GSX/Glasstream Inks Unique Eastern Florida Dealer

Discreetly located in a Lauderhill, Fla., industrial park, FASSMER Service America handles maintenance, as well as special projects, for its own brand of lifeboats/rescue boats for the United States military and cruise-ship industry. The fifth-generation, family-owned business builds the vessels at its home-base in Germany.

Jonathon Holler and the FASSMER crew now offer a unique mix of commercial and recreational vessels at their South Florida location.

Given the scale of the cruise industry in Florida, a Fort Lauderdale-area satellite location makes perfect sense for the 175-year-old company. So, too, did taking on the GSX/Glasstream center-console line in late 2024.

The U.S.-based FASSMER team became familiar with the brand through a U.S. government RIB project that used 7- and 11-meter fiberglass hulls from the Dothan, Ala., company as the “rigid” foundations for each build. That was how the partnership between the two entities began.

“Our group loves the boats—we’ve all been boating our entire lives—but they don’t have much of a presence in South Florida,” explained Jonathan Holler, the general manager of FASSMER Performance Marine and FASSMER Technical Projects. “We thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase them in this area. A lot of people here like sandbars and poker runs; a lot of people like fishing. It’s a good mix.

The 32 GSX in stock is powered twin 300-hp outboard engines.

“This is the boating capital of the world,” he added. “There’s no reason GSX/Glasstream shouldn’t be in South Florida.”

The owner of GSX/Glasstream, Kruis Retherford agreed.

“Partnering with FASSMER is an exciting opportunity,” she said. “It’s rare to find a team that shares the same vision and drive when it comes to bringing a customer’s dream to life.

“We’re both passionate about pushing the limits of what’s possible in the marine industry,” she continued. “I’m beyond excited to see where this collaboration takes us.”

FASSMER’s mainstray products are life/rescue boats for the U.S. military and the cruise-ship industry.

Though FASSMER’s Lauderhill location does not have a showroom, it does have new 24-and 28-foot Glasstream center consoles and a new 32-foot GSX center console powered by Mercury Racing 300R outboard engines in stock. Holler ran the 32-footer in last weekend’s Florida Powerboat Club Miami Boat Show Poker Run.

Would-be buyers can reach out directly to Holler to set up demo rides. He plans to continue marketing the boats at events including regional shows, as well as through various social media portals.

“We’re going to do all the Florida poker runs this year,” Holler said. “I think the next one is in Naples, then Tampa.”