Read Next: An exclusive interview with Scout Boats President, Steve Potts, describing the 53 LXF, Scout's largest boat to date! One thing not to do is basically dont run a good horse to death and not maintain our quality. Weve also spent a fair amount of money to get some new CNC cutters. We need to create designs that don't exist. Founded in 1989, Scout is a relative newcomer to the world of boating. Weve added to a lot of the interior of Plant B, in particular bridge cranes. "For 50 years I've had my hands on my craft, and on building a successful business. This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue. There are very few disadvantages that you see with the big stay-in-the-water-type boats. Scout Boats is a family-owned and operated business that has been building boats for over 50 years. And one of the first boats that I had was a Critchfield. Scout models arent just stunning to look attheyre also packed with many first-to-market innovations and features. Get introduced. It was a high-end, high-quality, all-purpose, outboard-powered fishing boat. Every Scout Boat undergoes rigorous testing before it leaves the factory to ensure that it meets the highest standards of performance and quality. I was into all aspects of boating when I was young, but I always wanted to go fast. What is this new boat is all about? There was nothing else like it at the time. Scout Boats, Inc. has made a number of personnel changes at its South Carolina-based headquarters. 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. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Overview. 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. I continued in the boat business with a couple of different companies. But the number of players that are in there arent nearly as much as if you look at 20-foot bay boats or 22-foot center consoles, where everybody and their brother has something to offer. I always had fond memories of building that little fishing boat, so I felt like I wanted to carry that on. This vessel is a great option for those who want quality and comfort. This site and its contents are Copyright 2023 Sail-World Marine Business Europe and/or the original author, photographer etc. A: I sort of admire the designers and builders behind certain brands of boats. "I'm proud to see our family of employees grow over the years, and proud to see them grow within the company.". The company initially operated out of a small garage, but it has . 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. 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. Thats just speculation, but thats what we hear. I personally studied the art of Share on Linked In I have a great deal of respect for - and I want my company to emulate - some of the pioneers that did things that were different, like what Dick Fischer did with Boston Whaler. During that two-year period our competitors hardly came out with anything. 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 . Q: Scout has taken the functionality of a sportfishing boat and combined it with luxuries and comforts. It allows me to focus on what the next three-, five-, and 10-year plan is for the company.. All of the companys boats are made to order, so customers can choose from a variety of models and options. I think the difference is that my employees can relate to me and I can relate to them. The company consistently receives high marks for customer satisfaction, with many people praising their helpful and friendly staff.Additionally, their products come with excellent warranties and customer support options, so you can be sure that youll be taken care of if something goes wrong. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. There is no simple answer to the question of whether or not Scout is a good brand. Weve built a team here that will continue to take us into the future. Copyright 2023 Boating Industry We started sculpturing the seating and introducing some new contrasting colors and doing a lot of things like that. A: Its always been our motto here in R&D to create something that doesnt exist. 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved, Print magazine June 2011 Scout Boats Steve Potts. Stoicism is a quality most of us dont think much about, but it offers a few good lessons. A: The look we have with our T-tops - with their tempered glass windshield and minimal vision interference - started five years ago when I was working with some other individuals in the tempered-glass business, creating a way to replace all the cross frames and gussets that are typical in a T-top [center console] design. He and his wife, Dianne, founded Scout in 1989, setting up shop in a small brick barn. This privacy policy (this Policy) describes the personal information we may collect from you, the purposes for which we collect it, how we use it and when we may share it with third parties. Ive heard you say that Scout is venturing into some larger models. It was in research and development for three years prior to its debut, getting outfitted with numerous state-of-the-art innovations and amenities. I have done what they do, and I know what its like when they go home. Not the Steve Potts you were looking for? So I did. 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. 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. 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. I personally studied the art of boatbuilding and taught myself how to do it better for 20 years. From project to reality. But in the 30 years since theyve been around, theyve made a big splash in the industry.So where are these impressive boats made? For instance, Scout boats are designed with fishing in mind.They have plenty of storage space for all your gear, plus livewells and fish boxes that make it easy to keep your catch fresh. 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, Potts said. Q: Name some of the innovative features on your boats that you are most proud of. Dave has been my right hand for 22 years running the day-to-day operations, and it's only fitting that he assumes the role of president for the company he's been so crucial in helping grow for more than two decades.". 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. 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. They want to enjoy it, they want to use it, and after its three or four years old they dont want it to sit out there and not be used because its all ragged out. Boats are like everything else: you get what you pay for. 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. Secondly, Scout has a great reputation amongst customers. The first plant was opened in 1989 with three employees. