jaruco yacht owner

Jarrett Bay Founder Randy Ramsey

• By Peter Frederiksen
• Updated: October 13, 2017

Located in the 175-acre Jarrett Bay Marine Park in Beaufort, North Carolina, Jarrett Bay Boatworks is a diversified sales and service yard for recreational and commercial boats up to 140 feet, and home of Jarrett Bay’s custom sport-fish construction. It all started with a dream, an old shed with a leaky roof, and a boat named Sensation .

M: Let’s talk about your early days. How did you get into fishing?

I grew up in a passionate fishing family, and we had a 23-foot boat that my father trailered every weekend. An uncle in South Carolina had a charter boat, and when I ­figured out you could get paid to go fishing, I knew that was for me. The other kids wanted to be cops or firemen, but I wanted to be a charter captain. I sat for my U.S. Coast Guard license on my 18th birthday; the next day, I ran my first paid charter and caught a big load of mackerel. I was making a living, but during those duck-hunting charters in winter, which is brutal work, I learned it was a tough way to support a family.

M: How did your boat­building career develop?

I never wanted to be a boatbuilder; I wanted to fish. One day, I had the chance to fish with Omie Tillett on his boat, Sportsman , and it impressed me the way it ran in the ocean, better than any boat I had been on. When I asked Omie about building a boat, he gave me a sheet of paper with bottom shapes, heights and offsets, but his most influential wisdom was that there were no secrets. He said: “If we can’t help each other, what have we really accomplished? If we work together, we can build a much better product.” I had never built a boat before, but Omie and many others never said no when I asked questions. Their faith in what I could do built my confidence.

M: How did Jarrett Bay Boatworks come to be?

In late 1986, two ­regulars from my charter-fishing ­parties loaned my partner and me what we needed to build our first boat because we couldn’t get anything from the banks. We found an old building in Williston, North Carolina, on Jarrett Bay. The rent was $250 a month, and it had dirt floors and a leaky roof that let in rain and snow. One of my first calls was to order a drum of West System epoxy resin. The operator asked me the name of the company, and I told her that we didn’t have one yet. She said they needed to ship that quantity of epoxy to a manufacturer, not an individual, so I looked out the window and said, “I’m Jarrett Bay Boatworks,” and the order was on its way. We started building the 52-foot Sensation in December 1986, and finished that boat in January 1988. When it was completed, another charter captain came by and asked us to build him one. And before we finished that boat, we had orders for two more. It occurred to me that boatbuilding might be a better way to supplement our fishing income after all.

But the boat we built for Jack Huddle in 1990 really changed the direction of Jarrett Bay Boatworks. The previous Jarrett Bays were all built for charter, but he wanted a ­different look. This new boat had it all, from its pecan interior joinery to the teak decks in the cockpit. It showed the world that Jarrett Bay Boatworks could build more than just ­hardworking ­charter-fishing boats; we could also build top-quality luxury yachts too.

M: How many Jarrett Bays have been built?

We are starting on Hull 66 right now and have five others from 64 to 90 feet in production. That makes 66 of our larger boats, from 27 to 90 feet, all cold-molded. We also have built about 30 fiberglass boats in the 32- to 34-foot range. Each boat is custom, and we treat each one as if it’s our own.

M: How has boatbuilding changed since you began?

The industry has become challenging on many fronts. It’s expensive, and how we expect a boat to perform has changed considerably. We used to build boats that went 15 knots. We now want our boats to cruise at 35 to 38 knots in rough seas, and we are outfitting them with redundant systems to make chasing blue marlin off the west coast of Africa a reality. We have had to press our suppliers to deliver better grades of materials that stand up to this environment. Speed will always be important, but safety even more so. Safety is our responsibility.

M: Your largest boat so far is a 90-footer, Jaruco . What will we see with that one?

