Willis Marine • American • Bayliss • Caison Donzi • F&S ...c) the wind-on leader comes...

The Custom Shootout | 1

Willis Marine • American • Bayliss • Caison

Donzi • F&S • Forbes • Garlington • Gillikin • Island Boatworks

Jarrett Bay • Jim Smith • Merritt • Paul Mann • Release

Revenge • Rybovich • Scarborough • Spencer • A. Willis • Whiticar

2 | The Custom Shootout

A Thank You Letter from


A special thank you to all the 2016 volunteers and assistants!

Copyright 2016 • The Custom Shootout • SkipsTournaments.com • All Rights ReservedPhotography by Debra Todd Photography - www.DebraTodd.com • Program produced by Savvy Graphics - www.Savvy-Graphics.com

Good luck and good fishing,

Capt.Skip Smith

Tournament Director, Capt. Skip Smith

A Thank You Letter from

Dear Friends:

First, I would like to say THANK YOU to all our teams, sponsors, builders and volunteers

who have supported the Custom Shootout for so many years.

It’s hard to imagine that it’s been 15 years since Steve Roy and Dr. Harry Shufflebarger

first put this event together at Chub Cay. I have met so many wonderful people through

this sport we all truly love and it is a blessing that I am able to continue to present such a

unique tournament to you.

I specifically would like to thank Miss Tina Church, who has unselfishly volunteered her

time since the beginning. From loading tournament bags and t-shirts, to entertaining our

dockside guests with trips to Nipper’s or a simple lunch, Tina is one of the many volunteers

who make this occasion so special. Even our sponsors go above and beyond to help us out,

delivering Goombay Smashes and appetizers to your boat after a long day out on the water.

The goal of the Custom Shootout tournament has always been to make the largest donation

to a national organization as we are from all over the USA and more. Over the years we

have been giving to The Breast Cancer Foundation & the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

for our national cause and then to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and many other

smaller charities.

We also give to the IGFA to their educational program, which sent over 50,000 kids

through their educational program in 2015. We also give back to the IGFA for their

conservation efforts with their Satellite tagging program helping to continue the research

with the marlin we love to catch.

It’s always a great time here at the Abaco Beach Resort and I’m looking forward to sharing

some good food, a couple drinks and a few hundred stories with you all.

Thank you, again! Good luck and good fishing!


Sunset Grille, Teasers Bar, & The Bridge

Five-Star Amenities

· Direct Access to Atlantic

· 30, 50, & 100 Amp Service

· Two Spacious Pool Areas

· 204 Surge-Free Slips

· Home of Maryland’s Favorite Restaurant

· Equipped GameRoom

· Full Fitness Center

Just minutes from Ocean City’s renowned

selection of Restaurants, Golfing,

Nightlife, Amusements, and more.


Sunset Grille, Teasers Bar, & The Bridge

Five-Star Amenities

· Direct Access to Atlantic

· 30, 50, & 100 Amp Service

· Two Spacious Pool Areas

· 204 Surge-Free Slips

· Home of Maryland’s Favorite Restaurant

· Equipped GameRoom

· Full Fitness Center

Just minutes from Ocean City’s renowned

selection of Restaurants, Golfing,

Nightlife, Amusements, and more.


MUSCLE, STRENGTH AND POWER.The C32 ACERT®. Designed to be durable, reliable and fuel-efficient. With 1925 horsepower, and rated at 2300 rpm, it provides your boat with the power it demands.

©2013 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

www.gregorypoole.com/marine

www.gplink.com

www.pantropic.com/marine

The Custom Shootout | 7The Custom Shootout | 7

MUSCLE, STRENGTH AND POWER.The C32 ACERT®. Designed to be durable, reliable and fuel-efficient. With 1925 horsepower, and rated at 2300 rpm, it provides your boat with the power it demands.

