InTheBite

The Man Who Saw Boats: Remembering Ricky Scarborough Sr.

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By Mitchell Bateman

If you’ve been involved in the world of offshore sportfishing for more than a week, chances are good that you have heard of Scarborough Boatworks and the man behind some of the finest boats ever built, Ricky Scarborough, Sr. From his first 18- to 25-foot hunting skiffs and work boats, to his last 60- to 85-foot custom-built luxury sportfishing yachts, Ricky’s reputation for quality craftsmanship and ingenuity is well known. The actual number of boats he built is a little fuzzy considering he didn’t keep written records of all the crab boats and hunting skiffs he built for his neighbors and family. With the incorporation of Scarborough Boatworks in 1977, along with better record-keeping, it is probable that the grand total of boats Ricky built was north of 100.

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Splash Report: 63′ Scarborough Game Time

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63 Scarborough Boatworks

Game Time Homeport: Key Largo, Florida

The 63-foot Game Time was splashed in the early summer 2018. “The owner bought a Scarborough boat because he has been enamored with North Carolina boat builders and the boats they make. The ride, the fishability, the looks and the speed match their story,” says Captain Ben Brownlee who runs the Game Time. “I’m pretty impressed with it, too. She maneuvers well, is a great head sea boat and has beautiful lines. It turns on a dime and really handles well on fish. The boat also has a Seakeeper, a Spot Zero and a watermaker.”

“This is probably one of the nicest boats we’ve ever built,” says builder Ricky Scarborough. “It is the first large boat for the owner. He wanted something fast. It is designed for tournament fishing and travel.” To be prepared for a variety of fishing applications, the boat is equipped with a significant live well capacity.

 

“These owners were some of the nicest people we have ever worked with. The owner has two boys and this boat was a way to introduce them to the sport. It is not heavy on entertainment systems, but was designed for family time,” Scarborough says. “The biggest hit so far has been the grill in the cockpit. The 10-year old is the grill master.”

The family theme extends to the interior layout as well. The VIP stateroom turned into a split, with two beds. “These days we seem to attract a lot of families,” Scarborough says. “And we like it that way.”

With the build complete and the boat in the water, where will the Game Time head from here? “We’re in Pirate’s Cove (North Carolina) until November. We’ll be in Jupiter from November through April, with some Bahamas trips mixed in. In May, we’ll head to the Bahamas for the Custom Shootout and fish there until August,” says Captain Ben. “We might head to the DR after that. In 2020, we’ll head to Costa Rica.”

Game Time indeed.

SPECIFICATIONS: Completion date May 2018 / LOA 63’6” / Beam 17’6” / Draft 5’ / Engines 2-C32A 1925HP / Generators 2-21KW Northern Lights / Loaded Weight 87,000 lbs / Fuel Capacity 1600 gallons / Water Capacity 250 gallons / Interior 3 stateroom/3 head / WOT 43.5 kts / Gyro Seakeeper 16