Our Boat Builders
Irving Forbes
Irving Forbes’ love for fishing and boat-building started when he was young. He worked as a mate at Oregon Inlet all through high school, and then went into the Coast Guard. While home from the Coast Guard on a break in 1974, Irving picked up a job with his...
Bob Sullivan
“Captain Bob Sullivan is an embodiment of the folk stories and legends surrounding boat building and sport fishing on the northern Outer Banks. Not only is he an outstanding boat builder, but he is also a very well-liked and respected fisherman with a knack for...
Buddy Cannady
Buddy Cannady, or “Capt. BC” as he is respectfully known, is one of the most prolific custom boat builders and successful charter fishermen ever to grace the docks along the North Carolina coast. If anyone wants to compare careers, then check...
Craig Blackwell
Craig Blackwell has spent a lifetime in boat building. He started building boats in 1973 when he was just 16 years old in his hometown of Bay City, Michigan. He served a 5-year apprenticeship with Gougeon Brothers, the developers West System Resin, where he learned...
Sheldon Midgette
Charter Captain and Boat Builder,1929-2004 One of the most colorful and respected charter captains and boat builders on the Outer Banks is Sheldon Midgett. Born in 1929, Sheldon began his commercial fishing career as a teenager. He fished pound nets and gill nets...
Ricky Scarborough
Seldom does the reputation of a boat builder extend beyond the boundaries of his geographic region. Not so with Ricky Scarborough. His boats have become the epitome of Carolina style sport fishing boats and Ricky Scarborough is known far and wide for his beautifully...
Buddy Davis
Legendary North Carolina boat builder and fisherman, Carson R. “Buddy” Davis, Jr. passed away on January 17, 2011 after a lengthy illness.. Among his many accomplishments, Buddy Davis is credited with building more than 350 boats; bringing yacht finishes to...
Sunny Briggs
Thomas H. Briggs, III, a.k.a. Sunny, started fishing at just 12 years old. “I was a Kitty Hawker, and I was in awe of the Oregon Inlet captains and their beautiful boats. I kept bugging Lee Perry for a job as a mate on his boat. He was a Kitty Hawker too, and I needed...
Taylor Harrison
Written by Mallory Harrison, Taylor's daughter Taylor Harrison was the founder and owner of Taylor Made Boats. He was not only a wonderful boat builder, but an advocate for continual education in the boat building community and a friend to everyone. I’m sure he was...