First and foremost, the dedication that Jarrett Bay puts into every boat we build. Jaruco has been a three-year project. Without a point of reference, you wouldn’t know it is 90 feet, and that was our intent. With its open flybridge, long foredeck and a curvy deckhouse, it has that sleek Jarrett Bay look the owner wanted. He wanted a fishing boat, but he also wanted the interior to be what you would find on a motor­yacht. The ­craftsmanship is nothing short of stellar.

We reviewed, discussed and examined every item and component that would go into the build process, and we tank-tested the model on five separate occasions at Marin in the Netherlands. We were very ­weight-conscious throughout the testing, running the model at speeds to 50 knots and finding what it would take to achieve this goal if the power became available. We are using carbon fiber in many places, from the stringers and bulkheads to the Pompanette helm seats on the bridge. The running gear is unique to ­minimize turbulence at the propellers. The ­propeller shafts are made from titanium, saving 1,700 pounds. In all, we probably saved some 40,000 pounds to reach our displacement goal of around 160,000 pounds. **(See the build from the beginning here). **

M: What are the challenges facing the boatbuilding industry today?

We need to focus on a balance between commercial development and the protection of our watershed areas so the breeding grounds stay pristine. And we need to closely manage the ­commercial- and recreational-fishing quotas. The resources belong to all of us, so it’s up to all of us to manage it. Recreational anglers can sometimes feel like they don’t have a big impact on a fishery, and that’s not necessarily true. Let’s say there are 200 boats out fishing off Oregon Inlet for dolphin on a Saturday, and four guys on each boat catch their limit of 10 fish, and then you multiply that by 200; that’s a lot of fish — it makes a real impact. I think we have become better at what we do with circle hooks, and releasing billfish in good condition, but we need to educate more people about how important a safe release really is.

M: What is your advice for the marine industry as we move forward?

I believe it’s important for all of us in the industry to help new people who are just starting in this business. I’ve never turned anyone away who had a question or needed some advice about how we do something. That’s the legacy I would like to leave. Nobody ever told me they wouldn’t help me when I was first starting out. We have to offer others those same opportunities.

• More: behind the boat , Jarrett Bay Boatworks , Players , Sport Fishing Boats

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Jarrett Bay’s Last Three Launches Perfectly Embody the Company’s ‘Truly Custom’ Ethos

Jun 18, 2019 | Jarrett Bay Boatworks , Magazine , News | 0 comments

Now planing towards 35 years of boat building, Randy Ramsey and the team at Jarrett Bay have long hung their hats on the philosophy that “no owner’s request is too big, or too small.” Throughout the years, Jarrett Bay’s fleet of nearly 65 custom yachts (and over 100 boats total including their semi-production line) have been loaded with special appointments and innovative ideas. Look no further than the company’s most recently completed wood and composite masterpieces for proof that Jarrett Bay can routinely deliver what no other builder has attempted before.

Chronologically, the last three boats to splash have been the Grander , Jaruco and Privateer . Each of these vessels is completely unique in some rather extreme ways while still possessing the ride, performance and craftsmanship that Jarrett Bay is renowned for. These boats’ wide range of sizes, configuration and styling best reflect their owners’ individual objectives and boating lifestyles.

Grander Pursuits

The 46’ Grander is arguably the most eye-catching of the three yachts due to her unusually dark metallic color scheme and stark tower design. It’s an aggressive and exciting look, which also flies in the face of conventional thinking that boats (most often used in direct sunlight) should be finished in a light color. Jarrett Bay Construction Foreman RV Hodge indicated the owner went as far as to ask the construction team for input on the final colors he was considering. Hodge recounts, “He asked the guys to weigh in with the general intro of, ‘I want it to look mean like a PT boat.’” Mission accomplished. The Jarrett Bay construction teams are no stranger to working closely with their customers but that was surely a thrill for the workers to choose the final paint colors!

