Our story
The Story Behind the F&S Sportfish
Unrivaled Sea Keeping Abilities, Speed, & Graceful Lines
How F&S Made Its Mark
Founded in 1996 by Jim Floyd, the Floyd family attributes much of their success with F&S Boatworks to their experiences as Sea Craft owners in the early 1980's.
The 23’ Sea Craft
In the 1970s, a young Jim, formally a master carpenter, is now a newly minted longshoreman riding the open ocean.
The 23’ Sea Craft
The inspiration for the original F&S hull design was based on the Floyd family's love of the 23' Sea Craft; a vessel famous for being a great riding, small boat.
Jim was amazed at the seaworthy Sea Craft
He watched as she faced down waves that would have been career-ending for most boats her size.
A Sea Craft Flybridge model, airborne
The East Coast Canyons to the Gulf Stream
Wanchese, North Carolina is where The Floyd's developed a relationship with a number of custom builders, men who helped pioneer the now famous sport fish design.
The family spent years fishing up and down the East Coast chasing pelagic species throughout the Northeast canyons.
Coming full circle, Jim's company, F&S, would go on to collaborate with Carl Moesly, the Sea Craft's creator.
Read more about F&S's collaboration with Carl Mosley, the creator of this legendary boat.
The Custom Carolina Pioneers
A new type of boat, built for rough seas
As their passion for big game fishing evolved, the Floyd family worked with Ricky Scarborough, Sr., of Wanchese, North Carolina, to build a number of custom sportfishing boats. This experience afforded them the opportunity to learn and observe the cold-molding processes and techniques used by one of the greatest custom sportfish builders the industry has ever seen.
Jim spent years with these craftsmen studying design and construction techniques.
He began to experiment with the resins and glass fabrics available to builders and to look for new products to add strength without weight to a boat’s hull. He began to dream of building his perfect boat.
Learn more about the Carolina Flare
Hull #1 - The 59' "Fin-Ally"
The first F&S is born
In 1996 Jim Floyd began construction on the vessel that was to become the 59' "Fin-Ally."
The "Fin-Ally" was immediately recognized for her tremendous sea keeping abilities, speed, and graceful lines.
The best of both worlds
Jim combined the trademark flare of the custom Carolina with the longitudinally stepped variable deadrise hull perfected by Sea Craft. This resulted in a revolutionary new sportfish design that excels in speed, ride quality, and sea keeping ability.
"Founded on the noted longitudinally stepped, variable deadrise hull, made famous by SeaCraft boat designer Carl Moesly, this F&S bottom [design] has been raved about by most of the skippers who run them."
- Marlin Magazine Read full article
The next generation
Having developed a fascination with fishing at an early age, John Floyd, Jr., Jim's nephew, was fortunate to grow up in the sportfish industry. After obtaining his undergraduate and master's degree in finance, it wasn't long before John was working alongside Jim as a project manager at F&S.
As the current President of F&S, John is committed to maintaining the standards and legacy set forth by Jim. The F&S team continues to push the limits with unconventional new ideas
