What is Jarrett Bay Boatworks?
Jarrett Bay Boatworks is an American builder of fully custom Carolina sportfishing yachts. The company is known for combining cold-molded epoxy-composite construction, pronounced Carolina bow flare, large fishing cockpits, high-performance diesel propulsion and luxury accommodations created around each owner’s requirements. Jarrett Bay has delivered more than 100 custom and semi-production sportfishing boats since its founding and also operates a major yacht-refit and service facility.
The official name is Jarrett Bay Boatworks, although buyers frequently search for “Jarrett Bay Boats,” “Jarrett Bay Yachts,” “Jarrett Bay sportfish” and “Jarrett Bay boats for sale.”
Who founded Jarrett Bay, when was it established and who owns it today?
Captain Randy Ramsey helped found Jarrett Bay Boatworks in 1986 after deciding to build a better boat for his charter-fishing business. The company’s first yacht was the 52-foot Sensation, constructed in a small tin shed in Williston, North Carolina. That first boat was designed to run farther, handle rough offshore conditions, fish efficiently and return charter guests safely to the dock.
Safe Harbor Marinas acquired Jarrett Bay in 2022. Randy Ramsey has remained involved with the company, helping guide its custom-construction program and preserve its Carolina boatbuilding culture under the Safe Harbor Jarrett Bay organization. Jarrett Bay celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026.
Is Jarrett Bay still building boats, and where are they built?
Yes, Jarrett Bay remains an active custom sportfishing-yacht builder in Beaufort, North Carolina. As of August 2026, the shipyard had two 90-foot custom sportfish yachts under construction: Hull 68, scheduled to splash in fall 2026, and Hull 69, known as Project Ultra. The simultaneous construction of two yachts of this size reflects the yard’s continuing focus on large, highly customized projects.
Safe Harbor Jarrett Bay occupies part of a 175-acre marine industrial park on the Intracoastal Waterway. Its service operation has lift capacity up to 300 tons, deep-water dockage and the capability to work on custom sportfish boats, motor yachts and commercial vessels.
What types and sizes of boats does Jarrett Bay build?
Jarrett Bay specializes in custom diesel-powered sportfishing yachts, including convertibles, open-bridge yachts, enclosed-bridge boats, express boats and walkaround sportfish designs. Its historical fleet ranges from smaller 26-, 27-, 32- and 34-foot boats to 50- to 70-foot convertibles and 90-foot sportfishing superyachts. Earlier 32- and 34-foot walkarounds and other semi-production models are now primarily found on the pre-owned market.
The current new-build program is concentrated on larger fully custom yachts. Recent and active projects include the 64-foot Rebelette, 68-foot Renegade and two 90-foot yachts. Jarrett Bay says it has built nearly 70 fully custom hulls during its first 40 years, in addition to its earlier semi-production boats.
How are Jarrett Bay boats constructed?
Jarrett Bay is best known for cold-molded epoxy-composite construction. In the builder’s traditional process, multiple diagonal layers of marine-grade fir and Okoume plywood are bonded with proprietary epoxy and covered with fiberglass cloth. Jarrett Bay says this creates a stiff, relatively lightweight structure capable of enduring high-performance offshore operation.
Newer Jarrett Bays combine that traditional cold-molded hull construction with advanced composites, infusion and lightweight lamination techniques. The 68-foot Renegade uses materials and processes developed for the original 90-foot Jaruco, while Hull 68 uses a cold-molded hull with infused and advanced-laminate deck and superstructure components to control weight.
What makes a Jarrett Bay a “Carolina” sportfishing boat?
A Jarrett Bay displays the characteristic shape and handling priorities of a custom Carolina sportfish, including pronounced bow flare, a broken sheer line, aft tumblehome, a comparatively low profile and a large working cockpit. These features are not solely cosmetic. The bow flare helps redirect spray, the forward hull form is designed to soften head-sea impacts and the aft running surface is shaped to track predictably while backing down on a fish.
