What Ray Hunt Design does

Ray Hunt Design, operating legally as C. Raymond Hunt Associates, is a private naval architecture and marine engineering firm founded in 1961 and headquartered at 38 Elm Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The firm originated and patented the Hunt Deep-V hullform — a high-deadrise monohedron hull with sharp entry, spray-deflecting chine strips, flared topsides, and continuous V-geometry to the transom — which is widely cited as the most significant innovation in recreational powerboat design. With a 7-person staff, the company serves three customer segments: private yacht owners (custom and semi-custom motor yachts from 38 to 140 feet), commercial and government operators (pilot boats, patrol boats, fire/rescue vessels for the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, NYPD, and port authorities worldwide), and production boat manufacturers (Grady-White, Grand Banks, Hunt Yachts, Four Winns, Regal Boats, Southport, Camper & Nicholsons, and others) that license Hunt hull designs and engineering.

The firm operates across a portfolio of proprietary technologies including the Deep-V hullform, a newer High-Efficiency V (HEV) hull optimized for semi-planing cruising speeds, specialized Deep-V/waterjet propulsion integration, and the patented QuietRide Sound Shield co-developed with Soundown. Products span fully custom motor yachts, waterjet-propelled commercial workboats, and licensed production designs, with vessel applications from 10 to 140 feet.

Revenue is generated through three streams: professional design fees for custom yacht projects, design licensing fees and royalties from production manufacturers, and direct contracts for commercial and military vessels. The firm does not publicly disclose pricing or revenue. GTM is sales-led and partnership-driven: direct engagement with private clients for custom work, and long-term licensing arrangements with a network of shipyards that manufacture and sell Hunt-designed boats. Marketing relies on industry press coverage, boat show presence, and design awards. Operations span the U.S., with design influence extending internationally through licensed builders in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.

Name

Ray Hunt Design

Legal name

C. Raymond Hunt Associates

Website

https://rayhuntdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ray Hunt Design (C. Raymond Hunt Associates) is a private naval architecture firm founded in 1961 that designs custom motor yachts, commercial workboats, and licensed production boats using its proprietary patented Deep-V hull technology for private owners, government agencies, and production manufacturers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Services

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concept & Feasibility Naval Architecture (Requirements, Trade Studies) (IMAJAGAA), Structural & Hull Engineering (Scantlings, Fatigue, Vibration, Noise) (IMAJAGAC), Safety, Risk & Compliance Engineering (SOLAS, Class Rules, HAZID/HAZOP, FMEA) (IMAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Naval architecture services
• Custom yacht design
• Commercial boat design
• Hull design licensing
• Marine engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Yacht Design Services: Full design, naval architecture, and engineering services provided directly to private clients for custom-built vessels. The process includes conceptual design, preliminary studies, bid drawings and specifications, working drawings, and sea trials. Revenue is earned through professional design fees for the complete custom project lifecycle.
2. Design Licensing to Production Manufacturers: Hunt designs (hull, structure, naval architecture) are licensed to production boat manufacturers including Grady-White, Grand Banks, Hunt Yachts, Four Winns, Regal Boats, Southport, Camper & Nicholsons, and others. Revenue comes from design fees, royalties, and engineering services for production lines.
3. Commercial and Military Design Contracts: Design and engineering services for commercial vessels (pilot boats, patrol boats, fireboats, rescue boats, transport boats) and military vessels for government agencies. Projects include police, fire, patrol boats for U.S. and foreign governments, and various passenger and work boats.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ray Hunt Design is a naval architecture and marine engineering firm that provides custom yacht design, commercial and government workboat design, and hull-design licensing services built around its patented Hunt Deep-V hull technology. The firm delivers end-to-end design services — conceptual design, preliminary studies, bid drawings, structural and stability engineering, classification-society compliance, working drawings, and builder support through sea trials — for vessels from 10 to 140 feet serving private yacht owners, commercial and military operators, and licensed production boat manufacturers.

