Everglades Boats, Bob Dougherty's Foam-Filled Answer to Whaler

A family-owned Florida builder whose patented foam-core process turns every hull into one solid, buoyant piece.

Founded
1997
Headquarters
Edgewater, Florida
Models reviewed
1

Everglades Boats models

Former Boston Whaler executive Bob Dougherty founded Everglades Boats in 1997 around his patented RAMCAP foam construction. The family-owned company builds consoles, hybrids and crossovers in Edgewater, Florida.

Known for
  • RAMCAP, a patented unsinkable foam-core process
  • Hybrid flats-to-offshore boats such as the 243CC
  • Offshore consoles as large as the 455CC
  • A lifetime warranty on the hull
  • Ownership by the founding family

Why the founder is called Mr. Unsinkable

Before he had a company of his own, Robert J. (Bob) Dougherty was an executive at Boston Whaler. In 1997 he went out on his own and started Everglades Boats. Company materials refer to him as Mr. Unsinkable, a title tied to the building method he developed and patented.

That method is RAMCAP, short for Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process. Rather than bolting a deck onto a hull over a lattice of stringers, RAMCAP fills the space between hull and liner with dense closed-cell structural foam, bonding them into a single solid structure that Everglades describes as unsinkable.

A family company in Edgewater

Everglades builds in Edgewater, Florida, close to New Smyrna Beach, and still describes itself as family owned. New boats come with a lifetime hull warranty and three years of coverage on components, and they reach buyers through a network of dealers.

The 2026 range has three branches: center consoles from the 285CC up to the 455CC, the 253CC and 273CC hybrids, and the 367CX and 437CX crossovers. In 2017 a raffle of one of its 243CCs raised more than $200,000 for the Fishing for Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.

The hybrid that built the brand

If one boat defines Everglades, it is the 243CC. Introduced in 2004, it was designed to pole the flats on a calm morning and still handle a run offshore, and it became the builder's top seller. In July 2024 Everglades marked the completion of the 1,000th example. Our dedicated 243CC page goes through its dimensions, power, versions and price bands.

The idea lives on in the 253CC and 273CC, which carry the hybrid concept into larger hulls.

Reputation and resale

Steady production gives Everglades a deep used market, and values are strong for the segment. Buyers trust the safety argument behind RAMCAP, and the foam-filled structure tends to age well. On older boats, the outboard package does most of the work in setting price.

Foam construction does not remove the need for a full survey, and buyers should ask whether any factory warranty passes to a second owner.

  • Outboard hours, maintenance history and transom bolts.
  • Operation and seals of any powered windshield.
  • Mounts for the jack plate, shallow-water anchors and trolling motor.
  • Corrosion under the powder coat on the hardtop frame.

Everglades Boats history

  1. 1997Dougherty leaves the Boston Whaler world and launches Everglades.
  2. 2004The hybrid 243CC is introduced and goes on to lead sales.
  3. 2017A 243CC raffle brings in over $200,000 for a muscular dystrophy charity.
  4. 2024The thousandth 243CC is completed at Edgewater.
  5. 2026Hybrid duties pass to the 253CC and 273CC.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Everglades Boats?

Bob Dougherty, a onetime Boston Whaler executive, started the company in 1997.

What is RAMCAP?

It stands for Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process, Dougherty's patented method of bonding hull and liner with closed-cell structural foam into one solid unit.

Where are Everglades boats built?

At the company's plant in Edgewater, Florida, near New Smyrna Beach.

What warranty does Everglades offer?

New boats carry a lifetime hull warranty plus three years on components.

Official website: evergladesboats.com. Yatch US is independent and not affiliated with Everglades Boats.