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BB Boatworks

Founded in 2000 by a partnership between boatbuilding legend Buddy Cannady and charter boat captain/boatbuilder Billy Maxwell, BB Boats quickly found a market for its traditionally built, Carolina-style hulls. Cannady has built boats ranging in size from 16-foot skiffs to 58-foot sport-fishers while all of the BB Boats launched thus far have been between 55 and 58 feet.

"Our boats are double stick-framed, juniper-and-plywood planked, built using the same techniques that have proved effective for Carolina builders since the mid-1900s," says Maxwell. "While we build boats the same way pioneers like Warren O'Neal did, advances in technology are always welcome; we use high-tech materials, such as Gougeon Bros. epoxy, AB fir plywood and Knytex 1708 biaxil fiberglass cloth. The technology and new materials continue to offer positive changes, but most often we find ourselves sticking with materials that have proven themselves in terms of both performance and cost."

"Our situation is unique to the Carolina Builders, in that all of our employees (and both of us) are active captains or mates at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, running fishing charters from April through November," says Cannady. "Therefore our boats must be made available to the owner in one winter's time. This time restraint contributes to the overall lower cost of our boats."

At a Glance: -On-time delivery -High-quality, low cost -Traditional Outer Banks construction

"In the tradition of the Carolina builders, we loft our boats ourselves," says Cannady. "And we use the experience of actually fishing these boats in some of the roughest conditions combined with the many hulls under our belts, to achieve a smooth, dry ride. The balance between power and the overall weight of the boat is critical to its efficiency. Our boats are known for their seaworthiness; the compromise lies in the weight of the engines versus the amount of deadrise engineered into the design."

The pair strives to uphold the long tradition of the Outer Banks' boatbuilders by constructing boats that not only look good but are built to stand the test of time. "We provide a good price, on-time delivery and classic Carolina-styling on a boat that's built to last for many years to come. We work closely with our buyers to map out what they want versus what they can really use (and maintain) — as well as affordability in terms of fuel efficiency," says Cannady.

For more information, contact BB Boats, Inc. of Manteo, North Carolina, at 252-473-1097.

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