Part of the process that goes into every custom Jarrett Bay is a full-size mock-up stage. Before arrangements in cabins, bridges or cockpits are finalized in the hull, the owner and crew typically pay several visits to the factory floor. Walls, cabinetry, consoles, fish boxes—everything—can be roughed in with temporary foam and reviewed by owner and crew. The distance, size, shape, height and orientation of each space and its components are literally custom fit to the exact people who will be operating and fishing the boat.

The 46’ conspicuously highlights another Jarrett Bay introduction—their signature bucket seats. First debuted by the builder on several convertible flybridges in the early 2000s, Ramsey says many competitors have copied this cushy convenience. “They were an idea that just makes so much sense, not only for comfort, but also safety, aboard a moving bridge or deck,” he says. The accompanying drink and mobile phone holders molded in nearby are an example of the “no detail too small” philosophy.

An emphasis for seating is also made on Grander’s mezzanine cockpit and tower accommodations—the perfect aft-facing perches for eyeballing a trolling spread and identifying incoming gamefish. Belowdecks, a settee area and well-appointed galley give way to ample storage for custom tackle, a metallic-finished head and express style v-berth.

The Grander’s offshore campaigns consist primarily of day fishing for big game out of her home port of Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands. Her speed and economy are well-balanced for premier trips and charters to the North Drop, one of the world’s finest spawning and fishing grounds for big blue marlin.

Have it Completely Your Way

Clearly their most ambitious recent build, Jaruco is the flagship Jarrett Bay stretching in at 90 feet and heralded as the most advanced custom sportfish ever built. This is largely due to an intensive research and development program initiated by her owner’s background in engineering and composites. No roll of carbon fiber was left unturned in the material selection and implementation of the 90’s various lamination and infusion processes. The proprietary matrices and other cutting-edge materials (such as titanium shafts) used in Jaruco afforded a massive weight savings of approximately 40,000 lbs. versus traditional construction techniques!

Built around the fastest recreational marine engines available, the results speak for themselves—flinging the 90-footer around at a top speed of 44 knots (50.6 mph). A V-drive propulsion configuration allows the MTU 16V2000 M96Ls to spin those titanium shafts at the perfect angle of attack. Jaruco was also outfitted with experimental running gear such as carbon fiber rudders and removable hydrofoils—all part of a rigorous design program that was computer modeled and tank tested.

And oh yea, the owner also stipulated she be built to the utmost standards in safety and seaworthiness. Jaruco’s hull structure meets American Bureau of Shipbuilding specifications to withstand 8-foot seas at 50 knots. This requires great strength and seakeeping abilities highlighted by her point of entry, a frontal crush zone, and the use of novel materials such as Kevlar and fire-proof Nomex composites in certain parts of the hull layup.

No roll of carbon fiber was left unturned during material selection…

Even sitting still, the Jaruco is a jaw-dropping sight. Features such as redundant Furuno radar arrays (the largest of which swings a whopping 12-foot boom) and carbon fiber tower elements set her apart from what is already an elite fleet. The number of people that can comfortably fish and spectate from her cockpit is honestly just ridiculous. Next-level appointments continue throughout, including adjustable window tinting, aerospace-grade floors and counters, carbon fiber toilets, and computer engineered veneers.

The owner’s lofty wishes for the Jaruco’s performance, extraordinary equipment list and the utmost safety, truly resulted in a ground-breaking achievement. Upon her maiden voyage to Los Sueños, Costa Rica, other topflight sportfish owners and captains took immediate notice. Once she pushed past the breakwater and dropped the hammers down for the first time, the docks were abuzz asking what exactly went into Jaruco’s special sauce.

Of course the details of that are for Jarrett Bay engineers to know, and the rest of the industry to wonder. The term ‘game changer’ has become somewhat of a cliché in the boating industry of-late, but the construction techniques and performance of Jaruco are already changing the way custom and production sportfish yachts are being built moving forward.

Change of Pace

Regarded as a “sport yacht” the 67’ Privateer’s owners have a more laid-back plan for the use of their brand-new boat. Although she’s configured for angling with a large cockpit, mezzanine and outriggers, features such as the integrated swim platform and cabin-top paddleboard mounts make Privateer a more versatile cruising vessel than any Jarrett Bay to come before her.

