Special Feature: New Rybovich Marina!

Rybovich – the Legend Continues!​

by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy​

“Saayell-Fiisshh...!” The Rybovich legend was in full cry, and growing. “Fish on! Sail on!” the Captain whooped, while in quick succession the helmsman hauled back on the throttle, the angler set the hook with a series of short, quick jolts; then 100 yards astern, a magnificent sailfish leapt, soared, danced, pranced in its dazzling display of acrobatics, aerobatics. The angler, a young real estate developer from Ocean City, Maryland, was breathless as he fought the beautiful sail, but he managed to shout, “This boat raises fish like none other on the planet!” At the end of that day in a four-day event he had caught, and released, seven brilliant kings of the sea, and won the most auspicious sailfish tourney in the world. Rybovich, “the Cadillac of sportfish” had brought it home again.​

Long revered by sportfishermen as the finest in its class, the Rybovich reputation grew for an entire generation. The “fish finder,” hull design projected a mysterious aura that lured fish to its transom. Top anglers praised it. Rybo’s 65’ model was much larger than the 45’ boats used by most tournament anglers and its interior was on a par with today’s high-end motoryachts. As the leader in sportfishing, anglers such as millionaire Jim K., who even at that time wore a gold earring in his left ear, owned Rybo’s cold-molded models. Others copied Rybo’s innovations such as its fighting chair. However, gradually things changed, and the Rybovich brand slipped from prominence as it was challenged by a number of other sportfish builders.

That was 30 years ago; yet today there are exciting new interests and developments for the Rybovich name. Now, enter a new generation, with exciting plans for a mammoth South Florida renovation, with a novel, and very effective team concept. The new company includes Rybovich Marina – Boatyard, and soon to come 600-ton dry-docking, residences, restaurants, shopping, a whole village catering to megayacht enhancement and development.

Heading up the Rybovich resurrection...

Wayne Huizenga, Jr. (shown left), scion of the Huizenga Miami Dolphins, Stadium, Marlins, Panthers, and Waste Management ownership, acquired the Rybovich-Spencer property and facilities near West Palm Beach, Florida, in February 2004. He owned a Rybovich sportfish himself, was impressed by the name and reputation, and projected an expanded future for the company. He contacted Michael Rybovich, grandson of the original family; inviting him back into the fold.

Michael S. Bach (shown right), Director of Sales and Marketing, a graduate in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin, sailed One Design sailboats as a youngster, which accounts for his salty know-how and enthusiasm. He held positions with Palmer Johnson and Intermarine, in larger yacht administration, before taking over the job at Rybovich.

And what are they doing?

Major developments are under construction one mile south of the Port of Palm Beach Inlet, for the entire complex, which will include 31,700 sq.ft. of enclosed work shop space, a 600-ton Travelift and depths of 14’, with no bridges from the Atlantic Ocean and Inland Waterway. (The current 300-ton Travelift will handle a 157’ Trinity aluminum yacht). Now, more than 100 skilled shipwrights and craftsmen make humming progress on this rising new maritime star. In addition, a new service complex nears completion just north at Riviera Beach. But this is only the beginning. There are also other marinas and yards in Riviera Beach, which some refer to as “Rybovich North.” There may be a time to rebrand the operation, Bach says, but that’s far down the road at this time.

Photo Caption: Every weekend, Peanut Island is a party destination for 100's of boats, rafting up in a flotilla that rivals the Columbus Day Regatta in Miami. It's become a popular spot for crews to let loose when the work is done.

Bach proudly showed us around the bustling property, which is electric with its spirited shipwrights and busy construction crews. The yard itself is huge, about a quarter mile long and almost that wide along the Inland Waterway; prime land in West Palm Beach, Florida. The docking area equals that in size. There is space set aside for a helicopter landing pad as well as numerous – up to 240’ – dockage facilities. About one third has been relegated to Rybovich yacht building, the original design. Several completed models are there now, in drydock, and two new hulls have just been completed, awaiting interiors.

“Rybovich Marina-Boatyard, the property,” Bach says, “ right now goes out from the expanse of land here, to within a hundred yards of the day marker which is the boundary of the Intra coastal waterway, and that is several hundred yards off the paved marine property. So we have the job of dredging the bottom out to that point, plus increasing and maintaining the depth so that we’ll be able to berth boats of the size our new docks will mandate.

Photo Caption: Rybo's revitalization is attracting some serious clientèle. The enormous blue-hulled beauty below is Delta's new 240' "Laurel". Not a boat you want maneuver around the Peninsula Bend of New River!

In sequence, we are building out our new boatyard on the north end of the property. A new L-shaped building is in place, still in the construction stage as of this writing, but soon to be completed (by May) and housing large yachts. “The 600-ton lift will probably be able to handle a 200+-footer. We’re associated with the yacht Floridian, a 228’ yacht which we could pick up with the new machine. So we’re obviously moving our facility to accommodate the larger end of the market. We are poised for this with our 40,000 sq.ft. state of the art mega-yacht repair facility.”

