Scout has revolutionized the coastal fish boat market. The 277 LXF follows suit. Meaning, once the founder has moved on and is in their twilight years, they step away from it and theres not the youth behind them. Its Miami launch will be part of a. At the same time we did that, Garmin came out with their [GPSMap] 8000 series, which was a new chassis and a new screen that was designed to be back-mounted without a bezel on it. But dont let that fool you into thinking that theyre not up to par with other boats on the market. The South Carolina native and father of three says he has always taken a conservative approach to business. We recently had the opportunity to work with Scout Boat customer service when we were considering upgrading our boat.We found them to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and they made the entire process easy and stress-free. Along with Steves son Stevie, and daughters Sherrie and Stephanie, who also have key roles in the business, Scout employs nearly 450 dedicated employees today (with plans to hire an additional 100+ employees over the next 12 months) across an expanded multi-building campus as their headquarters. Q: With all Scouts growth, how has production changed? Paul Potts, the winner of Britain's Got Talent is an opera singer & performer. Were going to continue to build a very diverse model mix. Scout Boats CEO & Founder Steve Potts will unveil the company's new flagship and LXF fleet leader - the 420 LXF - at this year's Miami International Boat Show. When I graduated high school, I didnt go to college. Stainless accents can be found throughout, while two single beds come together to make one large King berth. Earlier this week, NMMA members Scout Boats and Sportsman Boats welcomed Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC-01) to an on-water showcase of their respective products made in Summerville, South Carolina. 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. Link in, The demand for luxury boating experiences and o, Business jets all have one major drawback. In the hotly contested and competitive market were in, theres so many choices, sometimes its just that one wow factor that wins them over. 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. All these T-tops had always been made out of round tubing and straight sticks, and we put curve in our T-tops. The builder now uses epoxy for its larger boats. We had aggressively grown double digits every year. The Volvo Penta parent posted FY22 sales of $45.2 billion, with the marine segment delivering 17,924 engine units. The answer may surprise you The 330 LXF is a new model that stands on its own, Steve Potts says. Scout Boats broke ground this week on an all-new 120,000-square-foot manufacturing plant at its Summerville, South Carolina facility. A native of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Representative Mace is currently in her first . I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Join Us At The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction Jan. 22-30! Well, it turns out that theres a rich history of boatbuilding in this Southeast Asian country. Scout Boats has taken steps and is devoting resources to promote website accessibility. The 12.8-metre 420 LXF is Scout's largest fishing boat. Required fields are marked *. But people wanted to live for the moment. Scout Boats are manufactured in South Carolina, USA. It takes a lot of infrastructure for you to be a player in that style of boat. 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. Are you expanding your current footprint or adding buildings? Software Engineering Manager and Technical Lead of cross-functional full-stack software engineering teams with responsibility for delivering, maintaining, and operationally supporting systems that are the backbone of ultra high visitor volume websites (+25M unique/day). Scout is one of the most respected boat builders in the marine industry, not only due to their cutting edge innovations, but also by the way they run their company and treat their employees. 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. The companys most recent expansion, a $13 million project, is for production of the 530 LXF flagship. We had the console mostly built. I used that same analogy. Fortunately, weve only had four positive tests, which is beating the odds in our county and state. Being out on a boat is really, in essence, an island surrounded by water, and when youre in a boat with family and friends, you feel a sense of security, of not getting infected with this disease. The running surface is second to none. Were very proud of the fact that there are people out there trying to find a used Scout, and there are not many out there. We have estimated Steve Potts's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets. Steve Potts moves full time to CEO of the company, Dave Wallace has been named President, William Ferguson has been promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing, Courtney Guice has elevated to Administrative Vice President and Stevie Potts is Vice President of Product Development & Engineering. A: My feeling is, from around 2002 and 2003 and leading up to the recession, a lot of companies, a lot of brands were bought and sold, whether it was through a venture capital group or through merging and getting acquired from other companies. 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. Voice of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie & Superior It was a brick building with a galvanized roof. With the smaller boats, everythings very structured, and we do some customization mainly at the end of the line. Down below, the appointments resemble the elegance of those on a private jet. Obviously, we cant control what happens when they leave here, but we did our part in making sure there was a safe environment for employees to work. A younger Potts races an early-model Scout back in the day. Timeless styling, sleek aesthetics and technology are three main pillars of this flagship. Then we came up with the idea of how to enclose it, but kind of make it a convertible. Our goal is to provide you with an experience that delivers the information, resources and services that are helpful to you. Thats how we got started. We review everything with our employees. It evolved from there. That show was kind of a depressed show, but when we came away we had list of 31 dealers that wanted to sell our little boats. We will not