Bayliss Boatworks

While John Bayliss is a relative newcomer to boatbuilding, he certainly doesn't lack boating and fishing credentials; the first seven hulls he delivered reflect the expertise of this tremendous waterman. "I started charter fishing in 1975, got my own boat in 1980 [a Ricky Scarborough], and then a commercial boat. I helped around the yard and paid attention while my boats were being built. I gave them some of my ideas, but my entire career has been laid out to be a fisherman."

After getting an offer on his Paul Mann boat that he couldn't refuse, Bayliss found himself boatless, wondering what to do next. A call from Hatteras Yachts soon had Bayliss manning the helm of the company's traveling demo boat, the Hatterascal.  "That introduced me to an entirely different world of boatbuilding," he says. "Part of my job was to look around and give them ideas to use on their next projects, so I took note of a lot of good ideas along the way."

Bayliss finally found an output for all of this education when he opened up his own shop in 2002. Bayliss' reputation as an excellent fisherman and all-around good guy ensured a brisk business right from the start. "By the time I had my building finished we had four orders. A lot of good folks took a chance on us, and I thank God that our first boat turned out to be such a good one," says Bayliss.

At a Glance: -A true traveling sport-fisher -Stunning fit and finish -Blend of Florida and North Carolina styling

Always humble, Bayliss says folks like Paul Spencer, Irwin Forbes and Mark Willis were always willing to listen to his ideas and would tell him whether or not he should proceed in a certain direction. "Willis even recommended Robert Uhlburg to handle our naval architecture and that relationship has been exceptional for us," says Bayliss.

One of the first things you'll notice about a Bayliss is its striking look — and that's no accident. "Starting with our first boat we wanted a blend of a North Carolina and a south Florida look. Our goal was to have one of our boats pull into a marina and spark the question, 'Where was that boat built?' However, we still place high importance on the engine room, machinery spaces and interior. We receive a lot of input from some very sharp owners and captains and we constantly try to raise the bar on every boat we build," he says.

For more information, contact Bayliss Boatworks of Wanchese, North Carolina, at 252-473-9797, or visit www.baylissboatworks.com.

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