Jarrett Bay also emphasizes weight distribution and a low center of gravity. On larger models, carefully shaped propeller tunnels and high-speed rudders are intended to maintain thrust and precise control in changing sea conditions. Actual ride and safety still depend on the model, loading, maintenance, weather and operator experience, so every prospective buyer should complete a realistic offshore sea trial.
How does Jarrett Bay compare with Bayliss, Spencer, Paul Mann, Weaver and Viking?
Jarrett Bay occupies the elite, low-volume custom-Carolina segment of the sportfishing market. Buyers may compare it with custom builders such as Bayliss, Spencer, Paul Mann and Weaver, while also evaluating large production sportfish yachts from Viking and other established manufacturers.
Jarrett Bay’s principal distinction is that nearly every major decision—from hull length and machinery to cockpit systems, bridge design and interior arrangement—can be developed around the owner and captain. Compared with a production yacht, this provides greater control over weight, fishing systems and accommodations; compared with another custom builder, the decision often comes down to hull philosophy, design history, construction method, yard relationship and the performance of existing boats. This is a market-positioning assessment based on Jarrett Bay’s custom-building process and current projects.
What are the most popular and recognizable Jarrett Bay models?
Jarrett Bay’s best-known boats include its 53- and 54-foot convertibles, 58-foot sportfishers, 64-foot series, 67- and 68-foot yachts and 90-foot custom sportfishing superyachts. The 64-foot platform is especially recognizable through boats such as Builder’s Choice and Rebelette, while the 67-foot Privateer and 68-foot Renegade represent later generations of large, high-performance convertibles.
The original 90-foot Jaruco, now named Nikki Bella, became Jarrett Bay’s technological flagship. Current brokerage inventory is extremely limited; as of August 10, 2026, YachtWorld showed only three Jarrett Bays, described as a 67 Custom, an 84 and a Hardtop Express Sportfish. That small sample reflects availability at one moment and should not be interpreted as a historical sales ranking.
How fast are Jarrett Bay boats, and what engines do they use?
Performance and engine selection are customized for each Jarrett Bay, but modern large models commonly use high-output Caterpillar or MTU diesels. The 68-foot Renegade is powered by twin 2,400-horsepower Caterpillar C32B diesels. Jarrett Bay publishes a 40-knot cruising speed and 44-knot maximum speed for that yacht, along with 2,250 gallons of fuel and three Seakeeper 9 gyrostabilizers.
Hull 68, the 90-footer scheduled for fall 2026, is specified with twin 2,600-horsepower MTU 16V 2000 M96L diesels, twin Seakeeper 26 units and 4,400 gallons of fuel. Those specifications illustrate the speed, range and equipment capacity available in a large custom Jarrett Bay, but performance figures from one hull should not be applied to another boat with different engines, propellers, weight or equipment.
Can a Jarrett Bay be owner-operated, and can you stay overnight aboard one?
Smaller legacy Jarrett Bays may be owner-operated by experienced private captains, but larger contemporary boats normally benefit from a professional captain and crew. A 60- to 90-foot high-performance sportfisher has complex diesel engines, generators, stabilization, towers, navigation systems and tournament-fishing equipment that require significant operational and maintenance expertise.
Jarrett Bay’s large models provide substantial overnight accommodations. The 68-foot Renegade has four staterooms, three heads, a full galley, pantry, salon and entertainment systems designed for extended stays. The 90-foot Hull 68 incorporates dual master-stateroom arrangements, more than 4,000 gallons of fuel and the space required for international travel and multiweek fishing programs.
How do Jarrett Bay owners use their boats?
Jarrett Bay owners primarily use their yachts for blue-marlin, white-marlin, tuna and other big-game fishing, including competitive tournament campaigns and travel to remote fishing destinations. Boats may follow seasonal fishing between North Carolina, Florida, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Central America and Pacific destinations. Project Ultra is specifically being built for international travel and competitive big-game fishing.