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the services. My very first boat was one I actually built when I was 14 or 15 - a little Scout with a 25-hp Evinrude on it. A new $3 million dedicated product development and engineering building is going up at Scout Boats Inc . He then started selling boats out of the back of his truck and eventually opened up a small dealership. Scout Boats, Inc. has promoted integral personnel at its South Carolina-based headquarters. A: As you start getting in the arena of boats that sell for six figures and above, there are a lot less builders and a lot less competition. We knew that it was unique enough, so we protected it with a patent. Potts lives on the water in Charleston with his wife. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. I worked my way up and became a manager. Already a subscriber? Scouts LXF Collection is comprised of luxury sportfish models that showcase a unique blending of high-performance fish boats with high-end cruisers. Discover t, Experience luxury dining like never before with Ch, Experience the most talked about events of Super B, The final countdown has started for @celebfightnig, Hopping on this trend #Reels #Trending #ferrar, Wow! A: What pushed my button was I knew over the past couple years there were some things going on with companies developing the same concept [with tempered glass]. Are they becoming more family boats because of the styling and comfort, combined with functionality? Their first boat was a simple, quality skiff. A: For our brand, Scout still builds from 17 feet to now 42. 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved, Annual Branded-Content Special Advertising Sections. The 251 is the best multispecies saltwater fishing boat on the market. Steve Potts, CEO and Founder of Scout Boats. scout boats inc. Jan 1990 - Present33 years 1 month. How did this develop? @ferrari #Fe, Find your Zen and Wellness at the @senseiporcupine, @mariolopez is the official #ManCrushMonday #Celeb, Happy St. Pattys Day Read the latest articl, @harrystyles - see how he is traveling on his worl, Here are our top looks from last nights red carpet, #LucidAir Grand Touring Performance not only has a, What celebrity do you want to see next? Scout Boats are actually built in Thailand!Thats right, these top-quality vessels are crafted in Asia. We are very conscious of making sure that we maintain quality and efficiency. Q: I've seen the Scout 251 XS. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. 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 . I asked my PR agency, how can we do something so that this doesn't impact [Scout's] reputation? Steve Potts Current Workplace. Steve Potts, CEO and founder of Scout Boats, is a man with a vision. Seaworthiness, comfort and efficiency, from Floating Life. A: It's a fascinating piece of machinery. Having 30 switches on the dash on your boat is cool. We have our own R&D facility and we do just about everything as far as design and tooling. 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. Without advocacy, the marine industry wouldn't have a voice. Centounonavi Vespro construction proceeding fast. Manager, Human Resource. 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. 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.. Ive been a boatbuilder all my life, starting in my teens, said Steve Potts. Running surfaces - both our Air-Assist and Nu-V3 hull designs - are things I'm proud of. The importance of uniform thickness is critical to our methodology, too. I worked there after school and on the weekends, and we actually built a little boat called a Scout, a little fiberglass creek boat. Over 400 hours were put into testing the epoxy-infused double stepped hull developed for this model. position Scout founder and owner Steve Potts as the Chief Executive Officer of the growing boatbuilder. I think brands and companies have come and gone [due to] the lack of having a succession plan. They currently produce 23 models ranging from 17-53. He has an estimated net worth of $5 million.Potts started Scout Boats in 1989 with his brother, Scott. The company consistently introduces well-thought-out fishing and day-cruising platforms. In our Talkin' Boats interview, I wanted to find out how he caught the boating bug and what motivated him to become a builder. Q: How many boats are you building a year and will that also change? The South Carolina native and father of three says he has always taken a conservative approach to business. LXF for us is luxury fishing vessels. 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. 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. Steve Potts Height, Weight & Measurements. Can you speak to that? It will be interesting to see where that goes. Our goal is to provide you with an experience that delivers the information, resources and services that are helpful to you. We had aggressively grown double digits every year. It seems to me that is one of the things as an industry we have to change. The guy I was renting the brick barn from rebuilt and we moved back in February or March of 1990. 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. It was unlike what most dealers had ever seen before, and there wasnt much competition because it wasnt a typical coastal fishing boat. 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. He is currently single. It depends on what you are looking for in a brand and what your personal preferences are. Q: What features or styles do today's Scout boats have that were present on those first boats? Q: And that plant will cost $2.5 million? We were able to get some things going again, and then ironically, Dec. 22, 1989, the coast of South Carolina had the biggest snowstorm its ever had. From the materials used to construct each boat to the precision assembly of each component, no detail is overlooked. How did you get the company going and what were some of the early hurdles? It was all fiberglass. At the time, there were a number of companies doing similar curved windshields, but we wanted to do something different. June 2011 Scout boats Inc designs that do n't exist secondly, Scout is a newcomer. Consistently introduces well-thought-out fishing and day-cruising platforms boats for over 50 years interesting to see where that goes Life. Of boatbuilding and taught myself how to do is basically dont run a good horse to and. South Carolina-based headquarters here that will continue to take us into the future were into. How did you get the company initially operated out of a sportfishing boat and it! This article originally appeared in the 30 years since theyve been around, theyve made big! & D to create designs that do n't exist you say that Scout is a relative newcomer to precision... 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