HARGRAVE JOINS NEW CAT PROGRAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

During the recently held 2012 Miami Yacht Show Michael Joyce CEO of Fort Lauderdale based Hargrave Custom Yachts met with Shane Wright who is heading up the new CAT Concierge department just for mega yacht owners. Joyce was there to enthusiastically support the launch of CAT’s newest customer service program and stated that since starting their construction program 15 years they have not had a single unresolved service problem with CAT. Based in Germany, the new CAT Concierge department will be available to Cat powered mega yachts worldwide on a 24×7 basis. “Hargrave Yachts have been designed and built around CAT engines since day one” said Joyce, adding “having the unwavering support of CAT has enabled our company to become the number one custom yacht builder in our size range here in the US.” Hargrave builds fiberglass motoryachts in the 70′-136′ size range.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2012

“Former Hargrave Chief Engineer Dies”

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Hargrave Custom Yachts CEO Michael Joyce announced that Ralph Cantlay, former Vice President of Engineering at the company, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2012.  Born and raised in California, Mr. Cantlay was a lifelong fisherman and former member of the Catalina Tuna Club.

Cantlay, who retired from the Hargrave organization in 2005, was instrumental in helping manage the transition from a yacht design and engineering firm based in West Palm Beach to the current business model which designs and builds custom yachts in the 70′-135′ size range under the Hargrave brand name. He also served as the team leader for the first new design created by the Hargrave Yacht Design office after Jack Hargrave’s death, a 45’ aluminum sport fishing boat featured on the cover of Power & Motoryacht Magazine and described as a breakthrough design because of her 2500-mile range, advanced mechanical systems, and Subchapter T structural engineering.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, Mr. Cantlay served as a plant manager for Chrysler Corporation in California, Vice President of Manufacturing for the Prestige Cookware Group in London, England, Mechanical Engineering for Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and as Vice President of Sales for G.H. Bettis Company in Houston.

He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California in 1950 and his MBA from Harvard University in 1956. Mr. Cantlay was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.  Mr. Cantlay served twice in the military as a gunnery sergeant in World War II with the United States Marine Corp’s 1^st Division receiving a Purple Heart Commendation while serving in the Pacific, and again during the Korean War while serving as a Captain with the U.S. Army Ordinance Division.

He is survived by his friend and long time companion Margaret Croxton, Executive Director of the Marina Mile Association. Burial services will be handled by the Neptune Society in Fort Lauderdale and memorial donations can be made to your favorite charity.

 

Industry mourns noted yacht designer

Andre J. Bauwens former chief naval architect of J. B. Hargrave Naval Architects, Inc. in West Palm Beach died on June 29, 2011. In making the announcement Michael Joyce, CEO of the J.B. Hargrave Corporation called Bauwens one of the key people responsible for building the company’s outstanding reputation in yacht design and engineering.

Born in Brussels in 1929 Bauwens moved to the United States in 1956 where he graduated from the Westlawn Design Institute prior to starting his career working for the MacLear & Harris design firm in New York. He moved to Florida and joined Hall of Fame designer Jack Hargrave in West Palm Beach in 1966.

Bauwens served as chief naval architect of the Hargrave yacht design section and also wrote the specifications for all new yacht designs. During his tenure Bauwens created the comprehensive company design manual which is still in use today and which helped ensure that all the designers at the firm incorporated the high the standards set by Jack Hargrave into each new project.

A resident of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Bauwens was a passionate sailor and maintained a lifelong love of gardening and a commitment to the welfare of all animals. He is survived by his wife Mariette.