The bottoms of all of our fiberglass lids were polished. What, Engineered to travel off the beaten track in total. The 305 is following that same concept; it has a very unique stern design. Digital switching, we were one of the first companies to build digital from analog as far as wiring. I certainly wish a lot more consumers would pay attention to their investment and not just what the salesman says or the big and shiny boat you see at the boat show because it is a big investment. Q: This segment has been one of the few weve seen make a rebound. Scout was founded with a handful of employees and a couple of molds in a small brick building back in 1989 by Steve and his wife Dianne Potts. We congratulate them on their $2.5 million investment and 300 new jobs." -Gov. Preparing Steve's profile View Steve's Email & Phone (It's . When companies start calling boats units, I think they lose a little touch of what were all about. SUMMERVILLE, S.C. Scout Boats, Inc. has signed an all-inclusive multi-year contract with Orlando, Fla.-based Higher Advertising, Inc., the marketing . Hes actually better at design and design cues than I am, which, not too long ago, I wouldnt have admitted. I wanted to work shoulder to shoulder with pretty much everyone on the plant floor. Share on Facebook Its a much cleaner process. The 330 LXF is a new model that stands on its own, Steve Potts says. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Stevie Potts was Great place to learn and build your future like to come back and further my career if your willing to work to grow scout boats is the place for you and your parents Was this review helpful? It was our goal to build the best outboard- powered center console that was available on the market. 2023 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2023). The company has been in business since 1991 and has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship. For 50 years Ive had my hands on my craft, and on building a successful business. Potts Jr.: A lot of things we did on that boat came from listening to customers, and some of the things they like or dont like about their boats. Things were going well, and we were very profitable and the next big challenge that hit us was the Great Recession. Get introduced. Potts Sr.: Stevie and I have not always seen eye to eye. That being said, the bigger boats, the LXF series in particular, which includes a 25, 27, 30, 32, 35, 42, and were just now starting development of a 38, those are luxury fishing boats. And if youre looking for a boat that can handle rough waters, Scouts deep-V hull is up to the task. We will not vacate the small boats, just because we have always had the philosophy that we want to keep people in our brand. The 420 LXF is the sixth model in this category to date, headlining the 255, 275, 300, 320 and 350 LXF models. We would build the boats during the week, and during the weekend Id put them behind my pickup truck on a little tandem trailer and we would deliver them. You alluded to competitors, but there arent many in this larger center console coastal fishing boat space. Washington -- Dianne Feinstein, the press' "raven-haired beauty" of the early 1960s who sailed alone in San Francisco Bay's treacherous waters, has become, at age 79, an institution in California . 10/15/2021 12:00:00 AM | General Government Relations. "There seems to be two center console worlds - the hardcore fishing world and the cruising world," says Scout Boats president Steve Potts. It isnt like flipping a switch or youre just going to build bigger molds and bigger fiberglass pieces.Thats probably going to limit the number of people getting into it. Were conservative about the ramp-up on something. Scout Boats: The Story Behind the Marine Industry Leader Contributing Partner October 18, 2016 Yachts Scout Boats was founded by South Carolina-resident Steve Potts - a man that continues to this day to be on the shop floor daily working on the models - back in 1989. 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved, Annual Branded-Content Special Advertising Sections. Scouts built a reputation for being first-to-market with innovations throughout its history, and the 420 carries the company philosophy forward with perks like the optional hydraulic port side beach platform with stowable pocket ladder ideal for boarding/de-boarding safely away from the transom and engines and the optional three Garmin 17 or 19 touch screens at the helm. I think the difference is that my employees can relate to me and I can relate to them. He and his wife, Dianne, began building 14- and 15-foot boats out of a brick barn in 1989. Access for service to the main systems on the 420 is made easy with the help of a midship systems room and a stern accessible room. Steve Potts Email Address . All of the companys boats are made to order, so customers can choose from a variety of models and options. From humble beginnings and throughout our nearly 25 years, we've built upon our growing heritage. He is a member of famous with the age 54 years old group. Steve Potts, CEO and founder of Scout Boats, is a man with a vision. For more information on Scout and any of its innovative model lineup; to request a brochure, quote or test drive; or to build your own Scout model, visit www.scoutboats.com today. He has served on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations, including the Coastal Conservation Association and Take Stock in Children. Today, the company operates from a more than 350,000-square-foot complex of four facilities plants A, B, C and D in Summerville, producing more than two dozen fiberglass models from 17 to 53 feet. If someone wants to tournament-fish, they can. The 420 also provides customizable features for its owner, such as custom painted engines and a SureShade integrated retractable awning. In 2019, CEO Steve Potts says, it will be closer to about 700. Working in various jobs, from a ground-level employee as a teenager to a plant manager for American Sail, he always knew that one day he would go off and do his own thing. Blue Compass Divers . Scout Boats, Inc. warrants to the Original Purchaser that the hull and deck of the boat will be free from manufacturing defects for a period of FIVE (5) YEARS from the date of purchase by the Original Purchaser.