Gamefisherman Boat Yard
Mike Matlack came into custom building after returning from the Navy and going to work with his father, who had started a boatbuilding company in Stuart. Matlack then worked with Dick Bertram at his repair yard and later went to Rybovich. When Rybovich merged with Spencer, Matlack left to start his own firm in 1987, brokering and building boats. Having established relationships with many clients, he found that when people could not find a production boat to their liking, they started looking at custom boats with a singular purpose: fishing.
Naval architecture firm Erwin Gerard Designs has helped to create an international following for Gamefisherman’s 34- to 48-foot express, flybridge and walkaround boats, with custom builds up to 65 feet. Gamefisherman boats have an S sheer instead of the typical sportfish drop sheer, so their lines flow smoothly.
While much of the construction previously was done in- house, Matlack now has a small crew, with subcontractors doing electrical, upholstery and cabinetry work. He is building a 50-footer powered by 1,000-hp Caterpillar C12.9 diesels. Its bell-shaped bottom is designed to give the boat additional lift. Tricel core with teak veneers keep the interiors lightweight yet luxurious.
“People who know what they are looking at know our boats,” Matlack says of the Gamefisherman profile. “Our customers know.”