JOED Announces Winter Custom Yachts moves to Onslow CountyWinter Custom Yachts was launched in 2006 in Apex, NC. But Tim Winters’ passion for boats and fishing began when he was a youngster growing up in Eastern NC. His family fishing outings led to sketching boat designs and building skiffs in the family garage. In high school and college, he worked for boat building companies, while refining his own design style. An engineer by education, Tim is known for blending science with artistry in boat designs. He is passionate about exceeding customers’ dreams with superior craftsmanship.
In 2017, Winters expanded the operation to Onslow County to rig and deliver the boats. Soon, it became obvious that they needed to build the entire boat in the coastal location, especially if they had any intention of building larger boats. So, this year he moved his entire operation to their Hubert facility in the Swansboro area. Their first boat built entirely in Onslow County will be delivered next year.
Winter Custom Yachts has built 30 boats to date, ranging from 24’ to 65’. The new location offers a huge opportunity to grow the boatbuilding business and expand into the marine repair business. Their earlier “builds” can easily come back for refit and general maintenance. They wanted to capture that business, knowing it would facilitate continued service to their clients.
Sheila Knight, Executive Director of JOED said, “Winter Custom Yachts is an excellent addition to our growing Marine Trades industry. We are proud to be the birthplace of such beautiful custom yachts.”
The move allowed Tim and his family to return to his home area. Five employees also made the move to Onslow County. There are currently 28 employees, and an expectation of 50 employees within several years. Tim Winters tells us, “We are excited to be in the Swansboro area and add to the boatbuilding history that has gone before us. We believe we build the best product on the market and our goal is to highlight Onslow County as one of the elite boatbuilding capitals of the world.”
