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Watkins Yachts
Watkins Yachts and Marine was an American boat builder, based in Clearwater, Florida. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of fiberglass sailboats.
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.
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.
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.
The Watkins 17 was introduced in 1975 as a one-design racer. Most of the boats built went to a single sailing club.
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.
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.
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.
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Watkins Yachts
Watkins Yachts and Marine was an American boat builder, based in Clearwater, Florida. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of fiberglass sailboats.
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.
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.
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.
The Watkins 17 was introduced in 1975 as a one-design racer. Most of the boats built went to a single sailing club.
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.
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.
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.