Grady-White Boats, Inc.
Script error: No such module "Draft topics".
Script error: No such module "AfC topic".
| Privately held company | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Boat building |
| Founded 📆 | 1959 in Greenville, North Carolina, United States |
| Founders 👔 |
|
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , , United States |
Area served 🗺️ | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products 📟 | Fiberglass powerboats |
| Owner | Eddie Smith |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | gradywhite |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Grady-White Boats is an American manufacturer of fiberglass offshore, sport fishing, and family fishing powerboats. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, with dealers throughout the US and internationally, Grady-White has been under the ownership of Eddie Smith since 1968 and has been led by President Kris Carroll since 1993.
History[edit]
Grady-White Boats was founded in Greenville, North Carolina, in 1959 by Glen R. Grady and Don F. White. The company employed local craftsmen to build wooden boats. The first four boats were shipped in February 1960.[1]. Later that year, a 20-foot model was introduced. By 1965, the company had a lineup of 13 models in production.
In the 1960s, fiberglass was increasingly used by boat manufacturers. Grady and White decided to sell the company to someone who could transition Grady-White Boats from wood to fiberglass. In 1968, White met Eddie Smith. By the end of 1968, Eddie Smith owned Grady-White Boats. Eddie Smith brought in Wiley Corbett, local engineer, Dick Anderson, fiberglass boat maker, and Bing Fishman, Jim Stoneman, and Pete Fuhrman as salesmen. In 1970, Wiley Corbett was named President.
Grady-White Boats built a new manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Greenville in 1972[2]. The plant had 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 30,000 feet of storage. Grady-White began manufacturing the saltwater dual console category with the Tarpon 190 in 1978.
In 1987, Grady-White began working with C. Raymond Hunt Associates to design a new, larger hull. The design, called the SeaV2® hull, featured a variable deadrise that increased from a moderate deadrise at the stern to a sharper deadrise at the bow. This provided stability at rest and low speeds and a soft ride at high speeds. The SeaV2 hull debuted in 1989 on the 28-foot Marlin 28 walkaround cabin boat. The SeaV2 hull has been used exclusively on Grady-White boats since the 1990s.
After Corbett stepped down as President (1970-1993), Kris Carroll became Grady-White Boats’ President. Kris Carroll was the first woman to be President in the US boating manufacturing industry[3] and the first woman inducted into the NMMA Hall of Fame[4].
Grady-White added a 50,000 square foot expansion in 2003. This expansion allowed for increased manufacturing and new boat models. In 2018, Grady-White Boats expanded again with a 70,000 square foot addition, allowing for production of the Canyon 456 center console boat.
Industry recognition[edit]
Grady-White Boats has been awarded every third-party customer satisfaction award in the marine industry. In 2019, Grady-White received the NMMA Global Star award for success in international exporting[5][6].
Grady-White has been honored for contributions around Greenville and Pitt County. Grady-White was selected as Pitt County’s Industry of the Year in 2001[7] and in 2018[8] by the Pitt County Economic Development Commission. Several members of the Grady-White team have been individually recognized in the boating and manufacturing industries.
| Year(s) | Awarding Organization | Award Name | Recognizing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001, 2018 | Pitt County Economic Development Commission | Pitt County Industry of the Year | Contributions to local community |
| 2002-2009 | J.D. Power and Associates | Customer Satisfaction Award, Coastal Fishing Segment (17 to 30 feet) | Overall consumer satisfaction |
| 2003-2022 | National Marine Manufacturers Association | Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Award | Overall consumer satisfaction |
| 2019 | National Marine Manufacturers Association | Global Star Award | Success in international exporting |
Several members of the Grady-White team have received individual recognition in the boating and manufacturing industries. Kris Carroll, President, Shelley Tubaugh, Vice President of Marketing, and Jill Carraway, Vice President of Finance, have all been recognized by The Manufacturing Institute as Outstanding Women in Manufacturing, receiving the Institute’s STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production) Ahead Award[9][10][11]. Carroll has been recognized by the Center for Coastal Conservation for her leadership in sound conservation and use of ocean resources[12]. She also received the 2018 Hammond Marine Industry Leadership Award for extraordinary service and commitment to advocacy on behalf of the recreational boating industry[13]
Patents[edit]
Grady-White Boats has received patents for innovations particularly related to ergonomics, seating, storage, and safety features. Among the company’s patented features are its foldaway bench seat, convertible seat assembly, portable boat ladder, fishing rod storage system, and boat seat with stowable seat back.
