Testimonials
~ PAUL AND MARILYN BRIGHAM, 2016 CATALINA 445 #120 “SELKIE”
From my experience, the purchase of a new cruising yacht is somewhere between the purchase of a new car and the purchase of a new house on the scale of high-anxiety transactions. All come with options considered essential, helpful, or just fun and some form of warranty, but it is the new boat purchase that relies almost exclusively on the Dealer from start through long-term support. Having purchased several used and three new sailboats over the past many years, I can say unequivocally there is a world of difference in yacht dealers. Springline, our Catalina 445 dealer, fully measured up. With Rick, Kimberly and Andy ever at our side and on our side, we not only survived this last boat purchase experience, but found a valuable support team.
~ Ed Wolfe, 1980 Hunter Cherubini 36 “Sedative”
We are relatively new to boating but not to great customer service which is rare these days.
Andy was helpful, knowledgeable, and it was obvious he is highly experienced. He took his time exhaustively going through the boats features and systems.
We love the boat and are really pleased with the responsiveness and attention to detail that was demonstrated throughout the acquisition process.
Happy Customers! 5 Star Rating For Andy Baker and Springline Yacht Sales!
~ Bill and Laurie Thompsonn, 34′ Mainship Trawler “Antares”
We have used Springline Yacht Sales for selling our 31′ Island Packet sailboat and for purchasing a 34′ Mainship Trawler. We enjoyed working with Andy Baker, our salesman, on both occasions.
Andy was excellent about answering and returning phone calls, as well as making appointments to see other boats. We found him to be extremely knowledgeable about the Mainship trawlers and a pleasure to have with us on sea trials. His recommendations for surveyors, insurance companies, and financing were excellent and most welcome. We also spent a couple of nights at Mystic Shipyard West where Springline’s office is located. We enjoyed our stay there and found Rick to be most helpful and a pleasure to work with also. After finding a minor problem with our generator, he pointed us in the right direction to get it fixed.
During both our buying and selling experiences Andy and Springline were wonderful to work with and extremely knowledgeable. We recommend them very highly.
~ George Martin, 2017 Catalina 355 #130 “Anegada”
With about 50 years on the water, I have yet to write a positive testament for a yacht sales or service facility. Well, there is a first time for everything, and the team at Springline Yacht Sales (located at Mystic Shipyard), have exceeded my expectations in every aspect. I wanted to share my experience with both current and prospective boaters.Buying a boat, either power or sail, is a “project” and I treated this acquisition of the new Catalina 355 in the same manner as I’ve done in my professional life licensing major power generating facilities in the Northeast. Successful projects rely on the individual attributes of the team members and the management of that team. It is in this aspect Springline differs from other boat dealers. Rick Dieterich of Springline Yacht Sales has selected to represent yachts with a well-established pedigree. He has teamed up with Mystic Shipyard (established in 1843), to provide task and skills specific Master Riggers and Carpenters, Fiberglass Specialists and Professional Mechanics. This is a refreshing change from the “Jack of all Trades” found at most boat dealers.
As for electronics, which has made quantum jumps in complexity, scope and detail in recent years, Rick has selected Dockside Marine Electronics of Mystic, to facilitate the selection, integration and installation of state-of-the-art electronics. As with each member of the project team, Dockside has an intense pride in their work and stands behind everything they do. Springline Yacht Sales “Five-Star” commissioning is not just a slogan. The delivery process impressed even this skeptic. Although I was familiar with most yacht systems, I was even more confident following the extensive onboard mechanical system walk-through with Ryan, the shipyard’s Master Mechanic. The electronics walk-through was conducted at sea with the technician who actually installed the equipment and was familiar with every aspect of its operation. Following was a spirited sail with Rick to put the boat through its paces, as he insured that all systems performed flawlessly. Kimberly, in the office, ensured that all paperwork was painlessly administered and Andy, Managing Broker at Springline added his wealth of hands-on boating experience to the team.Best of all this unique team is located in beautiful and historic Mystic, Connecticut. During your stay, you’ll be made to feel like a guest at the first class marina (Mystic Shipyard) while “Securing your Dream”…which will transport you to distant harbors and many priceless adventures!
