OnBoard Magazine - Summer 2015

FISHING TOGETHER competitively and recreationally since 2000, owner Greg Barber and Capt. Pete Nickerson brought decades of experience and preferences to Jarrett Bay’s drawing boards when they set out building the custom 43’ express, Gregarious . Having owned numerous premium sportfish boats in the 60’-80’ range, Barber knew exactlywhat he wanted but had never worked with a fully custom builder before. Nickerson agreed, “I’ve dealt with a lot of builders and yards, and many times you’ll hear, ‘no, we don’t really do it that way.’ But Jarrett Bay was always positive and eager to give it a shot when we made a special request. The design and build process was extremely challenging, but they always rose to the occasion.” Gregarious maymarkanunofficial retirement from tournament fishing for Barber, but just because he will use her primarily for day fishing trips and family outings, doesn’t mean she lacks any capabilities. “Everything we had on our bigger boats, generator, ice maker, water maker, elaborate electronics, it’s all here—just scaled down,” explains Nickerson. “Everyone is blown away with the fit and finish and howwell all these cool options and complicated systems are hidden away with no clutter. The boat has such a clean look whether at the dock or running, and that’s just how Greg wanted it.” GIVE AND TAKE Boat design can often be a difficult game of compromises, but Jarrett Bay’s process of building full-size foam mock-ups of the interior and cockpit spaces proved to give the Captain ultimate flexibility while configuring the best layout for his boss, “I don’t know how many mock-ups we went through, but we got to calling it the ‘inch boat.’ We weren’t shifting walls or spaces by the foot, but by the inch.” All this back-and-forth planning and fine tuning with Gary Davis and the rest of the Jarrett Bay design team ultimately paid off in an incredible package. Both owner and Captain agree that everyone they show the boat to comes away impressed. Barber THE JARRETT BAY 43 HARDTOP EXPRESS DEMONSTRATES WHAT A TRULY CUSTOM PROCESS CAN ACCOMPLISH GAME OF INCHES Greg Barber (right) and his growing family 11 SUMMER 2015