Hacker Boat Co., a builder of hand-crafted
mahogany boats, will build a new $3 million
manufacturing facility in the Queensbury Business
Park, bringing in 90 employees to work in the
90,000-square-foot building.
The company, based in Silver Bay, and the
Economic Development Corp. of Warren County,
announced Sept. 13 they have finalized an agreement
for the new manufacturing, boat restoration,
and office facility.
Construction will start later this year, officials
said. It will take place on three adjacent parcels
in the park totaling 17 acres. The park is located
off Queensbury Avenue (County Line Road), just
south of the Warren County Airport.
“We are very much looking forward to this relocation, one which will enable us to consolidate operations which are now at two different sites,” said Hacker-Craft CEO George Badcock. “The building will be large enough so that we can expand our production and our restoration businesses while enabling us to build larger boats for the international market, notably tenders for mega yachts.”
“The proximity to the Warren County Airport will make access easier for our customers who travel by private aircraft. The site being close to the Northway and more convenient to the Capital District transportation hub in Albany are added benefits,” he said.
For Edward Bartholomew, recently named president of EDC Warren County, it marks a good start to his tenure.
“The agreement we have reached with Hacker Boat Co. is a large step toward realizing our vision for this specific park, and the leading edge of our overall vision for drawing businesses to additional commercial and industrial land throughout Warren County,” he said.
“In Warren County, we have fantastic advantages to attract employers, including our skilled work force, the airport and other transportation infrastructure, and our proximity to the rapidly expanding Capital Region. EDC has many properties to market that will meet the needs of our existing businesses to expand or for new businesses that seek to locate in Warren County,” said Bartholomew.
The company’s marina will continue to operate at Silver Bay on Lake George. The company’s boat storage business will also not be affected by the move.
Badcock said the international market is important to the Hacker Boat Co.’s growth and it continues to seek international dealers. The brand is now represented by a dealer in the UK and a potential dealer from Switzerland will visit the company this fall.
Last month a tender (a small boat used to service a yacht by transporting people or supplies) was delivered to a mega yacht in Germany and final negotiations are currently underway to build a tender for a mega yacht being built in Latvia, Badcock said. The company has also been asked to design two additional tenders for other yachts. “We look forward to watching an iconic brand such as Hacker-Craft grow into its new facility in Warren County. The business is a shining example of the region’s innovative businesses and skilled, high-quality craftsmanship,” said Charles Barton, EDC board chairman.
“It is exciting to welcome a business with a world-class reputation and significant international growth potential to Warren County,” said Kevin Geraghty, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.
Harold “Bud” Taylor, chairman of the Warren- Washington Industrial Development Agency, said he looks forward to jointly working with EDC of Warren County in developing growth opportunities for existing businesses, as well as attracting new businesses to our region.
State Sen. Betty Little said, “As the Hacker Boat Co. pursues its expansion plans, I am pleased that it has chosen to remain in the North Country. That’s a testament to the collaboration between the company and our local economic development officials.”
State Assemblyman Dan Stec commented, “The new location that Hacker Boat Company has selected will serve the company well. With the park’s easy access to the interstate and air travel, and the talents of the region’s well-trained and dedicated work force, the business is making a strategic move in realizing its goals for growth.”
“This new project will bring not only new jobs to the area over a period of several years, but also gives an immediate boost to our local economy through construction of the facility,” said Queensbury Town Supervisor Ron Montesi.
The Hacker Boat Co., owned by Erin Investments LLC, is said to be the largest American manufacturer of classic mahogany motorboats. Each Hacker-Craft is hand crafted by master boat builders who labor over 1,400 hours to build every boat. The company builds runabouts, sport boats, launches, yacht tenders, utilities and custom designed boats.
In the past two years the company has built special edition models for Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus and lifestyle retailer Tommy Bahama. The Neiman Marcus Edition was selected as a fantasy gift in the retailer’s famous Christmas Book catalog, and was featured on the NBC “Today Show.”
The firm has a long-term relationship with Tommy Bahama. This month the Tommy Bahama Edition appears in Relax, the retailer’s Fall magazine. The boat is featured in a Tommy Bahama ad in the fall edition of Four Seasons magazine, a publication which is distributed in 91 Four Seasons Hotels and Resort in 38 countries with an estimated 1.1 million readers.