©2013 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

www.gregorypoole.com/marine

www.gplink.com

www.pantropic.com/marine

custom sportfish specialist

HMY.COM

CONTACT ONE OF OUR CUSTOM SPORTFISH EXPERTS:Dave Meyer: 561.722.1047 | [email protected]

Dave Berard, Sr: 772.341.3669 | [email protected] Scott Levin: 772.263.1208 | [email protected]

“Persistence”78’ 2009 Rybovich

“Persistence”78’ 2009 Rybovich

custom sportfish specialist

HMY4_2016SkipSmithShootout_Layout 1 4/13/16 12:58 PM Page 1


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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

6pm Captains and crews party! Dinner and cocktails Sponsors will be there to display their products Sponsored by Smith-Merritt Insurance

TUESDAY, MAY 10

3pm-5pm Registration and boat bag pickup 7pm Kickoff party7:30pm Captain’s meeting 8pm Dinner and cocktailsSponsored by SatCom Direct

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

6am Breakfast sandwiches deliveredSponsored by your CAT dealers8:30am-4:30pm 1st day of fishing4:30pm Rum punch and hors d’oeuvres dock greeting7-9pm Grill night!Sponsored by Sunset Marina Bring your meat, fish, chicken, etc. and our chef will grill it for you. We will have side dishes available. (Burgers & hotdogs are available). Special sponsor tables will be setup.

THURSDAY, MAY 12

6am Breakfast sandwiches deliveredSponsored by your CAT dealers8:30am-4:30pm 2nd Day of Fishing4:30pm Rum punch and hors d’oeuvres dock greeting7pm Honor the Custom Boat Builders with dinner and cocktails Sponsored by XL Catlin Insurance

FRIDAY, MAY 13

6am Breakfast sandwiches deliveredSponsored by your CAT dealers8:30am-4:30pm 3rd and last day of fishing7pm Awards dinner at the Boat Harbour tentSponsored by Dex Imaging 7-9pm Silent Auction

SATURDAY, MAY 14


Controlling costs is essential for all businesses. Yet most companies have no idea how much they are really spending on document output and data management. The truth is, total cost-of-ownership for copiers and printers is dramatically less today than in year’s past, which means if you’re currently paying on a lease from several years ago, your monthly payment is most likely higher than it would be to upgrade to new technology.

Give DEX the opportunity to examine your office imaging & data management needs. We have sales and service offices all throughout the eastern United States.

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TO U R N A M E N T R U L E S


Controlling costs is essential for all businesses. Yet most companies have no idea how much they are really spending on document output and data management. The truth is, total cost-of-ownership for copiers and printers is dramatically less today than in year’s past, which means if you’re currently paying on a lease from several years ago, your monthly payment is most likely higher than it would be to upgrade to new technology.

Give DEX the opportunity to examine your office imaging & data management needs. We have sales and service offices all throughout the eastern United States.

Digital Document Imaging: Copiers | Printers | Document Management Solutions deximaging.com

GEAR UP

there’s never beena better time to

UPGRADE

with DEX IMAGING

DEX-Skip-Ad.indd 1 3/20/15 4:47 PM

TO U R N A M E N T R U L E S

The Captain's Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 7pm in the Tournament Tent at the Abaco Beach Resort, Marsh Harbour, Bahamas for all registered teams. A team representative must be in attendance, as rules are subject to change.

1. PERMITS & LICENSES: All teams must possess a Bahamas Fishing Permit and a Tournament Sticker. The Tournament Stickers will be located in your team package which you receive at registration. The Tournament Sticker is required to be adhered to your Bahamian fishing license. 2. FISHING HOURS: The Tournament will begin with the call of "lines in" at 8:30am and continue until 4:30pm on May 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2016. All boats must be inside the marina before 7pm each evening, as the Committee must have your catch affidavits and video by then. Any gamefish requiring a weigh-in must at the scales prior to closing at 7pm. There are no lay days or weather days, unless determined by the Committee. Fish at your own risk. 3. BOUNDARIES: There is a 60-mile boundary rule - radius from the marina. 4. ANGLING & EQUIPMENT:a. International Billfish Tournament Regulations apply.b. Four anglers per team per day are permitted, with no restrictions. If an angler is not registered at the team registration, he/she may not be added after the start of the tournament.c. Professional crew members (paid within last three years) are not permitted to be registered anglers.d. A maximum of six lines (with hooks) are permitted at any one time. An unlimited amount of hookless baits or teasers are allowed. "J" hooks may be used on lures only. Natural baits must be deployed with non-offset circle hooks. 5. TOURNAMENT SPECIES: Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish are eligible for catch and release. 6. REPORTING OF BILLFISH: A billfish hook-up must be called in to the "Committee Boat" within the first minute on VHF channel 71. The "Committee Boat" will validate your hook-up by announcement. A billfish release must be called in to the "Committee Boat" with the following information: species released, boat name, angler name, and type of tag, if applicable. The "Committee Boat" will then verify your information by announcement and give you a release time, which must be recorded on your daily catch affidavit and turned in at the end of the fishing day, with your video evidence. If you lose your fish prior to release (i.e. jump-off, pulled hook, etc.) please inform the "Committee Boat" as soon as possible. 7. CATCH & RELEASE RULES: All billfish must be released to qualify. A billfish is considered released when: a) the swivel between the mainline or double line and leader hits the rod tip b) the mate grabs the leader or c) the wind-on leader comes through the rod tip. Please release the fish in good condition by either removing the hook-set or cutting the leader as close to the hook-set as possible. "Popping" the leader is not a good method of healthy release, and we ask that you refrain from doing so.