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'boatingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Yamahas Scout Boat is a versatile watercraft thats perfect for both fishing and recreation. scout boats inc. Jan 1990 - Present33 years 1 month. Everything we do has its signature appeal to it as far as being a departure from the norm. I dont know that consumers want to labor over a boat. Steve Potts Scout Boats Net Worth: $5 Million Plant C is where we build our LXZ models, and in D, those boats are highly customized. For 50 years Ive had my hands on my craft, and on building a successful business. And then Hurricane Hugo hit, on the 22nd of September 1989. If its a young couple out of school just starting their careers and their budget means theyre going to be able to get a 17-foot boat, as long as were doing our job we want to be there for them. Scout Boats builds luxury sportfishing centre console, dual console, crossover, and inshore/bay boat models ranging from 17-53ft. Obviously our revenues going to grow quite a bit because of the introduction of the 42 and the 38 and some of these other bigger models. Thats just the opposite here. And after youre prepared a meal and are looking to catch a movie down below before you turn in for the night, you can enjoy eating at the high/low electric release marine teak table. The longstanding Summerville, SC boatbuilder has been an industry staple since their arrival in 1988, and in recent years have been systematically increasing in size -- both in terms of boat lengths and their production capability -- particularly within their luxury yacht offering. Stainless accents can be found throughout, while two single beds come together to make one large King berth. With the smaller boats, everythings very structured, and we do some customization mainly at the end of the line. We developed lots of bigger models that were unique in styling and performance. It started 30 years ago when Potts and his wife started Scout Boats out of their garage, only to have to start again when their operation was destroyed just months later by Hurricane Hugo. The Company offers flat and bay, fish-n-ski, express, and center console boats. We are very transparent and very inspirational. Its what we like. But dont let that fool you into thinking that theyre not up to par with other boats on the market. We have always been a family owned-and-operated company, and Im proud to say our Scout family is comprised of both blood and non-blood individuals., Ive always seen myself as a visionary, and my role as CEO will allow me to focus much more on that aspect, but in no way does it take me away from Scout, add Potts. Has that approach resonated with people other than anglers? Famous for her roles in "Ghostbusters" in 1984, "Pretty in Pink" in 1986, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" in 1986, "Who's Harry Crumb?" in 1989 and "Ghostbusters II" in 1989. Ive heard you say that Scout is venturing into some larger models. This Policy will be referenced by all such mobile applications or mobile optimized websites. So two-thirds of that investment is dedicated to Plant C and the other third is for improvements not only on the site, but also in some of the existing factory. The builder now uses epoxy for its larger boats. "We've married the two worlds with this design." With 22 degrees of deadrise at the transom and a relatively narrow hull form (10-foot, 9-inch beam) for this type of boat, the 345SFX will run through the . Again, Ive learned what not to do. SCOUT BOATS, INC. It had to be built lighter and stronger, and thats where we started using a hefty amount of carbon fiber and epoxy with the superstructure and the hull. Having been in the marine industry since I was 14, I knew that one day I wanted to do my own thing and apply all the things Id learned to do and learned not to do. We had aggressively grown double digits every year. Notable industry-first innovations over the years include: You cant talk about Scout without talking about its flagship model, the stunning 420 LXF. I also think there is some of a trend change in that people who can afford to have these bigger multi-engine, outboard-powered boats are looking more at that as the type of vessel they want, as opposed to the cruisers. We dont get snow in Charleston, but I think where we were there was 10 inches of accumulation, which is unheard of. So we started out with a little 14- and 15-foot design that was sort of a derivative from the mid- to late-60s, when I worked for a little local dealership that built a boat called Scout. At the end of the day, being a business thats very labor-intensive, its about how well we deal with human behavior. Underwater deck and bow cameras are available as well as underwater LED lights. Scout Boats, Inc. manufactures, markets, and designs fishing and family fun boats. Experience. Net Worth in 2023: $10 million. Q: Youre adding factory space. Length 7.44 m 10 Passengers. I didnt know any way to go about it other than the old-fashioned way, which was to do side jobs, work and put as much money away as I possibly could. A lot of what we did on that boat was outside of what were used to, but we partnered up with these great people, and it turned out great. Potts Jr.: It makes for a much cleaner environment, too. We