The larger yachts also function as luxury family cruisers, with salons, private cabins, galleys, climate control, stabilization and outdoor entertaining areas. A Jarrett Bay can operate on the Great Lakes for salmon, trout and tournament fishing, but buyers should carefully assess tower and bridge clearance, draft, heated-storage availability, winterization and access to technicians familiar with cold-molded custom sportfish construction. The Great Lakes suitability assessment is an inference based on the yachts’ equipment and dimensions.
What awards and recent tournament recognition has Jarrett Bay received?
Jarrett Bay’s most important recent recognition has come through competitive fishing rather than conventional annual design awards. The 64-foot Builder’s Choice won the 2025 Bermuda Triple Crown after also winning the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament. In 2026, Builder’s Choice won the Bermuda Big Game Classic and helped Jarrett Bay secure the series’ Manufacturer’s Cup.
At the 2026 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, Jarrett Bay boats earned $6,553,188 - 72.5% of the event’s total purse. The 63-foot Marlin Fever won the blue-marlin division with a 919.9-pound fish, the largest blue marlin weighed in the tournament’s 68-year history. Twenty-one Jarrett Bay boats participated, ranging from the original Sensation to the 64-foot Rebelette.
Jarrett Bay has also received design-industry recognition. The 90-foot Jaruco was the first sportfishing yacht named a finalist in the Game Changer category of the BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards, recognized in part for its lightweight titanium propeller shafts. Finalist status should not be described as a category win.
How much does a Jarrett Bay cost?
A new Jarrett Bay is individually priced according to its size, engines, tower, electronics, stabilization, interior and fishing systems. The builder can use a previous hull as the basis for a contract specification, but every custom project has a different final cost and construction schedule. Jarrett Bay says a custom build can require 24 months or more from concept to completion.
The pre-owned market is small and prices vary dramatically. As of August 10, 2026, MarineSource.com showed three Jarrett Bays priced from approximately $1.049 million to $14.5 million. The sample included yachts from 43 to 84 feet and model years from 2015 through 2021. These are advertised asking prices, not completed sale prices, and they do not account for upcoming engine work, paint, electronics or refit requirements.
What should I inspect when buying a used Jarrett Bay?
A used Jarrett Bay should receive a comprehensive survey by professionals experienced with cold-molded epoxy-composite sportfishing yachts. The inspection should include hull moisture and laminate condition, impact damage, fiberglass sheathing, structural bonding, bulkheads, stringers, propeller tunnels, shafts, rudders, struts and evidence of previous grounding or collision repairs. Jarrett Bay’s construction differs from both conventional fiberglass production boats and traditional plank-on-frame wooden boats, making specialized knowledge important.
The engines, transmissions and generators should undergo separate inspections, diagnostic downloads and oil analysis. Buyers should also evaluate the tower, bridge structure, stabilization, fuel and exhaust systems, electronics, livewells, pumps, refrigeration, air conditioning, teak, paint and interior joinery. Tournament, charter, repower and refit histories should be documented, and the yacht should be hauled and sea-trialed under a realistic load. Jarrett Bay’s service facility can handle comprehensive repairs and refits, but the buyer should identify deferred maintenance before agreeing to a price.
Why should I use Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales to purchase a Jarrett Bay?
A Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales yacht broker can act as the buyer’s representative when locating, evaluating and purchasing a pre-owned or centrally listed Jarrett Bay. Because each yacht may have a unique hull, machinery package, fishing system and interior, a JBYS broker can help collect build specifications, maintenance records and comparable-sales information while coordinating cold-molded-hull surveyors, diesel technicians, haul-outs and sea trials.
JBYS has more than 50 years of company heritage, 1,050 years of combined team experience and nine offices across Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Florida. The company has also displayed the brokerage-listed 2019 Jarrett Bay 67 Privateer, illustrating how a JBYS broker can assist a buyer even when another company controls the central listing.
Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales can additionally help with negotiations, financing, insurance, purchase documentation and delivery. Your JBYS yacht broker can act as the buyer’s agent for qualified pre-owned and brokerage-listed Jarrett Bay opportunities, helping to negotiate on behalf of the buyer.
