In the fall of 2003, an experienced group of boat builders began planning a boat company designed specifically around the new heavyweight four-stroke outboards. With ideas garnered from experiences with the world’s leading boat brands, the results are striking. The result is Southport Boat Works.

Southport boats are designed from the keel up to take advantage of the coming trend in offshore outboard power: big, four-stroke six cylinder engines. The economy and quiet power of the new four-strokes is phenomenal. Yet, most offshore boats are designed around outboard engines of the 1990s that weigh as much as 150 pounds less than the new power plants.

Beamy, with deep vees, Southport hull designs are meant to handle these heavyweight outboards, providing a wider range of planing speeds, and soft, dry ride in rough conditions. All with a sense of style and fishing function all their own.




Frank Longino spent a career at Grady-White Boats before joining a turnaround team at Chris-Craft. Alton Herndon spent 27 years at Hatteras Yachts, the last 11 as president. As Managing Partners of Southport Boat Works, LLC, they are realizing a dream of bringing together a team of the best boat builders they’ve ever worked with; to design and build extraordinary outboard-powered sport fishing boats.




After receiving his degree in marine biology, Val Jenkins ran a 47-foot Ribovich for the long-time owner of Mako Marine. He eventually moved into the Mako plant, running operations, then to Cigarette, Black Fin and Chris-Craft. Val joined Southport at inception as Director of Engineering.

Steve Price joined Southport soon after. A 21-year career veteran at Grady-White, he last served as Materials Manager — the position he holds at Southport. Steve has also run assembly and lamination areas of the boat-building process. So, he brings a unique perspective to the materials process.

Kenny McCracken began building fiberglass boats with his father over 35 years ago. Since, he’s built everything from golf carts to custom yachts from fiberglass. As a former Lamination Manager for Carver Yachts and Cruisers Inc., Kenny brings Southport a production background combined with an artist’s dedication to excellence.

The balance of the Southport team represents experience from the world’s finest boat builders. The common thread is a dedication to building the world’s finest outboard sport fishing boats.




Southport boats are designed around four-stroke power. That means the continuously-variable deep vee hulls are designed by Hunt to maximize the sharpness of the entry while retaining stability at trolling speeds and at rest. The secret is actually using the heavy weight of four strokes as an advantage in order to allow Southport boats both more beam and deeper vees than comparable, competitive models. This combination results in a dry, stable platform with sharp entry and ultra-smooth ride. Best of all, a Southport has a wide range of easy-planing cruising speeds instead of the all-or-nothing speeds of fishing boats based on older offshore racing hulls.




The talk around the design table at Southport includes plenty of “war stories” about big fish and bad storms, lessons about boat building taught well — the “hard way”. Though all are fishermen first, the unique aspect of Southport is that the design team has built everything; from 15-foot flats boats to 130-foot custom yachts, from flying bridge sport fishermen to the world’s fastest offshore ocean racers.

The resulting fishing designs aren’t bound by conventional outboard boat-building thinking. In a Southport, you’ll find electrical systems designed in a yacht-like manner. Scuppers that evacuate green water like a custom sport fish. Structure learned from attacking six foot seas at three figure velocities. And lines — largely courtesy of Gerrard Design, Toronto — that reflect some of the most beautiful products ever afloat.

Perhaps the most important element of a Southport design is passion. We firmly believe that great boats demand great talent, great materials, and a passion for excellence that creates an extraordinary ownership experience. Southport is the boat that, at the end of the day at the end of the dock, will make you turn again to appreciate her one more time.

Frank Longino is a Managing Partner of Southport Boat Works. Frank has over 20 years experience in the marine industry. He was, for 12 years, Vice President of Marketing for Grady-White Boats. After Grady-White, he was Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Chris-Craft Boats as part of a successful turnaround of that division of OMC Corporation. Prior to his experience in the marine industry, Frank founded and was President of Adams & Longino Advertising. He has also taught in the business schools of Duke and East Carolina Universities. Frank has a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Wake Forest University and a Master of Management degree in Marketing and Finance from Northwestern University.

Alton Herndon is a Managing Partner of Southport Boat Works. Alton has over 34 years experience in the marine industry. He began as an industrial engineer at Hatteras Yachts and worked there for 27 years, the last 11 as president. During the last seven years, Alton has been responsible for the design, modification, production staffing and start-up of four boat manufacturing facilities, including three in North Carolina. He has served as Chairman of the National Association of Boat Manufacturers and as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Alton studied business at High Point College and is a graduate of the Executive Program at The University of North Carolina.

Val Jenkins is Director of Engineering of Southport Boat Works. Val was Vice President of Operations of Chris-Craft Boats and was a member with Frank of the company’s successful turnaround team. Before Chris-Craft, he was Director of Operations for Cigarette Racing Team for 12 years. During this time, Cigarette was named one of the 100 highest quality products built in the United States by Fortune Magazine. Val is a regular featured speaker on laminate structure at the International Boatbuilding Exhibition and Conference. A former sport fishing charter captain, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from The University of Florida.

Charles King is Chief Financial Officer of Southport Boat Works. Charles, a CPA, was Vice President and Controller of London Pacific Life and Annuity Company for the past ten years. Prior to his tenure at London Pacific, Charles was Assistant Controller of Durham Corporation. Charles has also worked in public accounting and was one of the founders of Hatteras Hammocks Corporation. Charles holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in Business Administration from East Carolina University. An “avid boater”, Charles currently has an ownership interest in seven boats.

Steve Price is Materials Manager of Southport Boat Works. Prior to joining Southport, Steve was Materials Manager with Grady-White Boats. During his 21 year career with Grady-White, he was head of lamination, ran the assembly area, was in charge of scheduling and also in charge of information technology. Prior to his career at Grady-White, Steve was an industrial engineer with Vermont America Corporation. Steve will wear a lot of hats at Southport; as Materials Manager he will be in charge of everything from receiving materials to shipping finished boats.

Kenny McCracken is Lamination Manager for Southport Boat Works. Prior to joining the company, Kenny was lamination manager for Carver Yachts and for Cruisers/Rampage. Starting building boats with his father 35-years ago, his passion is building the finest fiberglass parts in the industry. That passion is combined with a depth of knowledge about fiberglass lamination that shows in the finish of every Southport product.