YACHTS INTERNATIONAL - May 2003
Review by Jamie Welch

Photography by Jerome Kelagopian

Westport shipyard principals shy away from journalists and photographers and credit the yard's 427 workers for quietly building a 164-footer on spec while splashing three 130', three 112s and two-or-three 98s annually. That leads an inquisitive reporter to wonder if the shipyard has something to hide. With regard to Westport, that's precisely the case.

"We have a good recipe and we want to keep it a secret," says Westport President Daryl Wakefield. "I could half-jokingly use the example of Kentucky Fried Chicken, because nobody has ever stolen their recipe. I don't want to sound evasive but we have a system that works well and a lot of people are trying to copy it, which is fine, but we don't want to help them too much."

There's no need to summon the executives, quiz the long-tenured workforce or challenge the marketing reps at this Pacific Northwest builder: the boats do the talking for them. Take one of their boats out to sea and you'll know what I mean.