Marketing Profiles 2018 Charlie King _ Marketing Presentation | Page 2

MEET Charlie King
Charlie grew up in Ft. Lauderdale after his family moved from a small farm in Indiana in 1956. His
dad bought the family a brand new 16’ Lyman, and so began “the pirate’s life” for a 12-year-old
boy. He attended Ft. Lauderdale High School and graduated in 1962. He was offered a swimming
scholarship to the University of Florida, where he was captain of both his freshman team and the
1966 varsity team.
After college he returned to boating, living on a Nova Scotia-built trawler and running day and
night cruises around Ft. Lauderdale. He signed on to Sub Mare Inc. as a diver for a treasure hunting
venture in 1970. Soon after he and his crew were captured in international waters by a Cuban
gunboat and were taken into custody in a Cuban detention center. After Charlie’s release, with the
help of the U.S. State Department convincing the Cubans they were not spys, they moved on to
setting up oil rigs off of the Mosquito Coast for Occidental Oil.
Several years, and many boats later, Charlie bought a 72’ Belizean-built ketch that he chartered
throughout the Bahamas. He also enjoyed spending time exploring the Mayan ruins in Belize and
surrounding areas.
Charlie became a yacht broker soon after his son Ryan was born in 1985 and settled down to raise
a family and work in a field he knows well - boats and the people who love them. In 1995 he went
to work for yachting icon Richard Merritt and left in 2013 after Mr. Merritt’s passing.
Currently, Charlie holds a USCG 100-ton license and is also a licensed pilot. He enjoys boating,
adventure traveling, and hunting as well as spending time with his son - his pride and joy. Ryan
graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2008 and is now an Air Force pilot.
Over the 25 years he has been in the brokerage business, Charlie has earned a reputation for
getting to know his clients and fitting them with the right boat for their needs. Charlie would rather
risk losing a sale than put his clients in the wrong boat and is known throughout the industry
as an honest and straightforward broker. Though he specializes in long range bluewater vessels,
commercial vessels, sport fishing and live-a-boards, he also has extensive knowledge of all types
and sizes of boats.
With Denison Yacht Sales’ reputation for honesty and ethics in brokering and with Denison’s cutting
edge innovation and motivated sales force, Charlie feels that he has found the perfect team.
C h a r l i e K i n g | 9 5 4 . 6 1 4 . 0 2 4 2 | C K i n g @ D e n i s o nYa c h t S a l e s . c o m