Product overview

Ray Hunt Design, operating as C. Raymond Hunt Associates, is a naval architecture and boat design firm specializing in the Hunt Deep-V hull technology for commercial, military, and recreational vessels. The company offers three core product lines: Custom Yachts (semi-custom and fully custom motor yachts from 38' to 140'), Commercial & Government Boats (pilot boats, patrol vessels, fire/rescue boats), and Production Boat Designs (hull engineering for manufacturers like Grady-White and Hunt Yachts). Services include naval architecture, marine engineering, and design consulting. The proprietary Deep-V hull technology is licensed to builders worldwide and forms the foundation of all designs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Yacht Design Fully custom and semi-custom motor yacht design service (38' to 140') built around the proprietary Hunt Deep-V hull, including flybridge cruisers, express cruisers, sportfishers, expedition yachts, and classic motor yachts designed to each private client's specifications and built by various shipyards under Hunt oversight.
• Commercial and Government Workboat Design Purpose-built design services for commercial and military vessels — including pilot boats, patrol boats, fire and rescue boats, screening escort vessels, dive boats, and transportation boats — engineered for government agencies, port authorities, and pilot associations requiring all-weather, mission-critical performance and classification-society compliance.
• Production Boat Design Licensing Hull designs, full naval architecture, and engineering packages licensed to production boat manufacturers (including Grady-White, Grand Banks, Hunt Yachts, Four Winns, Regal Boats, Southport, Camper & Nicholsons, Gladding-Hearn, Willard Marine, Lyman-Morse, Palmer Johnson, Burger Boats, Hinckley Yachts, and E.M. Crosby) covering 18' center consoles to 45'+ sportfishing boats, with services including market research, production/facility design, tooling design and sourcing, and materials specification.
• Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Services Comprehensive design, naval architecture, and marine engineering services — including conceptual design, structural engineering, performance analysis, stability analysis, classification-society compliance (ABS, ISO/CE, Lloyds), and sea trials support — delivered as standalone engagements or as the technical backbone underlying custom, commercial, and production-manufacturer programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ Chesapeake Class pilot boats built since 2001, making it the most popular size and type among U.S. pilot groups
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Southport BoatworksminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2003Since 2003, Southport has used state-of-the-art 3D modeling technology combined with Hunt Deep-V custom hull designs to create offshore sport fishing center console boats. The Hunt deep-V with fine entry forward and stable width aft allows Southport boats to plane at a wider range of speeds.
• Grand BanksmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Since 1993, Hunt Associates has provided complete product development, naval architectural and engineering services for Grand Banks Eastbay models (38EX, 39SX, and subsequent models) built in Singapore and Malaysia. Over 15 years of successful Eastbay models designed by Hunt.
• Grady-White BoatscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Since 1989, Hunt Associates has collaborated on all projects with Grady-White, continuously working in partnership with Grady-White's engineering team to design the hulls for all production models using the exclusive SeaV2 hull. The partnership has resulted in Grady-White winning every customer satisfaction award in the marine industry.
• Gladding-Hearn ShipbuildingcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLongstanding partnership with Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding of Somerset, Massachusetts — the firm's leading commercial and military boat builder. Together they dominate the U.S. pilot boat fleet. Gladding-Hearn builds Hunt-designed vessels under license including the Chesapeake Class, Texas Class, Alaska Class, 64' Screening Escort Vessel, 75' Fire & Rescue Boat, and 61' Dive Boat.
• Willard MarinecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWillard Marine of Anaheim, California builds Hunt-designed boats under license including the US Navy Standard 11M RIB (chosen as the Navy's standard large RIB) and the Long Range Interceptor (LRI) for USCG Deepwater National Security Cutter.
• Hunt YachtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company founded in 1998 from the Hunt design office when backers decided to build a company around the Hunt 33 design concept. Hunt Yachts of Portsmouth, Rhode Island builds semi-custom and production boats using Hunt designs, including the Ocean Series (68', 72') and Coastal Series (26'-32'). The design firm maintains a synergistic relationship with Hunt Yachts.
• Lyman-Morse BoatbuildingmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLong-running collaboration with Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding of Thomaston, Maine on custom and semi-custom vessels. Projects include 42' Semi-Custom Flybridge, Extended Hardtop Cruiser, and Cruiser configurations; 54' Waterjet Express and Flybridge; and 94' Motor Yacht 'Electra'. The collaboration produces traditionally-styled modern-performance boats.
