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Southport Boats builds offshore sport fishing boats. Southport Boats is owned by Kenway Corporation based in Augusta, Maine. The Southport Hull was designed by naval architect C. Raymond Hunt and Associates. Southports are currently distributed through dealerships in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Contents
A Southport boat can be told apart from others in its class due to its wide beam, reverse transom and tumblehome aft, a clipper bow, and a "continuously variable deep vee hull beginning at 22 degrees at the transom."
Southport Boats are available in several models: the 272 FE, the 272 TE, the 292 FE, the 292 TE, the 33 FE and 33TE.
Company history
Southport Boats began in North Carolina in 2003 as "Southport Boat Works". In 2011, the Southport Boatworks brand was acquired by the owners of Kenway Corporation and boat production was moved to Augusta, Maine. Upon beginning operation in Maine, the company was re-branded as Southport Boats. In 2014, the new ownership group announced the addition of a new hull, with two models sharing it- the 33FE and 33TE.
Construction
Southport boats are vacuum infused using modern techniques and materials, and fully constructed in the company's 52,000-square-foot (4,800 m2) production plant in Augusta, Maine. The center console fiberglass boats are built from CNC-cut molds.
All Southports, like most other sport fishing boats, are made of fiberglass. The hull of the boat is made in a pre-fabricated mold, where the outer layer of gelcoat is applied first, then the layers of fiberglass. After the exterior hull is completed, the grid system is installed into the hull. A bonding agent called methacrylate is applied to ensure a complete bond with the grid system (the interior skeleton of the boat). The grid system is similar to the stringer system of older boats, but provides added strength because it is one integral piece including fore and aft as well as laterally running structural beams. The hull grid system, as well as any compartments not used for storage or fuel cells, are then completely filled with foam for basic flotation and vibration reduction.,
The next step involves installing all wiring and assorted tanks and pumps. The grid system provides placement for all of these items, and a way to organize the wiring. The cockpit liner, or "main deck," is then bonded to the hull and stringer system with more methacrylate. Some of the parts, like the driving console, helm seats, and leaning post are constructed off-line and then installed into the completed hulls. There are six standard color options for each Southport consisting of: ice blue, sea foam green, fighting lady yellow, snow white, stars and stripes blue, and flag blue. After being detailed, the boats are wrapped in plastic from the gunwale up in order to protect the boat from damage during shipping.