Our Brokers

Bob Jarrett CPYB – Managing Broker

Essex, CT, US
860-460-4985

Heading up our Yacht Sales and Brokerage division is Sales Director and Managing Broker Bob Jarrett. Bob is among the most experienced brokers in the industry with over 35 years in yacht sales new and brokerage. Bob has represented hundreds of families in the purchase, management and sale of their yachts having gained valuable knowledge as General Manager of Bassett Boat Company, Vice President of Boatworks Yacht Sales, Senior Sales Director of The Hinckley Company and Certified Professional Yacht Broker with Northrop and Johnson. Bob has represented as a dealer executive such notable builders as Viking, Hatteras, Cabo, Grand Banks, Sabre, San Juan, Hinckley, Beneteau and Sea Ray among others. He’s experienced in new yacht sales, brokerage and construction of sailing and motor yachts and made valuable contributions in product development for many of these builders.

In May of 2016 recognizing the potential of the Essex Boat Works facility under the new ownership, a sales division was formed with Bob at the helm. Unique in the area, EBW can offer its clients seeking to buy or sell a boat the full capabilities of a working service and storage yard and marina. This synergy all under one entity streamlines the process of boat ownership and the transitions owners go through over the years managing their boats.

Bob has logged thousands of miles racing and cruising aboard sailing and motor yachts encompassing the Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas and the Caribbean gaining valuable firsthand experience. As a proud member of the Yacht Brokers Associations of America (YBAA), International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA), CPYB certified broker and a licensed Florida Yacht Broker, he’s built an exemplary reputation based on superior hands-on client care and quality representation.

Great things are happening at EBW and sales are growing rapidly under Bob’s direction. Please visit us today and learn about all that EBW has to offer for you and your boat!

Andrea Gaines CPYB – Yacht Broker

Essex, CT, US
860-391-2943
860-767-8276

Capt Andrea Gaines (CPYB, USCG M100GT, STCW95)

Captain Andrea Gaines brings to Essex Boat Works a high level of integrity, a strong work ethic, an unwavering attention to detail, and an enormous energy and passion to go with her diverse experience in the marine industry.

Andrea’s marine industry experience is diverse and extensive. She was Captain aboard a Marlow 65E responsible for the safe operation and all aspects of vessel maintenance and repair while cruising the U.S. east coast, Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas; Director of Yacht Services for Krogen Express Yachts responsible for new boat commissioning, warranty and customer service; and Fleet Captain and Director of North American Operations for Sea Spirit, LTD responsible for yacht production improvements as well as moving boats throughout the U.S. east and west coast boat show circuits, planning and executing yacht deliveries, sea trials and pre -delivery inspections, owner orientation, and all warranty and customer service related matters. Andrea is also the Principle of her company, Jane of All Trades LLC, where she provides client yacht management services and owner instruction in seamanship, boat handling, electronics and vessel systems.

She has cruised in waters from Southwest Harbor, ME to Golfito, Costa Rica (including a transit through the Panama Canal), as well as the Bahamas, Caribbean Sound, Puget Sound, Hong Kong and the Pearl River in Zhuhai China, in both fair and foul weather accumulating tens of thousands of nautical miles afloat. She holds a US Coast Guard M100GT license with STCW95 certification to go with a lifetime of boating experience.

Andrea began her yacht sales career in the Florida brokerage office of Sparkman & Stephens. During her tenure with Sparkman & Stephens she enjoyed great success finding her clients just the right boat. Her unique background, experience and industry network provide her with the knowledge to assist her clients in finding the perfect platform to enjoy their time on the water. One of her clients has even gone as far as calling her the “Willie Mays of Yacht Brokers”.

Andrea also has 20+ years of project management and product development experience where she specialized in new ventures and start-ups, process evaluation and improvement, and complex project management. She has a BS from Springfield College and an MS in Business Management from the Hartford Graduate Center.

Andrea has enjoyed a decade-long relationship with Essex Boat Works primarily as a yacht captain engaged in vessel maintenance and repair. “I am very excited to join the Essex Boat Works brokerage team and be a part of so many great initiatives they have started.”

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In addition to her M100GT USCG license, Capt Gaines holds a STCW95, Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) and a Connecticut Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation, and is certified in First Aid, CPR and AED.

Jack Zacks CPYB – Yacht Broker

Essex, CT, US
305-588-6532
860-767-8276

Jack Zacks brings nearly twenty years’ experience as a Florida licensed Yacht Broker in the yachting industry to Essex Boat Works. First at Alliance Marine and then for the past 12 years at Sparkman & Stephens, Jack has been assisting buyers and sellers on yachts in North America and Europe. Since 2008 Jack has been a Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) participating in continuing marine education staying current in yachting technology and the rules and regulations in yacht sales and transactions.

At an early age Jack was captivated with boats. Growing up on a chain of lakes (Spread Eagle) in northern Wisconsin, he was a founding member of the Ski-Ters water ski show. At age 20 he built his first sail boat while living in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Moving back to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the early 70’s he began racing sailboats on inland lakes and Lake Michigan. Since that time Jack has owned various sail and power yachts. He has years of offshore cruising experience on both sail and power boats as well.

Jack is a graduate of Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts.

For the last 42 years Jack has been a Technical Delegate of the FIS (International Federation of Skiing) officiating at national and international alpine ski races. He has also been an active private pilot for nearly 40 years.

His priority is to find the right boat for his clients by understanding their needs. Jack is dedicated to serving his clients with integrity and honesty.