The scale of Steve Hudson’s waterfront home in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, and the amenities inside and out—a private cinema, a
billiard room, a well-stocked wine cellar, an expansive pool with swim-up bar
and 240 feet of private bulkhead—are indicative of a guy who’s experienced
considerable success in life. Most reach that threshold later on, in their 40s
or 50s. But Hudson, now 37, found it early by throwing the full force of his
talents and energies behind growing his father’s carting business, sharing in
the management of their video rental franchises, making real estate deals in
South Florida, and expanding the full-service yacht brokerage, charter and
management company International Yacht Collection into an industry player.
 Closer inspection of Hudson’s home and its environs, though,
suggests some shifting priorities in his life. Removable mesh panels enclose the
pool. A collection of plastic farm machinery and construction equipment is
scattered about the small but well-kept lawn. There’s a brand new Lazzara LSX
Quad 75 tied to the bulkhead—equipped with custom baby gates. (Click image to enlarge)
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Hudson’s lifestyle is in transition from that of a driven
bachelor businessman to one where his young family plays a central role. The
Lazzara, the first big boat he’s owned, plays a fundamental role in that
transition.
"Business-wise, I’ve accomplished a lot of things," Hudson
says. "Now it’s family time."
Boats and boating have figured into Hudson’s life from
childhood. Born in Fort Lauderdale, he was always a water rat. His parents
bought him his first boat, a 13-foot Boston Whaler, at age eight. Like many kids
growing up in Florida, he was a surfer, and he still indulges in a lifelong
passion for scuba diving.
Growing up, his family owned a succession of Hatterasses and
eventually a 122-foot motor yacht. Summers, he, his mother and his sister would
stay on the family yacht in the Bahamas and his father would fly over on
weekends. As he got older, he became more involved in running the boats, one
summer helping move the Hatteras up the coast to Nantucket. The family boating
experience and all it entails is what Hudson is chasing today with the
Lazzara.
Top: The Hudsons’ Lazzara ready for action. Bottom: The spacious, airy salon and helm. (Click images to enlarge)
"I want my children to have the same kind of experiences I had
growing up," he says.
After graduating from Southern Methodist University with a
degree in business economics, he went to work with his father establishing and
managing a half-dozen Blockbuster franchises in Melbourne, Florida. Eventually
he returned to Fort Lauderdale and went to work for his father helping grow the
family carting business through mergers and acquisitions. His life was rewarding
but hectic, with many nights spent on the road.
During that period, his parents bought a 112-foot motor yacht
called Bon Bon. Hudson oversaw a refit that extended her 10 feet. He then
managed the complete refit of a 102-foot Crescent Beach the family bought as an
investment. His mother ended up giving it to his grandmother as an
80th birthday present. His grandmother used Lady Jean quite a
bit, and Hudson oversaw the charter operations when she was not using it,
eventually selling the boat for a profit.
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