Island Boat Works

10/09/2026

It’s been almost 14 years since the Sushi 57 IBW was painted by Brian Champlin with Alexseal epoxy paint. While the hullsides still look great the topsides are showing primer in several areas so we hauled and stripped her last week and put her in the building for a new paint job from the waterline up.

While inside she will get a bunch of other work done and then back to giant bluefin tuna fishing this winter here out of NC.

We have a couple of spots left in the building this winter. Contact Charley at (252) 216-6291 for an estimate and scheduling.

10/02/2026

The Top Dog boat finished her sea trials and punch list yesterday afternoon and arrived in Morehead City around midnight.

Today’s she’s headed to Charleston on her way to DR with new tackle and a couple thousand circle hook rigs by Ryan and Wicho. The new paint will probably be getting some bill marks shortly.

09/26/2026

Yesterday we pulled the 60 ft BC boat “Top Dog” out of the building for outriggers and antennas in preparation for Monday’s splash. She arrived back in March and we ended up doing about 60 work items over the past 6 months including:

- haul, pressure wash and pull props
- strip boat for full paint job
- blast bottom paint off
- pump out all fuel in prep for new fuel tanks
- remove old genset and shelf from engine room
- install new genset shelf and new Northern Lights genset
- remove cockpit deck and mezzanine seating (were glued to tanks so had to cut into pieces etc to remove)
- remove old fuel tanks and lines
- remove old steering system, rudder table, and rudder ports
- remove old exhaust system
- remove necessary wiring and electrical systems
- remove hardtop frame and hardtop in prep for new frame and modified top
-remove old bridge and engine room ladders
- remove and fill old thru-hulls and underwater lights
- repair frames, stringers, and hull surfaces under cockpit
- fabricate and install new stringer mounts and reinforcing frames with through-bolted steel caps for installation of Seakeeper 10 gyro
- fabricate and install 45 deg blocking on all frames and stringers for added strength under cockpit
- fabricate and install new rudder table in preparation for Dometic Optimus electronic steering system
- install new Tides rudder ports and seal system
- fabricate and install new exhaust brackets for new Marine Exhaust system with mufflers
- fabricate and install under-deck drain trunks and drain collection box systems under scuppers
- glass, fair, and paint all frames, stringers, exhaust brackets, collection boxes, etc under cockpit
- fabricate transducer pocket and install Garmin PS70 transducer
- fabricate and install new larger spray rails entire length of boat
- design, fabricate and install new fuel tanks with sight tubes
- install new Seakeeper 10 gyro system
- install new Marine Exhaust system with mufflers
- install custom Knapp water tanks 💪
- install new Lumitec underwater lights
- install new cockpit deck
- reinstall mezzanine seating system
- install Freeman water-tight hatch over lazarette
- install new Dometic Optimus steering system
- install new bilge pump and sump box systems
- raise waterline for added weight
- prep and paint entire boat waterline up with multiple colors
- prep and paint paint bottom
-polish and reinstall rub rail systems with monel screws
- apply PropSpeed to running gear
- apply Lightspeed to underwater lights
- modify existing transom artwork
- prep and apply 9 coats clear to transom over artwork
- install new prop shaft seals and coupling fasteners
- install new gear cooler mounts
- fabricate and install new hardtop aluminum frame w/7 rod holders
- modify, paint and install hardtop
- fabricate and install new engine room and bridge ladders
- fabricate and install new teaser reel bracket and cover
- fabricate and install new aluminum wire chase pipes from hardtop to helm console
- fabricate and install new bridge and mezzanine curtains
- fabricate and install new custom stainless steel scupper plates
- install new Aquatraction decking on bridge and cockpit decks
- reinstall all interior and exterior components and prep for splash
- install new padding and carpet inside
- several dozen electrical tasks including rewiring most of the boat and panel

We have openings for your boat refit and repaint needs so give us a call or text at 252-216-6291 to discuss.

09/08/2026

We are seeking a part-time (weekday business hours) accounting or bookkeeping professional to help with our office work and interface with our employees, accountants and clients. Retired or otherwise experienced professionals ideal. Must be familiar with Microsoft Excel and Word, as well as Quickbooks. Pay commensurate with experience. Please call or text Charley at (252) 216-6291.

07/31/2026

Smoker and Sushi boats all rigged up and ready to go in OC MD for WMO week! Full moon and all…

We got Smoker rigged up with a Seakeeper 10, integral handrails on the house, paint and electrical work, and a bunch of other work this winter.

Sushi got a fresh bottom job, transducer work, new underwater lights, new rudder bearings and seals, tie bar spherical bearings, shaft seals, reshaped aft section of spray rails, and other work in May.

We are currently finishing up:

full paint, new bigger spray rails and other structural work on frames and stringers, new plumbing and cockpit drains, fuel tanks, new Optimus electronic steering system, new Seakeeper 10, new genset, new cockpit deck and mezzanine rebuild, new watertight laz hatch system, new hardtop frame, electrical rewire below and up top, curtains, and other work on a 60 ft BC

repaint, new controls, electronics and lots of other work on a Viking

repower on an Albemarle

new interior and other work on a 47 Buddy Davis

several smaller boat projects from 100+ yr old historic Carolina boats to sail and house boats

We have openings in our big building coming up in late August and September, so give us a call or text at 252-216-6291 to get your work done, big or small. We have indoor and outdoor spaces for any size sportfisher.

We also have a 40 ft wide boat ramp for daily use as well as hauling out and launching large cat and tri-hull boats of any length such as the 115 footer that launched there a couple years ago.

06/16/2026

Seakeeper just significantly reduced prices on their remanufactured 6, 9, and 16 gyro stabilizers so if you were thinking about installing one now is the time. Full warranty is available. We are a Seakeeper dealer, installer and maintenance provider. Call or text me at (252) 216-6291 for your estimate.

We are the world leader in boat gyro stabilization technology. Check out our Seakeeper gyro stabilizers & see how we've transformed the boating experience.

06/07/2026

Shane and Hunter Brafford on the 65 ft Island Boat Works "Marsh Madness" won the Dolphin category of the Ladies Big Rock yesterday with a 53+ pound bull worth $123,420!!! Congrats guys on your continuing success.

05/07/2026

We finished a major refit on the 55 ft Ricky Scarborough “Lisa Jo” last month and she went down to Abacos Bahamas immediately for family time billfishing before heading back home to Orange Beach AL yesterday.

We had about 50 items on the work list including:

remove cockpit deck and install new fuel tanks with fuel bladder quick disconnects and repair and refinishing hull structure underneath

remove shafts and struts, check shafts at WB and rebed and reinstall everything

new exhaust hoses and engine room ladder

repair, paint and letter transom

remove 2 small Quick gyros and install Seakeeper 10 gyro

reinstall cockpit deck, teak and repaint

blast bottom clean, remove worm shoe, glass keel, fair bottom smooth, apply barrier coat and Petit Black Widow teflon bottom paint on the running surface and Petit Trinidad XSR on the transom and sides in the Carolina Coat configuration (picked up about 2 knots at cruise speed)

refinish all teak brightwork and salon door

remove rubrail and repair followed with new Monel screws to help eliminate rust drips

electrical and mechanical repairs and improvements

install new forward deck hatch

We have openings for your boat projects starting next month. Call or text me at (252) 216-6291 to discuss.