Herbert Dahm, founder of Dahm International and a key figure behind the boot Düsseldorf boat show, has died aged 94.
Herbert began his career selling electronics, including radios, moving on to develop Germany’s first electronic billing machine and then data systems.
He moved on to co-found Module making high quality aluminium profiles that are used within exhibition stands and yacht shows.
A keen sailor, Herbert began a search for a sailboat to sail around the world in, choosing a yacht from the Dutch shipyard Jongert.
However instead of setting off for his adventure, he ended up as the exclusive marketing and sales agent for Jongert instead, a role which kept him busy for 35 years.
During this time, he owned five Jongert yachts for his own use, including Inspiration, the first cruiser-racer in her size range.
Herbert also had a fondness for motoryachts and in 2000 took delivery of the Benetti Classic 115 My Way which he took to several boat shows.
Four decades
In addition to his time at Jongert, Herbert also founded and ran Dahm International, which offered a range of services including yacht management and refit management.
He ran the company for four decades, expanding into Monaco and Spain before selling the business in the late 1990s.
However in 2006, he again became involved in the business, selling it again in 2014 at the age of 85 but staying on as honorary president.
In a statement boot Düsseldorf said Herbert had been a beloved companion of the show, having been an exhibitor from the beginning and had been on board without interruption since 1969 — as exhibitor, as trade fair president, or as member of the honorary committee.
“He served as President of ‘boot’ in 1994 and leveraged his excellent contacts with the Yacht Club de Monaco to establish the partnership between the Principality and the trade fair,” said the statement which continued: “A true advocate for a boat show in the Rhine area, a tireless, innovative developer of yachts and sail boats, and a visionary who never missed the opportunity to visit ‘his’ boot in person until last year.
“Dear Herbert Dahm, the boot Düsseldorf crew will miss you, and our thoughts are with you and your family! R.I.P.”
