Pier 33 General Manager Tighe Curran recently returned from Pursuit's Offshore University at Pursuit headquarters in Fort Pierce, Florida. Learn about the Pursuit Factory Tour and plan your own visit someday soon!
Each year, the Pier 33 staff has an opportunity to visit
Pursuit for Offshore University, an
assemblage of Pursuit dealer professionals
from throughout the U.S. and beyond. The highlight of this week, for me, is always
the factory tour. As many times as I have been through boat manufacturing
plants, I am continued to be impressed with the cohesiveness, attention to
detail and craftsmanship I encounter on every visit to Pursuit in Fort Pierce,
Florida.
Pursuit is known for its Michigan heritage and premium, yacht-level
quality. Pursuit is one division of S2 Yachts - Tiara is the other - founded
and headquartered in Holland, MI by Leon Slikkers and still guided by his
vision & values as the family carries on his boatbuilding legacy.
The level of commitment to producing an absolutely
outstanding boat is evident at every stop
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| Each Mold Receives Meticulous Care |
along the way. As we go through the
plant, it is plainly evident why Pursuit is so highly regarded for the durability,
reliability, consistent running comfort and timeless styling built into each
model. These superior characteristics result in long-term value for the Pursuit
owner. If you are ever considering a new boat in this category, please let us
know when you can visit Pursuit in Fort Pierce. Feel welcome and encouraged to
take advantage of this unique opportunity to see how your boat comes together.
Each station throughout the plant carries a detailed
Controlled Work Instruction for that step in the process, ensuring consistency
in each boat on the line. All molds – hulls, decks small parts – are meticulously
maintained for a
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| By The Book - Always - For Consistency |
superbly finished product … with each boat hand-laid, using
climate controlled high performance resins and knitted biaxial fiberglass to
assure superior strength. As the hulls and decks are in process, aluminum
backing plates are bonded into place to provide exceptional reinforcement for
the heavy-duty deck hardware used on every Pursuit model.
The construction of Pursuit’s integral fiberglass stringer
systems is truly state of the art, with stringer grids vacuum-bagged and resin
infused. This process reduces weight, while also providing exceptional
strength, durability, reliability and a consistent fit. This grid is then precision-bonded
to the hull and foam-filled.
If you ever have an opportunity to visit, spend some extra
time in the wiring rooms. This amazing process is a great demonstration of how
Pursuit builds reliability into every boat. So many manufacturers splice,
butt-together and hodgepodge the crucial wiring runs that deliver power to on
board accessories. At
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| State of The Art Resin Infused Stringer Grid |
Pursuit, wiring harness are loomed in-house, with
continuous strands (no in-line connections or splices!) then protected by loom
chafing. Accessories are all plug and play, with watertight Deutsch electrical
connectors. The entire bundle for each individual boat is then carted to the
production line, eliminating the errors or wiring damage that can occur when an
“ordinary” boat is being wired out on the factory floor. You may never see
these wiring looms when you’re on board your Pursuit … but you can rest assured
that they have been engineered and assembled to give you a trouble-free
ownership experience.
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| This is Why Your Gear Works |
During a factory tour, you will also get to visit Pursuit’s
wood shop, where the very-highly crafted cabin soles and cabinetry that
distinguish Pursuit are cut, varnished and assembled. All canvas and upholstery
is also done on-site, for perfect fit and finish on each boat.
The hull and deck are assembled separately, but production
is coordinated to bring them together at just the right time. Here is a video
from one of our recent visits, showing the “Decking” of a new Pursuit.
There is so much more to tell. Stop by to visit Pier 33
during the boat show season for an on- board tour of a completed Pursuit. See us at the Progressive Insurance Chicago Boat, Sports and RV Show, January 16 thru 20 and the Grand Rapids Boat Show, February 19 thru 23. For boat show details, visit www.pier33.com.
Pier 33's 2014 Open House will be more fun than ever, with a unique line-up of treats, contests, games and great food - plus outstanding buys on all new boats in stock and arriving from Chaparral, Pursuit and Robalo and a great season-opening selection of pre-owned boats of all sizes.
Boat show season has kept us pretty busy. We’re now getting ready for our next show, the 68th Annual 