vacate the small boats, just because we have always had the philosophy that we want to keep people in our brand. I was living my dream and paying bills and making ends meet and doing little things when I had time to develop different and bigger models. When youre infusing something, youre not getting spray guns out and rollers and suiting up. The company initially operated out of a small garage, but it has since grown into a major operation with over 200 employees and annual sales in excess of $50 million. Ralph O. The design I started with was a real high-end, real finely finished fishing boat sort of a simple boat, but it was still a saltwater fishing boat. But in addition to the building, were expanding our parking lot. How gracefully that brand ages and the reputation of the brand is really tied to what their investment and resale value would be. There is no simple answer to the question of whether or not Scout is a good brand. From the helm and the key fob, the owner can control features throughout the model with the help of C-Zone digital switching technology as well. A: It was a very humble beginning just myself, my wife [Dianne] and a helper, literally in a brick barn or a garage. Can you speak to that? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That approach enabled Scout to enter the Great Recession debt-free. Has that approach resonated with people other than anglers? The SeaQuest, a 164-foot luxury yacht, registered under a . 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. There are very few disadvantages that you see with the big stay-in-the-water-type boats. Early on, we were scrutinized, especially by our competition, that it was too pretty. That makes Scout something of an outlier in the boat building business, government data shows. Same thing with the 215 Dorado. These bigger boats we build, we work with Molly Ditzler at Vectorply. Its a neater, cleaner operation. In a lot of cases our industry goes back two and three decades in technology, even so much as analog wiring. I was really trying to earn money to buy a car. They currently produce 23 models ranging from 17-53. Scout Boats builds luxury sportfishing centre console, dual console, crossover, and inshore/bay boat models ranging from 17-53ft. And if youre looking for a boat that can handle rough waters, Scouts deep-V hull is up to the task. Steve Potts (center) works with the design team, including Stevie (seated, right of his dad). Hall will oversee day-to-day operations for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based repair and refit business. Digital switching, we were one of the first companies to build digital from analog as far as wiring. The 420 LXF is the sixth model in this category to date, headlining the 255, 275, 300, 320 and 350 LXF models. We put the pieces back together. Oceanside real estate just claimed new territory. Hall will oversee day-to-day operations for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based repair and refit business. Scout was one of the early companies to build creature comforts into fishing boats. 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. Scout Boats are made in Charleston, South Carolina. 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. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Corporation Service Company and is located at 2626 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 550, Raleigh, NC 27608 . It will be interesting to see what happens. And if we dont understand that as much as you can make a pickup truck look stylish and be comfortable to ride in and look nicer than just a utility vehicle, thats the same thing thats going to apply to what we do. Scout Boats, Inc. manufactures, markets, and designs fishing and family fun boats. 5 Common Problems With Scout Boats: 1. Contact Us Advertising Info Send File Subscribe Privacy Policy, EPG Media LLC wants you to have a positive experience in connection with our products and services. Share on Twitter 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. Scout Boats is part of the Automobile Dealers industry, and located in South Carolina, United States. The flybridge provides ample seating and excellent visibility.And when it comes to performance, this boat does not disappoint she cruises at 18 knots and has a range of over 350 miles. Today, were taking a look at where Scout boats are made. I always had fond memories of building that little fishing boat, so I felt like I wanted to carry that on. Steve Potts,. Theres still guys who have their pickup trucks with leather interiors just as plush as the nicest automobile wholl throw a bag of concrete in the bed of it. From the beginning, we made the decision that we were going to hand-lay everything we built. Thats just the opposite here. Theres one hydraulic spinner that makes it do four or five different things. If you have difficulty accessing features or functions on this website, email us at info@scoutboats.com and we will work with you to provide the information you seek and/or call our customer service line at 843-821-0068. When we started, I knew the business model had to be something very simple and conservative. 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. Scout Boats is the leading independent boat manufacturer in the recreational marine industry. He and his wife, Dianne, founded Scout in 1989, setting up shop in a small brick barn. You dont need anything different. 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? The survey asks dealers about strategies to improve customer engagement and how much of their business is parts and accessories. We started sculpturing the seating and introducing some new contrasting colors and doing a lot of things like that. 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. 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 also had an idea to eliminate some of that aluminum structure in the back, and having a cleaner look that blends into the console and the deck. That boat was built for five or six years. We worked with an Italian company that helped us design the interior. Today and since 2009 Scout has had, on average, better than 25 percent annual growth. I spent the next 30 years driving Scout to new levels, not only self teaching myself business and management along the way, but learning that surrounding yourself with like-minded, driven individuals was crucial to continued success. He and his wife, Dianne, began building 14- and 15-foot boats out of a brick barn in 1989. As an industry, one of the things weve really tackled is doing some different things with the features, having the electrical and electronic systems be more integrated so its more like other consumer products. We had the business going from February 1989 and had a handful of dealers seven or eight in the Carolinas. 