Company History

Buzzards Bay Marine was originally founded by Rob Carmichael in 2004. Rob is an experienced boater who is extremely passionate about fishing. After owning many different boats, Rob purchased a Yellowfin and was so impressed with the product that he became the New England dealer. He campaigned Yellowfins in tournaments from Massachusetts to Maryland. With Rob’s tournament success and the boat’s combination of incredible ride, range, fish ability and speed, he and the Yellowfin quickly gained notoriety around the fishing circuit. As a result Rob sold multiple boats to other competitive anglers who, like him, recognized the Yellowfin’s competitive edge.

As the head of a successful high tech company, Rob’s time for the boat business was limited. Despite his passion for the business, he knew from a practical standpoint that he needed assistance managing the operation.

Simultaneously Scott Zeien, Kingman Yacht Center’s owner, decided to expand their boat sales business and to build upon a solid reputation and position as the largest marina/boatyard on Cape Cod. Kingman had worked with Buzzards Bay Marine to promote Yellowfin sales at the very beginning of Rob’s sales venture, and both parties were interested in renewing that partnership.

Rob has known Tom O’Toole for some time, having purchased a boat from him several years ago. Rob was personally familiar with Tom’s proven track record in sales and customer service, product knowledge, and vast network of contacts in the industry, so he approached Tom about expanding the business. Tom was working for a well established yacht firm in the area, having started and expanded the company’s sales office on Cape Cod. When Rob described this new opportunity, Tom was on board right away.

Rob’s association with Yellowfin and reputation as a sportfish enthusiast, Scott’s proven commitment to the boating community, and Tom’s experience in boat sales led to a partnership in 2010 — Buzzards Bay Yacht Sales at Kingman Yacht Center.

Rob Carmichael

Rob founded the company, runs Yellowfin boats himself, and has a proven track record in the high tech business.  Full bio coming soon.

Tom O’Toole, Buzzards Bay Yacht Sales

Tom has been working for the past 24 years at 4 successful Cape Cod yacht brokerages and 1 custom yacht builder on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. Collectively those companies were authorized sales and service centers for 24 new boat companies. Altogether, 7 different new boat companies awarded their top dealer award to the dealerships at least once during Tom’s tenure. Tom has completed hundreds of new boat and brokerage transactions of scores of different brands — giving him the experience to help you with your next sale or purchase. Tom is an avid boater and sportfisherman, and has extensive knowledge of the waters around Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound. Tom is also an accomplished sailboat racer, having won several national and regional championships.

Scott Zeien, Kingman Yacht Center

Scott Zeien purchased Kingman Marine in 2000 after a six-year search for the right property that included marinas and boatyards from New London to Portland.  He ended up in the marina where he learned to sail and grew up as a boater.

Scott comes to the boating industry with a sales and marketing background and 20 years of experience in the broadcasting business.  He earned a Master of Science degree in Business and Communications from Boston University and worked for almost two decades with CBS Radio in Boston in sales and sales management.

Scott and John Burman, Vice President of Operations, oversee a full-time staff of 23 people, with an additional 6-8 summer employees.  Their model is a membership organization that offers a full range of services to support the boating needs of their members.  Above all, Scott insists that this a hospitality business that needs to exceed the expectations of the same people who stayed at a Four Seasons or Hyatt Hotel last month, recently had their Mercedes serviced at the dealership, regularly dine at Morton’s and The Regatta, etc.

Kingman Yacht Center offers 235 slips, 130 moorings, transient services, complete maintenance, refit, repair and repower services, marine electronics sales and installation, fuel, a ships store, yacht brokerage, yacht club and on-site shopping and dining.