8. CATCH & RELEASE POINTS:a. Blue Marlin: 400 pointsb. White Marlin: 150 pointsc. Spearfish: 150 pointsd. Sailfish: 50 pointse. Unidentifiable Billfish: 50 pointsf. A "Hatchet Marlin" will be considered a White Marlin in this tournament and therefore is categorized as such.g. One-day Grand Slam: 400 pointsh. All ties will be broken on time. 9. CATCH & RELEASE VERIFICATION:a. Identification Markers - each team will obtain a marker prior to the day's fishing. This marker must be displayed during the fight and recorded. Failure to show the marker in your video proof will disqualify your catch, even if it is time-stamped. b. Release Verification Recordings - each team is required to show video evidence of billfish catch and release. This recording shall be time and date stamped in accordance with the "official time" as stated by the "Committee Boat" prior to each day's fishing. Your video proof shall include: 1) registered angler fighting the fish 2) proper identification marker 3) sufficient footage of the fish in order to accurately determine the species 4) proper release evidence - see Rule 7 above. All recordings submitted must be easily viewed by the Committee. It is the team's responsibility to have these items and the video cued up for immediate viewing. Failure to do so will delay the verification process. We highly recommend you have at least two recordings on different cameras, and underwater shots are the best way to accurately identify the species. c. Billfish Release Affidavit - each billfish release is required to be noted on the day's Affidavit and submitted with your video to the Committee each fishing day. Failure to turn in your Affidavit will disqualify that day's catch(es). Affidavits are supplied with your registration package. If you do not have one for each day, please see the Committee for a replacement. d. Submission of Recordings - Verification recordings must be submitted to the Committee between 4:30pm and 7pm each day of fishing. All recordings, images, sounds, etc. may become property of the Tournament and may be used at any time. Recordings and/or images will be downloaded from the team's device(s), if needed. Please see INSTRUCTIONS & SUGGESTIONS re: video attached. e. Dispute & Polygraph - In the unlikely event a dispute or protest is filed with the Committee, it is possible a polygraph test may be required should the dispute not resolve. Members must be available within 24 hours of the dispute and must not consume alcohol or any controlled substance eight hours prior to testing. Failure to report for a polygraph test or refusal to answer any questions satisfactory to the Committee may result in disqualification. All disputes or protests must be submitted to the Committee in writing prior to 5 pm on the last day of the tournament.


954-784-1807 Smith-Merritt.com

Anytime, anywhere, anyplace . . .

is there for you.

Yachts • Sportfishing Boats • Center Consoles Charter Boats • Mega Yachts • Guides • Triple & Quad Outboards


MANUFACTURER PERPETUAL TROPHY: Carey Chen Glass SculptureCourtesy of The Tournament

TOP BOAT: Kent Ulburg Sculpture Courtesy of Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison MTU

2ND PLACE BOAT: Original Crystal TrophyCourtesy of Dex Imaging

3RD PLACE BOAT: Original Crystal TrophyCourtesy of HMY Yacht Sales

TOP ANGLER: Kent Ulburg Sculpture Courtesy of Sunset Marina

TOP LADY ANGLER (CHERYL ROY MEMORIAL): David Wirth Circle Hook TrophyCourtesy of SATCOM Direct

