Dave de Groot, Long Island Yachts

Dave de Groot has been at the helm of yacht builder Long Island Yachts since 2016. De Groot started his business at the age of 21 and is now an established name in the boat industry. With gems such as the LongIsland 40 Runabout and the LongIsland 33 Runabout, he has struck gold. Thanks to a dealer in California and New York, more and more people outside the Dutch borders are becoming familiar with the brand. But who introduced this young entrepreneur to the business? Who was his wheelbarrow?

Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Long Island Yachts

What was your very first job?

“At a young age I was always on the water and often sat on the boat with my parents. I enjoyed sailing and knew then that I would be into this later business wanted to continue as an entrepreneur. After high school I opted for MBO Electrical Engineering and eventually ended up at the age of 15 at the then new Yacht Engineering course in Rotterdam. I did my final internship at Jachtwerf Klaassen in Voorschoten, the builder of the legendary Super van Craft motor yachts. I learned a lot here.”

How did you end up in your current job?

“I graduated after four years and actually started my own business at the age of 2008 in the middle of the crisis (21, ed.). I continued to work as a self-employed person at the shipyard. It was of course a turbulent period, because in the summer everything largely came to a standstill due to the crisis. That's why I started working as a contractor for houses and gardens during these months. In 2011, the shipyard received a request to produce Long Island Yachts. This introduced me to the brand and I got to know all its facets. Five years later I took over the company from my predecessor and became owner of Long Island Yachts. In addition to the boat business, the brand also organizes various events and has an exclusive owners club.”

The LongIsland 33 Runabout

You indicate that as a teenager you already knew that you wanted to do business in this industry. What did your parents do?

“My father had a nursery and enjoyed boats as a 'hobbyist'. My father used to say: 'Please don't go into the nursery, because you are much more handy than that.' That was an honest story from him. My grandfather was in the boat building business and built his own steel vessels. I think I inherited the boating DNA from him.”

Who was your wheelbarrow?

“The internship at Klaassen largely helped me to learn the tricks of the trade. I developed well there and it gave me that extra confirmation that I was following the right career path. To be honest, I haven't had a specific wheelbarrow in my industry, as I have mastered a lot myself. I did learn a lot about entrepreneurship from my father.”

What's still on your Long Island Yachts bucket list?

“There was actually something on my bucket list that came true a year ago: owning my own yacht yard. Just before the corona period, I was asked if I wanted to take over Klaassen's old shipyard, Jachtwerf Allemansgeest. I said a resounding 'yes' to this, but the pandemic started during this takeover. The banks were literally closed and, to say the least, this threw a huge spanner in the works. Ultimately, I managed to make the purchase through a crowdfunding campaign and since the purchase, business has gone really well.”

The LongIsland 40 Runabout

In addition to the business on Dutch soil, you are also active abroad, right?

"Yes that's right. We are expanding our dealership abroad, especially sales in the United States. Standing there as we speak two Long Island boats in order to go to the US and several have been in use for years on both the US east and west coasts.”

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

“I live next to the shipyard and it is a joy to arrive at the site every day. My energy level really shoots up. I am proud of the boats, especially the LongIsland 40 Runabout, and what we have all achieved. Of course, we also pass on this enthusiasm to our customers.”

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

“My entire career so far has actually been one big learning moment, but the brand was underwater during the takeover in 2016 and I learned a lot during that period. I had to from scratch rebuilding the brand and there have been times when I felt that fellow colleagues did not take me seriously because of my young age. This fact has given me even more strength and my confidence has increased in the years that followed.”

What advice would you give to your (18 year old) self?

“Take a little less risk and be less impulsive. A good example of this was actually not that long ago: the purchase of the yacht yard. I had to pay a deposit, which I of course paid, and then I immediately started the renovation. While the entire financing had not even been completed yet. Of course, it is not a pack of butter that I bought, but my drive is so strong that I took the risk.”

Have you been a wheelbarrow for someone?

“I try to pass on my knowledge and experience to colleagues and those around me.”

Visit Long Island Yachts at MASTERS EXPO. From November 18 to 22 in RAI Amsterdam: MASTERS EXPO – The Forward Edition. Ticket sales start this month.