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Fraser Founder David L Fraser Passes Away At The Age Of 99

david fraser yachts

David L Fraser, founder of Fraser Yachts, has passed away peacefully on 6th January 2021 at the age of 99.  David was a passionate sailor from an early age. In fact he kept his brokerage license until only a few years ago. The first sailboat he ever crewed on, during high school, Anna R Heidritter, remains on Fraser’s emblem today.   A born salesman with a lifetime love of boats, he launched Fraser in 1947, keeping ethics and honesty at the forefront. As the business expanded from Newport Beach to San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Florida over the 1960s, David was determined to ensure the company always felt like a family, and this team spirit remains at the heart of Fraser to this day.

We are proud that his daughter Diane, who first joined the firm in the 1980s, has equally played a key role within the company up to today. Diane’s early rise in the company is just one example of many that exemplify David’s commitment to including and encouraging women to take key roles in yachting, at a time when that was not always the case, and specifically in the business and growth of Fraser.  The foundation that David built in 1947 and established in Fraser, based on a love of yachting, trust, attention to detail, respect among colleagues, and a determination to do the best job possible with the utmost integrity, runs through Fraser today in everything we do.  We look forward to continuing to keep David’s legacy alive.   Fraser CEO Raphael Sauleau said: “David was a titan in the world of yachting and brokerage who touched the lives of many over his long career. A passionate yachtsman with a vision, a drive and a set of principles that not only built the company that today proudly continues to carry his name but equally continues to apply the values, thoroughness and ambition he was personally renowned for. He was quite a guy as many would have said! He loved the business of yachting and leaves behind him a legacy of talented sales brokers, all with the same sense of integrity and business values as his. Fair winds and following seas David....and thank you!” 

david fraser yachts

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Boatindustry.com

Disappearance of a ship brokerage figure

David L. Fraser, founder of the broker Fraser Yachts

David Fraser, founder of the renowned brokerage firm Fraser Yachts has passed away. A look back at a success story in the boating economy.

Briag Merlet

Disappearance of David L. Fraser

Fraser Yachts has announced the death of its founder, David L. Fraser. A figure of the 20th century nautical industry, he died on January 6, 2021, at the age of 99.

From California to international yachting

Sailing since his youth, David Fraser quickly wanted to combine his passion for boats with his profession. In 1947, he founded his boat brokerage company in Newport Beach, California. In the 1960s, the company expanded and established itself throughout the United States , from San Diego to Seattle, via San Francisco and Florida. It becomes a reference in the world of brokers and expands worldwide in the 1980s, when he is joined by his daughter Diane Fraser. David Fraser continued his brokerage activity in the 2000s.

"David was a titan in the world of yachting and brokerage who touched the lives of many people during his long career. A passionate yachtsman, with a vision, a drive and a set of principles that not only built the company that proudly bears his name today, but also continues to apply the values, thoroughness and ambition for which he was famous," said Raphael Sauleau, Managing Director of Fraser Yachts

A company in the international yachting landscape

Sold in 1993 to the directors of the Italian broker Ital Yachting, Fraser Yachts kept its name and emblem, a profile of the great sailing ship Anna R Heidritter, the first on which David Fraser embarked. The company finally passed into the hands of the Italian group Azimut Benetti , before being bought in July 2019 by the American distributor Marine Max. It now employs 160 people in 20 offices, from Australia to Dubai, Thailand and Spain.

david fraser yachts

California's Boating & Fishing News

david fraser yachts

David Fraser founder of Fraser Yachts dies at age 99

David Fraser

David Fraser, founder of Fraser Yachts, dies at age 99

david fraser yachts

NEWPORT BEACH—Fraser Yachts announced founder David Fraser died peacefully at his Newport Beach home on Jan. 6. He was 99.

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COMMENTS

  1. Fraser Founder David L Fraser Passes Away At 99 | Fraser

    David passed away peacefully on 6th January 2021 at the age of 99. David was a passionate sailor from an early age. In fact he kept his brokerage license until only a few years ago. The first sailboat he ever crewed on, during high school, ANNA R HEIDRITTER, remains on Fraser’s emblem today. A born salesman with a lifetime love of boats, he ...

  2. David Fraser, Founder of Fraser Yachts, Dies at Age 99

    By the 1970s, Fraser Yachts had grown to include offices in San Diego and Sausalito, California, as well as Seattle and Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, the firm grew to include not just brokerage but also new construction and yacht charter. In 1993, David Fraser sold Fraser Yachts to United Yachting Monaco, giving his business its first reach ...

  3. David Fraser, founder of Fraser Yachts, dies at age 99

    NEWPORT BEACH—Fraser Yachts announced founder David Fraser died peacefully at his Newport Beach home on Jan. 6. He was 99. “A passionate yachtsman with a vision, a drive and a set of principles that not only built the company that today proudly continues to carry his name but equally continues to apply the values, thoroughness and ambition he was personally renowned for,” Fraser Yachts ...

  4. Paying Tribute to our Founder David L Fraser | Fraser

    David founded Fraser in 1947, keeping ethics and honesty at the heart of the company – values which remain integral to the company today. As the company grew, expand ing from Newport Beach to San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Florida in the 1960s, David ensured the company always felt like a family, nurturing a team spirit that remains at the heart of Fraser.

  5. Fraser announces death of founder David L Fraser

    Fraser has announced the death of its founder David L Fraser, who passed away on January 6, 2021 at the age of 99. Described as a “passionate sailor from an early age”, David began crewing on the schooner Anna R Heidritter during school. The yacht remains Fraser’s emblem today. He went onto launch Fraser in 1947 and quickly expanded the ...

  6. David Fraser: A lifelong love of boats and yachts – The Log

    A young David Fraser poses with a gun during a hunting trip in South Carolina.Parimal M. Rohit photo. Before the 1940s came to an end Fraser founded his own brokerage: Fraser Yachts. The company has since grown into a full-service firm offering brokerage, charter and new construction services.

  7. Fraser Founder David L Fraser Passes Away | OnboardOnline

    David L Fraser, founder of Fraser Yachts, has passed away peacefully on 6th January 2021 at the age of 99. David was a passionate sailor from an early age. In fact he kept his brokerage license until only a few years ago. The first sailboat he ever crewed on, during high school, Anna R Heidritter, remains on Fraser’s emblem today.

  8. Yacht Company | Yacht Brokerage | Fraser Yachts

    In 1947, a young man, David Fraser, decided to combine his passion for sailing and his talent for selling, and established a yacht brokerage on the West coast of the United States. As the company grew, David instilled his enthusiasm and sense of integrity into everyone he worked with.

  9. Disappearance of a ship brokerage figure

    Disappearance of David L. Fraser . Fraser Yachts has announced the death of its founder, David L. Fraser. A figure of the 20th century nautical industry, he died on January 6, 2021, at the age of 99. From California to international yachting . Sailing since his youth, David Fraser quickly wanted to combine his passion for boats with his profession.

  10. David Fraser founder of Fraser Yachts dies at age 99 – The Log

    NEWPORT BEACH—Fraser Yachts announced founder David Fraser died peacefully at his Newport Beach home on Jan. 6. He was 99. Read more