Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Gertrude Denison 1915-1997
The “Mother of Luxury Yacht Interior Design”, Gertrude Denison paved the way for today’s
yachting industry. In 1948, while on their honeymoon in Fort Lauderdale, Gertrude and her
husband, Frank Denison, purchased Dooley’s Basin and Dry Dock and founded Broward Marine.
Located on the New River, Broward Marine secured an $11,000,000 contract to build eleven
minesweepers for the U.S. Navy and allied NATO governments. This contract, and the expansion
it required, made Broward Marine Florida’s largest defense contractor, and eventually, Broward
County’s largest employer.
A savvy businesswomen and the company’s majority stockholder, Gertrude headed Broward
Marine’s Fort Lauderdale office. In 1960, she expanded Broward Marine’s yachting influence by
establishing Yacht Interiors. Gertrude’s designs, such as the first “country kitchen” galley continue
to remain popular features in yacht design. A difficult process and fraught with much more
risks and challenges than traditional interior design. One minor mistake, such as a miscalculation
of measurement or inappropriate choice of material could be a disaster on the water. Gertrude
designed stunning yacht interiors for the likes of John F. Kennedy and Barbara Mandrell.
Broward Marine has become the county’s oldest and one of the largest yacht builders in the
world with Gertrude’s yacht interior design company setting the standard for today’s yachting
industry. Gertrude was a member of the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club, the Ocean Reef Club, and
the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1995, Showboat Magazine honored Gertrude
Denison with a lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the marine industry.