Photo Caption: The building in the background is where Michael Rybovich continues with his namesake's heritage. Mike runs the boat building division, known as Rybovich & Sons, cold-molding 45’ to 68’ sportfishing yachts. The slab of concrete to the left and wrapping around the rear is the foundation for 40,000 sq. ft. of trade center space, shown in the next two photographs below.

The program is designed to develop in various phases, from what Bach numbers as Phase 1 to Phase 4. With intelligent management organization, the structure arises under the direction of dedicated Project Managers, Team Leaders. Bach explains, “Our skilled technicians and craftsmen are a company within a company. Each is responsible to a Project Team and together they comprise all facets of our service facility.” The team environment gives each employee a sense of project ownership and responsibility. This approach is expected to make pride of performance a major attribute of employee contribution, and elevate the efficiency and quality of the work. To this end the company holds regular “Megayacht Captains’ Meetings” to get a client’s take on developments.

Photo Caption: Stringers and bulkheads in place...

The company’s management style also embraces programs to educate new craftsmen and yachting aficianadoes. In conjunction with the Palm Beach and Riviera Beach school systems, the company invests time and money not only for property development, but through the Police Athletic League. More than half a million dollars are being spent to foster youngsters’ development. Additional funds are invested in training local work forces; a classroom setting onsite, featuring a hands-on maritime school. Not an apprenticeship program per se, it involves instruction for specific trades, such as carpenters, metal workers, painters, rigging, etc.

Those attitudes and activities, however, blend with the major tenet, the primary goal; and that is to put the needs of guests first. “No matter how challenging the job,” Bach says, outlining the stated company policy, “our primary mission is to see that each vessel gets the personal attention it deserves, which means service at the highest levels. We want to foster the idea of a comfortable destination, for owners and crews. We are our clients’ home for their time here. And there is a very hospitable feeling within the yard.” Huizenga himself, a pleasant man in spite of his responsibilities, is well regarded by the workers as well as the visitors.

Photo Caption: Planking the hull...

”We want to create an environment which is a destination,” Bach continues. That means we’ll have a marina, a yard, a retail center, with a restaurant, coffee shop, chandlery, you name it. Office chores such as accounting, purchasing, sales, marketing, will be in the Riviera Beach location. All our properties will have the same name, the same brand; a centralized group that looks after all business functions.

“In essence,” Bach says, “we plan what will be a “Bahia Mar North,” right next to West Palm Beach. That’s keeping in mind our owner once refurbished Bahia Mar, and that was to enhance repair and shore power requirements, fuel capacities, connfiguration of the docks to fit megayachts. Walkways were not limited to 15’ wide, so when the golf cart comes through there’s still room for people.

Photo Caption: Clockwise from top left are the three phases of development. Phase I is the new yard. Phase II is the new marina and docks. Phase III are the shops, residences & restaurant.

The haul-out and repair facility will dry-dock as many as seven 200’, 600-ton yachts, plus numerous others in the 75’ to 180’ range. There will also be a public marina on the south side of the repair yard. ”Our owner’s philosophy,” he continues, “ is to provide a marina where you can dock, where you can expect good work, or you can just enjoy the atmosphere, the shopping, dining, etc. So far that hasn’t been the case in this area, on this scale. So we’re providing a new facility that yacht owners can utilize to the limit, where the option has not been here before at this level.”

July, 2007, is the target date for completion of Rybovich / Phase I, the water area, dredging, dockage – all associated with the boat yard – including a heli-pad, into the fall. Next, Phase II, is to build out the docks; Phase III is the retail end, the top-class restaurant and shoppes, coffee shop, chandlery, where yachtsmen and women can enjoy themselves. Phase IV is what finances the whole operation, the residential areas; and those will be luxe apartments and condos to provide permanent or seasonal homes for Rybovich clients who long for luxury living ashore as well as on their megayachts.

Photo Caption: Artist's rendering of the new haul out & repair facility.

So that is the cornerstone of Rybovich’s new beginning in this area. The new program – nestled quietly into place a couple of years ago – is not only comprehensive, but a well thought out business model that will cover all bases. The Huizenga/Rybovich cartel will continue the hallowed brand name, with Michael Rybovich in a prominent role, still building Rybovich’s famous fish-raising sportsfishermen. Much larger facilities in this three-phase program are sure to re-enliven the Palm Beach stretch along Florida’s length of the Inland Waterway.

Rybovich spent years as the pinnacle of yacht ownership and service.
It is surely on the heading to achieve its early greatness.​

<end>

By Chuck Gnaegy​

For more information, contact:

Rybovich Marina
4000 N. Flagler Drive
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 844-1800
www.Rybovich.com