F&S Boatworks

One of the first questions most people ask Jimmy Floyd, owner of F&S Boatworks, is why he builds boats in Delaware. Besides being a native, Floyd picked the locale for its abundant opportunities. "It might not be a boatbuilding mecca," says Floyd, "but it's right in the middle of a lot of money! We've got Philadelphia, Baltimore and other major metropolitan areas close by; we're on the water and relatively easy to get to. And since I never seem to go looking for a boat to build, this place suits me just fine."

No matter where he builds them, Floyd tries to build "the strongest, best-riding sport-fish boats that money can buy." And while a lot of other builders make the same claim, Floyd offers a unique solution to the age-old boatbuilding puzzle. His first offering, the 59-foot Fin-Ally, sported a stepped-hull design that Floyd borrowed from his beloved SeaCraft center console. The new boat immediately gained acclaim for its tremendous seakeeping abilities, speed and graceful lines. 
 
 

At a Glance: • Unique "stepped" hull design • Very efficient • Smooth ride, great head sea boat

"The longitudinal stepped bottom gives our boats an incredible ride. I grew up fishing on SeaCrafts and our hulls are basically a huge SeaCraft. The stepped hull makes the boat very efficient — it takes a lot less horsepower to push one of our boats at speed. Also on the plus side, this hull gives us a phenomenal head sea ride. The boat also provides a very stable ride at trolling speed and tracks nicely in a following sea," says Floyd.
 
Floyd, along with Joe Bonvetti and a select group of craftsmen, uses the latest and highest quality materials available to build cold-molded custom yachts that perfectly fit the owner's needs. But sometimes owners can make things pretty difficult. "I'm building a 45-foot walkaround right now with the accommodations of a 70-footer crammed in it. Believe it or not, these small ones can be a logistical nightmare when you're trying to find a place to put all the air conditioning, gensets and storage. This might just be my last small one. But I've also got a 70 going right now and two more 70s starting in the next couple of months, so I won't be lacking for something to do!" says Floyd.
 
For more information, contact F&S Boatworks of Bear, Delaware, at 302-838-5500, or visit www.fsboatworks.com.

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