Waterline Systems LLC, headquartered in North Kingstown, RI and a fixture of the boat building, boat repair, and grand-prix sailing scene for over 30 years, is expanding operations into a 70,000 square-foot facility in Hubert, NC. Located just off the Intracoastal Waterway southwest of Moorehead City, and two hours from I-95, Waterline Systems will be able to dramatically increase its boat building, service, storage, and refit capabilities for sail and power boats arriving by land and sea.
As the builder of Alerion Yachts, Waterline Systems makes some of the loveliest and best constructed boats on the water, like this Alerion Sport 30. © alerionyachts.com
“Adding a waterfront facility with substantial indoor and outdoor space serviced by the necessary equipment will allow us to work with larger sail and power boats and be a resource for the north/south seasonal migration on the Intracoastal Waterway and I-95 for boats of all sizes and types,” said Waterline Systems Managing Director Randall Borges. “We plan to maintain our North Kingstown facility to service the loyal customer base we’ve been working with for decades. The two locations will work symbiotically going forward.”
This expansion is supported by Masonboro, NC resident Richard Johnson, who acquired the former Hatteras Yachts property in 2014. Johnson is a strong supporter of local economic development, with a particular interest in appropriately revitalizing marine manufacturing and service on this property for all types of boats from anywhere in the world.
A visionary boat builder with 40 years of hands-on experience in all levels of aluminum and composite construction, Borges has built a core team of like-minded experts through his career. As a company owner and manager Borges has built many models of J/Boats, the Mumm/Farr 30s and Farr 40s, created the C&C 30 One-Design, and built True North powerboats. Waterline Systems is the current builder of Alerion Yachts and owns North Rip semi-custom center console fishing boats. His and the team’s knowledge and experience is tough to match.
“We are excited to add to our core team from the experienced workforce in the Hubert area,” Borges said. “Supported by Onslow County and the state of North Carolina, there is a strong local heritage in boat building and we look forward to working with these talented builders and service technicians.”
Waterline Systems was launched out of the back of a pickup truck in 1988 as a sailboat racing speed shop in Newport, RI. Thirty years on, Waterline Systems has grown into a multi-million dollar boat building and marine service company with the ability to build, repair, and refit sail and powerboats of any material and nearly any size. Waterline Systems’ two locations are: 342 Compass Circle, North Kingstown, RI, and 270 Hogans Road, Hubert, NC. For more information, visit waterlinesystems.com. ■
