About Us

David Duong

David Duong has founded St Martin Marine Surveyors in 2005, taking into consideration the lack of qualified marine surveyors in the northern Caribbean. Since then, he has performed more than 1000 surveys on various type of both sail and motor yachts, both condition and insurance related. He is an Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS) for the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and has been appointed by Bureau Veritas as non exclusive surveyor for St Maarten and the northern islands.

Meanwhile, David has been the founder and director of  Horizon Yacht Charters St Maarten, from 2006 to 2013. Horizon Yacht Charters is a yacht sales, management and charter business established in 5 bases throughout the Caribbean (BVI, St Martin, Antigua and Grenada) and in Annapolis, MD. Altogether, a fleet of more than 100 sail yachts is carrying their logo. Each base is independently operated by owners-operator. St Martin fleet was composed of 11 vessel as of present time, monohulls and catamarans from 38 to 49 feet.

David was the leader of the export department of Budget Marine from 2000 to 2006. Budget Marine is the biggest shipchandlery in the Caribbean with 12 stores spread over the whole caribbean chain, from Trinidad to both US and British Virgin Islands, including the dutch ABC islands, the french side of St Martin, Antigua and Grenada. He was specifically in charge of charter companies throughout the Caribbean. He learnt a great deal of experience in spare parts, and in the process of getting them in fast when needed.

From 1998 to 2000, David ran the stock room of Sun Yacht Charters,  a charter company established in Oyster Pond, St Maarten. The fleet was composed of Centurion sailboats. Centurion is recognized in the industry as the french equivalent to Nautor’s Swan from Sweden. He has developed during these days an extensive knowledge of fine handcraft sailboats, both in maintenance and repairs.

Last but not least, from 1992 to 1998, David was a free-lance delivery and charter captain, logging roughly 30000 NM in 6 years, throughout the Atlantic and the Caribbean, working for companies too numerous to mention here.

David is originally from La Baule, France, meant to be the most beautiful beach in Europe, and home of numerous famous sailors, such the Pajot family & the Peyron brothers. David started to teach sailing on Hobie Cats and windsurfers from the age of 14.