Customer: David Rigby

In May 2015 I began an internet search for an older boat with the intent to live aboard once I sold my house. I directly contacted about ten brokers and owners and viewed several boats. During that preliminary I was most impressed by Kelly Bickford of Massey Yachts. Kelly seemed more knowledgeable than any of the other brokers who were only interested in quickly selling their listings and not in searching other boats to meet my criteria.

Once Kelly and I became acquainted by email and phone he quickly went to work searching for boats which fit my needs. After locating three good boats in the St. Petersburg area I flew down and we inspected them. Kelly picked up on some potentially critical flaws in all three and advised that I pass on those. Although that was at first disappointing, Kelly quickly moved on and scoured the market finding several more potential boats. As I was reviewing the listings for those, Kelly called and said “you have to see this boat”. It was a 1989 Hatteras MY located in New Bern, NC. Kelly knew if it was all it was listed to be it was greatly undervalued.

I immediately arranges for a visit and after seeing the boat wrote a contingent contract pending a mechanical inspection and sea trial. Once the mechanical inspection passed with high marks Kelly drove up from FL for the sea trial. Including the haul out the trial was without incident and within a few days the boat was mine.

I found the experience working with Kelly Bickford and Massey Yachts to be excellent. Kelly was extremely knowledgeable and his work saved me many hours of time that could have otherwise been wasted. I would recommend Kelly Bickford and Massey Yachts to anyone looking to purchase a used boat.