TOP CAPTAIN & CREW: Glass Engraved Tower (3)Courtesy of Smith-Merritt Insurance

AWARDS & PRIZES

TOP TAGGING BOAT: Dennis Friel giclees (3)Courtesy of Costa

LARGEST RELEASED MARLIN: Glass Engraved TowerCourtesy of Shimano

LARGEST MAHI: Global Fish MountCourtesy of CAT Fabick

LARGEST TUNA: Global Fish MountCourtesy of Gregory Poole CAT & Pantropic CAT

LARGEST WAHOO: Global Fish MountCourtesy of CAT Ring Power

CUSTOM SHOOTOUT SERIES: Kent Ulburg SculptureCourtesy of XL Catlin Insurance


HistoryTop Builder • Spencer - 4 wins • Tribute - 3 wins • Rybovich - 2 wins • Garlington - 2 wins • Merritt - 1 win • American - 1 win • Willis- 1 win

Top Engine Mfg • CAT - 7 wins • Detroit/MTU - 6 wins • Cummins- 1 win

2015

Congratulations to:1st Place: Hit n Run / F&S2nd Place: Never Say Never / Merritt3rd Place: Sweet Thing / Merritt

The 2016 Customs Shootout Series will consist of:

Stuart Light Tackle Tournament, The Custom Shootout and The PC Shootout

For more information, contact Skip Smith or

email [email protected]

Race From The Edge • Revenge - 4 wins • Hines-Farley - 3 wins • Jim Smith - 2 wins • American - 1 win • Spencer - 1 win • Jarrett Bay - 1 win

Series Winners

CUSTOM SHOOTOUT

CUSTOM SHOOTOUT


2015 BOAT HARBOR, ABACO, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Vintage• 2nd Place: Reel Pushy• 3rd Place: Sweet Thing• Top Angler: Tony Huerta • Top Captain: Kevin Paul• Manufacturer Award: Willis Marine

2014 BOAT HARBOR, ABACO, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Plane Simple• 2nd Place: Escapade• 3rd Place: Uno Mas• Top Angler: Jim Jensen• Manufacturer Award: Spencer

2013 BOAT HARBOR, ABACO, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Reel Pushy• 2nd Place: Jichi• 3rd Place: Arc Strike• Top Angler: Wally Whitley• Manufacturer Award: Spencer • Fastest Boat: Ravaganza, Jarrett Bay

2012 BOAT HARBOR, ABACO, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Wave Paver• 2nd Place: Plane Simple• 3rd Place: Bear Trap• Top Angler: Jr Davis• Manufacturer Award: Garlington • Fastest Boat: Reel Joy, Revenge

2011 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Chasin• 2nd Place: Double Dog• 3rd Place: Ravaganza• Top Angler: Don McKinney• Manufacturer Award: Spencer• Fastest Boat: Reel Joy, Revenge 2010 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Sandman• 2nd Place: Brier Patch• 3rd Place: Svengali• Top Angler: Lester Petracca• Manufacturer Award: Spencer• Fastest Boat: Reel Joy, Revenge

2009 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: HT Hook• 2nd Place: Owls Nest• 3rd Place: Sandman• Top Angler: Al Eldridge• Manufacturer Award: Tribute• Fastest Boat: Reel Joy, Revenge

2008 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Que Mas• 2nd Place: MIMI• 3rd Place: Reel Joy• Top Angler: Paul Spencer• Manufacturer Award: American• Fastest Boat: MIMI, Spencer

2007 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Alican• 2nd Place: Jack O’ Hearts• 3rd Place: Meant 2 Be• Top Angler: Scott Frohman• Manufacturer Award: Tribute• Fastest Boat: Jack O’ Hearts, Jim Smith

2006 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Wave Paver• 2nd Place: Cutnail• 3rd Place: Blank Check• Top Angler: JR Davis• Manufacturer Award: Garlington• Fastest Boat: Jack O’ Hearts, Jim Smith

2005 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Black Out• 2nd Place: NUCO2• 3rd Place: Frantastic• Top Angler: Jim Black• Manufacturer Award: Merritt• Fastest Boat: Double Dog, Hines-Farley

2004 HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Rosemary• 2nd Place: Miss Allied• 3rd Place: Double Dog• Top Angler: Terry Sherman• Manufacturer Award: Rybovich• Fastest Boat: Double Dog, Hines-Farley

2003 CHUB CAY, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: Salem Wolf• 2nd Place: Miss Allied• 3rd Place: China Girl• Top Angler: Roger Hammond• Manufacturer Award: Rybovich• Fastest Boat: Double Dog, Hines-Farley

