Yachting dreams guided by Rapide's expertise

I recently closed on a 62’ Gunboat – Mach Schnell, formerly Elvis and soon to be Dreadknot, and I can say without a doubt that I couldn’t have done it without the exceptional expertise of Spike and his team at Rapide Yacht Group.

As an experienced lifelong one-design sailor, I was familiar with the water, but diving into the world of performance catamarans, especially with a focus on both competitive racing and cruising, was a whole new venture for me. Spike’s deep knowledge of Gunboats and other top-tier performance catamarans is truly unparalleled, and it made all the difference in this process.

From the very beginning, Spike took a consultative approach rather than trying to sell us on a particular boat. Even though he was the listing broker for the boat we initially inquired about, his priority was always understanding our needs—what we were looking for, how we planned to use the boat, and what our long-term goals were. He patiently walked us through the pros and cons of various options on the market, and even reached out to off-market owners to see if any were open to selling. His ability to navigate this competitive market and offer us unbiased, expert advice was invaluable.

The whole selection and purchasing process was seamless, and Spike’s negotiation skills were second to none. He worked tirelessly to ensure we got a fair deal and made sure we were completely comfortable with every aspect of the transaction.

Once we had the boat under contract, Spike’s support didn’t stop there. He went above and beyond to ensure our transition to ownership was as smooth as possible. He introduced us to a network of top-notch vendors, experienced surveyors, potential captains, and crew members to help us build our racing program. The level of professionalism and the depth of relationships Spike shared with us were invaluable in getting our boat race-ready and assembling the best team for the job.

Spike’s commitment to our success has been nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to his expertise, relationships, and dedication, I feel completely confident in my new boat and excited for the future of our racing program. If you’re in the market for a yacht, I can’t recommend Spike and Rapide Yacht Group highly enough!

While we have spent maybe 120 nights at sea ourselves, Guy’s help in pre-passage prep, weather analysis, and especially multihull boat training was really appreciated. He is professional, easy-going, and highly recommended.

Our Balance 526, now “Volare”, is exactly what we wanted.  We’re enjoying cruising the Exumas, and looking forward to more adventures.

Over the years, he’s supported me with resources, connections, and advice, it’s been invaluable.

High performance, blue water, catamarans are a very niche market. Spike’s years of experience in this field really set him apart from other brokers that don’t specialize in this area. For this reason he provides better feedback on positioning and pricing and most importantly finding qualified buyers that understand and appreciate and are willing to pay for the special capabilities of high performance catamarans.

We came to Rapide looking for a safe, well-performing catamaran that could take our family around the world. As passionate sailors with a clear vision—and after a frustrating experience with another broker—we knew we needed someone transparent, knowledgeable, and truly on our side. Spike listened. He understood what we were after. It’s rare to find a broker who genuinely gets it, and even rarer to find one who truly cares. That’s why we’re so glad we found Rapide. Thank you.

Spike’s Rapide Yacht Group had it all together… from the very first contact he gave me solid advise and handled a complex transaction expertly at every hurdle and step. Engaged and responsive at all times, even after the close, I couldn’t be happier.

It has been the longest time since my dad dreamed of owning a Gunboat. With the long dream came the longest road. There has been so much consideration, so much decision making and so many emotions involved in this process. It has truly been overwhelming and yet so fulfilling. With all honesty, if it wasn’t for Spike we would not be here and proud Gunboat owners. Every text message, every phone call, every trip to see a boat, every decision and indecisiveness we had -Spike was there, answering honestly with our best interest at heart.

As the proud new owners of a Gunboat, we required a deep level of expertise in managing our program. We engaged Spike early in our ownership to help with project set-up as well as develop ongoing systems and processes that simplify and optimize our ownership experience. Alaia has an ambitious cruising plan. Spike’s hands-on experience running and managing a similar Gunboat has proven invaluable as we embark on our adventures into the Pacific

Identifying and hiring a knowledgeable owner’s representative to protect a client’s investment during construction is essential. A strong project manager must balance technical expertise with clear, tactful communication. Spike is one of the few professionals in the performance multihull segment who brings both—and does so with integrity.

Spike’s skill and experience have been invaluable components of my multihull ownership. His technical understanding and operational knowledge of high-performance cruising multihulls are widely respected within the industry. He has added value in every aspect of my boat ownership experience.