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 in business at the age of 21 and has since become an established name in the boating industry. With gems such as the LongIsland 40 Runabout and the LongIsland 33 Runabout, he has gold in his hands. Thanks in part to a dealer in California and New York, more and more people outside the Dutch borders are becoming familiar with the brand. But through whom did this young entrepreneur become familiar with the business? Who was his wheelbarrow?

Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Long Island Yachts

What was your very first job?

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

How did you end up in your current job?

"After four years I graduated and actually immediately started for myself in the middle of the crisis (2008, ed.) at the age of 21. I did continue to work as a self-employed person at the yacht yard. Of course it was a turbulent period, because in the summer everything was largely at a standstill because of the crisis. Therefore, during these months I went to work as a contractor for houses and gardens. In 2011, the yacht yard received an application to do the production of Long Island Yachts. This introduced me to the brand and I learned all its facets. Five years later, I took over the business from my predecessor and became the 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 even as an adolescent you knew you wanted to pursue entrepreneurship 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're much more handy than that.' That was an honest story from him. My grandfather was in the boat building business though and built his own steel boats. From him I inherited the boat DNA, I guess."

Who was your wheelbarrow?

"The internship at Klaassen largely helped me learn the ropes. I developed well there and it gave me that extra confirmation that I was on the right career path. To be honest, I didn't have a specific wheelbarrow in my industry, in fact I mastered much of it on my own. However, I did learn a lot about entrepreneurship from my father."

What's left on your bucket list with Long Island Yachts?

"Actually, there was something on my bucket list that came true a year ago: own my own yacht yard. Just before the corona period I was asked if I wanted to take over Klaassen's old yard, Jachtwerf Allemansgeest. To this I said a resounding yes, but during this takeover the pandemic began. The banks were literally closed and, to put it mildly, this threw a huge spanner in the works. Eventually, through a crowdfunding campaign, I managed to make the purchase after all, and since the purchase, business has been booming."

The LongIsland 40 Runabout

In addition to business on Dutch soil, you guys are busy outside the borders, right?

"Yes, that's right. We are increasing our dealership abroad and particularly sales in the United States. There are as we speak two Long Island boats in order to go to the U.S. and several have been used for years on both the U.S. east and west coasts."

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

"I live next to the shipyard and it's a joy to arrive at the business every day. My energy level really shoots up then. I am proud of the boats, especially the LongIsland 40 Runabout, and what we have all put together. We naturally pass this enthusiasm on to our customers."

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

"Actually my whole career so far has been one big learning moment, but the brand was under a lot of pressure during the acquisition in 2016 and during that period I learned a lot. I had to rebuild the brand from scratch and went through times when I felt that competitors did not take me seriously because of my young age. This fact gave me even more strength and in the years since, my security has increased."

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

"Take a little less risk and be less impulsive. A good example of that is actually not so long ago: buying the yacht yard. I had to make a down payment, which of course I fulfilled, and then I immediately started the renovation. While the entire financing wasn't even in place yet. Of course, it's not a packet of butter what I bought, but my drive is so strong that I took the risk."

Have you been a wheelbarrow for anyone?

"I try to pass on my knowledge and experience gained 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.