2002 CHUB CAY, BAHAMAS• 1st Place: HT Hook• 2nd Place: Jack O Hearts• 3rd Place: ARC Strike• Top Angler: Harry Schufflebarger• Manufacturer Award: Tribute• Fastest Boat: Freedom, American

PAST WINNERS


Dometic Marine • 2000 N. Andrews Ave. Ext. • Pompano Beach, FL 33069 USA • 954-973-2477 • www.Dometic.com/Marine


Ultra High Speed 60” Per Crank

3 lbs. Minimum Drag at Strike

fish.shimano.com

THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR THE COMPETITIVE ANGLING WORLD

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In just three decades, Randy Ramsey has gone from building boats in a drafty shed with a dirt floor and poor lighting to a state-of-the art facility second to none. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway near historic Beaufort, N.C., for any serious boat owner, a trip to this 175-acre facility is like being a kid in a candy store. With most major engine and accessory OEMs on-site along with Bluewater Yacht Sales’ bevy of new & pre-owned boats, many other marine businesses join Jarrett Bay’s 35-acre operations hub at the core to give rise to what makes this a premier marine hub on the East Coast. The dream of this one stop shop and service facility, as Ramsey calls it, began long ago on the Southern Outer Banks where the Tar Heel state got its flare.

Born in Kinston, N.C., as a teen Randy and his family moved to Harker’s Island. “I was amazed by the fishermen there building these fantastic looking boats in their backyards. Boatbuilders like James and Earl Rose, James Gillikin, the Lewis brothers, Ray Davis, Calvin Rose, Julian and Will Guthrie thrived as boatbuilding flourished in the area. Other craftsmen like Myron “Ace” Harris, a local charter Captain, would build a boat a year during the off season; And most are still plying waters near & far.”

Carolina’s backyard boat building tradition started in the early 1900s with men building boats with flared bows to deflect water from the rough seas. By the late 1950s, Harker’s Island and Outer Banks builders were transitioning from building commercial to recreational offshore fishing boats for charter and personal use.

For a young man for whom fishing meant everything, “I couldn’t get enough of the atmosphere,” Ramsey recalls. On the island, his father “Cab” managed a small marina and motel before starting East’ard Variety Store, a general store that sold everything from bread to bottom paint to the surrounding remote community. Randy quickly became immersed in sportfishing. After spending his teens in the cockpit as a mate, he sat for

Jarrett Bay’s World-Class Ascension from Shed to Mega Facility

By Jan Fogt


his captain’s license on the day of his 18th birthday. Ramsey fished with some of the area’s most respected captains like Myron Harris, who area captains regarded as the commodore of the Carteret County fleet for his wisdom and longevity. “He was our Omie Tillett,” said Ramsey. “When it was too rough to fish, Harris and his son Buddy built boats for other captains, boats that were efficient and soft riding and fast for their time.”

Ramsey discovered the downside to being a Carolina charter captain is the limited fishing season. “If you’re lucky, you might fish 125 days a year,” said Ramsey, who supplemented his living with guided duck hunts and by working at Harris Boatworks, laying up hulls. “I learned to cut frames and bring juniper boards to life for Myron and boatbuilders like Ray Davis, who was across the creek in Marshallberg. Because of his workmanship, Davis boats set standards for boats owned and fished by top anglers up and down the East Coast.” Randy continued, “Along with his son Edward and grandson Gary, currently our head of new boat construction at Jarrett Bay, Ray was a guiding angel. Everyday he’d stop by on his bike to check on our project, offering assistance and support. That’s why we try to pay it back with other builders.”

It was however the mystique of Oregon Inlet fishing legend Omie Tillett’s fast, seaworthy Sportsman that had the most influence on this 20-something year old. Along with Capt. Warren O’Neal, Ramsey credits Tillett with creating the modern day Carolina sportfisher. Tillett says his boats were an homage to Rybovich and Sons of West Palm Beach which is where the inspiration began for the graceful, seaworthy hulls he created and that other Carolina builders emulated. “Omie’s Sportsman Boats in Wanchese was a stepping stone for builders like me,” explains Ramsey. “He merged Rybovich and Carolina design, which changed everything from the bottom profile to the look of the boats and construction techniques. Along with the broken sheer, he merged with the Harker’s Island flare and raised deck, also borrowed from Rybovich - it was a game changer.”

