward to providing professional services while learning new ways to satisfy our clients!”
“Over the years, my wife and I have had a passion for boats and the water lifestyle, sharing that love with our children as well. After 30 years in the automotive field, I switched to the industry I truly love – boating.
Now over 18 years later, and hundreds of happy clients, I have moved on to have my own company. I am excited to work with Kevin so that we can help hundreds more either sell or buy a boat with ease.
I have an excellent reputation in the industry and work well with all the marinas here on Long Island as well as throughout the rest of the country. I look forward to working with you through the process of buying or selling your boat with professional skills.”
Bruce Parker 631-806-2751
bparker@yachtfindersonline.com
Bruce Parker 631-806-2751
bparker@yachtfindersonline.com
- Meet The Crew
Capt. Keith Graffagnino
(Representing Long Island and NY)
Boating has been a part of my life from an early age. Whether it was together as a family or fishing in the canyons with my Dad and my brother Kevin, we made great memories together.
When raising our family, My wife Danielle and I wanted to impart the same experiences I had growing up with my Daughters, Alexa, Olivia, and Ava, and boating became a way of life for us!! We started with a 27 ft Rinker and soon after grew into a 33ft Rinker. Weekends at the beach and endless cruising to different destinations made me realize that my passion for boating was taking me in directions I never imagined and now I am going to be part of selling boats and will be going for my Capt's license to do lessons and transports. The experiences I have had on the water motivate me to expand into what I have wanted to do my whole life, be on the water always. Boating has a special place in my heart and I look forward to helping you sell or buy your next boat so you can create the same traditions with your family. I want to help you do what we at Yacht Finders do best -- put the fun back in boating!!
Capt. Keith Graffagnino 631-358-8154
Capt Buddy Benton
(Representing the NJ Shore)
As a young boy growing up in the Bronx about 10 years old I knew boating would be a part of my life as I was scraping barnacles off of my grandfather's wooden Chris Craft cabin cruiser. I was always around boats with friends and family as the years went on.
About 24 years ago I started my business as a financial advisor and it was stressful. I was newly married to my wife Monica and we had our first child Nicholas at the time and one day we rented a little boat with a 20HP outboard motor. My wife said, “I never saw you so relaxed”. It was then we realized we need a boat for the family. During the past 15 years, we owned 3 brand new Formula boats, a 280SS, 34PC, 40PC, and now a 50ft flybridge boat. I am now the “go-to” guy with friends and family for anyone that needs a boat. As a licensed master captain I run up and down the east coast helping clients move their boats to different locations. I would also work tirelessly to help you along with my partners, Kevin and Bruce to help you sell your boat and/or find the perfect boat.
Capt Buddy Benton: 732-715-7788
Jim Passela
(Representing Long Island)
Growing up on Long Island as an avid fisherman I was always drawn to the water. As an owner of my own business I spent a lot of my spare time on the water fishing offshore and around the Long Island Bays. Knowing Kevin growing up, we fished together often and we both became part of a fishing team together. My passion for selling boats became more apparent as I owned my own boats and I was looking for something enjoyable to do later in life. That is when I decided to join Yacht Finders. I want to take my passion for boats and make it something I can help others with who are in the process of buying and/or selling a boat. I enjoy meeting new people and seeing an endless inventory of many different makes and models of boats. I knew I would love the boat business and I am looking forward to "Matching Buyers and Sellers" for many years to come.
Jim Passela 631-335-8936
jpassela@yachtfindersonline.com
Jillian Graffagnino
Social Media & Marketing
Growing up on Long Island, I basically spent all my summers on the boat and at the beach. After graduating from St. John the Baptist High School, I attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee where I pursued a B.B.A in Marketing. After working in the social media space for multiple local Nashville businesses during my undergrad, I knew I had a passion to help small businesses grow their social media presence and create quality content. I love working alongside my dad and Bruce, and the rest of the Yacht Finders Team. I currently reside in Nashville and in addition to running the Yacht Finders socials, I also work as a Social Media Specialist at a digital marketing agency.
God Bless the USA!!
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Here at Yacht Finders we strive to make sure your buying and/or selling experience is beyond your expectations through an honest and trustworthy approach that makes sense to all involved. We will put the fun back into buying or selling your dream vessel!!!
Every boat we offer for sale will have a Pre Sale Checklist in the listing. It will identify the condition of the vessel as well as systems that were checked for proper function. Pictures are taken and if the boat passes our condition criteria it will be listed, If not we will ask the owner if he plans on bringing the vessel up to Yacht Finders "FOR SALE" condition. We will then determine how the listing and the report will be presented to YOU, the public!!
Here is an example of a Yacht Finders Pre Sale Checklist
Yacht Finders Pre Sale Checklist
The systems listed below where verified as “In working Condition” at time of listing
Please note: This is not considered a survey, this is for info purposes only
Vessel: Pamela Marie
Year, make, model: 2004/Carver/392 MY
Date of Listing: 10/3/2019
Walkthrough by: Capt Kevin Graffagnino
Description: Above average, Average, Needs attention
The following items were verified to be working at the time of listing