The reason we have segregated those two boats we have separate stockrooms, separate management, separate offices, separate everything is because the methodology in building the small boats versus the large boats is different. A: Yes. We have always been a family owned-and-operated company, and I'm proud to say our Scout family is comprised of both blood and non-blood individuals. They were in direct competition with AMF. William Ferguson, vice president of manufacturing. Some have gotten out of the real big boats and gone to something simpler, which is a big center console versus a great big cruiser or inboard-powered boat. The 420 LXF is the sixth model in this category to date, headlining the 255, 275, 300, 320 and 350 LXF models. This article originally appeared in the June 2011 issue. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Along with Steve's 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. Following the posting of such non-material changes, your continued use of any EPGs websites will constitute your acceptance of these changes and you will be bound by such changes. We ran a number of boats. Torqeedo makes electric marine propulsion systems for boats ranging from 1 to 80 hp equivalents and is now a major player in the segment. Thats who we are. This year, for instance, the Charleston builder introduced the 251 XS, a 25-foot center console that marries the characteristics of shallow-water and offshore boats. Wood-free construction, 100% hand laid fiberglass, finished lids and hatches, attention to every detail and process from the upholstery fabric to how the boot stripe is painted. Contact Steve directly. I had this as a teenager. They currently produce 23 models ranging from 17'-53'. His son, David Potts, is the vice president and chief operating officer.The company started in a small garage in Costa Mesa, California, where Steve Potts built his first boat a 14-foot fiberglass skiff. Did something stoke your fire? A: Being a fisherman I love to do a variety of types of fishing, and I think a lot of boaters do, too. Having 30 switches on the dash on your boat is cool. They had several paragraphs saying what a clever design this was, that [the builder had] incorporated tempered glass and the boat has this beautifully shaped T-top. Thats not to say the economics of running a business are exactly the same, whether its a company that does billions of dollars or millions of dollars. I was one of the guys who tweaked bottoms to gain a mile an hour or two. On deck, the Scout 42 has wide side decks for easy movement around the boat. When we started, I knew the business model had to be something very simple and conservative. I think its because as boatbuilders we expect consumers to think like we think that this is whats always worked. At the time, there were a number of companies doing similar curved windshields, but we wanted to do something different. Find contact details for 700 million professionals. I want Scout to be successful long after Im gone. In Plant A we build everything from 17 to 25 feet, and in Plant B we build everything from 27 up to 35. So I think theres a little bit of a trend and growth in that market segment, but I dont think its a huge market segment as far as the number of boats that are being sold. Look no, Cant get enough What is your dream car? Q: What do you think of the new big outboard - the 557-hp from Seven Marine - that was intro'd at the Miami Boat Show? As a boatbuilder, theres a difference. Q: Scout has taken the functionality of a sportfishing boat and combined it with luxuries and comforts. 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. If were sold out to some future date, we are very cautious about not overcommitting or having the blind leading the blind out here as far as having too many people being trained. Potts started Scout Boats in 1989 with his brother, Scott. Were probably conservative as it relates to most other builders in that we dont work outrageous hours, we just dont do some of the things. Discover Steve Pottss Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I don't know if there's enough of that type of boatbuilding today. One of the things thats unique about Scouts is the fit and finish. Im proud to see our family of employees grow over the years, and proud to see them grow within the company, Potts said. Plus, at the Outboard Shop we also built our own raceboats. The first boat that Steve built was a modest 14-foot design that was based on the boats of the 1960's; specifically, a small boat that Steve had worked on called the Scout. A younger Potts races an early-model Scout back in the day. 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]. I think theres a lot of brands that create a glut of late-model used stuff. Copyright 2023 Boating Industry Scout Boats are actually built in Thailand!Thats right, these top-quality vessels are crafted in Asia. For 50 years Ive had my hands on my craft, and on building a successful business. Manage Settings Q: Do you think this is a long-term trend toward larger outboard-powered center consoles? Has that given companies like yours an edge that it will be difficult for others to catch up with? Other recent Scout 53s went to a Vegas casino owner and a Latin pop star. Those designs are very versatile. If someone wants to tournament-fish, they can. Theres also an optional SeaKeeper gyro stabilizer, flybridge, articulating rocket launchers that work in conjunction with the retractable SureShade, and a 5-N-1 second row seating configuration that won a marine industry innovation award. The 251 is the best multispecies saltwater fishing boat on the market. In addition, William Ferguson was promoted to vice president of manufacturing; Courtney Guice is now administrative vice president; and Stevie Potts was promoted to vice president of product development and engineering. I always had fond memories of building that little fishing boat, so I felt like I wanted to carry that on. Phone Email. The 12.8-metre 420 LXF is Scout's largest fishing boat. