Experience Counts!

Mike Brill
Mike Brill founded Export Yacht Sales and is the driving force behind it. Overseeing all of our highly experienced staff, Brill brings his vast experience in the boating industry to bear on each and every sales transaction, ensuring the buyers' needs are met and their expectations are exceeded.

Born in the coastal city of Miami, Florida, Brill was a natural on the water. He began learning to run and maintain his first vessel, a 13-foot Boston Whaler, at the age of only seven. By the time he graduated high school, Brill knew his life career would be on the water and enrolled in the New York Merchant Marine Academy (Fort Schuyler), where he graduated with an Unlimited Third Mate's license.

He experienced the sea as a mate on various ships, while spending his summers teaching at both his alma mater and at the Texas Merchant Marine Academy. He achieved the position of Captain of an 800-passenger cruise ship at the unprecedented age of only 25. By age 27, Brill obtained the highest license in the world - the U.S. Coast Guard's Master of Steam and Motor Vessels of ANY Gross Tons upon Oceans.

After a few more years as a Captain in the Merchant Marine and having achieved the goals he set for himself, Brill decided he wanted to work more with a variety of vessels and to teach on a one-to-one level. He joined the brokerage firm of South Florida Yachts (SFY).

During his time at SFY, Brill learned all the ins and outs of the yacht selling and purchasing process - from the first listing of a yacht to the completed delivery. He continued to pilot many different craft by assisting the firm in their yacht delivery to buyers, to and from boat shows, as well as assisting with sea trials and much more.

While at SFY, Brill began to see an emerging buying trend in the yacht brokerage business. While "in-country" sales were beginning to decline, international clients wanted to capitalize on the strong international dollar. Emails and telephone calls from international buyers were on the increase, but many yacht brokerage firms were not designed to handle the complicated and intricate needs of these buyers. Nor were they able to resolve the international buyers' issue with sending a deposit before negotiating a "done deal".

Thus, Export Yacht Sales was born from the plight of the international buyers and designed specifically to assist them in the yacht purchasing process from start to finish and beyond, making the entire process easy and convenient!

Paul T. Ocepek
Paul, a life- long boater has been a Yacht Captain in South Florida for the past 15 years. Early in his career Paul recognized a need for experienced Captains to maintain multiple boats, so he focused his energy and skills on Yacht Management. Working with Palm Beach Yacht Group, Paul has traveled extensively through the Bahamas, Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast.

Managing over 30 different vessels in Palm Beach varying in size from 20 to 120 feet, Paul is very knowledgeable with all types of boats and their operating systems. Five star service is the only way Paul knows how to treat his clients. From finding the right boat to fit your needs, to staying with you long after the purchase or sale.

Professionally, Paul has had the pleasure of building strong relationships with all types of vendors, boatyards, marinas, and skilled tradesmen in the yachting industry. It is his pleasure to share his knowledge and experience with you and make your yacht sale or purchase straightforward and trouble-free.

Michael E. Cosgrove
Michael has been around boating and water sports his entire life. His life-long love of the water and everything that has to do with it began around the saltwater areas of Westport Connecticut, New England, and Long Island. He is also familiar with many fresh water lakes such as Lake Candlewood and Lake George. Michael spent several years in Boston, Massachusetts obtaining a Bachelors Degree at North Eastern University. The next chapter of Michael’s life brought him to the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean in both the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Michael spent time onboard both power and sailing vessels and participated in all the water sports available both above and below the Caribbean Sea.

Michael's years of experience in the marine industry brought him to the Southeast Florida beaches and waterways to both live and work in the marine industry. Michael’s previous experiences in the Caribbean helped him land upper management positions at both Boaters World and West Marine. While obtaining years of retail management skills, Michael became knowledgeable in both the use and installation of marine electronics.

Needing more hands-on involvement in marine sales, Michael became a licensed broker/salesman. He joined the sales team at South Florida Yachts at the 1997 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. South Florida Yachts was a new boat dealer and had Michael dealing with boats ranging from small flats boats, to multiple outboard center console fishing/tournament boats, to large offshore tournament sport fishing boats/yachts, to Mega Yachts as well as brokerage.

With multiple years of experience in sales positions in locations both in and out of the country, Michael believes his success is due to his vast product knowledge, his ability to sell himself, and his honesty pertaining to any product. These key elements have left him long lasting relationships with his clients.