In todays Stuart News
Despite troubling economy, Ameracat expands Fort Pierce boat-building business
FORT PIERCE — February 2009 was not a month that most people would pick to open a company manufacturing a new kind of powered catamaran.
Consumer confidence was low, established boat builders were cutting back and boat sales were down.
But a trio of Treasure Coast men decided the time was just right.
“People thought we were crazy,” said Steve Meitner, president of Ameracat, “but here we are starting a new year and adding 10 workers to our 15-member staff. We are building and selling boats at the rate of three a week.” So far, they have produced 15 at an average price of $49,900.
Meitner is president of the firm, with David East as the company’s vice president and production manager. The two, with Meitner’s son, Scott, who is secretary-treasurer, surveyed catamaran owners and dealers about what they wanted in a boat.
“Then we hired a naval architect to design it and an engineer to set up a schedule for lamination of the composite vessel,” Meitner said.
A catamaran consists of two narrow hulls called sponsons, connected by a main deck with the pilot station and cuddy cabin. Meitner says his boats are unsinkable because the sponsons are foam-filled and sealed watertight by fiberglass.
Currently, the firm builds 27- and 33-foot catamarans powered by a variety of Evinrude and Suzuki engines, capable of speeds over 50 mph and fuel consumption, when cruising, of 3.2 mpg, and a cruising range of 500 miles. A basic boat costs $49,900.
Orders for the craft are coming in from as far away as New England and Texas, Meitner said. Florida provides the bulk of the customers.
One example is Melbourne dermatologist Brad Grant, who owns a 27-foot Ameracat and came in to order a second for the west coast of the state. “It’s a great boat,” said Grant. “With two, I won’t have to trailer across the state to fish.”
Meitner also is negotiating with the Navy for a small business contract, and with Sea Tow for more boats for the towing and salvage firm.
“Everyone talks about the bad economy,” said Meitner, “but our business is growing well and things are perking up. TwinVee has reopened its facilities on the south side of Fort Pierce and we are on the north. I hope for the day when Fort Pierce will be regarded as the catamaran capitol of the world.”
Ameracat expands Fort Pierce boat-building business (formerly TwinVee) 
