As one of the largest fiberglass fishing boat companies in the world, Pro-Line boats started out in 1968 as a small company building fishing boats for local guides. The company was founded that year by Dan Atwood and his father Ray, when they signed Crystal Outboard Motors as their first dealer and sold their first boat to local charter guide, Captain Sam Pecorino.
By 1970, the company had already expanded, due to hard work and dedication to their craft and they moved to a new corporate facility in Homosassa, Florida. Three years later, the yard introduced its first 24ft cuddy cabin model, and by 1979, they developed their first deep-V model, a 23ft center console and cabin version. In 1981, Pro-line brought to market its walkaround cabin series, of which it sold 36 units at the New York Boat Show; that year, the company also reached the big-boat market by building models up to 30 feet long.
Five years later, Dan Atwood brought on a New York investment group as partners in its expansion. In 1994, the yard developed FIST (fiberglass integrated structural technology) that replace wood with composite coring to create lighter boats with lower maintenance.
Later in 2009, Pro-line came under new ownership and management when John Walker became COO of American Marine Holdings, which includes both Pro-line Boats and Donzi Marine. A year later, the yard relocated to a waterfront property in North Carolina, and John Walker became president of American Marine Holdings (which at the time included Donzi and Fountain & Baja).
Two years later in 2012, AMH was dissolved and the brands went their separate ways. Pro-line sold their interest in Donzi and Fountain & Baja, and continued to operate out of its North Carolina facility. Today, the president of the top builder of express, sport and sportfish boats company is Jim Cascadden, who brings with him over 35 years of experience in the marine industry – 22 of which were spent working at Pro-line.
Shipyard Stats
- Type: Express boats, sport boats, sport fishing boats
- Model: Express – Express 20, Express 23, Express 26; Sport – 20 Sport, 23 Dual Console, 23 Sport, 26 Super Sport
