OnBoard Magazine - Issue XII - 2020 Season

ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE Jarrett Bay may have expanded greatly over the years, but they’ve also been careful not to lose sight of what’s important. The labor-intensive new construction operation has been limited to a select number of construction slots focusing on larger custom builds. If that sounds exclusive, it is—by design. “This allows us to best utilize our workforce and ensure every aspect of our boats maintain the level of quality we’ve become known for,” says Jarrett Bay President Randy Ramsey. Unquestionably, it is the individual team members and their dedication to their craft— not the facilities or tools—that initially put Jarrett Bay on the map. To these ends, Jarrett Bay management has upheld many traditions for honoring their teammembers, including service year recognitions and annual bonuses pins, as well as handing out Thanksgiving turkeys and helping in a variety of community initiatives. Besides founder Randy Ramsey, no one has been around to witness more change at Jarrett Bay than the resilient Brett Styron. He was a member of the original labor crew in the 80’s and finds himself still enamored with his job over 30 years later. Brett’s loyalty and passion will always be one of the finest examples of a Jarrett Bay craftsman. “One thing I've always tried to do is put my heart into my work and do the absolute best that I can. Even on the small things.” He adds, “To be honest, I've never been 100% satisfied when a project is done. And that has pushed me to keep learning and getting better at what I do." Finding room for improvement is a familiar mantra for the company’s continual pursuit towards perfection. IMPRESSIVE SKILLS Perhaps nothing better embodies the ingenuity and skill at Jarrett Bay more than the evolution of one of Carolina boat- building’s signature milestones—the hull flip. Thirty years ago, the first six or seven Jarrett Bays were built with a plank-on- frame process. The keel would start firmly planted on the ground and then the ribs and bands built up from there; the boat was always upright for the duration of the construction process. As the team learned and developed more appreciation for cold- molding techniques, their M.O. became assembling jig stations inverted on the floor, allowing for the bottom-side of the hull to be fashioned a layer at a time while literally upside-down. Once fully laminated and primed, the hull then needs to be flipped to continue with construction. Throughout the years, the “flips” have been executed in a variety of resourceful ways. Smaller boats were turned over by a pair of careful forklift operators, whereas bigger builds required the rental of a third-party crane. In that scenario, the hull would slowly be pivoted along its rail, often onto a row of spare tires, and into the more familiar right-side-up position. Nowadays, with much larger boats being commissioned and more equipment at their disposal, the Jarrett Bay team has adopted a more novel approach to the roll-over. Using a Marine Travelift with a carefully calculated amount of belly in its straps, the hull can be picked up off its stations, hoisted over the basin, and then gently spun on its centerline within the slings. Six to nine months of developing the hull form has now culminated in the emergence of a new vessel, and is punctuated by a brief baptism in Adams Creek before being hauled back inside for the next phases of construction. The pros at Jarrett Bay are broadcasting master classes in boat building. RIGHTING A HULL: AN EVOLUTION 32 BLUEWATER