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About Us - History
The story behind Stan Miller Yachts Inc. has evolved over the past 50 years of building selling and repairing pleasure boats for nearly three generations of boaters in Southern California. In 1955 Stan Miller began what is known today as one of the oldest and most successful yacht dealers & brokerages in the country. Inspired by the water as a child in the mid 1930s, Stan Miller spent his summers sailing an 8’ dinghy with his loyal companion Lady a Sheltie puppy in Newport Harbor. By 1943 he was old enough to join the U.S. Navy and served until 1946. Upon returning home he became heavily involved with racing, rigging and repairing sailboats at the same time teaching & coaching high school in nearby Palos Verdes.
In 1954 Stan realized that he could effectively make a living working with sailboats full time, he never returned from summer vacation to teach and focused primarily on racing and improving techniques and designs. Stan Miller Sailboats was established in 1955; soon construction began in Seal Beach where masts, rudders and leeboards were built. This two level building would later become the Stan Miller Sailboats & Hardware store with a close friend and sail maker Lowell North who was developing a rapidly growing company, North Sails upstairs.
Finally in 1960 after years of controversy regarding coastal tidelands the city of Long Beach constructed the Alamitos Bay Marina at the southeast end of Alamitos Bay. 
The Marina Bazaar building was erected at the same time, Stan Miller was the first tenant in the new location and continues to this day. Fresh ideas and young faces were often associated with Stan’s operation, new boat sales dramatically increased with names and lines such as WD Schock, Dick Deaver, Peter Barrett, The Sabot’s & Lido’s, Jack Jensen Cal’s, Erickson’s, Newport’s, Peterson’s, Ranger’s, Islander’s, Morgan’s, Frank Butlers’ Catalina’s, Boston Whaler’s, even Luhrs all have promoted the interest in pleasure boating in California. Racing became extremely popular with many new designs and young interest. Stan competed in a number of races aboard his 62’ Spencer “Rag Time” and won the Honolulu Race (Trans Pac) twice, the Mallory Cup twice, California Cup twice, the Lido National Championship twice and in the 68’ Olympics raced the Flying Dutchmen. Throughout the 1950’s 60’s & 70’s Stan sailed and socialized with everyone in Southern California from Buddy Ebsen to Ward Bond, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Dolores Del Rio. Hollywood names have continually played an interesting part and helped establish a growing industry and waterfront community throughout California. In 1977 Stan Miller Sailboats began selling new Grand Banks motor yachts and soon the name changed to Stan Miller Yachts.
During the 1970’s more and more boat sales and salesmen would
come and go, one in particular John Buettner who either stayed too long or just wouldn’t leave, eventually bought the company with the help of his brother Brad Buettner in 1984. The Buettner brothers have earned their own unique reputation and have kept the name and tradition alive and continue to influence Grand Banks and Cabo Yachts to exceed the expected standards by building boats of superior quality without excuses or hesitation. In 1990 the option to represent Blackfin Sportfishers whose reputation was strong as well as Shamrock Boats set the stage for the next instrumental product soon to be represented. There has always been a tremendous amount of interest for a capable sportfisher under 40’, names such as Bertram, Hatteras & Viking had all but discontinued building boats under 40’ leaving a huge void for a newcomer called Cat Harbor Boats later known as Cabo Yachts. With their introduction of a 35’ Convertible it became an overnight success and a powerful force in the Sportfishing market for the past 14 years.
Today Stan Miller Yachts represents three of the finest power boats on the water all with unique purposes and designs that continue to exceed the expectations of Yachtsmen and Tournament Anglers throughout the world. Exclusive west coast dealers for the premier Cabo Sportfishers, Southern California's official Grand Banks dealer and the authorized Hatteras sales and service center for California. With offices located in Long Beach, Newport Beach and San Diego our reputation is stronger than ever with a true appreciation of the past and clear course to the future.