~ Bob and Susan Hart, 2016 Catalina 445 #117 “Double Espresso”
Thank you Andy and Rick for persevering over the last year preparing and getting our new Catalina C445 into top shape! Double Espresso is now our ideal sailing yacht. After 8 years of our beloved C350 she’s a perfect upgrade.
It was a bit of a struggle fixing the long list of new boat problems but you never let us down. You, along with Catalina, cheerfully remedied all issues to our satisfaction, regardless of time and expense.
I also thank you and Catalina for adding all the custom design features on our wish list, beyond Catalina’s options list. Custom features like the Schaffer in-boom roller furling main, cockpit table mounted chart plotter, re-routed roller furling jib line to avoid tripping at the side entry, interior L.E.D. lighting dimmers, tilt out trash bin (like the great C350 design!), aft cabin bed head lift, custom overhead cockpit lighting, etc., etc., all make Double Espresso the perfect boat…a delight to sail and live aboard.
~ Steve and Betsy Beatson, 2005 Mainship 34 Trawler “Doxy Lady”
Dear Andy, just a short note to express our gratitude for all the work you did selling our Catalina 320 and helping us purchase her replacement, our Mainship 34 Trawler. Betsy and I appreciate the coordination of the selling and purchasing surveys plus the really unexpected help you gave us in delivering our new boat to Noank. I have to say the communication you and Springline provided during the selling and purchasing process was far superior to the communication we received from either of the other brokers. If there is another boat transaction in our future, we’ll certainly be back to work with you. Thank you again for all your help.
~ JON AND DARCY BUSCAGLIA, 2016 ELAN IMPRESSION 45 #036, “OHANA”
Dear Andy, Rick and the SLYS Family,
We are so happy we made the decision to take the plunge on buying our first sailboat. And what a yacht she is! Darcy and I cannot thank you enough for guiding us through the process from the very beginning. We will never forget the first time we stepped foot and boarded the Elan Impression back in Newport on that beautiful September day. Thank you for working with us over the Winter, and of course, opening up your “home” (Mystic Shipyard) to us during the month of May. This Summer has been off to an amazing start thus far, and the kids absolutely love being at sea. We cannot think of a better way to enjoy family; and so she is rightfully named, “Ohana.”
All the best,
Jon Buscaglia, Stony Brook, NY
~ Paul Coates, 2014 Catalina 315 #043 “Barefoot”
A short note to thank you for your support resolving a hull flex question for my Catalina 315. Although I did not purchase the boat from Springline (my local dealer no longer sells Catalinas) you stepped up without hesitation. A professional dealer network with a good working relationship with the designer and factory is a large part of why I chose Catalina.
~ Stephen & Tammy Kouns, Hunter 45DS #169
To the entire staff of SLYS ~ Stephen & I want to thank you all for a most enjoyable experience in working with your dealership and each of you personally! Fletcher, we couldn’t have asked for a more comfortable, friendly & comprehensive service. From dealing with me (always fun, I know!) to your fabulous sailing tips. You have been and continue to be wonderful! Needless to say, this was the most professional delivery we have ever had and continues to be as things may pop up with boats… all boaters know they do. You have all made us feel like part of the Springline family and we wish your all great success with the business. We look forward to our continued relationship with you all and will whole-heartedly recommend to you to friends.
~ Barbara Jones and Paul Denton, 1987 Freedom 38, “Brio”
We are a week or two away from sailing our newly-purchased 1987 Freedom 38 for the first time, but we did not want to wait any longer to praise Springline Yacht Sales for their help with our buying this boat. We located her online but were relieved and delighted to find ourselves in the extremely capable hands of Rick Dieterich and his crew, sailors themselves, who not only really understood the issues of buying an older boat but also were always available to answer our many questions, to make practical suggestions and to smooth the way to our being able to obtain her.
Because of the age of the boat an important part of the purchase involved arranging for work to be done on her prior to launch. Springline’s excellent relationship with Mystic Shipyard facilitated our decision to have a fair amount of work done there – she is being made even more beautiful by their superb staff as we write.