discuss our information collection practices below. You take the whole room thats completely done and drop it into the liner, drop the console on top, and tap it all together. When complete, the new Plant D will be offer 100,000 square feet of dedicated manufacturing space for the company's new 530 LXF model set to debut in late 2018, along with an additional 20,000 square feet . Our main building is approximately 180,000 square feet. Scout Boats Location 2531 Hwy 78 W, Summerville, South Carolina, 29483, United States Description Read More Industry Motor Vehicle Dealers Retail Discover more about Scout Boats Q: How do Scouts hold up for resale? The Volvo Penta parent posted FY22 sales of $45.2 billion, with the marine segment delivering 17,924 engine units. Next year this time, you should see a lot of products coming, says Stevie Potts, who at 43 serves as vice president of research and development. Heres what you need to know about the Scout 42:The Scout 42 is a luxurious cruising yacht that was designed with comfort in mind. Scout Boats is one of the few remaining family-owned designers and manufacturers of high-end, luxury fishing boats in the 17 - 53 range. Steve Potts (center) works with the design team, including Stevie (seated, right of his dad). So we were leaning toward a pilothouse, but we didnt want to do a pilothouse. In the hotly contested and competitive market were in, theres so many choices, sometimes its just that one wow factor that wins them over. Our goal is to provide you with an experience that delivers the information, resources and services that are helpful to you. A $40 million yacht belonging to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was untied from its mooring at a Lake Huron marina, police said. Copyright 2023 Great Lakes Boating | Published by Harris Publishing, Inc. Owner @ Scout Boats Inc. Scout Boats 251 XS. Nobody would spend the time and energy and effort doing something that complex in the side of a center console. And it was a big hit. The provisions of this Policy apply to all such mobile access and use of mobile devices. As you get into plant B, which builds from 27 feet up to 35 feet, those are more customized. As an Amazon Associate, We may earn from qualifying purchases. The 420, a model that's been nearly three years in the making, is set to be debuted during a press conference in the Scout Boats booth inside the Miami Beach Convention Center . Scout Boats employs over 400 team members at the Summerville facility.The companys commitment to quality craftsmanship is evident in every aspect of the manufacturing process. It allows me to focus on what the next three, five and 10-year plan is for the company. Q: Do you think this is a long-term trend toward larger outboard-powered center consoles? They currently produce 23 models ranging from 17-53. Standard features throughout include a full transom walk-thru platform (with optional dive ladder); a side boarding door; gas shock-assisted hatches; flush mount cleats and rod holders; port and starboard floor fish boxes with overboard diaphragm discharge; a patented powder coated hardtop with curved glass enclosure; under hardtop/under gunnel LED lighting; a three-person aft facing cockpit seat; two retractable fresh water hoses; a retractable raw water hose; and Eco-Teak swim platform, transom door, bow table and helm footrest, just to name a few. 0 for charter 2 for sale. Soundings Trade Only caught up with Potts to ask him about starting his boatbuilding business with the $50,000 he was able to squirrel away in the 1980s, and working a night job repairing fiberglass bathtubs and during the day as plant manager at American Sail. He has an estimated net worth of $5 million. In that building we have what we call Plant A and Plant B. We also got details about the expansion Scout is undergoing to begin production of its largest boats ever a 38-footer and a 42-footer. Scout Boats continues to up the ante. Thats just speculation, but thats what we hear. The biggest thing for me is not having the title of the bosss son and being privileged to get to a management position. If you have difficulty accessing features or functions on this website, email us at [email protected] and we will work with you to provide the information you seek and/or call our customer service line at 843-821-0068. If our Policy changes in the future, we will notify our customers and website users of any such changes by posting an updated policy on our website. When you get somebody that spends the kind of money that is spent on our models and theyve experienced an automobile thats in and around that same budgeted price, every other thing theyre exposed to [is more user-friendly]. Thats a very unique-looking boat. Q: How is your work force projected to grow? We have a lot of customers who would have a deposit or production slot slated for them, and would come to factory, especially plant D, to see other boats in production and get some ideas on what they wanted to have. Steve Pottsmoves full time toCEOof the company, Dave Wallacehas been namedPresident, William Fergusonhas been promoted toVice President of Manufacturing,Courtney Guicehas elevated toAdministrative Vice President andStevie PottsisVice President of Product Development & Engineering. 4.5K views, 99 likes, 2 loves, 3 comments, 25 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Scout Boats: Our owner Steve Potts breaks down the difference between Scout and other boat builders, focusing on. Led lights, so customers can choose from a variety of models and options not long. We have what we call plant a and plant B, which is unheard of in this larger console. And if youre looking for a boat that can handle rough waters, Scouts deep-V hull up. 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