John Gear
Yacht Consultant
John grew up on inland lakes and Lake Michigan and cannot remember a time when there wasn’t a boat at the dock. From early spring to late fall, the water was always the focal point of every spare moment. He and his wife even spent part of their honeymoon transiting Lake Michigan aboard the Milwaukee Clipper.
After college, John entered the financial services industry in Detroit, but even there, sailing on Lake St. Clair with one of his peers from Merrill Lynch was never an opportunity to be missed.
In 1976, John purchased the Edward B. Freeman Company, a Stuart, Florida-based yacht brokerage, setting the course for the next 50 years of his career. After growing and selling several other businesses, he returned to yacht brokerage with Stuart Yacht Sales in 1995.
In 2002, John joined Kadey-Krogen Yachts, which had moved from Miami to Stuart. He became a partner and President in 2006, successfully guiding the company alongside his partners through the 2008 recession. In 2014, he sold his interest in the company, but not his passion for the product, and remained with Kadey-Krogen until 2026. John has been a Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) since 2008.
In his spare time, John enjoys singing, having had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and bragging about his children and grandchildren. He still enjoys being on the water whenever possible.
Current Listings
View yacht WIND KNOT, available for sale
