He was on a mission to perfect the process, introduced the first V-bottom hull and invented the first center console. In 1999, when Bob Dougherty was no longer with Whaler, he took the foam-filled hull process even further. He invented RAMCAP, a process that molds a high-density structural foam core separately before building it into the hull, rather than injecting it blindly. This ensures the structural foam is exactly where it needs to be, with no voids, to offer the safest and most comfortable ride. His Rapid Molded Core Assembly Process — or RAMCAP — won him the Marine Manufacturers Innovation Award and revolutionized the way boats are built.
Mr. Unsinkable's Legacy
Legendary Boat Designer, Bob Dougherty’s, Masterpiece.
How They’re Made
The Pioneer in Unsinkable Boat Design
Every industry has them, the uniquely gifted icons at the forefront of innovation. In the marine industry, that icon was Bob Dougherty. In 1960, he joined Boston Whaler where he was key in developing the unsinkable hull.
“Everglades Boats' Bob Dougherty was a fixer, problem solver, inventor, visionary, adventurer, and an extraordinary boat builder.”
Kathy Bohanan EnzerikAll At Sea
Bob Dougherty, “Mr. Unsinkable,” used to joke that he would be six feet tall if it weren’t for all the years of rigorous testing on the water. Though he’s not throttling hard into the breakers himself anymore, Bob made sure the Everglades team put each new model through plenty of grueling runs in all kinds of weather and sea conditions. It’s part of Everglades’ commitment to safety.
Today, RAMCAP is still the core of every Everglades hull. With over 50 years of dedication to innovation in boat building, the Everglades team continues to impress by producing the finest family fishing boats on the water. Honoring Dougherty’s legacy and his commitment to safety and quality.
“When you're out with your family in 10- or 12- foot swells, you don't want to have a boat that was made by the lowest bidder.”
Bob DoughertyEverglades Boats Founder