Watkins Yachts

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Watkins Yachts
Type Privately held company
Industry Boat building
Founded1973
FounderWatkins brothers
Defunct1989
Headquarters
United States
Products Sailboats
Owner McLaughlin Body Company

Watkins Yachts and Marine was an American boat builder, based in Clearwater, Florida. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of fiberglass sailboats. [1] [2]

Contents

The company was founded by the four Watkins brothers, Redford, Richard, Robert and Gary in 1973 and ceased operations while a division of the McLaughlin Body Company in 1989. [1] [2]

History

The company was founded by the four Watkins brothers in 1973 in a small rented facility, with the first sailboat, the Watkins 23 introduced that same following year. The 23 was a modified version of the Helsen 22, produced with permission of the designer and owner of Helsen Yachts, Johannes Helsen. In 1977 the design was modified with a fiberglass interior and headliner and was re-designated as the Watkins 23 XL. [1] [2] [3] [4]

The brothers assumed company responsibilities: Redford Watkins was in charge of advertising, Richard Watkins production, Robert Watkins purchasing and Gary Watkins handled sales. The company was launched right after the Arab oil embargo and the resulting 1973 oil crisis and sailboats sold well in the economic conditions of the time, providing quick success for the fledgling company. [4]

The Watkins 17 was introduced in 1975 as a one-design racer. Most of the boats built went to a single sailing club. [4]

Naval architect Walter Scott was enlisted to assist with the Watkins 27 design in 1977. The boat became a quick commercial success, with 514 copies of the design built, making it the company's best seller. It competed in the same market as the Catalina 27. In 1981 a pilothouse version was made available as the Watkins 27P, although only seven were built. [1] [4]

The company had been producing fewer than 50 boats per years, but the simultaneous building of three different models by 1977 required larger facilities and the company purchased an existing building that was renovated and improved for boat production. Separate areas were established for a fiberglass shop and final assembly. In 1978, 160 Watkins 27s alone were sold. By 1979 the company had more than 20 dealers. [4]

In the late 1970s the industry suffered from two effects, high interest rates and market saturation of a product that did not wear out. The brothers decided to sell the company to a new investor from Chicago in August 1979, having built almost 600 boats over the six years since the company founding. [4]

The company was merged with boat building company, Auroraglas which had been bought by the same investor. The former owner of Auroraglas, Al Larson then became president of Watkins Yachts. The company bought the molds and tooling for the Columbia Yachts and Coronado series of designs after that company went out of business. The Watkins 36, Watkins 32 and Watkins 25 were all modified from Columbia designs. The company acquired the rights to the Portman 36 and modified it to become the Watkins 36C with a center cockpit and the Watkins 36AC with an aft cockpit. [1] [4]

The new company needed new management with the departure of the Watkins brothers and Larson hired Dennis Robbins as the production manager. Larson had known Robbins from his time at Endeavour Yachts. He also hired an experienced fiberglass shop supervisor whom Robbins had worked with at Irwin Yachts. Larson assumed the sales and design duties. The smaller boats were phased out, including the 17 and 23XL models. Only one 17 and four 23s were completed under the new management. [4]

In 1982 the investor sold his share of the company to Larson and the Watkins 32 was introduced, replacing the 36 in the line. In 1983 the Watkins 23 was introduced, derived from the Columbia T-23. In 1984 the 27 was replaced with the Watkins 29, which was a modification of the 27 design. The Watkins 32 was modified in 1984 with a reverse transom and redesigned interior to become the Watkins 33. The Watkins 36 ceased production. [4]

In 1986 the company was purchased by the McLaughlin Body Company and the sailboat line was renamed Seawolf. The company changed its emphasis to power boats and sailboat production dropped to only one or two per month. In 1988 the Watkins 29 received a reverse transom similar to the 33 as was renamed the Watkins 30. Production of the Watkins branded boats ending in November 1989, with a total of 1491 boats built. [1] [4]

The company was wound up by its parent company, with the power boat line sold to a Grand Cayman Island company in about 1991 and the remaining sailboat line sold to a local businessman who was not able to restart production. Some of the sailboat tooling was sold, the Watkins 25 tooling was sold to Compaq Yachts and it was modified to become the Compac 25. Much of the remaining molds were scrapped and the building was sold to a plumbing supply contractor. [4]

The McLaughlin Body Company remains in business, but no longer produces watercraft. [5] [6]

Boats

Summary of boats built by Watkins Yachts, by year:

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frigate 36</span> Sailboat class

The Frigate 36 is a Canadian sailboat, that was designed by C&C Design and first built in 1968. It is named in honour of the Frigate warship class.

The Invader 36 is a Canadian sailboat, that was designed by C&C Design specifically for Hinterhoeller Yachts and first built in 1965.

The Watkins 33, also marketed as the Seawolf 33, is an American sailboat that was designed by William H. Tripp Jr and Watkins Yachts as a cruiser and first built in 1984.

The Watkins 23 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Johannes "Jopie" Helsen, modified by Watkins Yachts and first built in 1973.

The Watkins 17, also referred to as the W17, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by the Watkins brothers and first built in 1975.

The Watkins 27, also known as the W27, is an American sailboat that was designed by naval architect Walter Scott and first built in 1977.

The Watkins 27P, also known as the W27P, is an American sailboat that was designed by naval architect Walter Scott and first built in 1981.

The Portman 36 is an American sailboat that was first built in 1978.

The Watkins 36, also known as the W36 and W36AC, is an American sailboat that was designed by William H. Tripp Jr and the Watkins brothers, first built in 1981.

The Watkins 36C, also known as the W36C, is an American sailboat that was designed by William H. Tripp Jr and the Watkins brothers. It was first built in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coronado 35</span> Sailboat class

The Coronado 35 is an American sailboat that was designed by William H. Tripp Jr. as a cruiser and first built in 1971.

The Watkins 25, also known as the W25 and marketed as the Seawolf 25 from 1986, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by the Watkins Design Team and first built in 1983.

The Ericson 36 is an American sailboat that was designed by Ron Holland as a racer and first built in 1980.

The Vancouver 36 is an American sailboat that was designed by Robert B. Harris as a bluewater ocean cruiser and first built in 1977.

The Seidelmann 37 is an American sailboat that was designed by Bob Seidelmann as a racer-cruiser and first built in 1980.

The Endeavour Yacht Corporation was an American boat builder based in Largo, Florida. Founded in 1974 by John Brooks and Rob Valdes, the company specialized in the design and manufacture of fiberglass sailboats. The company went out of business in 1986.

The Lancer Yacht Corporation was an American boat builder based in Irvine, California. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of fiberglass sailboats.

The Helsen 22 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Johannes "Jopie" Helsen as a cruiser and first built in 1971.

The Helsen 20 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Johannes "Jopie" Helsen as a cruiser and first built in 1974.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McArthur, Bruce (2019). "Watkins Yachts". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "Watkins Yachts 1973 — 1989". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ↑ McArthur, Bruce (2019). "Watkins 23 XL". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Watkins Owners Association (3 May 2008). "History of Watkins Yachts". watkinsowners.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  5. ↑ McLaughlin Body Company (2013). "Manufacturer of Cabs and Metal Components". www.mclbody.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  6. ↑ McLaughlin Body Company (2013). "Industries / Markets". www.mclbody.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
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