Boat Maker to Create Nearly 200 U.S. Jobs on East Coast

Boater’s World Manufacturing Group plans to create 179 jobs and invest more than $6 million in a new boat manufacturing campus in Chocowinity, North Carolina. Gov. Josh Stein announced the expansion, which will cover 212,000 square feet on the Pamlico River waterfront and is designed to transform the small town of about 722 residents (as of 2020). The unit is a new division within Outdoor Network, a family-owned company founded by Tom and Billye D’Azevedo that recently acquired NauticStar Boats. Outdoor Network also operates Boater’s World Marine Centers and parts brands including Partzilla, Ridezilla, and Firedog.