Inside Pursuit Boats with Pier 33

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

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

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

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.

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.

Tips To Save Time And Money At Your Next Boat Show

When you're interested in buying a boat, boat shows are one of the best ways to try on many different shapes and sizes of boats. From sport boats to deck boats to cruisers and fishing boats. Boat shows also provide a great time to mingle with the boating community and hear firsthand how boating is a wonderful way to spend your free time. With all this excitement, a boat show can feel a bit overwhelming. To help you save time and money, follow these tips.

Do Your Homework


Boat shows are a great way to begin the boat buying process. But with all the different styles and sizes to choose from, it's hard to make a decision if you haven't already narrowed down your choices. Before attending our boat show, visit our website and start looking at the brands and models (Pursuit, Scout and Chaparral Boats) offered by Pier 33. While browsing, think about what you'll use your boat for and how many people you'll take out at a time. That way, when you visit us at the boat show, you'll be able to spend more time on the boat that fits.

Come Prepared


When you come to the boat show, you should bring a few things with you.

1. Questions - bring all your questions. Pier 33 will have an expert team on hand to help you understand everything there is to know about the boating lifestyle and the different boats. There are no silly questions. All boaters start somewhere and our staff will help you gain the knowledge you need.
2. A Notebook and A Camera-Phone - you may want to take notes about and/or compare different boat models, sizes, how many people can fit or how much fuel the boat can hold. Having a notebook will come in handy and you can use the camera phone or digital camera for extra help to remind yourself what you liked best about each boat.
3. Printed Address Labels - if you plan to visit multiple dealers during the show, bring pre-printed address labels that have your name and contact information. Many vendors ask for this information and having an address label ready to peel and stick will save you lots of time.
4. Your full boating crew. Family, kids, friends who will be boating with you can be an important source of feedback about what fits best and you may learn about some key features that will help make everyone's day on the water more enjoyable.

Climb Aboard


You'd be surprised at how many people are too nervous to climb aboard and check out the boat that caught their eye. Go ahead, climb aboard! We're here for you and want you to feel comfortable spending some time on the boats that fit what you're looking for. Have a seat at the helm, open doors and check for storage room or take a peek at the head (the restroom). Spend as long as you like and always feel welcome to stop back for a second, third or fourth look as you make your comparisons throughout the show.



Want to know more? Don't be shy. Pier 33's friendly staff will be right there when you need us to answer any question or show you the features that may surprise you. There's no obligation or pressure to make a show purchase, although there will be some outstanding show incentives if you choose to take advantage of them.

Are you ready for the 2012 Progressive Insurance Chicago Boat, Sports & RV Show next weekend? We sure are!