Sonic USA and Florida Boat Works consolidate
STUART, Fla. – Performance power boat builder Sonic USA Inc. of Hollywood, Fla., and offshore fishing boat manufacturer Florida Boat Works Inc. of Stuart, Fla., are consolidating their operations with the intention of creating new products together, sharing technology and increasing efficiency, reported the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in an article today.
The new company’s boat manufacturing will be based in Stuart, and thus 25 jobs have been cut at the Hollywood facility, the newspaper reported. The remaining 20 Sonic employees will be offered jobs at the Stuart facility. Eventually, however, the companies said they expect to grow the number of positions offered in Stuart.
The new company, First Derivative Technologies LLC, will continue to do business at its Hollywood facility, basing its domestic sales and service there and eventually creating a product showroom and R&D center.
The newspaper reported that the company will soon begin manufacturing a new offshore fishing boat model that will take advantage of Sonic technology, and is investigating other new ways to take advantage of the technology and composites used in building Sonic vessels.
First Derivative told the Palm Beach Post that it expects to build 150 boats this year, which is about 40 boats more than the two companies produced together in 2003.
- For more of the latest news, click here.
- To discuss this topic with other recreational marine industry professionals, click here.
