When Walt Kuhn, a three-time Jarrett Bay custom sportfish owner, first decided to venture into the world of custom sportfishing yachts, he knew exactly what he was looking for. “I’ve always liked the lines of a custom Carolina boat,” says Walt. “They look sleek and sexy out on the water.” It was this love of the Carolina style that led Walt to Jarrett Bay. He was familiar with our reputation for building boats with a superior ride – a necessary requirement for him. His mid-Atlantic canyon pursuits often take him 70 miles offshore in challenging sea conditions. “I wanted a sea boat that had good entry and didn’t beat me up,” says Walt.
Working with Jarrett Bay salesman and former charter captain Ben Green, Walt designed a 27’ center console built for serious fishing. After four years of extensive use, Walt upgraded to a 42’ Express ingeniously tailored to accommodate his and his fishing partners’ uses. Two years later, Walt was ready for more, and he turned again to Ben for his expert input. Also involved in the process was fellow salesman and highly regarded charter captain Peter Du Bose. “They’re both seasoned guys,” says Walt. “They’ve had previous careers in chartering and boat building, and have a lot of wisdom and hard lessons learned that went into building my boat.” Walt’s eye was on the 53’ for his upgrade, as he believed this layout was better suited for his growing family and friends. “The boat provided more room and comfort,“ says Walt. Because of the additional space, Walt could now take the boat on trips to the Islands, and stay onboard at length. Also appealing on the 53’ was her better vantage point for billfishing, and the mezzanine’s extra shade. During the build process, Walt worked with foreman Gary Davis to further customize the boat. They utilized ideas from other boats, opting for a fixed console instead of a pop-up and put in flooring to increase space for the cockpit and slightly modified mezzanine. The interior was modified as well, as Walt wanted more sofa sleeping space instead of a dinette. “Gary Davis is a brilliant boat builder,” says Walt. “The new construction staff was great to work with. The guys were always one step ahead of me and looking at challenges like a fisherman. They built my boat like it was their own, and you never felt like they were cutting a corner on you. You feel like you’re building a dream together with them.”
Contango splashed in May ‘08 and has already fished the Big Rock and Hatteras Marlin Club tournaments. In the coming months, Walt plans to travel to Florida and Mexico for some much-anticipated double-digit billfishing. “Walt has been a great customer to work with,” says Ben Green. “He knew exactly what he wanted in a fishing vessel, and he knew Jarrett Bay would deliver – again, and again, and again.”
