With larger facility, Southport Boats plans to double production
After relocating from Augusta into a much-larger vacant warehouse in South Gardiner at the end of 2017, Southport Boats is anticipating it will be able to almost double its production of fiberglass powerboats this year.
The Kennebec Journal reported that Southport Boats, which was purchased in August 2017 by Tuxedo Yachts, a holding company created to acquire luxury-oriented boat businesses, moved into 55,000 square foot building that more than triples the production area of its former site in the Kenway Corp. complex in Augusta.
As a result, Southport Boats COO George Menezes told the newspaper that he expects to build at least 50 boats this year, compared to 28 boats in 2017. He also plans to add 15 to 18 workers to the company’s workforce of 45 employees (which grew by 10 employees just before the move to Gardiner).
“We have a backlog that will take us through July,” Menezes said. “A lot of the boats are already paid for.”
Last August, when the acquisition by Tuxedo Yachts was announced, Menezes told Mainebiz that the move to the larger facility would enable Southport Boats to develop designs for larger boats, with hull sizes up to 42 feet. Current it builds high-quality center console boats using a vacuum-infusion composite manufacturing process, in hulls sizes of 27, 29 and 33 feet.
"Everyone on our team is excited as our innovations will continue to provide and meet increased demand for the highest fit and finish center consoles on the market," he said at that time.
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