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. #era, Cruising through the weekin style. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. As a new boating season gets underway, the top threat to boater access and businesses that depend on the marine industry is the federal governments proposed speed restrictions along much of the Atlantic coast of the United States. The company has been in business since 1991 and has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship. Since he was 14, the owner of Scout boats Steve Potts had been working in the boating industry. Underwater deck and bow cameras are available as well as underwater LED lights. They can use them as a tender, as a cruiser, and some of the boats, the 35s and 30, we have accommodations below deck that can make them a weekender if they want that. And with its large workforce and favorable trade agreements, its an ideal place to build boats for the global market.Of course, some people may be concerned about buying a boat thats made so far away from home. A: I sort of admire the designers and builders behind certain brands of boats. I know this because they happened to go to the same vendor that I was working with at the time. As a new boating season gets underway, the top threat to boater access and businesses that depend on the marine industry is the federal governments proposed speed restrictions along much of the Atlantic coast of the United States. We dont have much information about Hes past relationship and any previous engaged. The Swan 108 is the fruit of an amazing research of talents. 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. Scout Boats, Inc. has made a number of personnel changes at its South Carolina-based headquarters. According to our Database, He has no children. View Colleagues. 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. Share by Email, Copyright 2007 - 2022 Jetset Magazine 15220 North 75th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (877) 538-5738, Dreaming of a luxurious mountain retreat? The company was founded by Steve Potts, who is still the owner and president of Scout Boats. It was something better than that. We hand-lay everything, so those thicknesses are uniform from boat to boat. Scout Boats, Inc.has made a number of personnel changes at its South Carolina-based headquarters. Finally, its worth considering your own personal preferences when deciding if Scout is the right brand for you. Stoicism is a quality most of us dont think much about, but it offers a few good lessons. I started developing a 14-, and a 15- and a 17-foot boat in '88 and '89, and started the company in 1989. Steve Potts has been working as a Owner at Scout Boats for 34 years. The big center consoles, you can beach them, the economies of running them [are more favorable], the speed there are a lot of advantages there. That really concerned me. See who you know in common. We really work hard on this. 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 . Steve Potts Height, Weight & Measurements. Weve built a team here that will continue to take us into the future. 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. It was a galvanized shed with a dirt floor. . I was into all aspects of boating when I was young, but I always wanted to go fast. I repaired a lot of boats and I learned what not to do. In order to achieve this goal, we may collect information from you. But I think it has its place. Q: How do Scouts hold up for resale? But I think what makes our industry so unique is that a small company can compete toe to toe with a company thats 10 to 20 times larger. Running surfaces - both our Air-Assist and Nu-V3 hull designs - are things I'm proud of. That is the stigma for the marine industry - it's going to cost you a lot of money in gas, a lot of money in maintenance, a lot of money in resale. I personally studied the art of boatbuilding and taught myself how to do it better for 20 years. "I've been a boatbuilder all my life, starting in my teens," said Scout CEO Steve Potts. During our hour-long talk he also voiced strong opinions about the marine industry's lack of design innovation, his commitment to designing more fuel-efficient vessels and how his own boating helped him stay close to his children as they grew. When our first building initially got wiped out, we found one of the very few buildings that survived Hurricane Hugo not far away. From that point forward, even to this day, our challenge has really been to manage [the growth of] a business with people and training and hiring, the facility and new designs, so it was a different kind of challenge, but a challenge nonetheless. Potts races an early-model Scout back in the segment founded by Steve,. Around the boat dream car are available as well as underwater LED lights 53s went to a Vegas casino and! 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