In the fall of 1983, Ramsey showed up at Tillett’s dock at Oregon Inlet chartering the captain for the day. The two men loaded the fishbox with tuna and on the way home encountered rough seas. Impressed by the boat’s speed and dry, soft ride Ramsey knew this was the boat he wanted to build for himself. By this time Ramsey and fellow Down East captain Jim Luxton were co-hosting the Harker’s Island Fishing School, educating hundreds of anglers about local offshore fishing techniques

and boats. Listening to Ramsey wax poetic about Tillett’s Sportsman and how they should team up to build a boat

like it, Luxton was on board. In 1986 they turned up in Wanchese to “pick” Tillett’s brain. “Omie was

as open about his boat building and design ideas as others had once been with him. He even shared life lesson nuggets about the business, construction methods and how he sourced materials.” There they met Glenn “Peanut” Haught, who was studying to become a naval architect, and who charged them $400 for a one page plan for the first Jarrett Bay,

a plank on frame boat that was epoxy glued and finished in AwlGrip - all fairly new to

Carolina boat builders in 1986, adds Ramsey.

“After visiting Sportsman Boat Works the vision of building a boat to compete with anything

in the Carolina fishing fleet in terms of speed, ride and amenities was solidifed. What we lacked was financing.”

Among their regular fishing clients then were successful Winston-Salem businessmen Gene Vogler and Bucky Dennis, who were approached for a loan. “I’m still amazed by their interest in our proposition. They welcomed us with respect, listened to the pitch and eventually agreed to back us. Of course they asked a lot of questions but in the end funded the $95,000 we needed to build Sensation, the boat that started it all. They


not only gave us our start, they taught us how one person can make a difference in the life of another; that dreams can become reality. It’s a life lesson I’ve never forgotten.”

Most Carolina boats for hire then were about 45-feet. At 53 feet, Sensation was one of the biggest and radical in terms of its tumblehome sides, fiberglass cloth and epoxy glue planking and shiny polyurethane paint finish. Still fishing as a charter boat 30 years later, even before its completion Sensation created just that. Randy had not aspired to build boats full time, but after multiple orders including his first double planked, cold molded hull, that’s what happened. Over the next ten years, they completed 20 hulls and added a repair facility to service local charter boats and those of clients. Ambitious and looking ahead, Ramsey saw nothing but a good future building boats but Luxton had other plans. He wanted to pursue his goal of becoming an educator, said Ramsey, who

bought him out. “It was tough to see him go because Jim had a great eye for detail. His vision and confidence got us through some hard times. But he had his own dreams. He returned to college and got his degree.”

From the start, the Jarrett Bay team strove to build a client’s vision of the perfect boat, establishing relationships that have prevailed in good times and bad. “It’s always been about our client’s vision of their perfect fishing boat with our input and expertise.” Builder’s Choice is an example of Jarrett

Bay’s commitment to that – a relationship with the Huddle family that dates to 1989 and the early days of Jarrett Bay Boatworks that has seen four boats built for three generations.

“Jack Huddle was a contractor who also ran his own private 29-foot Phoenix out of the same marina I was fishing from then. “After hearing that we were building something special, Jack stopped by. Before he left, he said, ‘how do I get one of these boats?’ After giving us the basics of what he wanted in the 43-footer he envisioned and hearing our offer to build it for $12 per hour plus a 10 percent markup on materials, we shook hands. That’s been our sealed contract ever since.”

“Back then, we built boats from an old pole barn in Williston that we paid $250 a month in rent for,” Ramsey recalls. “We were so naïve we didn’t even have a name for the company until the guy that sold us epoxy told us we needed one for delivery purposes. That’s when we came up with Jarrett Bay for the body of water we were located on. Seeing our facilities or lack there of, the dirt floor,

holes in the roof and walls, in 1992, in the middle of the luxury tax when every boat builder was suffering, Jack decided we needed to move. We of course didn’t have the money for a building so he made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. Mr. Huddle purchased three acres in Marshallberg and put up a 60 by 80 foot building, charging the same rent we’d been paying until we got on our feet. Three years later, after the tax was repealed and we were busting at the seams with three boats going at once, he bought adjacent land and a Travel-Lift, and built a second building which he sold us without even asking for a down payment. As we’ve grown, Jack Huddle’s


Trader Construction Company has been our only contractor, including here at the Industrial Park.”

