Mission Statement:
Nautical Essentials was founded to provide the Yachting world both retail and wholesale with a selection of fine luxury equipment for boats and yachts that would be both functional and beautiful. Our Cornerstone product is Yacht Controller, the handheld wireless boat control with thousands installed on more than 115 brands of boats. Additional products include Bioinox – gangways, cranes, and swim ladders, Treben – exquisite helm chairs, D-Box Yachting – the next dimension in on board entertainment, Yacht Master Control – for total and easy control of on-board entertainment and environmental systems and Yacht Tube – Weather proof TV’s. Click on the logo’s to learn more
About Us
Gerald Berton - President
Nautical essentials was founded by Mr. Gerald Berton who has used his wide ranging background in the Marine industry to select exceptional equipment which enhance and simplify the yachting experience. With more than 30 years experience as a professional in the Marine Industry and prior personal experience and US Coast Guard training, Mr. Berton has personally been involved in the design manufacture and sale of a significant number and wide range and style of yachts up to almost 200 feet in length. As a consequence he is intimately familiar with contracts and negotiations involving new construction, whether foreign or domestic and the most effective methods to evaluate and acquire or sell a yacht. He is highly experienced on the water with extensive day and night navigation, of both USA Coasts, from Key West to Nova Scotia and Long Beach to San Francisco, the entire Gulf Coast, the Bahama Islands, The Mediterranean Sea including most of its islands, Mexico and Asia. Mr. Berton holds a 100 ton Captain’s license, a Florida Yacht Broker’s License, is a trained meteorologist; retired editor of Motor Boating Magazine, Former US Coast Guardsman; Member of the Explorers Club; and consultant to the motion picture industry, celebrities, and captains of industry.
Click HERE to view Mr. Berton's professional licenses and associations.
Mr. Berton is knowledgeable in all aspects of marina operation and has more than ten years experience as the chief executive officer of a multi-marina group providing full services to more than 3,500 customers. These marinas were private, City and Federal properties and required significant interaction with all government agencies as well as retail consumers for the development, expansion and operation of the properties.
Mr. Berton has developed a number of boats including the Porsche design boat, the Cigarette 38, the Sealine 47 (winner of the Boat of the Year 2000), and a variety of domestically produced boats and yachts from 30 to 85 feet. Additionally, he has imported and marketed boats from England, Italy, France, Austria, Thailand, and Australia. These activities included contract negotiations, currency considerations and hedging, shipping, insurance and customs handling. Additionally, he has formulated numerous successful marketing and branding campaigns, including winner of the best display in the Miami Boat Show (twice).
He has traveled the world markets extensively, both in the worldwide sale of yachts, and in visiting a number of shipyards, and consequently is quite familiar with construction techniques, and many of the worlds harbors and cruising grounds. Mr. Berton has also worked on the development of a variety of hi-performance propulsion systems and is intimately familiar with surface drive applications and various propeller technologies.
Mr. Berton has been a member of SAG the Screen Actors Guild and a stunt man, and among his entertainment involvements are “The Protector” (Jackie Chan), The Specialist, (Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone), Strip Tease (Demi Moore), Miami Vice (Jamie Fox, Colin Ferrell), Into the Blue (Paul Walker, Jessica Alba), Too Fast Too Furious (Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson), Wild Things ( Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Nebe Campbell, Denise Richards), TV series South Beach, Bacardi Mojito, Rolex commercials and the MTV awards among others.
Click HERE to view some of Mr. Berton's "Film Work" images
Mr. Berton assisted Mr. Iacocca in his appointment as head of the Statue of Liberty Celebration and organized, supplied and coordinated the executive yachts for the event. In addition to this event Mr. Berton along with Mr. Janssen of Motorboating, created the concept and staged “rally to the race” which evolved into the Poker Run. He organized and conducted the only ever International Offshore Boat Race to take place around Manhattan as well as sporting events on the Hudson River to benefit the NYC Police department.
Click HERE to view images of some of Mr. Berton's events and accomplishments
As an international consultant Mr. Berton was involved in the feasibility analysis of the cruise ship industry in Palau and Saipan, and has participated in the finding and acquisition of boat manufacturing companies and properties for investors.
Nautical Essentials
4942 S. LeJeune Rd.
Coral Gables, Florida 33146
ph. 305.663.7000