Easyboats began in Port Andratx in the summer of 1990 with two young brothers, a passion for boats and an idea that had not yet been tested in Mallorca. In a recent interview with Maren Courage, Easyboats founder Lorenzo Vila looks back at those beginnings and talks about entrepreneurship, building long-term relationships and the principles that have guided the company for more than three decades.
A business born from a passion for the sea
For Lorenzo, the connection with the sea goes back generations. His great-grandfather and grandfather were fishermen, and boats were part of everyday life from an early age. At 19, after completing his military service, Lorenzo knew one thing clearly: he valued his freedom and wanted to build something of his own. Together with his brother Xisco, he decided to start a business around the one thing they knew and loved — boats. There was no capital behind them. Raised by a single mother, the brothers went to the bank with her, where she guaranteed the loan they needed to start their first business. The idea was simple: buy a few boats and rent them to visitors in Port Andratx. Today, boat charter is an established part of Mallorca’s nautical industry. In 1990, however, there was no obvious model to follow. “We were the first ones,” Lorenzo recalls. There were no other motorboat rental companies on the island whose operations they could copy. Contracts, insurance, fuel policies, timings and day-to-day procedures all had to be worked out from scratch. Much of it came down to common sense, experience and learning along the way.
Building a reputation, not simply a business
From the beginning, Lorenzo and his brother understood that their business and their personal reputations were closely connected. The objective was never simply to complete the next transaction. They wanted clients to be happy and relationships to last. That philosophy became particularly important in the boating world, where even the best-maintained yacht operates in a demanding environment and technical problems can happen. For Lorenzo, what matters is how you respond: being open with the client, communicating clearly and taking responsibility when something does not go as planned. Over time, this approach creates something that cannot be bought or requested: trust. As Lorenzo explains in the interview, “you cannot demand trust.” It follows when you consistently act with integrity — being honest, truthful and responsible.
The right boat, not simply another sale
The same principle applies when helping a client buy a yacht. Rather than starting with a particular boat, Easyboats starts with the person who will use it. How many days will they spend on board? Will they stay overnight? Do they want to explore the other Balearic Islands or mainly enjoy day trips around Mallorca? Only then does the conversation move towards which yacht makes sense. Sometimes this means advising against a purchase or transaction. For Lorenzo, saying no to the wrong deal is not losing business. Protecting the relationship is more important than maximising an individual sale. This long-term approach has resulted in client relationships lasting more than 25 years. Over time, many have developed far beyond the original business relationship. Easyboats knows the families, their children and how they like to spend their time in Mallorca and on the water.
Service that goes beyond the yacht
For Lorenzo, service also reflects something very Mallorcan. Helping a client does not necessarily stop when they step ashore. It can mean recommending somewhere to go, finding a solution to a local problem or helping with a restaurant reservation when everything appears to be fully booked. These details are not part of a contract and are not linked to additional earnings. They come from knowing the island, being connected to the local community and enjoying the opportunity to help. It is an approach that remains at the heart of Easyboats today.
Passion, principles and a long-term perspective
More than three decades after Easyboats was founded, Lorenzo’s view of success remains closely connected to the principles with which the company started. Passion matters. Integrity matters. Relationships matter. Financial success, in his view, follows from doing something you genuinely care about, doing it well and maintaining your principles over the long term. From a few rental boats in Port Andratx to today’s yacht sales, charter, management and refit services, much has changed since 1990. The principle behind the business has not: Trust is not something you ask your clients to give you. It is something you earn over time. Watch the full interview with Lorenzo Vila below to hear more about the beginnings of Easyboats, entrepreneurship, working with high-net-worth clients and why integrity remains central to his approach to business.