Eight Bells: Jan Paul Ploeger

June 12, 2025

By Colin Andrews

The boating community lost a good friend with the passing, on May 23, of Jan Ploeger. Taken far too soon, at the age of 50, Jan was a very worthy successor to Bernie Luttmer as owner and President of Swans Yacht Sales.

Jan attended high school in Whitby and graduated Georgian College in 1996 with a Diploma in Marine Technology. Having grown up with boats, sailing with his family, Marine Technology was a logical direction to take and provided a solid foundation for success in the marine business.

Swans was the regional dealer for Catalina Yachts and Dufour Yachts and was a successful, long established brokerage firm.  Bernie brought Jan into the Swans organization in January 2017, and he quickly learned the ropes in both the sales and service sectors.

In October 2017 Jan purchased Swans Yacht Sales, facilitating Bernie’s retirement soon after. In 2023 Jan made a strategic decision to replace Dufour with Tartan Yachts, another renowned builder with which Swans had considerable success with in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, specifically with their Tartan and (reborn) C&C Yachts brands.

Coping with the business challenges of Covid and the Luxury Tax motivated Jan to look for a means of quality personal time and found it in ‘Arrow’ his Jeanneau SO 45 serendipitously acquired under favourable circumstances. He also enjoyed racing smaller boats at Whitby Yacht Club with his friends.

In December 2024 Jan sold Swans Yacht Sales and the company continues in capable hands.

Throughout Jan’s ownership of Swans his father, John Ploeger, made a critical contribution to the company, heading up the services department.

Jan leaves behind his son Chase, who is following in his father’s and grandfather’s steps in the marine industry. Jan is also survived by parents John and Barbara.