What weather is to a farmer, recessions and economic slow downs are to boat builders. With an excellent reputation and loyal customer following, Jarrett Bay has survived it all over the past 30 years. That said, one of biggest challenges is finding skilled workers. “I don’t care if you are a boat builder in Florida or New Jersey it’s the same for all of us.” That’s why Ramsey developed a relationship with former Carteret County’s economic director Don Kirkman, to discuss ideas to train people for the workforce. “He stopped by to talk about job training one day and during our discussion mentioned there was a 175-acre parcel with a couple of buildings that he thought would make a terrific marine industrial park. My wheels started turning. I completely bought into his concept and got our banking partners on board as well,” said Ramsey, who purchased the facility with his own funds with the idea of creating the marine industrial park Kirkman envisioned as a job creator. To Ramsey however, it was also a location Jarrett Bay could keep expanding into.

With Jarrett Bay as the anchor tenant, he started signing up others he shared relationships with like Gregory Poole, North Carolina’s Caterpillar distributor, Western Branch Diesel – MTU & Westerbeke, and others. “It just snowballed. We have two marine electronics companies here now, aluminum & fiberglass fabricators, all the major engine distributors, other builders and soft goods companies. It’s been exciting seeing it take off and a neat thing to offer boaters a one stop shop because all these businesses feed off one another. You know,

when we relocated from Marshallberg to Beaufort 18 years ago we had 40 employees working out

of 9,700 square feet of buildings. Today, we have 175 employees working from a complex of 135,000 square feet where we build and refit boats and service what we sell.”

Without actually planning it, Ramsey has diversified his business interests from charter fishing to boat building to one of the East Coast’s

most successful yacht brokerages. Like much that has happened in his life, it was serendipity.

“I was sitting in my office about 14 years ago when Bill Naumann, then the president of Hatteras

Yachts, walks in. I’m thinking, ‘he must be coming to buy me out.’ What he wanted was for us to become a Hatteras dealer. That’s how Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales came to be. After, we added Albermarle and Grand Banks. That led to us growing our presence at brokerage boat shows and really getting to know Chris and Earl Hall and Jud Black of Bluewater Yacht Sales – dealer for Viking Yachts, Regulator, Jupiter & many others. Being around them at shows and tournaments, we developed a friendship. Eventually one of us suggested that we might be more successful together than as competitors, so we became partners three and a half years ago. In our short time together, our 50-plus brokers from Maryland to Florida sell nearly 400 new & pre-owned boats a year,” he adds. Being a partner in the largest yacht brokerage on the Mid-Atlantic is a good thing, but building and servicing boats remains my core business and always will be, adds Ramsey, who will soon launch a 90-footer - the largest Jarrett Bay so far.

The state of the art fishing yacht was an exciting challenge.

~ Continued on page 22 ~


“We did a lot of research prior to starting construction, more than I’ve ever done for any project I’ve been involved in. Some of the things we’ve done during the construction of this boat have never been tried before. The stringer system was designed and built using substantial amounts of carbon fiber for added strength and weight savings; the same can be said about our use of Titanium in place of bronze and stainless steel for many of the components, as well as a new cutting-edge, lighter weight fairing compound from Alexseal Yacht Coatings. All combined to yield what will surely be stronger, faster and lighter than anything in her class.”

An 84-footer also is currently under construction for the owner of what Ramsey calls his “game changing” 77 originally named “Blank Check”. “That boat opened people’s eyes about our hulls and their performance. It’s been a great platform for anyone that’s fished it. In 2013 it won two of the first three tournaments it competed in along with the July 4 round-the

globe Blue Marlin World Cup off Bermuda with a 668-pounder that I was proud to witness. Its next owner, Lainey Jones won the Bermuda Triple Crown in 2015 on the boat, now Mama Who.

That same 77’ also attracted the attention of the owner building the 90-footer. “Every boat we build is a one of a kind custom boat tailored to the customer’s needs and dreams. That’s what appealed to this buyer and to most of our customers. Relationships are the cornerstone of Jarrett’s Bay’s success. Out of the more than 60 custom boats we’ve built, most were built by repeat customers, the Huddle family being a perfect example. Sure, we’ve survived challenging times but there’s always been someone to believe in us. So when I look around at a complex like this, 175 acres of marine businesses, it’s humbling.” A drone’s eye view of Ramsey’s Jarrett Bay Industrial Marine Park is a breathtaking scene to behold indeed.

~ Continued from page 20 ~

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