Hey Tom,

Agreed, if I ever hit the lottery, and could commission a custom build, I think cold-molded would be the way to go... It's good to see that those magnificent craftsmen up your way are keeping busy, but I doubt we'll ever see a production/mass market builder ever going back to wood...

They're keeping the wood building tradition alive down in North Carolina, as well... Perhaps some of the most magnificent wooden boats being built anywhere today, are the incredible sportfishing yachts being turned out by builders such as Jarrett Bay, and Ricky Scarborough...

And, in Florida, there is the legendary Rybovich...

And Merritt... Again, when I hit the lottery... (grin)

Not many builders have the luxury of turning away a guy like Tiger Woods as a client:

Serious captains and anglers will tell you that Merritts are the best sportfishing boats that money can buy. A new 72-footer costs about $6 million and an 86-footer is about $9 million.

"They're the Rolls-Royce of sportfishermen," said Capt. Brian Sanders, of Davie.

That's why celebrities such as country singers Alan Jackson and George Strait, and Rick Hendrick of NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports own Merritts.

"Merritt owners all have one thing in common," said Capt. Billy Ogden, whose boss has owned several Merritts. "They want the best."

Merritts have been built to order in the Pompano boatyard for 57 years. Two new boats are built each year and although they cost millions, every deal is done with a handshake — there are no contracts.

Those who don't want to wait two or three years for a new boat often buy a used Merritt. Jackson the country singer is on his third used Merritt, a 75-footer, after owning a 46 and a 60. (His boat Hullbilly is featured in his music video "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.") The boats were refinished by Merritt and had new engines installed, which is a big part of the company's business.

"For the most part, our business is 60 percent building and 40 percent repair," said president Roy Merritt, 70, who has worked for 56 years for the company that was started by his grandfather.

Not everyone who wants a boat gets one. Merritt told how representatives for Tiger Woods asked him to make a dive boat for the golfer.

"They wanted to make so many changes, I turned them down," Merritt said. "I didn't want to build it."

Most of the boats Merritt's builds are 72- and 86-footers. A 72 takes about 24 months. The 86 takes about 30 months. Merritt said that if someone wanted a new 86 today, it'd take 40 months because business is booming.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-10-19/sports/fl-merritt-boats-boat-show-1014-20121016_1_dive-boat-boat-show-charter-boats

Paul Allen has good taste in his water toys for the mother ship, as well...

best regards,

Jon