Together We Boat lands on the American market, at the 2024 FLIBS
Once again, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show proved to be a must-go event for boating lovers overseas, with over 1,000 exhibitors participating. “Together We Boat” selected this event to present the latest developments and updates on a partnership that is now increasingly strategic in the US market too; the partners (HP Watermakers, Mase, GenSet, Besenzoni, Mapei Marine and Feit Pompe) are six leading firms in the Italian boating industry.
Why “Together We Boat” is a truly strategic partnership
“Birds of a feather flock together,” said Gianni Zucco, co-founder of HP Watermakers, as he officially announced the creation of the original group, which included HP Watermakers, Mase and GenSet. “We produce a broad range of fully automatic desalinators, while Mase and GenSet are two companies in the same group, a leading producer of marine generators; GenSet produces other equipment in addition to watermakers. What brings us together is our shared passion for cutting-edge technology; furthermore, I hold their owners in high esteem and we have been friends for many years. These are the same reasons that, a few months later, led to a new partner joining us: Besenzoni, a company that should require no introduction. America has been one of our targets right from the beginning of the partnership; being able to attend the FLIBS this year with an expanded group including Mapei Marine and Feit Pompe makes us more determined and motivated than ever. With these two new partners, this strategic alliance, which is about to become one of the most interesting players on the nautical scene, can offer a broader range of products. While in recent months we have entered into new commercial agreements in Europe, we are now laying the foundations for future collaborations in the American market; our next objective will be Asia, where we will be bolstered by (among other things) the considerable experience that the various partners have in this region.”
“The common thread and inspiration behind the initiatives of the Together We Boat strategic partnership are our similar experience and managerial and product-related skills, through the commercial and especially the technical management of our most specialised customers’ after-sales needs, and the international market shares of the various brands that make up our commercial partnership,” explains Mase Sales Director Stefano Campanelli. “With regard to the American market, the opening of the first ‘Together We Boat’ service point will be of considerable interest to Mase, which had already opened a branch in 2000 to support its customers by supplying spare parts and accessories and especially by providing technical assistance.”
“The more, the merrier! The strength of this partnership lies in creating a team that can find quick solutions to help the numerous customers who turn to us from all over the word,” confirms Giorgio Besenzoni, CEO of the company that bears his name. “Combining our different skills and abilities will allow us to offer a broader range of products and services, with excellent consultancy options, through the optimisation of resources and know-how. Furthermore, this new partnership aims to develop innovative solutions and improve our ability to adjust rapidly to the ever-changing needs of the market. This synergy leads to greater flexibility and speed when rising to new challenges, placing the companies involved in a dominant position in the marine industry.” Besenzoni offers a broad range of products for sailing boats and motor boats of all sizes, such as external and retractable gangways, cranes for hoisting water toys, tender launching systems, roof sliding and moving systems, helm seats, multifunction ladder gangways, boarding and bathing ladders, living room and side doors, electrically powered windows, balconies and garage door opening systems, beach area automation and anything else that can be managed by an accessory.
Mapei Marine is a line dedicated to the shipbuilding industry created out of the wealth of experience gained by the Mapei Group. “Large cruise ships were the original target of Mapei Marine, which was established in 2019, and it was our intention to focus only on ships of this kind,” explains Andrea Gerardini, CEO and Commercial Director of Mapei Marine and Product Manager of Mapei SpA. “But then we had an opportunity to meet the other members of ‘Together We Boat’. We appreciated their enthusiasm and spirit of collaboration, and so we decided to change our organisation so we could begin to serve the world of recreational yachting. Today, Mapei Marine buys and installs Mapei products in shipyards, while its parent company markets its sealant and adhesive lines for the shipbuilding industry.”
In addition to its historical production of hydraulic pumps for shipbuilding and yachting, Feit Pompe is also well-known for its centrifugal and axial fans and fire and smoke dampers - plus, of course, droplet separators, water tanks and battery boxes. “Feit Pompe has been active in shipbuilding ever since it was established back in 1947, and when my brother and I joined the company in 1997, we started strengthening this sector, expanding the offering with other products in addition to classic pumps,” explains Pietro Calabrò, President of Feit Pompe Srl. “It was therefore almost natural for us to join this group, because we all offer complementary products, and every one of us ‘does their own thing’ very well. The group provides considerable support for sales, but also assistance for the various branches worldwide.”
The new “Together We Boat” branch in Fort Lauderdale
The new branch of “Together We Boat” in Fort Lauderdale will be officially inaugurated during the FLIBS. It is very near the Boat Yard, on 17th Street, where the most famous Italian and European shipyards have their offices. The manager of the new branch, which will provide assistance to all the “Together We Boat” brands, is Antimo Ciccone, whose technical and professional skills are beyond question. He has an excellent reputation among American shipowners and operators, also because of his thirty years’ experience as a captain of large yachts.
“I am honoured to be the technical contact for such prestigious companies in a market as unusual and demanding as North America and Canada,” stated Antimo Ciccone. “Italian products are greatly appreciated there, and the ‘Together We Boat’ brands combine to represent excellence in their various sectors. This has been confirmed in our first months in business, and I am certain that interest will be even greater by the time the FLIBS ends.”
Antimo Ciccone and his company, Aqvatech Marine, have been operational in the new branch since July. In addition to the offices, the branch premises include a showroom and a warehouses with a stock of the most commonly requested spare parts, guaranteeing outstanding after-sales service.