• Palmer JohnsonmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPalmer Johnson of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin has built several Hunt-designed custom motor yachts including the 95' Twisted Pair, 102' Motor Yacht (in aluminum), and collaborated with Hunt on the 112' Motor Yacht styled by Nuvolari/Lenard of Venice.
• Camper & NicholsonsmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHunt Associates provided basic design for Camper & Nicholsons' Endeavour 42, working with the yard and Italian design team to create a lightweight, high-performance boat with traditional interior. The Endeavour 42 won European Powerboat of the Year. Hunt also designed 50-foot and 60-foot models for Camper & Nicholsons.
• Four WinnsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHunt Associates provided a complete package of hull, deck, interior and structure for Four Winns 435 Vista, regarded as the best-running Four Winns ever. This led to the design of 375 Vista and 475 Vista flagship models.
• Regal BoatsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHunt Design provided hull design for Regal Boats' 3200 big bowrider — a logical extension of smaller bowriders capable of tackling oceans and large lakes. The project went from design to final tooling and directly into production without the need for post-prototype tuning.
• Burger BoatsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBurger Boats of Manitowoc, Wisconsin built the Hunt 72' Aft Cabin Motor Yacht — a traditional-styled aluminum vessel demonstrating Hunt's collaboration with premier custom builders.
• E. M. Crosby BoatworksminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerE. M. Crosby Boatworks of West Barnstable, Massachusetts built the hull of the 38' Cold Molded Express in cold-molded Spanish cedar (by Brion Rieff Boat Builders). The boat won WoodenBoat Show's 2011 Best Professionally Built Power Boat award.
• Hinckley YachtsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHinckley Yachts of Southwest Harbor, Maine collaborated with Hunt Design on the 67' Motor Cruiser — a comfortable extended cruising yacht for a previous Hinckley owner, featuring twin MAN V-10 diesels and trademark Hunt contemporary traditional styling.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Michael Peters Yacht Design: Specialized yacht design firm known for high-performance production yacht hulls and custom motor yacht designs. Directly comparable to Hunt in providing proprietary hull designs licensed to production builders (e.g., Cabo Yachts, Viking) and serving the custom yacht market.
• Dubois Naval Architects: Boutique yacht design firm producing custom sailing and motor yacht designs for high-net-worth clients and select production builders. Comparable to Hunt in serving the premium custom yacht segment and offering proprietary design IP.
• Tom Fexas Yacht Design: Independent yacht design firm producing custom motor yacht designs for high-end clients and select production builders. Comparable to Hunt as a boutique naval architecture practice serving the luxury motor yacht segment with proprietary hull designs.
• International Marine Design (IMD): Naval architecture and engineering consultancy providing design services for commercial workboats, patrol vessels, and yachts. Comparable to Hunt in serving government/operator contracts (particularly pilot boats and patrol craft) with custom design services.
• Philippe Briand Ltd: Independent yacht design firm specializing in sailing yacht and motor yacht naval architecture with significant licensing relationships with production builders. Comparable as a boutique design house offering custom and semi-custom designs plus licensed production lines.
• Donald L. Blount & Associates: Independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm specializing in commercial workboat, patrol boat, and high-performance vessel design. Direct competitor to Ray Hunt Design in government/commercial naval architecture, particularly for pilot boats and patrol craft where both firms compete for similar government and operator contracts.

Others

• Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding: Leading US commercial and military boat builder that builds Hunt-designed vessels under license (Chesapeake Class, Texas Class, 64' Screening Escort Vessel). Functions as both a customer and channel partner — and a structural comparable since they invest in their own design capabilities for select projects.
• Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding: Premier US custom boatbuilder collaborating with Hunt on semi-custom and custom motor yacht projects (42', 54', 94' vessels). Functions as a customer/channel partner while also operating its own in-house design team — a structural comparable and a related business that could vertically integrate.

Broad incumbents

• De Voogt Naval Architects: Historic Dutch naval architecture firm designing superyachts and specialized vessels. Comparable as an established independent naval architecture practice serving premium custom yacht clients, though with stronger focus on large sailing and motor superyachts.
• Sparkman & Stephens: One of the most historic and broadly recognized naval architecture firms in the US, designing sailing and motor yachts as well as commercial vessels. A broader incumbent in naval architecture serving many of the same client segments (private yacht owners, production builders) as Hunt, though more weighted toward sailing craft.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ray Hunt Design