ABOUT US
Vision
Life is better on the water. Our vision is to share the joy that comes from messing about in boats.
Mission
We have lived the dream of sailing into the sunset and survived the challenges of offshore racing. After years of experiencing the magic that life on the water brings, we decided it was time to share our knowledge.
Values
We sell the boats that allow you to effortlessly connect your passion for yachting to the sea, bringing your world one step closer to perfection.
Forbes and Jamie aren’t just yacht sales professionals. They are avid cruisers and members of the Young Cruisers Association. Forbes and his family have been cruising in the Bahamas annually aboard their fully restored Grand Banks 42 “KODIAK” and have a wealth of knowledge to share with fellow cruisers and clients. Forbes understands systems and yacht design better than most and he is happy to share this knowledge to help customers make informed decisions when it comes to selecting a boat or preparing it for survey. At Forbes Horton Yachts we practice what we preach. Launch your adventure with us.
Forbes Horton
Cleaveland Forbes Horton set ashore in Annapolis, MD in the spring of 2007 fresh from a 12 month Caribbean cruise. A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he grew up cruising the Maine coast with his family. His love of the sea led to a degree in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire, and later employment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designing and developing equipment for the offshore aquaculture industry. His blue water sailing experience includes numerous passages racing X-Yachts and cruising to Bermuda and the Caribbean. He has a United States Coast Guard Masters license and has commercially operated a range of vessels from celestial training schooners in the Gulf of Maine to salvage tugboats in the British Virgin Islands.
Horton was exposed to the yachting industry as a child. His father, Cleaveland F. Horton Sr., the owner and founder of Sea Frost Marine Refrigeration, introduced him to the top manufacturers in the industry and provided him with an insider’s view of yacht construction and the design process. Horton has a vast knowledge of marine systems and yacht construction. He managed the building of a NOAA-funded research vessel. His strong work ethic and customer dedication have made him a successful broker with satisfied customers on both coasts.
Horton has been a YBAA member since 2007 and earned his Certified Professional Yacht Broker credentials in 2010. He has been selling boats full time since 2006 and opened Forbes Horton Yachts in 2011. After hearing the repeated theme of poor experiences with the buying experience, he saw an opportunity to do it better. When Forbes Horton Yachts opened its doors, it followed the traditional blue blazer model with a big office and 7 brokers. The company quickly established itself as a top producing firm. However, as time went on, Horton found he was managing brokers more than advising customers and decided it was time for a change. Now when you call Forbes Horton Yachts, instead of getting a sales associate, You get Forbes and all of his knowledge & expertise.
Jamie Horton
Jamie officially joined her husband in 2013, bringing her professional photography, web design and marketing skills to Forbes Horton Yachts. Her bluewater adventures have taken her from Maine to Bermuda, the Caribbean, Bahamas and finally to City Dock in Annapolis, MD. When she is not in the office or photographing clients, you’ll find her alongside Forbes & their two sons cruising the waters of the Severn River.
Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson comes to us from Eastport Yacht Sales, which he founded and managed for 14 years in Annapolis, MD. After a lifetime of boating, beginning in Michigan in 1960 on the Detroit River and Lake Erie, Mike entered the field of yacht brokerage. Many consider him to be a Downeast specialist and utilize his knowledge when buying and selling. His affinity for a sweeping sheer line has prompted him to own a multitude of Downeast powerboats including a Cape Dory 28 FB, Wasque 32, Wasque 26, Bimini 24 CC and a Sisu 22. As you would expect, Mike’s experience is not limited to the dark side of boating. He has enjoyed many sailing adventures with friends and clients throughout the East and West Coast of the US and the Caribbean.
Mike prides himself on his positive relations and his many long-term customers would agree. His approach to yacht sales is based upon a deep knowledge of yacht design and construction and his counsel is sought by both sellers and buyers alike.