A yacht-building company that recently relocated to Swansboro will release their first yacht
made entirely in Onslow County in 2019. The move is a benefit for the local economy.
Winter Custom Yachts, brainchild of Tim Winters, was founded in Apex in 2006, according
to a press release from Jones Onslow Economic Development (JOED). The operation builds
24-foot to 64-foot custom boats, and has built 30 boats to date.
“Most of those will likely be sold outside of the county,” said Sheila Knight, executive director
of JOED. “Which means we have money from outside of Onslow County coming into Onslow
County.”
The operation currently employs 28 people, only five of whom relocated alongside the founder
from Apex. The rest are from Onslow County.
“As he grows, he’ll certainly offer more jobs,” Knight said. She said the operation is expected to
grow to about 50 employees within several years. Most of those jobs, according to Knight, will
offer higher wages than the average wages in Onslow.
The location used to belong to another boat-building company called Hatteras Yachts,
according to Knight, which consolidated its operations in New Bern. It is not a fear that JOED
has with Winter, since his entire operation relocated from Apex. Winter does not have
another coastal operation.
“It certainly is good that the building is now occupied by boat manufacturers,” Knight said. “If
it’s a vacant facility, it’s not producing any jobs.”
The machinery and equipment Winters is bringing with him will also help the local economy.
“That all increases the tax revenues for Onslow County,” Knight said.
Author
Reporter Maxim Tamarov can be reached at 910-219-8439 or mtamarov@jdnews.com
Original article can be found on JDNews.com