| Patent Number | Title | Publication Date |
|---|---|---|
| US-6647916-B2[14] | Fold out boat seat | 2003-11-18 |
| US-7341306-B1[15] | Convertible seat assembly | 2008-03-11 |
| US-9067647-B2[16] | Portable boat ladder | 2015-06-30 |
| US-9440560-B2[17] | Lounge assembly | 2016-09-13 |
| US-9896165-B2[18] | Boat seat with stowable seat back | 2018-02-20 |
| US-11019924-B2[19] | Fishing rod storage system | 2021-06-01 |
| US-11278016-B2[20] | Sliding rod holder assembly | 2022-03-22 |
Current models[edit]
Grady-White currently produces 26 models in five different designs including coastal explorer, center console, dual console, walkaround cabin, and express cabin boats. All models feature unsinkable foam flotation and are engineered to exceed the U.S. Coast Guard’s boat manufacturer standards.
| Category | Model Name | Center Line Length[21] |
|---|---|---|
| Center Console | Fisherman 180 | 17'10" (5.44 m) |
| Center Console | Fisherman 216 | 21'3" (6.47 m) |
| Center Console | Fisherman 236 | 23'7" (7.18 m) |
| Center Console | Fisherman 257 | 24'9" (7.55 m) |
| Center Console | Canyon 271 | 26'10" (8.18 m) |
| Center Console | Canyon 306 | 30'6" (9.30 m) |
| Center Console | Canyon 326 | 31'2" (9.50 m) |
| Center Console | Canyon 336 | 33'6" (10.21 m) |
| Center Console | Canyon 386 | 36'6" (11.13 m) |
| Center Console | Canyon 456 | 45' (13.72 m) |
| Coastal Explorer | 231 CE | 22'7" (6.88 m) |
| Coastal Explorer | 251 CE | 24'7" (7.49 m) |
| Coastal Explorer | 281 CE | 27'7" (8.41 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 215 | 21'3" (6.48 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 235 | 23'7" (7.18 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 255 | 24'9" (7.55 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 275 | 26'11" (8.20 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 285 | 28' (8.53 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 307 | 30'6" (9.30 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 325 | 31'2" (9.50 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 335 | 33'6" (10.21 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 375 | 36'7" (11.15 m) |
| Dual Console | Freedom 415 | 40'7" (12.37 m) |
| Express Cabin | Express 330 | 33'6" (10.21 m) |
| Express Cabin | Express 370 | 36'7" (11.15 m) |
| Walkaround Cabin | Adventure 218 | 21'3" (6.48 m) |
| Walkaround Cabin | Gulfstream 232 | 23'5" (7.14 m) |
| Walkaround Cabin | Marlin 300 | 30'6" (9.30 m) |
References[edit]
- ↑ "Quality From The Start". North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership. March 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Industrial Parks". Pitt County Economic Development.
- ↑ https://ncchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/CarrollKris_Ed21.pdf
- ↑ "Kris Carroll, Grady-White Boats, first woman inducted into NMMA Hall of Fame". Marine Fabricator. September 22, 2020.
- ↑ "Grady-White Boats Honored with Global Star for Creativity and Team Work". www.nmma.org.
- ↑ https://nmma.net/assets/cabinets/Cabinet169/Grady%20White%20Global%20Star.pdf
- ↑ "Industry of the Year". Pitt County Economic Development.
- ↑ "Grady-White receives Industry of the Year honor". Pitt County Economic Development.
- ↑ "Three Women in Marine Manufacturing Honored with STEP Ahead Award". www.nmma.org.
- ↑ "2021 STEP Ahead Award Winners". The Manufacturing Institute.
- ↑ "NAM's Manufacturing Institute Announces 2017 Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award Honorees". www.nmma.org.
- ↑ "Kris Carroll Named 2012 Manufacturer of the Year". Pitt County Economic Development.
- ↑ Hennagir, Tim (May 7, 2018). "Hammond Marine Industry Leadership Award winners will honored at American Boating Congress". Boating Industry.
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/6647916
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7341306
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/9067647
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/9440560
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/9896165
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/11019924
- ↑ https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/11278016
- ↑ Excluding engines and swim platforms, where applicable
External links[edit]
This article "Grady-White Boats" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Grady-White Boats. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
