Southport Boat Works is the designer and builder of Southport offshore sport fishing boats, which are designed specifically for dual, four-stroke outboard motors by C. Raymond Hunt Associates.[1] Southports are currently distributed through dealerships in the United States, Puerto Rico, Australia and Europe.[2],[3]
A Southport boat can be told apart from others in its class due to its wide beam, reverse transom and tumblehome aft, a clipper bow (ship)[2], and a "continuously variable deep vee hull beginning at 22 degrees at the transom."[4]
Started in 2003, Southport Boat Works spent almost a year designing it's first production, the Southport 26CC, and the product line has since expanded to include the 28CC, 28EX, and the 28TE.[2]
The company is currently based in Leland, a small town just outside of Wilmington, North Carolina, where the 26 and 28 foot fiberglass sport fishing boats are constructed by hand.[5]
Company History
editSouthport Boat Works was started in late 2003 by Frank Longino and Alton Herndon. The executive team of the company is now comprised of Frank Longino and Alton Herndon as Managing Partners, Val Jenkins as the Director of Engineering, and Charles King as the Chief Financial Officer.[2]
Frank Longino, one of Southport's Managing Partners, has worked with many different companies in the marine industry such as Chris-Craft Industries, Grady-White Boats, Inc., Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts, Mako Marine International, Inc. and SeaCraft Boats.[5] Prior to working in the marine industry, Longino obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in business from Wake Forest University, his Master of Management degree in marketing and finance from Northwestern University, and was a lecturer in marketing at Duke University, and a marketing professor at East Carolina University. The idea behind Southport and the initiative to start the company began with Frank.[2],[5]
Alton Herndon, Southport's other Managing Partner, has also worked with many different companies in the boat industry, including Hatteras Yachts, where he was president for the final 11 of the 27 years that he was with the yacht manufacturer. Herndon also worked with Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts, Mako Marine International, Inc., SeaCraft Boats, Tiara Yachts, and Cruisers yachts. Herndon studied business at High Point University and is a graduate of the Executive Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Herndon served as the Chairman of the National Association of Boat Manufacturers and as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the National Marine Manufacturers Association.[2],[5]
Val Jenkins, the Director of Engineering for Southport Boat Works, was approached by Longino and Herndon to fill the position after the offical creation of the business. Jenkins was Vice President of Operations for Chris-Craft Industries while Longino was Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the company. Prior to this position, Jenkins was the Director of Operations for Cigarette Racing Team for 12 years. He also managed assembly and developed new products for Mako (which was then privately owned) and Blackfin, and also produced Egret flats skiffs. The degree Jenkins obtained from the University of Florida was a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology.[2],[5]
Charles King is a Certified Public Accountant and the Chief Financial Officer for Southport Boat Works. The only executive without prior marine industry work, King was Vice President and Comptroller of London Pacific Life and Annuity Company for the 10 years prior to joining Southport. King was also Assistant Controller of Durham Corporation, a public accountant, and one of the founders of Hatteras Hammocks Corp. King earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, and a Master of Business Administration degree from East Carolina University.[2],[5]
Construction
editSouthport boats are "hand laid-up"[6] and fully constructed in the company's 52,000 square-foot production plant in Leland, North Carolina.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).
All Southports, like most other sport fishing boats, are made of fiberglass; a lightwieght, yet very strong material. The hull of the boat is made in a pre-fabricated mold, where the outer layer of gelcoat is applied first, then the layers of fiberglass and foam are added, in a process called molding (process). Foam is added to the hull to ensure positive buoyancy according to Coast Guard regulations[7] in the case that the boat is damaged or "swamped" (filled with water). After the foam and fiberglass have been added to complete the exterior hull, a bonding agent called methacrylate is applied in certain locations to ensure a complete bond with the stringer system (the interior skeleton of the boat). The hull stringer system, as well as any compartments not used for storage or fuel cells, are then completely filled with foam for basic flotation and vibration reduction.[2],[5]
The next step involves installing all wiring and assorted tanks and pumps. The stringer system provides placement for all of these things, and a way to organize the wiring. The cockpit liner, or "main deck," is then bonded to the hull and stringer system with more methacrylate. Some of the parts, like the driving console, instrument panels, helm seats, and livewell pods are constructed off-line and then installed into the completed hulls. There are five color options for each Southport consisting of: ice blue, sea foam, fighting lady yellow, snow white, and stars and stripes. After being detailed, the boats are wrapped in plastic from the gunwale up in order to protect the boat from damage during shipping.[2]
Products
edit
A brief description of the products currently offered by Southport Boat Works:
- Southport 26CC - A 26' 6" center console with a 9' 6" beam and up to 500 horsepower avaialable in four-stroke outboards. "A salt water washdown is located amidships to starboard, so a short hose will suffice for spraying down the whole boat."[4]
- Southport 28CC - A 28' 6" center console with a 10' 6" beam and up to 700 horsepower available in four-stroke outboards. "The 157-gallon insulated fishbox forward is gasketed, so it can function as dry storage, and doubles as a padded lounge seat for two."[8]
- Southport 28TE - An upgraded version of the 28CC designed especially for fishing with a sink, bait preparation station, and extra rod holders. "Slightly above the tackle center, along the back of the bench seat, a rocket launcher provides room for four rods, racks for hanging lures, and a pliers holder.[9]
- Southport 28EX - A 28' 6" side-console with a 10' 6" beam including a forward cabin with a galley (kitchen) and two berth (sleeping). "The head provides a marine toilet and stand-up shower with an in-line hot water heater. Sleeping accommodations consist of a V-berth forward and a double in a midship cabin."[10]
Recent News
editAmerican Global Yacht Group entered into a deal in mid-April of 2009 to acquire Southport Boat Works. AGYG builds and sells Outer Reef Yachts, Molokai Strait Yachts, Newport Yachts, and markets and sells Apreamare Yachts, Rivolta Yachts, and Global Arrow Yachts.[3],[11] AGYG will continue to produce Southport fiberglass sport fishing boats at the Leland production plant, and hope to be able to add as many as 100 more jobs over the next year.[12]
Sources
edit- ^ "Hunt Design", retrieved on 5/5/2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Southport Boat Works", retrieved on 5/5/2009.
- ^ a b "AGYG to acquire Southport Boat Works", MarineBusinessNews.com, 4/23/2009, retrieved on 5/5/2009.
- ^ a b Lear, Dave: "Southport 26 Center Console", Saltwater Sportsman, 1/1/2005, retrieved on 5/5/2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lazarus, Paul: "Start-Up", pages 38-61, Professional Boatbuilder, June/July 2005, retrieved on 5/5/2009.
- ^ "Manufacturing Processes - Hand Lay-up Composite Molding", engineershandbook.com, retrieved on 5/17/2009.
- ^ "Boatbuilder's Handbook; Flotation", United States Coast Guard, 2005, retrieved 5/17/2009.
- ^ Wooldridge, John: "Southport 28", Yachting Magazine, August 2005, retrieved 5/5/2009.
- ^ Woodward, Chris: "Right in the Middle", Sport Fishing Magazine, 12/26/2006, retrieved 5/5/2009.
- ^ Sport Fishing staff: "Southport 28 Express", Sport Fishing Magazine", 8/30/2007, retrieved 5/52009.
- ^ AGYG Company Website, 2009, retrieved on 5/17/2009.
- ^ Faulkner, Wayne: "Southport Boat Works Deal Could Add 100 Jobs", Star News Online, 4/16/2009, retrieved on 5/5/2009.