Every one of our many trips to Mystic from Falmouth, MA, has been rewarding, primarily because Rick, Kimberly, Fletcher and Bob have been helpful in so many ways. We hope that the relationship will continue, hopefully aboard Brio!
~ Faith Miller, 2011 Hunter 39 #137 “Faithful”
When my husband and I decided that we wanted a sailboat of our own, we were fortunate to meet the team at Springline Yacht Sales. Rick, Kim, and Andy were with us every step of the way. They worked with us to identify just the right boat for us, to help us get the best deal, and get familiar with our new love. They have become part of our family. We can’t recommend them highly enough. They are not just the most knowledgeable but the most caring. We are fans for life!
We have the most beautiful Hunter 39. Before we bought, Rick, Kim and Andy patiently guided us through test sails, which were both educational and fun. As Rick and Andy showed my husband all the features, Kim provided me with the woman’s perspective. After we closed, they provided us with a complete walk-through and have always been available for those unanticipated questions ever since. We could have had a better experience — both getting on the water and making new friends.
Faith Miller
Rye, New York
~ Roger Echols, 2014 Blue Jacket 40 #005 “Bailiwick”
It’s been six months since you invited me to join you in Florida for the sea trials of the new Blue Jacket 40. In that short time, I have realized my dreams of owning and sailing a truly outstanding boat. Having spent many years sailing and as a boat owner, purchasing the BJ40 from Springline Yacht Sales has been a very satisfying experience and not necessarily what I would have expected. The sea trials were great. I got to experience the new boat, meet with the designer Tim Jacket, discuss comparisons between the BJ40 and my previous boat, a C&C 110 also designed by Jacket, meet the folks at Island Packet and tour their factory. I’m sure you knew I was “hooked”, and it came down to negotiating a price. I thought the process was transparent and fair, even with the last minute adjustments after the survey of my C&C.
You and Rick worked with me to get the BJ trimmed out the way I wanted and even allowed me to influence some of the upgrades; almost felt like a custom boat. Production delays are to be expected, but they worked out to my benefit with some of the unexpected upgrades. The commissioning was nearly flawless and I never felt that you were no longer interested in my issues after the accounts had been settled. And many thanks to Kimberly for putting together my new owners gift bag. I just don’t know what to do with the electric fly swatter; there no bugs where I sail.
And the Blue Jacket 40 is everything I hoped it would be. Technically it’s very advanced and challenges my ability to sail her properly; at the same time she handles wonderfully and is very forgiving. Nothing boring, just lots of fun. And my wife really loves it which is also something unexpected.
So for all your efforts and advice, thank you!
~ Greg Zigmont & Joyce Hildebrandt, 2008 Hunter 36 “Second Chance”
I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how helpful Andy Baker has been concerning my recent purchase of the 2008 H36. Andy has always made himself available when I had questions, whether by phone or in person. Although Andy’s help installing the sails and helping me commission the boat may have been “officially” part of the package, Andy always seemed to take personal interest in helping and sharing his knowledge.
My wife and I have had a great season on the boat. The boat sails like a dream and can be single-handed easier than my old H260. The experience through Springline has been great!
~ Pam and Kevin Collins, 2014 Blue Jacket 40 #002 “Windigo”
We love our new Blue Jacket 40! Rick and Kimberly Dieterich, Springline Yacht Sales, were wonderful to work with as we explored the boat and ultimately decided to purchase it. Our experience with them was easy, efficient and fun from start to finish!
~ Sue and Will Criscitelli, 2013 Hunter 39, #171, “Wallula”
Sue and I came to Springline/Mystic in the fall of 2012 to meet with Andy Baker, climb on a few boats and talk about moving up from our Hunter 306. One year later, we have enjoyed a full season of learning, sailing, cruising and generally hanging out on Wallula, our new Hunter 39. We love our new boat, she is truly beautiful and sails like a dream.
Thanks Kim and Rick, and especially Andy! The level of customer service provided is beyond anything we have ever experienced. What we were able to achieve in our first year was mostly due to Andy’s guidance, support and assistance at every turn.
Looking forward to many years of sailing and expanding our horizons on Wallula.