By next spring, Sudbury’s Legend Boats will conclude a three-year project to build a new state-of-the-art facility where it can design, produce, and sell its fleet of family fishing and leisure boats.
“Our employees have been very patient throughout this process,” said Legend Boats co-manager Marc Duhamel. “We’re working out of a facility that’s really too small for what we’re doing now.”
The company’s current facilities — a mishmash of several buildings along the Vermillion River, on the western outskirts of Sudbury — were only built to comfortably accommodate around 25 employees, but around 90 people now work for the manufacturer.
The new building consolidates everything under one roof, with manufacturing space, a display area and an orientation shop for customers.
“We’re trying to create a really amazing experience for the consumer,” said Jamie Dewar, Legend Boats’ second co-manager.
When customers enter the 48,000-square-foot structure they’ll be welcomed by a company representative who will guide them through their fleet of boats so they can find the right fit.
Once they choose their boat, they’ll learn exactly how to operate it before they even get on the water.
Dewar said the 48,000-square-foot facility will also greatly improve employees’ experiences.
Because of the facility’s location on the outskirts of Sudbury, they’ve decided to build an in-house fitness centre for their workers.
Dewar said the fitness centre will make it easier for employees to work out before or after work, and will help encourage healthy lifestyles. The idea was also to make coming to work a more fun and enjoyable experience.
Most workstations will be set up to have views of the adjacent Vermillion River, an important part of the company’s identity because it’s where they test boats and instruct customers on how to run them.
The company was established in 1986 by Vic Duhamel and Carl Dewar, the fathers of two co-managers.
“They became very aware there was not enough product for the Canadian marketplace,” said the younger Duhamel.
With Canada’s larger lakes, and more unforgiving climate than many parts of the United States, customers in the Great White North needed a different kind of boat.
“We boat differently,” Duhamel said. “Up here it’s a lifestyle. It’s part of what we do as Canadians.”
Legend Boats, he said, became one of the first companies in Canada to sell boating packages, with the boat, motor and trailer sold together for a fixed price.
With the new facility in 2016, Dewar said he hopes it opens the doors for more growth for the company, an expanded lineup of boats, and more local jobs.
The dealership was recently named one of the top 100 dealers in North America by trade publication Boating Industry.
