We wanted to tell you about the wonderful experience we had buying our new sailboat from Cruising Yachts and, in particular, in working with John Kuony in your Alameda office.

John was fantastic to work with and was completely willing to proceed at a pace that suited us. In working with John over a couple of years of time we decided on a Caliber as the right boat for us and, from that point on, you would have thought that John was buying his own Caliber. He had many good suggestions and when he accompanied us on a tour of the Caliber factory we felt that he was going over a checklist of items for his own boat. The owner of Caliber remarked that he had never met a broker as detailed and particular as John.

The bottom line is that John is a rare gem and the type of person that doesn't come along very often. He is a fantastic salesman - and now a good friend.

So you want some comments on our experience in working with you:

Well, first and foremost, you're a gentleman. You listen, and you are thoughtful and polite and you treat the wife with the same respect as the husband. Not all boat brokers can say that. But even better, you're a real person with common sense and the willingness to share. Not only do you know your stuff, but you are candid and thorough and most helpful. In addition, you provide the best service. Not only do you arrange all the purchase and sales details, but you follow up afterwards. When I forgot to do my bottom job, or to change a zinc, or to replace a worn fitting that the surveyor warned about, you were on it. You watched over me and my boat and kept us both in good shape. But above all else; you've got deal brain.That's the quality that's possessed only by the rare few who actually make the overwhelming majority of all the sales. The rest don't count. When we made an offer on a boat with multiple owners who couldn't agree, you pursued it until you made the deal. When it came time to sell, you conscientiously helped us get the price right, and bingo, the deal was done in days. We worked with many brokers, and we've never been happier than when we worked with you!

So there. Put that in your pipe and smoke it; and best of luck to you in your new passage in life. Regards, Merle