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 . Sietse van der Zee has more than 20 years of boatbuilding experience, including stints at Mulder, Verolme, Damen and Feadship. Q: This segment has been one of the few weve seen make a rebound. In fact, some of the smallest companies grew share the most. What, Engineered to travel off the beaten track in total. It was really myself, my wife, and at the time my 12-year-old son, who today is the vice president of development, and my 9-year-old daughter. Theyve got a 3- by 5-inch smartphone that can do 10 times more than you got on a boat, so the boat seems antiquated and dated because its not condensed and user-friendly. Then I just sort of fell into R&D working with my dad and one other guy sanding plugs. We formed a partnership with Garmin and Power Products, which at the time was making the CZone systems, and went digital with our bigger boats. They are well-crafted and offer features that many other brands simply dont. It allows me to focus on what the next three, five and 10-year plan is for the company. Q: How is your work force projected to grow? The number of boats we produce will increase moderately, but not nearly as much as the revenue side because the bigger boats have so many more dollars in them. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl. 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. The fact is that we as boatbuilders cant expect consumers to think like we think. Dubbed "Project Everest" by Scout's staff, the boating behemoth will arrive amid a 35,000-square-foot expansion at the manufacturing site along U.S. Highway 78. Even though we add the plushness to them, you can still hose them out and not have to baby them. 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. This site has features that require javascript. Dave has been my right hand for 22 years running the day-to-day operations, and its only fitting that he assumes the role of president for the company hes been so crucial in helping grow for more than two decades.. The salon is bright and airy, thanks to large windows and skylights.The galley is well-equipped, and theres plenty of storage throughout the boat. Thats a very unique-looking boat. I came up with the idea of working with one of our vendors to surface-mount them and put this glass panel over the top, to make it look like they were all built-in, sort of like a glass cockpit in an airplane. Epoxy is a different animal in that its got to be post-cured. Weve got nearly 400 employees, so we furloughed them for two weeks paid them to stay home and had management staff come in and make our facility Centers for Disease Control compliant. Potts started Scout Boats in 1989 with his brother, Scott. From the very first 14-footer to the now expansive offering of more than 20 class-leading models ranging from 17- 42, one of the many consistent items that sets Scout apart from other manufacturers is product quality. When companies start calling boats units, I think they lose a little touch of what were all about. I have done what they do, and I know what its like when they go home. We started hearing more from people who say they want a center console sometimes, and sometimes they want more protection. In 2021, the company began exploring beyond their typical range with the . Our bilges were polished. Steve Potts, CEO and founder of Scout Boats, is a man with a vision. No one else in the industry has even come close. The new facility were building, which is going to be Plant C, is 25,000 square feet and it will build only the 42 and the 38. A: Having a conservative philosophy about growing the business, the facility that we have now is all under one roof and it was built in five phases. They own the land they sit on, the buildings on this land, and even the transportation that delivers the models. I had a huge passion with design. Structural Info Filmography Profession Actor, Composer, Soundtrack Actor Composer Soundtrack Self Known for movies 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. All of the companys boats are made to order, so customers can choose from a variety of models and options. Scout Boats president and CEO Steve Potts launched the South Carolina company with $50,000 he managed to scrimp and save while working a night job repairing fiberglass bathtubs, and a day job as plant manager at American Sail. 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. About Scout Boats: Scout builds sportfishing, fish 'n ski, walk around, flats and bay boat models ranging from 15' to 35'. Headquartered in Summerville, South Carolina, the company constructs high-performance luxury center console boats as well as sportfishing boats and bay boats. Over 400 hours were put into testing the epoxy-infused double stepped hull developed for this model. In fact, Scout Boats have won numerous awards for their design and performance.So why Thailand? SUMMERVILLE, S.C. Scout Boats, Inc. has signed an all-inclusive multi-year contract with Orlando, Fla.-based Higher Advertising, Inc., the marketing . Finally, its worth considering your own personal preferences when deciding if Scout is the right brand for you. Already a subscriber? The provisions of this Policy apply to all such mobile access and use of mobile devices. Length 7.77 m. Scout 275. 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. Which one would you choose? Scout Boats A wide variety of inshore and offshore boats that are both powerful and stylish. scout boats inc. Jan 1990 - Present33 years 1 month. reflecting Steve's business interests as presi-dent and CEO of Scout Boats. However, we can take a look at some of the key factors that might influence your decision.Firstly, Scout is known for its quality products. Those designs are very versatile. Scout Boats continues to up the ante. Competition, that it was too pretty recent expansion, a 164-foot luxury,. 10-Year plan is for production of the smallest companies grew share the most this flagship takes a lot things! Takes a lot of infrastructure for you focus on what the next time I comment dealers. 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