Cushendall company, Red Bay Boats is forecasting a healthy increase in sales following a recent factory expansion.

The Invest Northern Ireland backed company, which produces a range of Fastfisher Fishing Boats and Stormforce RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), say that the doubling of the factory workspace to 15,000 sq ft will enable both increased productivity and the manufacture of larger craft for a growing market.

Red Bay Boats, which employs 16 people, has been designing and building fibreglass fishing boats and large RIBs for over 25 years. With help from Invest NI it has developed RIBs in a range of sizes up to 11-metres. With the increased capacity and manufacturing capability created by the factory extension the company has decided to begin development of a prototype of a 15-metre boat. This will be aimed at the market for high-speed commercial and leisure boats, similar to those used by patrol and survey teams.

Red Bay Boats’ Managing Director Tom McLaughlin said: “The new factory space has meant improvements for us not just in terms of a more efficient workflow but also in terms of improved customer care and opportunities for new business.

"Our old facility was too cramped and prevented us from manufacturing the larger RIBs and developing new models. The new facility will allow us to work on larger vessels and improve our production processes. We have also created a ‘Customer Suite’ incorporating a dedicated area with working displays of navigational equipment where we can meet with our customers and discuss the individual specification of their new boat. This provides our customers with a total package tailored to their own specific requirements."

He said that the wide-ranging support Red Bay Boats had received from Invest NI was an important element in the company’s development.

The recreational boat market has grown significantly in recent years and it is now estimated that 3.2 million people in the UK live in a household that owns a boat.

The upward trend is set to continue and Red Bay Boats is taking advantage of the growing interest in leisure crafts with an innovative approach to marketing, the Red Bay Boats Owner’s Club.

The Club organises regular outings to the Scottish Islands for Stormforce RIB owners and their craft. These outings have been hailed as a resounding success as a networking event, and have led to increased sales for the company.

(SP)