Jarrett Bay 67 LOA: 67’ 3″ Beam: 18’ 2” Draft: 4’ 9” Fuel Capacity: 1,320 gal. Water Capacity: 200 gal. Holding Tanks: 150 gal. Dry Weight: 64,000 lbs.

Power: Twin Cat C18s w/ACERT @ 1,136hp ea. Genset: Cat C2.2T @ 27kW Stabilization: Seakeeper 16 Cruise Speed: 26 kts. Top Speed: 32 kts.

Measuring in at well over six-foot tall, the commissioning owner wanted plenty of headroom throughout his yacht. Jarrett Bay Project Manager Nile Mitchell points out this became a driving factor in the boat’s retro-like trunk cabin design. The results of this enclosed helm and galley-down floorplan are impressive, with all the interior levels—including the engine room—boasting over six and a half feet of headroom, and the lower level finished out at over seven feet!

“The raised forward cabin really highlights the old school style of this boat while still incorporating modern materials and classic Carolina-built features,” summarizes Mitchell. For example, there is a lot of technology you can’t see in the final product. He adds, “all of the cabin sides and cabin tops are constructed of lightweight core material with specific densities of core in strategic locations. These are sandwiched with E-glass and vacuum infused for a high strength-to-weight ratio.” Undoubtedly, the build team is already putting techniques developed for the Jaruco build into play on some of their subsequent hulls.

Immersed in natural light thanks to nearly 360-degrees of windows, the interior of Privateer hosts luxury appointments throughout. Entering her main salon and helm area through double sliding doors, the maple and teak woodwork and classic décor offers a warm welcome. Creature comforts are situated at every level, including plenty of seating, a wet bar, sub-zero refrigerator/freezer and Kohler fixtures. Mitchell also explains that the engine room was designed to make her many systems as accessible and easy to maintain as possible.

“…it’s still all about skilled craftsmen bringing the best materials to life…

Based out of Charleston, South Carolina, the Privateer will also frequent South Florida with trips to the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands. In addition to the primary helm station and electronics suite on the interior, a pop-up console is built into the port-side cockpit mezzanine. Outfitted with chart plotter/fish-finder and Cat Three60 controls, this auxiliary helm is perfect for operating the vessel while docking or fishing.

These modern conveniences are smartly tucked away in an overall aesthetic that would feel right at home for early Downeast boat building pioneers such as Myron “Ace” Harris or Ray Davis. (Ray is grandfather to long-time Jarrett Bay superintendent Gary Davis, by the way). Generations of learning and innovation may have replaced the Juniper boards and hand-cut frames of these influential mentors with today’s Okoume plywood and CNC-plotted jig stations—but it’s still all about skilled craftsmen bringing the best materials to life to form a superior quality boat.

According to Ramsey, that’s what it means to be building “offshore’s new classic,” a melding of historic design qualities with all the modern features of tomorrow’s sporting yacht. The result is another world-class yacht which is custom tailored to her owner’s every whim—exactly how the crew at Jarrett Bay has always liked it.

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JARRETT BAY ’90, “Jaruco”

In March 2018, John D Riggs facilitated the completion of the most innovative Sport Fishing vessel in the world: A ’90 Jarret Bay, Jaruco. Riggs’ client knew that he wanted something that combined speed, luxury, size, and superior sport-fishing capabilities. Riggs worked for years with client and the team at Jarrett Bay to conceptualize the design. Three years later, Jaruco was splashed and headed to Costa Rica to take 3rd place in the Los Suenos Triple Crown! The innovation of this build led Jarrett Bay to become a finalist in the 2019 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards. The composite-intensive Jarrett Bay ’90, Jaruco, has been recognized as a finalist in the Game Changer category for her ultra-strong and lightweight titanium propeller shafts.

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