Each year, the International Yacht Brokers Association, the world’s largest yacht brokerage organization with more than 2,000 members across the globe, selects a small group of brokers to receive its Superlative Awards. These are peer-recognized honors, which means the nominations come from within the industry itself. Winning one means your colleagues think you’re the best at what you do. On January 29, 2026, at the IYBA Annual Meeting and Cocktail Reception in Fort Lauderdale, Denison broker David Johnson was named the 2025 Powerboat Broker of the Year.
What the Award Means
IYBA has been setting the standard for professionalism and ethics in yacht brokerage since 1987. For a broker to be recognized by this organization is not a matter of self-promotion or marketing. It is a reflection of how your peers, the other brokers you negotiate with, collaborate with, and compete against every day, view your work. That context matters when you consider what David had to say about receiving it.
“I am truly humbled and honored to receive the IYBA Powerboat Broker of the Year award. This recognition means a lot to me. To my colleagues and friends in this industry — thank you for your nominations, your trust, and your continued support. I am surrounded by so many talented and passionate professionals, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside each of you on future deals. To my clients, thank you for your loyalty and for placing your confidence in me — every transaction is a privilege. And to the IYBA, thank you for championing the highest standards of professionalism and integrity that make this industry something we are all proud to be part of. This award inspires me to keep raising the bar. Thank you all.”
Why David Johnson
David did not come to yacht brokerage from a sales background. He came from the water. He grew up in Haddamneck, Connecticut, spent over a decade as a captain aboard some of the world’s most prestigious vessels, and logged more than 100,000 sea miles on multiple Feadships and other large yachts before he ever sat across a closing table. He also served as Project Manager at a prominent European shipyard during a new build project, an experience that gives him a working understanding of construction timelines, yard negotiations, and true vessel costs that most brokers simply do not have.
“The experience that I have gathered from my time working onboard the large yachts has trained me to look for the best value for my client and to truly understand what a vessel’s operating costs are,” David has said. That perspective is not something you can manufacture. It comes from having actually run these boats.
Since joining Denison in 2010, David has built a reputation for closing complex transactions across the United States, Europe, and Latin America, with a focus on powerboats and superyachts in the 90-foot-plus range. Among his notable recent sales were the 105′ Monte Carlo M, the 95′ Sunseeker REUNION, and the 96′ Cheoy Lee CLX96 Hull #1.
Awards like this one are easy to announce and hard to earn. David Johnson has spent more than 20 years building the kind of expertise and reputation that his peers felt was worth putting his name on. We are proud to have him on the Denison team, and even prouder to share this news with the people who have trusted him with their most significant transactions.
If you are looking to buy or sell a powerboat or superyacht and want to work with one of the industry’s best, you can reach David directly at his contact info below.
