DiMillo’s Yacht Sales Takes a Leading Role with Hunt Yachts

Courtesy DiMillo’s Yacht Sales

Chris DiMillo’s affinity for Hunt designs began with a used 25-foot Hunt Harrier and deepened after he commissioned a 26-foot Harrier in 2020. Each winter, he takes that 26-foot boat from his New England base to cruise around Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the sleek lines and seaworthy presence consistently attract attention.

“I get more compliments than anybody in these bigger and more expensive boats,” DiMillo says. He praises Hunt vessels for their timeless beauty, strong build quality and proven weather performance. Prospective buyers, he adds, immediately recognize a pedigree and heritage when they see a Hunt on the water.

After a successful career growing DiMillo’s Yacht Sales, DiMillo stepped back from day-to-day operations for a couple of years and explored other projects, including developing a small boutique hotel in Portland, Maine. But last December, an unexpected phone call from Hinckley Yachts presented a new opportunity: the chance to bid on strategic assets of Hunt Yachts. The offer would give him oversight of Hunt sales and input on future model design.

DiMillo accepted the invitation. Although his dealership already represents brands such as Sabre, Back Cove, Tiara and MJM, the Hunt opportunity fit well with his existing team of nearly 80 employees stretched from Maine to Maryland. He saw Hunt’s range as complementary to his current offerings—extending into lengths and styles his lineup didn’t cover—and recognized that many of his clients had long been drawn to Hunt displays at boat shows.

As part of his due diligence, DiMillo traveled to Taiwan to visit Global Yacht Builders, the long-time producer of Hunt boats. He was candid about his relative lack of international shipyard experience, but found the meeting reassuring. Hinckley has historically contracted with that shipyard to build Hunt models, and DiMillo expects that production relationship to continue.

Organizationally, some continuity remains: Ray Hunt will stay on as project manager for the Hunt brand, while Peter Truslow will remain with Hinckley and shift to a role focused on servicing existing Hunt owners. DiMillo plans to concentrate initial new-boat sales on the recently developed Hunt 56 and Hunt 63. He feels these designs better reflect current buyer preferences with updated profiles, improved accommodations and a contemporary—not avant-garde—styling that suits how people want to live aboard today.

To streamline production and reduce long delays caused by excessive customization, DiMillo intends to raise annual output from about three boats to six. His team is analyzing past custom commissions to identify options that can become standard features, balancing buyer wishes with realistic production timelines. Two Hunt 56 hulls are already under construction, and one will likely appear at fall boat shows to solicit customer feedback.

DiMillo also plans to change how Hunt boats are sold. Historically, a buyer worked with a Hinckley salesperson through contract signing and the project would then be transferred to project management. DiMillo intends to keep salespeople engaged from initial contact through delivery. He believes a continuous, personalized sales experience—what his operation calls the “DiMillo’s Experience”—produces stronger client relationships and better service. That approach has supported the company’s success with Sabre and Back Cove.

His regional infrastructure supports the strategy: DiMillo’s recently opened a 26,000-square-foot facility in Maine that houses service technicians, storage and Travelifts. “We can pick up and store anything that Hunt’s ever built,” he says, emphasizing the company’s readiness to support owners.

Beyond sales and service, DiMillo welcomes greater involvement in new-model design—more participation than he has had with other brands. As both an owner and a long-time admirer of Hunt boats, he values their distinctive presence in a market where many vessels can look similar. “I have a passion for what Hunt stands for,” he says. “In a sea of boats that look the same, they just stand out.”